LEARNING for Equity grants support collaborative, equity-explicit projects designed by a team of educators, usually (though not exclusively) from the same school. Award amounts range from $1,000 to $15,000
See what projects we are funding in ’24-25.
Check out this side-by-side Comparison of LEARNING for Equity and LEADING for Equity grants
Priority Funding Areas
LEARNING for Equity proposals are prioritized where they clearly support at least 1 of the Schools Fund’s priority funding areas:
- Focused Academic Support & Intervention
- Emotional Health & Wellness
- Digital Equity
- Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Learning (Incl. Positive Racial/Ethnic Identity Development)
- Equitable Family Engagement
- Recruit & Retain Educators of Color
Explicit About Equity
LEARNING for Equity proposals will be evaluated based on the following equity dimensions:
- For whom? (Who is the proposed audience?)
- By whom? (What relevant qualifications does the educator team have?)
- What? (What is the intended curriculum or content?)
- How? (What is the chosen pedagogy? How will the project be implemented?)
Read more about what the Schools Fund means by “equity.”
Collaboration
LEARNING for Equity grants aim to grow equity-informed practice beyond individual classrooms and into the fabric of grade level, subject area or whole school systems. As such, proposals are evaluated on the project team’s capacity for aligning their work and sharing best practices.
Project teams are comprised of a Project Lead (who is usually the applicant), a Project Co-lead (optional), and Collaborators who are specifically named in the application. Collaborators must be fully committed to implementing the project. LEARNING for Equity proposals from a single educator will not be accepted.
Who Can Apply
LEARNING for Equity grants are open to teams of current BUSD staff members, both classified and certificated.
Community organizations may partner with BUSD staff and be listed as a Co-lead but a BUSD staff member must serve as the Project Lead.
Please consider whether a LEADING for Equity grant may be a better fit. See this side-by-side grants comparison.
Are you a current grantee interested in re-applying for the same or similar project?
Read more our criteria for re-applying
Questions?
Email Deputy Director Duffy Ross (duffyross@berkeley.net)
Strategic Investments Where They Matter Most
With universal goals for all BUSD students, the Schools Fund works in a focused way to ensure that all students, and especially those furthest from opportunity, thrive in school and in life.
Grantwriting Tools
- Step-by-step Guide to Writing a Schools Fund Grant
- Past year’s LEARNING for Equity Grants: ’23-24 Grants, ’22-23 Grants and ’21-22 Grants
- LEARNING for Equity Grant Guidelines
- LEARNING & LEADING Budget Considerations
- LEARNING for Equity Application Questions & Planner
- Equity Grants, EXAMPLE Budget & Blank Budget Template
- LEARNING For Equity EXAMPLE Grant Application
- LEARNING & LEADING Side-by-side Comparison
- Other Grantmaking Organizations for Educators
For Current Grantees
- Grantees can request funds with this Equity Grant Funds Request Form
- Are you paying BUSD Staff? Read these Instructions for Completing BUSD Timesheets
- Are you working with external contractors? Read this Working with External Contractors
- Are you purchasing technology? Read this How to Request/Purchase Grant-funded Tech through BUSD
- Got Money Questions? Email: schoolsfund@berkeley.net