Classroom Grants
CLASSROOM GRANTS
Classroom Grant applications open October 6, 2025!
Since 1986 the Snohomish Education Foundation (SEF) has provided teachers and staff members of the Snohomish School District funds in the form of grants for materials and experiences as a part of our mission to “elevate opportunities and possibilities for Snohomish School District students.”
We invite you to apply for a grant for the 2025-26 school year to support the students in your classroom(s). The application is divided into 3 categories: Classroom, Experiential, and Innovative.
Traditional Classroom Grants - These are grant requests that may include instructional materials, non-teaching materials, and teacher/school support.
Experiential Grants – These are grants that may include field trips, guest speakers/presenters, CTE Clubs, presentations or other interactive engagements and programs.
Innovative Grants - These grant requests may include creative programs, pilots and initiatives that excite students in and out of the classrooms and may be new or have potential for collaboration district-wide. For programs or projects that may be of a bigger scope that may involve more than one classroom or the entire school. These grants could require more money than the normal classroom grant requests. Click here for more details on what we look for in an innovative grant: Innovative Grant Information
Criteria for ALL grants regardless of the category of application:
- Grants are funded based on the amount of money available.
- Grants will not be given for teacher education or payment for substitute teachers.
- Each applicant is limited to one individual grant request per year. Group requests will be considered additionally.
- All grants must be reviewed with the principal or building administrator and have their approval prior to submitting the application.
Click here for examples of all three grant types: Classroom Grant Examples
Click here for an example of the grant application: Example Application
Please contact office@snoed.org with questions.
Hear from Laurie about the impact of the Classroom Grants.
Hear from Misha about the impact of the Classroom Grants.
Snohomish Education Foundation Awards $100,000 in Classroom Grants to Support Innovative Learning
Community generosity fuels record-breaking funding for Snohomish School District educators
The Snohomish Education Foundation (SEF) is thrilled to announce the distribution of $100,000
in classroom grants for the 2024-2025 school year—SEF’s largest award total to date. This
funding directly supports innovative educational programs and hands-on learning experiences
that inspire students across the Snohomish School District
With 135 grant applications totaling over $133,000 in requests, SEF funded 123 projects, 110 of
which were fully funded, achieving an 82% full-funding rate. These grants are made possible
through the unwavering generosity of the Snohomish community, with $98,116 raised through
SEF’s Annual Auction in November 2024.
“The dedication of our educators shines through in every grant request, and the overwhelming
support from this community makes these projects a reality,” said Sam Janke, SEF Classroom
Grant Committee Chair, retired teacher, and current substitute in the district. “It’s incredible to
see the difference a few extra dollars can make in creating exciting and meaningful learning
experiences for students.”
Erica Cenci, SEF Executive Director, emphasized the community’s critical role in funding these
opportunities: “None of this would be possible without the businesses, families, and individuals
who believe in the importance of education. These grants are an investment in our teachers,
students, and the future of our community.”
This year’s grants support a wide range of educational needs, from STEM and music to hands-on
experiences and career development. SEF also introduced new grant categories to maximize
impact:
● Experiential Grants – funding field trips, guest speakers, and hands-on learning.
● Innovative Grants – supporting pilot programs, school-wide initiatives, and first-of-their-kind learning experiences.
Among this year’s fully funded Innovative Grants are:
● Snohomish High School: Weather Monitoring
● Valley View Middle School: Multi-language Learning for Math
● Machias Elementary: Kindergarten Outdoor Sensory Path
● District-wide (Grades 4-6): Learning and Strategy Board Games for Highly Capable program
Additionally, 13 of the 14 Experiential Grant requests were fully funded, providing author visits,
science kits, CTE conference attendance for students, and field trips that bring learning to life.
This year, for the first time, SEF piloted a business sponsorship opportunity within its grant
program. Through a partnership with Kusler’s Compounding Pharmacy, located in Snohomish,
SEF is granting Valley View Middle School with a class set of Compound Digital Microscopes with
5M Cameras to be used in various science classes.
“Supporting this grant allows us to invest in the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers
right here in our community, said SEF Board of Trustee and Kusler’s Compounding Pharmacy
CEO and Pharmacist, Dawn Ipsen. “Strong schools build a strong community. We are proud to
help provide tools that inspire hands-on learning and scientific discovery at Valley View Middle
School.”
The families, businesses, and donors who support SEF are the heart of these initiatives,
ensuring Snohomish students have access to engaging and enriching education. SEF will
continue tracking the impact of these grants, with committee members visiting classrooms this
spring to see projects in action.
The community can continue to make its mark and support the SEF Classroom Grants program
by attending this year’s SEF Annual Auction which will be held Saturday, November 1, at Tulalip
Casino Resort.
