The Universe has Never Been More Accessible!
If your institution’s budget alone can not cover the cost of your StarLab Planetarium, you still have lots of options for finding funding. In this guide, we wanted to share some ideas and resources for locating funding opportunities at the state and national level.
Funding Resources
The hardest part of the funding process is often just getting started. There are lots of grant programs and funding opportunities out there, but you need to know where to look.
To help you navigate the world of education funding, we’ve gathered a list of databases, non-profits, and other resources to connect you with the best funding opportunities for your institution:
- Grants.gov – Federal grants database
- Teach.com – Grants for teachers
- National Science Foundation – Funding database
- Space Foundation – Grant List for Teachers
- NEA Foundation – Grants for Educators
- United Philanthropy Forum – Resources for grantseekers
- STEMfinity – STEM Funding opportunities
- Donors Choose – Matches teachers looking for project funding with donors
- Candid – A database of funders and their interests
- Tech & Learning – A frequently updated list of grants for educators
Business, finance, and government resources by state
Application Resources
When you apply for grants, your potential funders will want to know how StarLab will benefit you, your students, your institution, and/or your community. Here are some ideas for making your case in your application:
- StarLab will improve scientific literacy through an accurate and immersive representation of the night sky.
- StarLab will encourage curiosity and increase interest in scientific disciplines, including astronomy, geology, and meteorology.
- StarLab will increase scientific comprehension, helping students visualize abstract astronomical concepts such as eclipses, phases of the moon, and seasonal weather patterns.
- StarLab’s portability allows school districts and their communities to maximize their return on investment and utilize StarLab in a variety of settings — science nights, extracurricular enrichment, summer programs, etc.
- StarLab is a flexible teaching tool, opening up opportunities for educators to design their own lessons and help students make lasting, cross-curricular connections.
- The Starry Night and Layered Earth softwares align with current Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Reach out to our team for more info on standards alignment.
The International Planetarium Society also provides a free whitepaper on the Value of Education in a Planetarium, which you can view here.
