The school year is officially underway, and so is fall grant season.

If funding new STEM or CTE tools is on your back-to-school wish list, DO start applying now. Several classroom and program grants have deadlines coming up between September and the end of October, with opportunities ranging from a few hundred dollars for an individual classroom project to $100,000 for larger STEM programs.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the strongest opportunities to put on your list now—plus two important funding DON’Ts that can help you avoid leaving money on the table.

Quick funding reminder: CoDrone EDU qualifies for many federal, state, and local funding sources—including Perkins V, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and more. So even if none of the deadlines below are the right fit, there may already be funding available through your school or district, and you can check out our Grant Tool for more details.

Not seeing an opportunity for your school, or looking for additional ways to fund your drone program? Check out this clip from our CTE in Action webinar, where our ambassadors shared their methods for getting their drone program funded: 

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DO: Apply for State and Regional Grants Closing This Fall

Georgia

Georgia Foundation for Public Education — Teacher Grants for Innovation

Description: The Georgia Teachers Initiative, supported by the Georgia Foundation for Public Education, provides grants to Georgia public school teachers with innovative ideas for improving student learning.

Projects should introduce creative approaches to instruction and demonstrate a measurable impact on students.

Application Timeline:

• Current Application Round: July 16–October 15, 2026

• Application Deadline: October 15, 2026

• Current-round recipients expected to be announced in November

Eligibility Requirements:

• Open to Georgia public school teachers

• Previous Teacher Grant for Innovation recipients are not eligible to apply again

Funding:

• $500–$2,500

How CoDrone EDU Applies: CoDrone EDU gives educators a direct path to teaching coding, engineering, and computational thinking through hands-on drone programming — exactly the kind of project-based, measurable learning this grant is designed to support.

Rather than learning programming concepts only on a screen, students write code and watch it come to life through actual flight. An application could focus on measurable outcomes such as student engagement, coding proficiency, engineering design skills, or collaborative problem-solving.

Learn more about Teacher Grants for Innovation

 

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North Carolina

North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives — Bright Ideas Grant

Description: The Bright Ideas Education Grant program provides funding to North Carolina educators for creative, classroom-based projects that might not otherwise receive funding. The program has supported hands-on learning across subjects ranging from science and technology to art, history, and mathematics.

Application Timeline:

• Application Deadline: September 15, 2026

Eligibility Requirements:

• Open to K–12 educators in North Carolina

• Applicants must be served by a participating North Carolina electric cooperative

• Eligibility for charter and private school educators may vary by cooperative

Funding:

• Award amounts vary by participating electric cooperative

• Many grants range from approximately $500–$3,000

How CoDrone EDU Applies: Bright Ideas prioritizes creative, hands-on classroom projects designed to improve student learning — making drone-based STEM projects a natural fit.

Educators can use CoDrone EDU to build a project centered on coding, engineering design, data collection, problem-solving, or collaborative STEM challenges. Because CoDrone EDU includes curriculum and integrates directly into classroom instruction, applicants can clearly connect the requested equipment to specific learning objectives and long-term classroom use.

Apply for a Bright Ideas Grant

 

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Tennessee

TVA STEM Classroom Awards

Description: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated (BVI), offers STEM Classroom Awards to support innovative STEM learning projects in schools across the Tennessee Valley. Projects should incorporate design thinking, promote 21st-century skills, and help students build college and career readiness through hands-on STEM learning.

Proposed projects must support at least one of TVA's four priority areas: Environment, Energy, Economic and Career Development, or Community Problem Solving.

