The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation awards Teacher Development Grants to support small teams of teachers to create and implement innovative K–12 classroom instruction. Successful applicants are encouraged to integrate fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and must document their success with these new approaches. Teachers reflect and write about their projects to share their results with other educators. Grants are awarded in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years, provided eligibility requirements continue to be met. Applications close once 200 submissions have been received, so it’s best to apply early.

DEADLINE: April 15 (or until 200 applications are received)
DETAILS: https://mccartheydressman.org/teacher-development-grants

UFT members qualify for membership in the Theatre Development Fund (TDF), which provides discounts of up to 70% on current Broadway shows, off- and off-off Broadway shows, as well as music and dance performances throughout the city and tristate area. An annual membership costs $42, and tickets, which range in price from $11 to $60, can be purchased online and in advance. TDF also offers education programs such as online seminars and in-school programs for its members. 

DEADLINE: Ongoing
DETAILS: https://www.tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/tdf-membership

Calm is an app for a phone or tablet that focuses on self-care and mindfulness practices, featuring guided meditation, calming sounds, ambient music and sleep stories. UFT members can access premium content for free via our state affiliate, NYSUT. Sign up via the NYSUT member benefits portal (see link in QR code) with your NYSUT ID number to access the discount. If you do not know your NYSUT member ID, you can find it on your NYSUT membership card, search for it on the NYSUT website or call NYSUT Member Benefits at 800-626-8101. 

DEADLINE: Ongoing
DETAILS: https://www.calm.com/b2b/nysut-member-benefits/subscribe

Materials for the Arts (MFTA) is a city-operated creative reuse center supporting the arts and sustainability and is open to Department of Education employees. Staff members at city schools may make an appointment to visit MFTA’s warehouse in Long Island City to choose from a wide array of free, donated materials such as paper, office supplies, craft items, beads, fabric and movie props to bring back to their schools or classrooms. Currently, 93% of DOE schools have MFTA accounts — you can check its website to see if your school has one. To make an appointment to “shop” at MFTA, ask your administrator to add you to your school’s authorized contact list and then access the MFTA portal using your DOE email and password. 

DEADLINE: Ongoing
DETAILS: https://www.nyc.gov/content/mfta/pages/receive-receiving-materials

DonorsChoose connects public school educators with members of the public to financially support projects that directly benefit students. Classroom teachers, librarians, therapists, speech pathologists, counselors and school nurses are eligible to submit proposals seeking funding for materials and equipment to bring their ideas to reality. Funding requests appear on the DonorsChoose website, allowing donors to choose which projects to support. Once funded, requested items are delivered directly to schools. Educators must submit photos of the project in action and have students write thank-you notes, which are shared with donors.

DEADLINE: Ongoing
DETAILS: https://www.donorschoose.org/teachers

The Pets in the Classroom Grants Program issues grants to teachers and supporting school staff in grades pre-K to 9 to teach about responsible pet care while allowing students to bond with animals. Funding is intended to be used to offset the costs of pet maintenance or to purchase new pets for the classroom and is not intended to cover costs over the lifetime of the pet. Eligible pets include small mammals, amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles and arachnids. 

DEADLINE: Ongoing through June 1, 2025
DETAILS: https://www.petsintheclassroom.org/choose-a-grant

The Awesome Foundation is a global community awarding $1,000 micro grants to people and groups working on awesome projects. These grants are not exclusively for teachers, but they may apply. The application deadline is the last day of each month. Tips for submissions are to be brief, unique and specific about how you would use the grant funds. If your project is not selected in a given month, you are free to reapply.

DEADLINE: ongoing, on a monthly basis
DETAILS: https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/nyc