Funding Resources

Federal Funding Resources
Within legislation, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments (IDEA), there may be provisions for acquiring separate financial support other than what is specifically allocated to your state. Visit the Department of Education website, www.ed.gov, to learn about funding opportunities available through federal legislation.

National and State Funding Resources
It is important for Linking Agents to be familiar with various state specific offices such as the State Department of Education and State Office of Mental Health, as well as national organizations and foundations that may provide funding. Learn about the potential funding opportunities available and obtain a tentative time schedule of funding announcements. Develop a mechanism for continuously keeping apprised of funding opportunities – such as getting your name on mailing lists, subscribing to listservs, or networking and maintaining contact with personnel from state offices and national organizations and/or their local chapters. Funding opportunities may be available through:

• State Education Agencies (SEA): Check the SEA website often. Learn which departments typically have funding available for programs that your district would be interested in implementing.
• Universities and Colleges: Universities have many opportunities to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Often universities look to collaborate with local school districts. Form alliances with university personnel to facilitate the possibility of future collaborative activities.
• Associations and Organizations: National associations and organizations, as well as their local chapters, often offer funding opportunities. For instance the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has a federation in every state that may have grant opportunities available to local members for projects and materials.
• Foundations: Foundations are a rich source of funding for local school districts.

General Grant Resources
Websites contain a variety of funding opportunities. Carefully assess the appropriateness of these funding resources to determine their alignment with your district's mission and objectives. Go to the EMSTAC website for an up-to-date listing of websites that offer funding information.

We have delveloped a funding product titled The "Aha" Guide to Maximizing School Resources: Tips for Obtaining What Is Available. It is available in Microsoft Word format, as well as PDF format. It will open in a new browser window.