Application Timeline:

• Application Deadline: September 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM

• Award Announcements: November 15, 2026

• Project Completion and Spending Deadline: June 1, 2027

• Final Report Deadline: June 30, 2027

Eligibility Requirements:

• Open to public and private schools serving students in grades K–12

• School must be located within the TVA service area and receive electricity from a TVA local power company, or be located within the TVA Watershed Area

• Nonprofit organizations, homeschools, homeschool pods, and Pre-K organizations are not eligible

• Each teacher may submit one application; schools may submit applications from multiple teachers

Funding:

• Awards are available in amounts of $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, $3,500, or $5,000

• Funds may be used to support STEM-related project expenses and equipment

• Funds may not be used for expenses including furniture, travel, salaries, food, professional development, construction, or general office supplies unrelated to STEM activities

How CoDrone EDU Applies: The TVA STEM Classroom Awards prioritize innovative projects that incorporate design thinking, build 21st-century skills, strengthen college and career readiness, and expose students to real-world careers and in-demand skills. CoDrone EDU can support these goals through hands-on experiences in programming, problem-solving, and drone technology.

A proposal could center on a precision agriculture challenge where student teams program CoDrone EDU to survey a model crop field and identify simulated conditions such as healthy, dry, or pest-affected crops. Using Blockly or Python and the drone’s color sensor, students plan flight paths, collect and interpret sensor data, test and revise their code, and present recommendations as if they were advising an agricultural client. The project connects coding, engineering design, data analysis, and iterative problem-solving to real careers in agriculture, drone operations, autonomous systems, and data.

Learn more about the TVA STEM Classroom Awards

Y-12 STEM Classroom Grant

Description: Consolidated Nuclear Security, which manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex, offers a STEM Classroom Grant designed to help East Tennessee educators advance STEM learning and prepare students for the future workforce.

The selected school will receive a $10,000 grant to support STEM activities during the 2026–27 school year.

Application Timeline:

• Application Deadline: October 2, 2026

Eligibility Requirements:

• Open to K–12 teachers and school administrators at public and private schools

• School must be located in an eligible East Tennessee county, including Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, or Union counties

Funding:

• $10,000, paid directly to the recipient's school

How CoDrone EDU Applies: The Y-12 grant specifically focuses on strengthening STEM learning and developing the future workforce. CoDrone EDU helps educators connect coding and engineering concepts to technologies students may encounter in careers across aerospace, advanced manufacturing, public safety, and autonomous systems.

A proposal could center on building a classroom drone program where students learn programming, engineering design, troubleshooting, collaboration, and problem-solving through hands-on flight missions — skills that map directly to the workforce pathways this grant is designed to support.

Learn more about the Y-12 STEM Classroom Grant

 

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DO: Apply for National STEM Grants

Toshiba America Foundation — Grades 6–12 STEM Grants

Description: The Toshiba America Foundation provides grants directly to classroom teachers with innovative ideas for making STEM learning more engaging. The foundation prioritizes project-based learning and projects that give students meaningful, hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Application Timeline:

For grant requests up to $5,000:

• Next Deadline: September 1, 2026

• Additional deadline: December 1, 2026

For requests greater than $5,000:

• Deadlines: May 1 and November 1

Eligibility Requirements:

• Designed primarily for teachers in grades 6–12

• Projects should take place during the school day and support classroom STEM instruction

• Proposals should emphasize project-based learning with measurable outcomes

Funding:

• Up to $5,000 for the September 1 application cycle

• Larger grants are available through separate application cycles

How CoDrone EDU Applies: This opportunity is an especially strong match for educators who want to use drones as part of a larger, project-based STEM experience.

CoDrone EDU allows students to write code, test it through physical flight, analyze the results, troubleshoot problems, and iterate on their solutions. A grant proposal could build a unit around autonomous flight challenges, engineering design, sensor-based investigations, or real-world applications of drone technology.

Instead of simply requesting equipment, applicants should clearly explain the learning experience the drones will make possible and the measurable STEM outcomes students will work toward.

Apply for a Toshiba America Foundation Grades 6–12 Grant

 

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Toshiba America Foundation — Grades K–5 STEM Grants

Description: Toshiba America Foundation also offers a separate grant opportunity for elementary educators looking to bring project-based STEM into their classrooms. The program supports hands-on learning that makes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics engaging and tangible for younger students.

