Grants — how we apply¶
You do not need Python, GitHub, or coding. Use this site and Google Drive. If something looks broken or a portal needs a tech assist, ask the grant lead or treasurer.
Site: board.apexstem.org (board / finance / admin only)
Right now — what needs the board¶
| # | Grant | Deadline | Ask | What you do | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Honda (education) | Fall cycle | $25,000 | Submitted 2026-09-17; resubmitted 2026-10-05 — await spring decision; save confirmation to Drive | Checklist |
| — | Post Foundation | Oct 1 | $10,000 | Submitted 2026-09-16 — await Nov review; save confirmation to Drive | Checklist |
| 1 | State Farm Good Neighbor | Invitation-only | $7,500 asked | Questionnaire in 2026-09-17 — await invite | Checklist |
| — | Colocation America STEM | 2027 (Jul LL + Oct apply) | $2k–$7.5k | Deferred — missed 2026 mandatory Lunch & Learn; watch Jun 1, 2027 | Checklist |
| — | AAUW Community Action | Sep 17 LOI | — | Skipped 2026 (1 of 7 students is a girl) | Checklist |
Fastest help you can give this week
File Honda and Post portal confirmation PDFs in Drive. State Farm: watch for an invitation email (no reply is common).
Simple workflow (everyone)¶
1. Open the checklist for that grant (link above)
2. Read the draft / LOI — suggest edits in email or a board call
3. Treasurer confirms money packet (W-9, bank, budget lines)
4. One person submits on the funder’s website
5. Confirmation PDF goes in Google Drive (not email forever)
6. Tell the grant lead so status can be updated to “submitted”
Before anyone hits Submit¶
- [ ] We confirmed Apex is allowed to apply (not “schools only” / wrong program)
- [ ] Ask amount is a real number (not “TBD”)
- [ ] W-9 + determination letter ready in Drive
- [ ] Nonprofit bank / payable path ready
- [ ] No student names or home addresses in what we upload
Packet checklist: Grant readiness
Where things live¶
| What | Where | For board members |
|---|---|---|
| This guide + drafts | This site | Read and review here |
| Org facts (EIN, mission) | Org facts | Copy/paste into forms |
| Reusable wording | Narrative blocks | Copy/adapt — don’t invent stats |
| Full opportunity list | Opportunities | See what’s in / out of scope |
| Final PDFs, W-9, signed forms | Google Drive Apex STEM Education/Grants/ |
Treasurer owns folder |
| Status updates | Ask grant lead (they update the tracker) | You don’t edit files |
Status meanings (plain English)¶
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Prospect | On our radar; not started |
| Fit-check | Researching whether we can apply |
| Drafting | Writing the application |
| Review | Needs board / treasurer eyes |
| Submitted | Sent — waiting |
| Awaiting | Funder is deciding |
| Awarded | We won (log the amount) |
| Declined | Not funded |
| Withdrawn | We stopped |
| Ineligible | Confirmed — do not apply |
Who does what¶
| Role | Owns |
|---|---|
| Board / grant lead | Pick priorities, check eligibility, keep narrative honest, submit (or assign submitter) |
| Treasurer | Budgets, W-9, awards accounting, Drive packet, bank path |
| Team lead | Program stats (including girls’ participation), student-safe quotes |
Do not apply (already checked)¶
These looked promising on a scraped list but fail on the official sites — or we chose not to apply this cycle:
- AAUW Community Action (2026) — skipped; roster is 1 of 7 girls (weak fit for girls-in-STEM LOI)
- “Lindemann” / Quinn’s Corner — DV survivors & pets, not STEM
- Burns & McDonnell STEM — school staff only (not our nonprofit alone)
- Panasonic Challenge (CFNJ) — Newark students
- Toshiba America Foundation — classroom teachers; after-school clubs usually out
- Constellation Energy to Educate — skip unless 100+ student energy workshop
Details: Opportunities
Related¶
- apexstem.org · EIN
42-3121570 - Questions about updating the opportunity list? Ask the grant lead (technical maintainers keep a private sync script in the repo).