STARLAB Funding Resources
Finding the funds to realize your dream of owning a STARLAB or Digital STARLAB is well worth the effort. With persistence, patience, and a bit of luck, you can raise the funds you need. Although Science First / STARLAB is unable to offer grants, we are pleased to offer the following free resources to assist you on your path to obtaining STARLAB funding:
Step 1: Read our two STARLAB Funding Booklets.
Star-Struck: Finding the Funding to Make Your Dreams of a STARLAB Purchase Come True
This compact resource guide and how-to manual covers everything from
federal funding to PTA fund-raisers to corporate funding. Concise and
user-friendly, Star-Struck walks you through the process of fund-raising. Download a free pdf copy of Star-Struck.
Helping Kids Reach for the Stars: Making a STARLAB Donation, An Information Booklet for the Corporate Sponsor
This is an informational tool for you to give to any corporation,
business or foundation considering the sponsorship (full or partial) of
a STARLAB. It gives a description of STARLAB, lists benefits of
corporate sponsorship, lists past corporate sponsors, shows photos of
STARLAB domes with logos on them, includes comments from teachers and
students, provides some sample articles, and shows survey highlights.
Click here to receive a free pdf copy of Helping Kids Reach for the Stars.
Step 2: Use our free Grant Research Service.
A free Grant Research Service is available for customers who are
seeking grants to fund a STARLAB purchase. Within 10 business days of
requesting this service, you will receive a list of potential
foundations and corporate funders for your STARLAB initiative. The list
will include detailed information about the funder’s interests, typical
grant size, application information, and past grants (if available). If
you would like us to research possible grant opportunities for you,
please click here to complete the Funding Research Request Form.
Please note, for those of you outside of the United States, our
funding resource database is limited to U.S.-based foundations and
corporations. Some mullti-national corporations do fund internationally.
Step 3: Request our free Grant Writing Materials.
Grant-Writing Materials designed to help customers write grants for
a STARLAB purchase, including sample grant proposals, are available
upon request. Please contact our Grants Specialist to request materials. Step 4: Take advantage of our Grant Review Service.
A Grant Review Service is available for customers who are
ready to submit their proposals to funders. Upon request, our grant specialist will review your grant proposal and make
suggestions before you submit it to funders. Please allow three weeks
for this service. Contact Science First / STARLAB to request this service.
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Tips for Successful
Grant-Seeking
1. Set a realistic timeline. Although it can be very effective, applying for grants is not a quick way to raise funds. Most funders review proposals 2-4 times per year. Make sure to submit your grant proposals in advance of the funders’ deadlines. It will probably take three to six months to receive an answer.
2. Send out many proposals. All funders have limited resources, and they must choose among many worthwhile projects. Be sure to apply to many funders for the best chance at success with one or two.
3. Craft a well-written proposal. A well-written proposal is critical to your success. Be sure to explain what STARLAB can do for your organization in a clear way. Avoid jargon, explain technical terms, and assume that the reader has no previous knowledge of STARLAB or of the issues facing your organization. Be sure to have someone who is not familiar with your project proofread the proposal before it is sent to the funder.
4. Pursue other avenues of funding. Be prepared to piece together the funding that you need from a variety of sources. Your school’s or organization’s operating budget, local education foundations, PTAs, Rotary or Kiwanis clubs, individual donors, and fund-raising events are all potential sources of funds for STARLAB.
5. Thank your supporters. When you receive a grant, be sure to thank the funder and follow through with any plans for public acknowledgment that you offered or that the funder requested. Be prepared to report on your progress and how you used the grant. Most funders require a report within one year of awarding a grant.
6. Keep Trying! The competition for funding is intense. If your proposal is rejected, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the funder didn’t like the project. If you receive a rejection, call the funder and politely ask for feedback on your proposal. Try to find out why they turned you down, so that you can improve your proposal if necessary. You may find out that they simply did not have enough money to fund everything they wanted to, and you may be encouraged to apply again.
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