Application Timeline:

• Application Deadline: October 1, 2026

Eligibility Requirements:

• Open to K–5 classroom teachers

• Projects should focus on innovative, project-based STEM learning

Funding:

• Up to $1,000

How CoDrone EDU Applies: For elementary educators, the strongest application focuses on the STEM experience — not the drone itself.

CoDrone EDU can be incorporated into teacher-guided coding activities, engineering challenges, measurement and data activities, and collaborative problem-solving experiences for grades 4 to 5. Applicants should outline a specific project and describe how students will use hands-on exploration to investigate STEM concepts.

Apply for a Toshiba America Foundation K–5 Grant

 

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Constellation — E2: Energy to Educate

Description: Constellation's Energy to Educate program supports hands-on student projects that help learners explore energy, sustainability, technology, and the future energy workforce. Projects are designed to give students opportunities to investigate real-world energy challenges while building STEM skills.

Application Timeline:

• Application Deadline: October 1, 2026

Eligibility Requirements:

• Opportunities are available for K–12 and postsecondary programs

• Projects should connect to energy, sustainability, or related STEM concepts

• Applicants should review current program guidelines for geographic and project requirements

Funding:

• Up to $25,000 for K–12 projects

• Up to $50,000 for postsecondary projects

How CoDrone EDU Applies: For this grant, the key is connecting drone technology to the program's energy and sustainability focus.

Students could use drones as part of a larger investigation into environmental monitoring, energy infrastructure, conservation, mapping, or sustainable technology. A project might challenge students to explore how autonomous systems can collect information, increase efficiency, or support emerging energy careers.

CoDrone EDU provides the coding and engineering component while giving students a real-world platform for investigating larger STEM questions.

Learn more about Energy to Educate

 

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Toyota4Good STEM Funding Opportunities

Description: Toyota's community giving programs support education and workforce development initiatives, with STEM education as an important area of focus. Funding opportunities are particularly relevant for schools and organizations located near Toyota facilities and communities where Toyota has a significant presence.

Application Timeline:

• Fall Deadline: October 1, 2026

Eligibility Requirements:

• Eligibility varies by program and geographic area

• Priority may be given to organizations and schools near Toyota operations

• Applicants should confirm eligibility for their location before beginning an application

Funding:

• Funding varies by project and program

How CoDrone EDU Applies: A strong proposal connects drone education to a broader pathway from classroom STEM learning to future technical careers.

With CoDrone EDU, students practice coding, engineering design, troubleshooting, teamwork, and systems thinking while working with technology connected to fields like advanced manufacturing, automation, robotics,and aerospace. Applicants should emphasize the connection between hands-on STEM experiences and career-ready skills rather than focusing solely on equipment.

Explore Toyota4Good grant opportunities

 

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DON’T: Overlook Funding Your District May Already Have

Beyond the state and national opportunities listed above, some of the most accessible funding for classroom drone programs comes from closer to home. Local education foundations, district technology funds, Title IV-A allocations, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) budgets through the Perkins grant are all worth exploring — and Robolink's Grants & Funding resources can help you find the right fit. It includes sample language from successful educator applications and grant-writing guidance built around what reviewers are actually looking for: clear learning objectives, measurable student outcomes, and a specific plan for how the technology gets used, not just purchased. If you're building a case for your principal or district CTE coordinator, these resources can help you shape the conversation before you ever fill out an application. 

 

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DON'T: Wait Until the Deadline

Fall moves fast, and so do these deadlines.

If you've been thinking about adding drones or hands-on programming to your STEM or CTE program, now is the time to put that idea on paper. Start with the student experience you want to create — the skills students will build, the problems they'll solve, the careers these experiences connect to. Then show how the technology makes that learning possible.

A strong grant proposal isn't about the equipment. It's about what students will do, learn, create, and discover because that equipment is in their hands.

Need help figuring out how CoDrone EDU fits into your application? Explore Robolink's Grants & Funding resources for additional opportunities, grant-writing tips, and ideas for building a drone program that works for your classroom.