Bring a New STEM Opportunity to Your Students
901STEM Spark Grants provide $1,000 to schools, school districts, and educational organizations in Memphis and Shelby County to introduce new STEM tools, materials, and learning experiences to their students.
One grant will be awarded each month during the school year.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible recipients include:
- Public and charter schools
- Private and parochial schools
- School districts
- Specialized and alternative-learning schools
- Nonprofit and community-based educational organizations
- Educational programs operating under an eligible fiscal sponsor
Teachers and other educators are encouraged to submit applications on behalf of their schools or organizations. Grant funds are awarded to the institution—not to an individual—and the recipient institution must authorize the application.
For a fiscally sponsored program, the fiscal sponsor must approve the application, accept the grant, and assume responsibility for the funds.
What Can a Grant Support?
901STEM Spark Grants support projects and purchases directly related to STEM learning. Funds may be used for:
- STEM tools, kits, equipment, and technology
- Classroom materials and consumable supplies
- Science experiments and engineering projects
- Robotics, electronics, coding, and design activities
- Student STEM projects and competitions
- Field trips and other STEM learning experiences
- Workshops, visiting presenters, and program fees
- Other expenses that directly support the approved STEM project
Projects should create a new opportunity for students to investigate, design, build, test, create, explore, or solve problems through science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for thoughtful, practical ideas that:
- Create meaningful, hands-on STEM learning
- Introduce students to new tools, materials, or experiences
- Expand access to STEM opportunities
- Address a clear need or opportunity
- Can be successfully implemented with a $1,000 grant
- Have the potential to benefit participating students in a meaningful way
Priority may be given to projects serving students and communities that face barriers to accessing STEM resources and experiences.
Grant Amount and Payment
Each 901STEM Spark Grant is a fixed award of $1,000.
901STEM will deliver a check directly to the recipient school, school district, educational organization, or fiscal sponsor. Checks cannot be issued to individual teachers or other individuals.
Equipment purchased with grant funds becomes the property of the recipient institution and must be used for educational purposes.
Monthly Application Cycle
Applications open on the first day of each month and close on the final day of that month. Applications are reviewed during the following month, and the selected recipient will be notified and announced by the end of that month.
For example, applications submitted September 1–30 will be reviewed in October, with the recipient selected and announced by October 31. A new application period will remain open during the review process.
Applicants who are not selected may submit a new or revised application during a future monthly cycle.
What You’ll Need to Apply
The application will ask for:
- The school’s or organization’s name and contact information
- An authorized institutional contact
- The teacher, educator, or project leader responsible for the project
- A description of the proposed STEM project
- The students and grade levels the project will serve
- The anticipated number of students served
- The educational purpose and expected impact
- An itemized budget totaling $1,000
- The anticipated project schedule
- Institutional authorization and required certifications
Additional documentation may be required from nonprofit organizations or fiscally sponsored programs.
Recipient Responsibilities
901STEM Spark Grant recipients agree to:
- Use the award for the STEM project described in the approved application
- Obtain written approval from 901STEM before making a significant change to the project’s purpose
- Allow 901STEM to announce and share the grant award publicly
- Acknowledge 901STEM’s support in appropriate public communications about the funded project
- Provide a brief impact statement within 90 days of receiving the award
The impact statement should describe how the grant was used, the students it served, and the difference it made. Photos or other project materials may also be shared when appropriate permissions have been obtained.
Ready to Spark Something New?
Have an idea for a tool, project, or experience that could bring STEM to life for your students? We would love to hear it.