Significant Number of Classroom Grant Requests For Collier Educators in Need of Funding

Champions For Learning’s Classroom Grants portal is open and seeing a significant number of requests from Collier County educators. Our community’s educators are working to provide students with engaging, meaningful learning experiences while navigating the limitations of school budgets. Classroom Grants help bridge that gap so students can access learning experiences that might otherwise be out of reach.

More than 300 grant requests totaling over $250,000 have been submitted so far for the 2026-2027 school year. Members of the community can fund these projects and provide educators with much needed instructional supplies, classroom items, enrichment activities, or other innovative classroom projects that go beyond what is available through a school’s budget.

While Champions For Learning aims to fund as many grants as possible, the number of grant requests submitted far exceeds the amount of funding available. Without community support, many carefully planned projects that provide students opportunities for deeper learning, creativity, and teamwork will not be implemented.

“Our educators know what their students need to be successful, but they don’t always have the resources in their school budgets to make those opportunities possible,” said Eric Williams, President and CEO of Champions For Learning. “Classroom Grants give teachers the resources to turn innovative ideas into meaningful learning experiences, helping students engage more deeply in their education and develop important content knowledge and skills.”

Champions For Learning’s Classroom Grants are available to all Florida Department of Education approved schools in Collier County, including traditional public, charter, and private schools. All funded grants are awarded on Surprise Delivery Day in the fall. Distributing the funds in the fall gives educators the opportunity to implement their new projects as soon as possible for the school year. Unfunded grants and new requests stay open on the grant request platform until March 5, 2027.

The significant number of requests demonstrates the need for additional resources to support Collier County educators and their students. Community members can make a direct investment in Collier County classrooms by hand-selecting a grant to fund or making a general contribution to the Classroom Grants fund. Every gift helps educators provide students with meaningful learning experiences that go beyond what is available through a school’s budget.

Visit Championsforlearning.org/classroomgrants/ to make a gift to Champions For Learning’s Classroom Grants Program.

About Champions For Learning™

Founded in 1990, the Education Foundation of Collier County – Champions For Learning’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for educational success by investing in Collier’s students and educators. Our Student Programs are designed to equip and prepare students for their future learning and career goals, and our Educator Programs are designed to value, empower, and support our educators to experience professional success. Our community outreach efforts engage residents and organizations as partners in this work because education is a powerful force that changes lives and transforms communities. Recognized as the education foundation serving Collier County by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, Champions For Learning serves as a unifying force within the community by driving collective action towards the common goal of student and educator success.

Champions For Learning is a volunteer driven organization. Nearly 450 individuals volunteered with us last year, giving back over 6,700 hours to our organization. Champions For Learning’s dedicated volunteers and a committed administrative team reflect our mission to serve as a catalyst for educational success.! For more information about Champions For Learning or to see more of our work, visit our website.