State and Local Grants

Need grantwriting tips? Green Steps mentor Sonya Younger suggests www.schoolgrants.org, a collection of resources and tips is intended to help K-12 educators apply for and obtain special grants for a variety of projects, and Show Me the Money: Tips and Resources for Successful Grant Writing.

2010 Fifth Grade Arbor Day National Poster Contest
You are invited to join over 63,000 fifth grade teachers across America in the 2010 Arbor Day National Poster Contest. This year's contest, "Trees are Terrific...and Energy Wise!" is designed to increase knowledge about the importance of trees in the production and conservation of energy. Students will learn how trees produce food energy for people and wildlife, how properly selected and planted trees conserve energy, and much more. Download your free 2010 Arbor Day National Poster Contest materials and help foster the next generation of tree stewards.

Don't miss out on this engaging and impactful opportunity to teach fifth grade students about the important role trees play in the production and conservation of energy! Contest entry deadline for South Carolina is March 5, 2010.

Bright Ideas Grants from Mid Carolina Electric Cooperative
Mid Carolina Electric Cooperative's Bright Ideas grants program is open to classroom educators of grades K-12 in the following districts/schools:

  • Lexington School Districts One, Two, Three and Five
  • Hollywood Elementary School (Saluda County)
  • Pinegrove, Rhame, and Sandel Elementary Schools and Columbia High School (Richland County)
  • Private schools within MCEC service territory are also eligible.

Click here for more information.

Challenge for the Environment Grant from Palmetto Pride
PalmettoPride is now accepting proposals from elementary, middle and high schools to participate in their Challenge for the Environment grant program. This competitive grant provides funds for educational and developmental activities concerning the importance of community-based beautification and litter reduction inivitives. Click here for more information.

Litter Trashes Everyone Award
PalmettoPride announces the Litter Trashes Everyone Award, a competition for original full-length plays written by students for young audiences. There will be cash prizes of $500 and $100 and the opportunity to have your play performed by schools and civic theatre groups throughout South Carolina. The entry deadline was January 15, 2010. Winners will be announced on March 17, 2010. Click here for full details.

DHEC's Champions of the Environment Grant Program
South Carolina's K-12 teachers, students and environmental educators can apply for a $2000 grant. The deadline for applications is January 15 and September 15 each year. There are five grants available each grant cycle. Some deserving projects that do not receive a grant will be offered a Merit Award of $400 to help start the project. The Champions’ application form is a fillable Word document that is best submitted by email. Click here to learn more and download the application form.

DHEC'S 2010 earth day awards
The entry period for the 2010 Earth Day Awards is now closed. Winners will be honored at an awards presentation in Columbia the week of Earth Day (April 2010). Click here for full details.

DHEC's Recycling Education Grant Program
This grant program is available to schools to promote awareness of solid waste issues, including the need to reduce the solid waste we generate, and to recycle whenever we can. All projects are required to include a used oil awareness project. Any K-12 public or private school may apply on its own or school districts may apply on behalf of their schools. Grant awards are competitive, funding is limited and awards may vary from year to year.

Eligible projects include:

  • Containers - Classroom or outdoor bins used to collect recyclables.
  • Composting - This may include supplies for composting projects and/or vermi-composting projects. 
  • Action for a Cleaner Tomorrow Lesson Supplies - This may include supplies to support lessons from Action for a Cleaner Tomorrow. 
  • Recycling Club Supplies - This may include supplies to support recycling related activities of the Club. 

Click here for more information. Please note that applications for the FY2010 funding have closed.

DHEC Recycle Guys Awards
The 15th Annual Recycle Guys Awards Program will honor South Carolina’s top recycling programs, projects and people - and we know that there are a lot of great ones out there! Please nominate yourself or another outstanding program, project of person for one or more of the award categories listed below.  

Recycling Student of the Year
This award is given to a student who has actively participated in a waste reduction/recycling program and/or has been involved in promoting waste reduction/recycling at school or in the community.

Recycling Teacher of the Year
This award is given to a teacher who has implemented or expanded a school recycling program and/or has incorporated the waste reduction/recycling message into the classroom.
 
Recycling School of the Year
This award is given to a school that has implemented a successful waste reduction/recycling program.

Nominations were due January 15, 2010. The awards program will be held on March 2, 2010. Click here for more information.

Progress Energy Grants
Progress Energy is offering teachers in PE service areas up to full-funding for classroom projects that teach about alternative energy and/or energy conservation. To be considered, projects must be for $500 or less in materials, submitted by a teacher in a PE service area, and must focus on alternative
energy/energy conservation.      

Who qualifies? All science teachers at public schools in the
following counties:

  • Chesterfield
  • Darlington
  • Florence
  • Marion
  • Sumter

Note: This funding will be spent on a first come, first served basis and is only available until the grant is spent out, so teachers should act soon!

How do I participate? First, log in to your teacher account on DonorsChoose.org. Once you’re logged in, submit a project (or two!) requesting $500 or less in materials per project to teach about alternative energy or energy conservation.

Then what happens? Within one month of being approved, your project(s) will receive up to full funding, until our grant runs dry!

Visit the Progress Energy challenge page to get a better idea of the types of projects Progress Energy has been funding!

To get started with submitting your own alternative energy/energy conservation project(s), visit www.donorschoose.org/teacher!