SPARK! Creative Learning Grants

All SELCO branches will be closed Tuesday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. Account access will still be available through digital banking.

When teachers bring passion to the classroom, magic happens

Students come together on projects that excite curiosity, deepen understanding, and encourage Students come together on projects that excite curiosity, deepen understanding, and encourage new ways of seeing. Lack of funding should never get in the way of projects like these. That’s why we award grants of up to $1,000 to K-12 educators. We love projects that spark something new and want to see proposals for helping kids create and teachers innovate.

Click here to learn about the grant recipients and their funded projects for the 2022-23 academic year. The application period for the 2023-24 academic year will open August 15, 2023.

SPARK! Spotlight: Judy Tacchini

Our team sat down with Judy Tacchini, a 2021-22 SPARK! grant recipient in Eugene, to learn about her classroom project "Preserving the Narrative." Check out the video to hear all about it - and see the final result!

Eligibility

Grants are open to all K–12 educators at schools in the 27 Oregon counties SELCO serves.

Before you apply

The most memorable projects will stick with students for years to come. Tell us how yours will make a long-lasting impact.
We want our funding to have a major effect on your project. If it will cost more than $1,000, please tell us the source of the remaining funds. (In rare instances, we may provide additional funds if they would support project longevity.)
We’ll pay for equipment and supplies, such as iPads, calculators, or art materials, but only if they’re part of a larger project. Please be specific.
Funds cannot be used to pay for food, prizes, field trips, or salaries.
Don’t forget to keep your principal in the loop by getting their approval of the project prior to submission, then sharing a copy of your proposal.

Scoring criteria

Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate creativity and innovation in the classroom. We review each application with an eye to the following:

Project creativity and originality: Does this project approach a lesson in a unique or interesting way? Is this project something that will create a lasting memory for students?
Proposal clarity: Is it clear what the project hopes to accomplish and how it will reach students? Is the program budget well defined?
Number of students affected: How many students will benefit? Will this project run for multiple years?
Potential to develop a targeted skill: Does the project aim to develop or deepen a specific skill or set of skills? Are the goals and scope clearly defined and achievable?
Supporting impact and diversity: How many students will benefit from this program in the grant year? Will this program run for multiple years?