Grants to Maryland Schools for Classroom and School-Wide Projects
Education Grants
Agency
Foundation
GrantWatch ID#
171623
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Funding Source
Geographic Focus
USA: Maryland: Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland (specifically Somerset, Wicomico and/or Worcester County)
Important Dates
Grant Description
Grants of up to $5,000 to Maryland schools in eligible regions to support school-wide and classroom projects led by teachers. Funding is intended for public or nonpublic schools serving students in pre-K through 12th grade. Funding is for the benefit of schools and students on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, specifically in Somerset, Wicomico, and/or Worcester County.
Qualities of Successful Applications
- Broad support from school leadership;
- Creativity in meeting an identified challenge/need;
- A plan for evaluation to measure the success of the project;
- Potential for replication in other schools;
- Shows potential to become self-sustaining; and
- Makes a strong connection between the proposed project and student success and well-being.
Categories
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Recipient
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Applicants MUST be Public, MSDE approved nonpublic, or Middle States Accredited schools serving pre-k through 12th grade students on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland (specifically Somerset, Wicomico, and/or Worcester County.
Ineligible
Boards of Education are not eligible for this grant cycle.
The Foundation cannot make grants to individuals.
(New this year) The following programs are NOT eligible for this grant:
• Behavioral/PBIS programs
• Outdoor projects (e.g. outdoor classrooms, school gardens, greenhouses, etc.)
• Physical fitness programs
• Arts programs that do not have a direct tie to curriculum
• Clubs without a tie to one of the eligible categories.
• Capital Expenditures*
• Field Trips/Assemblies**
• Fundraising campaigns
• Playground equipment
• Faculty/staff compensation
*Equipment purchases (such as computers) will only be considered if they are essential to a student-oriented program and cannot be otherwise obtained (i.e. normally included in school budget).
**Field trips/assemblies that are part of a larger project with a direct and measurable impact on learning may be considered.
Foundation grant programs generally do not fund:
1. Athletic Facility Infrastructure
2. Athletic Field Maintenance
3. Building Campaigns
4. Capital Requests
5. Debt Retirement
6. Endowment Funds
7. Fundraising Campaigns
8. Nonprofit Start-Up Fees (e.g., 501c3 Articles of Incorporation or Form 1023 Filing Fees)
9. Operational Deficits
10. Partisan Political Activities
11. Political Lobbying Activities
12. Playground Equipment
13. Sectarian Religious Programs
14. Operational funds for government agencies or places of worship*
*Government agencies and places of worship may request programmatic funding for programs serving the community (not limited to congregation members).
The Foundation cannot make grants to individuals.
(New this year) The following programs are NOT eligible for this grant:
• Behavioral/PBIS programs
• Outdoor projects (e.g. outdoor classrooms, school gardens, greenhouses, etc.)
• Physical fitness programs
• Arts programs that do not have a direct tie to curriculum
• Clubs without a tie to one of the eligible categories.
• Capital Expenditures*
• Field Trips/Assemblies**
• Fundraising campaigns
• Playground equipment
• Faculty/staff compensation
*Equipment purchases (such as computers) will only be considered if they are essential to a student-oriented program and cannot be otherwise obtained (i.e. normally included in school budget).
**Field trips/assemblies that are part of a larger project with a direct and measurable impact on learning may be considered.
Foundation grant programs generally do not fund:
1. Athletic Facility Infrastructure
2. Athletic Field Maintenance
3. Building Campaigns
4. Capital Requests
5. Debt Retirement
6. Endowment Funds
7. Fundraising Campaigns
8. Nonprofit Start-Up Fees (e.g., 501c3 Articles of Incorporation or Form 1023 Filing Fees)
9. Operational Deficits
10. Partisan Political Activities
11. Political Lobbying Activities
12. Playground Equipment
13. Sectarian Religious Programs
14. Operational funds for government agencies or places of worship*
*Government agencies and places of worship may request programmatic funding for programs serving the community (not limited to congregation members).
Pre-Proposal Conference
Education Grants Information Sessions for Educators:
Education Grant Info Session (Lower Eastern Shore Pre-K - 12 schools)
Learn about applying for a CFES Education Grant. This grant is for public and private schools in Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Counties.
Online event
Tuesday, June 30 • 6 PM - 7 PM IDT
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/education-grant-info-session-lower-eastern-shore-pre-k-12-schools-tickets-1979390743999?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
Tue, Jul 28 • 9:00 PM GMT+3
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/education-grant-info-session-lower-eastern-shore-pre-k-12-schools-tickets-1979390797158?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
Education Grant Info Session (Lower Eastern Shore Pre-K - 12 schools)
Learn about applying for a CFES Education Grant. This grant is for public and private schools in Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Counties.
Online event
Tuesday, June 30 • 6 PM - 7 PM IDT
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/education-grant-info-session-lower-eastern-shore-pre-k-12-schools-tickets-1979390743999?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
Tue, Jul 28 • 9:00 PM GMT+3
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/education-grant-info-session-lower-eastern-shore-pre-k-12-schools-tickets-1979390797158?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
Pre-Application Information
Timeline:
• Begin Accepting Applications Date: 6/26/2026
• Deadline Date (EST Time Zone): 8/28/2026 11:59 PM EST
• Education grants are reviewed/approved annually in the Fall.
• A special reception for awardees takes place in November.
Limit of two (2) Applications per school. Exceptions may be made for collaborative projects serving more than one school (please contact staff before applying).
Grantee Toolkit: https://www.cfes.org/granteetoolkit
MSDE-approved schools: https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/pages/dee/npsa/nonpublic-schools-types.aspx
Nonprofit resources: https://www.cfes.org/npresources
• Begin Accepting Applications Date: 6/26/2026
• Deadline Date (EST Time Zone): 8/28/2026 11:59 PM EST
• Education grants are reviewed/approved annually in the Fall.
• A special reception for awardees takes place in November.
Limit of two (2) Applications per school. Exceptions may be made for collaborative projects serving more than one school (please contact staff before applying).
Grantee Toolkit: https://www.cfes.org/granteetoolkit
MSDE-approved schools: https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/pages/dee/npsa/nonpublic-schools-types.aspx
Nonprofit resources: https://www.cfes.org/npresources
Estimated Size of Grant
Application maximum: $5,000
Contact Information
Apply on the Full Grant Text RFP link.
For questions about this application, please contact Lauren Ansted at lansted@cfes.org
CFES
1324 Belmont Ave., Ste. 401
Salisbury, Maryland 21804
Tel: 410.742.9911
For questions about this application, please contact Lauren Ansted at lansted@cfes.org
CFES
1324 Belmont Ave., Ste. 401
Salisbury, Maryland 21804
Tel: 410.742.9911
RFP & Supporting Documents
Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.
