Rural Colorado Educators Can Fund Their Dreams

All Colorado teachers who work in a school district designated as rural (blue or light blue on map below) are eligible.Photo byNathan Yip Foundation

The Nathan Yip Foundation just announced that grants are available for rural Colorado teachers to create and implement classroom projects that will have a positive impact on students/classroom this year and the deadline to apply is September 13, 2024. Grant recipients will be notified in late October.

Teachers who work in 140+ rural or small rural school districts in Colorado can apply to fund a dream they have for their students by completing a simple application: Click here for the 2024 NYF Rural Colorado Teacher Grant Application! All teachers who work in a school district designated as rural or small rural in the state of Colorado (blue or light blue on map below) are eligible. The grant can be used for just about anything that positively impacts students, whether it be a classroom, materials or an outing to expose students to something new, a classroom kit of tech training tools, or maybe an exciting new program for the school/classroom.

The Nathan Yip Foundation’s mission is to empower Colorado students, staff and schools in an effort to address the educational and opportunity inequities that can exist between rural and urban schools in the state. Teachers are encouraged to look at these grants as a chance to provide opportunities/experiences for students that might not be otherwise be possible, either in the classroom or in school-related extracurricular activities. What teachers can request funds for is only limited by their innovation! Funds must be used for anything that will positively impact the students/school/community. This could include but is not limited to: kits, equipment, materials that are beyond the scope of the district budget, traveling/conferences (for teachers and/or students,) classroom supplies, etc. In 2023, the Nathan Yip Foundation funded 69 teacher grant requests. Please click here to see the grants funded in 2023 for some examples of things that we fund.

In addition, the Nathan Yip Foundation will be expanding the grant program through an online platform that gives Colorado residents an ability to help fund grants this year. At the Nathan Yip Foundation’s Mid-Autumn Festival on September 22, 2024, more than 350 people are expected to attend as the fundraising drive for Colorado Rural Teacher Grants kicks off. Following the festival, a statewide, online fundraising drive will take place from September 22 through October 11, 2024 to continue to raise funds for Colorado Rural Teacher Grants. This three-week virtual fundraiser is an opportunity for schools, teachers, and the general public to encourage friends/family to support individual teacher requests directly with a tax deductible donation.

Grant Guidelines:

• Teacher/School must be designated by CDE as rural or small rural. Here is the list of districts in the state designated as such.
• Grant amount can be anywhere from $100 - $2,000 dollars.
• Grant deadline is Friday, September 13, 2024.
• School principal approval is required.
• Teachers requesting technology must check with district/school tech coordinator to insure it is compatible with district systems.
• Teachers who received a 2023 grant are not eligible to apply again until 2025.

Learn more about the grant opportunity and the Nathan Yip Foundation at The Nathan Yip Foundation’s mission is to empower Colorado students, staff and schools in an effort to address the educational and opportunity inequities that can exist between rural and urban schools in the state. Teachers are encouraged to look at these grants as a chance to provide opportunities/experiences for students that might not be otherwise be possible, either in the classroom or in school-related extracurricular activities. What teachers can request funds for is only limited by their innovation! Funds must be used for anything that will positively impact the students/school/community. This could include but is not limited to: kits, equipment, materials that are beyond the scope of the district budget, traveling/conferences (for teachers and/or students,) classroom supplies, etc. In 2023, the Nathan Yip Foundation funded 69 teacher grant requests. Please click here to see the grants funded in 2023 for some examples of things that we fund.

In addition, the Nathan Yip Foundation will be expanding the grant program through an online platform that gives Colorado residents an ability to help fund grants this year. At the Nathan Yip Foundation’s Mid-Autumn Festival on September 22, 2024, more than 350 people are expected to attend as the fundraising drive for Colorado Rural Teacher Grants kicks off. Following the festival, a statewide, online fundraising drive will take place from September 22 through October 11, 2024 to continue to raise funds for Colorado Rural Teacher Grants. This three-week virtual fundraiser is an opportunity for schools, teachers, and the general public to encourage friends/family to support individual teacher requests directly with a tax deductible donation.

Grant Guidelines:

• Teacher/School must be designated by CDE as rural or small rural. Here is the list of districts in the state designated as such.
• Grant amount can be anywhere from $100 - $2,000 dollars.
• Grant deadline is Friday, September 13, 2024.
• School principal approval is required.
• Teachers requesting technology must check with district/school tech coordinator to insure it is compatible with district systems.
• Teachers who received a 2023 grant are not eligible to apply again until 2025.

Learn more about the grant opportunity and the Nathan Yip Foundation at www.nathan yipfoundation.org. For additional questions, please contact jill@nathanyipfoundation.org.