The Students First Fund is awarded to schools/buildings once a year per annual grant cycle. The program is geared toward students in the classroom, with an emphasis on grants that have a building, grade level or department-level impact. The intent of the grant fund is to put students first. Students First Grants fund student-focused programs and materials that enhance the learning environment with the goal of improving academic achievement and experiences for students, and all applications will be evaluated accordingly.
Applications are submitted online. Awarded funds will be available in the spring semester.
Deadline:
- October 15, 2026
Eligible Applicants:
- All grants must be submitted by CPS staff (teacher, principal, counselor, coach, media specialist, etc.).
- Grant proposals must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate CPS building/administrator before being submitted to the Columbia Public Schools Foundation.
- Students First Fund grants are available for one school per annual grant cycle.
Grant Size:
- Grants range from $500 to $6,000 and are awarded directly to schools or departments, not individuals.
- Total grant funds awarded may be shared among grade levels/departments in a single grant application per school. For example, a middle school could break down the $6,000 into three $2,000 grants for each grade level, all detailed within one grant application.
- For grant requests exceeding $6,000, please see information on our district-wide grants.
Eligible Proposals:
- Grants must serve CPS students.
- Priority is given to grant requests that benefit multiple classrooms in a building or the entire building.
- All grant funds must be used in accordance with CPS policies and must be approved by the CPS Board of Education before any funds are released. Funds will be released directly to each approved school by the following semester.
- Grants may not include expenses for:
- Parents, volunteers, school or department staff or non-CPS students.
- Food, snacks or beverages of any kind.
- Programs taking place outside of the current school year.
- Technology/equipment not supported by CPS.
- Routine furniture or equipment maintenance, repair, and replacement.
- Incentives, prizes and trinket give-aways.
- Professional development.
Examples of Students First Fund grant eligible uses include:
- Materials and supplies for a school-wide event, such as a Cultural Night
- Books for a reading room to help struggling readers
- Take-home kits for literacy or mathematics
- Kindness carts with materials for each grade level
- Guest speaker or author visit for grade level or school assembly
- STEM or MakerSpace materials
- Field trip transportation
- One Read program for grade level or building
Ready to apply? Apply online here.