Financial Resources for Schools

Is your school budget tight? Are you looking for financial resources to improve your school curriculum or reduce energy bills? Below is listing of financial incentives available to teachers, schools, and school districts. This website will continually be updated with the latest financial resources available for schools. If you are aware of a financial resource available for schools that is not listed on this web page, please contact us and select the "School Toolkit" category.

Environmental Education

• Green Thumb Challenge

  From classroom bean plant experiments to outdoor compost projects, pots of pansies to large raised beds, the Green Thumb Challenge aims to motivate schools across the country to plant 10,000 indoor or outdoor gardens in 2010. Registration is ongoing. For more information, contact the Green Education Foundation at (508) 668-2278.

• Captain Planet Foundation Grants

  The Captain Planet Foundation is accepting applications for funding projects that help students better grasp environmental issues. Projects must promote understanding of environmental issues, focus on hands-on activities, involve students ages 6 to 18, promote interaction and cooperation within a group, help young people develop planning and problem-solving skills, include adult supervision, and commit to follow-up communication with the Foundation. Deadlines (annually) are: March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. For more information, contact Program Director Taryn Murphy at (404) 522-4270 or tarynm@captainplanetfdn.org.

• PG&E Solar Schools Program/ Bright Ideas Grants

  Credentialed teachers/professors/instructors, principals/deans/department heads, and district administrators and facilities managers may apply to receive a $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 grant to promote environmental stewardship in any of the five following categories: Educational Solar Projects, Youth Energy and Environmental Programs, Renewable Energy or Science Related Field Trips, Green Your School Projects, or Professional Development/ Service Learning Projects/ Workforce Development Programs. Spring entries are due March 20 and fall entries are due September 20.

Energy Efficiency

• Bright Schools Program

  Are you interested in saving about 20 percent on average utility energy bills annually? The California Energy Commission's Bright Schools Program can help you to identify cost-saving strategies to renovate an existing school, build a new one, or reduce current energy bills. The program offers technical assistance (worth up to $20,000 in consultant fees) to help you identify energy efficient solutions. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. For more information, please contact Karen Perrin at (916) 654-4104 or Kperrin@energy.state.ca.us.

• School Facility Program - Modernization Grants

  School districts are eligible for modernization grants in schools where students are housed in permanent buildings 25 years old or older and relocatable classrooms 20 years old or older and the buildings have not been previously modernized with State funds. The modernization grant can be used to fund a large variety of work at an eligible school site such as air conditioning, insulation, roof replacement, photovoltaic systems, as well as the purchase of new furniture and equipment. For more information, contact Rick Asbell at (916) 322-0317 or rick.asbell@dgs.ca.gov.

• Energy Efficiency Financing

  The California Energy Commission (CEC) offers up to $3 million per application in energy efficiency financing and low interest loans to schools for implementing energy-saving projects. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. For more information, contact the CEC's Public Programs Office at (916) 654-4104, or send an e-mail to: pubprog@energy.state.ca.us.

• Utility Incentives for Energy Efficiency Measures in Green Buildings

  • Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  • Southern California Edison
  • San Diego Gas and Electric Company
  • Southern California Gas Company