Champions For Learning’s Classroom Grants Program

Champions For Learning’s Classroom Grants Program is administered by the Education Foundation of Collier County, a nonprofit organization founded in 1990. The foundation's mission is to catalyze educational success by investing in both students and educators throughout Collier County, Florida. Through a competitive grantmaking process, the Classroom Grants Program seeks to empower educators with funding for innovative and impactful projects that extend beyond the standard school budget. The initiative serves to support creativity, engagement, and learning experiences that directly benefit students. The grant is open to any educator employed at a K–12 school in Collier County that is recognized by the Florida Department of Education. This includes individuals working in traditional public schools, charter schools, and private or independent schools. Eligible applicants encompass classroom teachers, Related Arts educators, school counselors, academic coaches, Curriculum Coordinators, and those on special assignments. Importantly, each applicant may submit up to four proposals annually for consideration by the Selection Committee, not exceeding a combined total of $2,000 in award funding per year. Additional proposals beyond the first four will be made available for public crowdfunding via the Find It Fund It portal but are not eligible for review by the Selection Committee. Funded projects can range from classroom materials and equipment not covered by school budgets to local field trips, enrichment programs, and broader school-wide initiatives. The program expressly excludes funding for capital costs like furniture and technology, food items, professional conference expenses, gift cards, and out-of-county field trips. Every application must receive principal approval before it is considered for funding. Teachers are strongly encouraged to consult with their principals before applying to ensure alignment with school goals and avoid redundant funding. Applications are submitted through the Find It Fund It online portal, where educators must create or update their profiles using their school email addresses. Upon submission, requests require dual approval—first by the school principal, then by Champions For Learning—before they are posted for public view. Grants approved by the Selection Committee are distributed in October on Surprise Grant Delivery Day, with funds transferred to each teacher’s Class Wallet account for transparent use. For those without an account, funds are disbursed via check. Projects not funded in the fall remain available to the public through Spring Break and are then archived. The grant evaluation process is rigorous, utilizing a rubric scoring system to identify the most impactful proposals. The Selection Committee reviews the project’s purpose, implementation plan, expected student outcomes, and budget justification. Awarded teachers are accountable for submitting an outcome report, uploading receipts, and writing thank-you notes to donors. Teachers are encouraged to leverage support tools such as the Classroom Grants Virtual Training and the Technical Assistance Paper for guidance on the application and scoring processes. The 2025–2026 grant cycle opens July 10, with public posting of approved grants beginning July 17. The deadline for educator submissions to be considered by the Selection Committee is September 11. Final reports for funded projects are due by May 4. All projects must be implemented and completed within the current academic year. Champions For Learning provides contact via info@championsforlearning.org or phone at 239.643.4755 for further inquiries.

Teachers are encouraged to review the Technical Assistance Paper and Virtual Training to improve grant quality and scoring.