Since 1983, the Ed Fund has awarded grants to uplift public schools in West Contra Costa County. We are proud to continue being a source of funding for the teachers in our district. Our Grants program is designed to champion initiatives and projects that nurture creativity and foster empowerment for students and the entire community through the Arts.

Our Bradley Arts Mini-Grants give the WCCUSD community the opportunity to empower and support students, especially African American/Black students, with their social, emotional and academic needs, while supporting project-based learning, skill development, and engaging learning experiences. The Back-to-School Mini-Grants are intended to ease the burdens of out-of-pocket costs, while improving the educational experience of students, especially focusing on the needs of African American/Black students. To celebrate and honor the lives and contributions of Black Americans during the Spring, our Black History Month grants focus on teaching students the importance of Black culture, arts, history, music, and their impact on the world today– immersing themselves in a sense of pride and belonging, while celebrating their rich history and unique experiences.

During the 2023-2024 school year, we awarded nearly $36,500 in Bradley Arts Grants to 46 projects and community events across the district. In honor of Black History Month, the Ed Fund awarded $17,900 in Arts grants to support 18 classroom and school-wide projects and community events. 

2023 Bradley Arts Grant Awardees

2024 Black History Month Grantees

2023 Black History Month Grant Awardees

Grant Opportunities

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year, WCCUSD community! We are so excited to be able to announce a variety of grant opportunities for the current school year.

Back-to-School Mini-Grants

Application cycle for the 2024-2025 school year is now closed. This year, we’re proud to have awarded $27,000 in Back-to-School Grants to 108 educators across 47 WCCUSD schools, with each teacher receiving $250

Black History Month Mini-Grants

Do you have a Black History Month project/ event that needs support? This school year, we are excited to once again offer Arts grants to support Black History Month classroom and school-wide projects and community events within the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Grant amounts range from $500 up to $1,500.

Who: Anyone from the West Contra Costa community (teacher, student, parent, community-based organization) can apply for a grant as long as the project/event supports a classroom or school(s) within the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Priority will be given to first-year teachers and those who have not been an Ed Fund grant awardee in the past. At this time, we are not accepting applications from charter schools.

What: Classroom grants of up to $500 are available to support projects serving individual classrooms. School-wide grants of up to $1,000 are available to support projects serving 3 or more classrooms. Community event grants are available for up to $1,500. Grants can be used on: art supplies, visiting artists, scripts, materials, instruments, costumes/props, etc., but are not allowed to be used for the coordination of the project or teacher salaries/stipends. All materials requested must be used in conjunction with a project or community event. At this time, we are not accepting funding requests for transportation/ field trip costs, food, scholarships/ gift cards, professional development, or technological asks such as computers/tablets, printers, cameras, projectors, etc. Grant award may be considered taxable income. Consult your tax professional for additional information.

For guidance on what the Ed Fund seeks in grant applications, refer to our virtual workshop. This presentation provides key information and tips to help applicants prepare their submissions. Access it at the bottom of this page.

When: Application opens November 18, 2024 and closes December 22, 2024 at 5PM.

How: Submit an online 2024-25 Black History Month Application via the Jotform application here or click on the “Apply for a Black History Month Grant” button.

We look forward to reading your plans of diving deep into history and current events at your school sites!

Bradley Arts Mini-Grants

Application cycle for the 2024-2025 school year will open January 2025.

Resources:

Apply for a BHM Grant