Grants for FUSE
FUSE is dedicated to furthering equitable access to our unique STEAM program.
Our partnerships with corporations and foundations provide opportunities each year for schools to launch FUSE via two-year implementation grants. These grants are typically designated with various eligibility criteria, which may include student demographics and/or specific geographic locations.
Our current partners are the Boeing Company, which funds FUSE grants for low-income schools in Chicago’s INVEST South/West neighborhoods; the Mazda Foundation, which funds FUSE grants for schools in Orange County and Los Angeles County, CA; Siemens, which funds several schools per year across their client base; and Smithfield, which has recently funded schools in South Dakota, Nebraska, and North Carolina.
Current Grant Opportunities
Eligibility
This grant opportunity for Chicago Public Schools is available through the generosity of the Boeing Company. Up to 10 middle schools will receive a two year grant. Schools must be located in Chicago Public Schools; priority will be given to schools located in Chicago’s Invest South/West neighborhoods, and those serving a high percent of low income students (80% or higher).
Calendar for the Boeing FUSE Grant
- March: Applications are due at 11:59pm CST.
- March: Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a phone call interview.
- April: Schools will receive notification about the grant decisions.
- Summer: Professional development trainings; FUSE materials delivered to schools.
- school year: year one of grant implementation
- school year: year two of grant implementation
- end of second school year: grant period ends.
The FUSE Grant
This grant will provide awarded schools two years of the FUSE program, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, including:
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Site license and materials for the FUSE Innovate package (32 Challenges), a $20,000 value.
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All equipment and materials needed for the program, including two 3D printers (Prusa i3Mk3+’s), a vinyl cutter (Cameo Silhouette) and all challenge kit materials.
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Unlimited access to the FUSE website, which hosts the FUSE’s learning activities, help resources, and studio management tools
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Professional development: two-day training for teachers and administrators from selected schools in summer 2021
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Year-round implementation support from the FUSE team.
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Renewal fee for the 2023-2024 school year ($6,000 value), covering licenses, website access, etc.
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$800 towards materials and new Challenges to re-supply Studio materials over the two years.
Eligibility
This grant opportunity for Chicago Public Schools is available through the generosity of the Boeing Company . Up to 10 middle schools will receive a two year grant. Schools must be located in Chicago Public Schools; priority will be given to schools located in Chicago’s Invest South/West neighborhoods, and those serving a high percent of low income students (80% or higher).
School Requirements
To successfully apply for this opportunity, your school will need to commit to providing the following:
Facilitator
FUSE facilitators are usually classroom teachers or librarians who are willing to learn new technologies alongside students. This person does not have to be a STEAM expert; FUSE provides professional development training and ongoing support to teachers who facilitate FUSE. The grant supports up to eight facilitators in a school, and we invite all stakeholders from a granted school to attend our summer training.
1:1 computers
PC’s, Macs, and Chromebooks are all compatible with our program, as long as they have at least 4GB of RAM available.
Studio
A room with plenty of work space for individuals and groups, at tables and on the floor.
Fast Internet
Connection capable of supporting multiple simultaneous video streams.
IT Support
Robust IT staff or department to help with software installation and technical troubleshooting.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about FUSE Grants
FUSE is a STEAM education program which provides a suite of Challenges and professional development so you can implement a STEAM lab/studio in your school. For complete recommendations for FUSE program implementation, please visit our Get Started page.
What do I need to do to apply?
Step 1. Fill out the interest form.
Step 2. Once your eligibility has been confirmed, you will receive a link to the grant application.
Step 3. Work as a team (lead teacher, administration, IT coordinator) to fill out your application. This includes planning how FUSE will be implemented in your school. Some of the questions on the application include:
- Who will facilitate FUSE?
- Where will FUSE take place in your school?
- Which students will work in FUSE, and how often will they visit the FUSE studio?
- How does FUSE align with your school’s goals?
Step 4. Questions? Sign up for a 15 minute Q&A session with FUSE’s Program Director. Please click here to sign up for a day and time that works for you.
Step 5. Make sure you submit your application by March 14, 2022!
What is the timeline for the grant application, notification and implementation?
See the Grant Timeline above.
How do I make sure my application is competitive and compelling?
The top priority of our grants is to fund FUSE implementations that will have a significant impact on young people, and will help school leaders fulfill their vision for their school community. We will prioritize proposals for in-school, classroom-based FUSE implementations; we also prioritize schools that serve a majority of low-income students (or schools in which a majority of students qualify for free or reduced lunch).
One way to make sure your application is competitive is in the principal’s letter of support (which is required as part of the application). It is important to be able to determine from your application that your administrator fully understands what FUSE is, and is committed to making it successful in your school, from prioritizing training to making room in the school schedule for FUSE.
What is FUSE?
FUSE is a STEAM education program for students in 5th-12th grade, designed to engage all learners. FUSE ignites and nurtures STEAM exploration through an innovative challenge-based approach and studio-like environment, where students are encouraged to direct their own learning.
FUSE Challenges
The learning activities of the program are designed to introduce STEAM concepts and skills in a fun and engaging way. Students choose Challenges they want to work on and progress at their own pace. Challenges are based in STEAM topics including architecture, 3D design and printing, robotics, music, animation and more.
Research-based Design
FUSE is a research-based program developed in Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy. Our outcomes demonstrate that in FUSE, students develop a growth mindset and 21st century skills (including problem-solving, communication and innovation).
FUSE Website
Our youth-driven approach to STEAM exploration is supported by a robust web platform that allows students to access instructions and video tutorials on-demand, helps youth track their progress, and stores their work between sessions.
Questions?
If you have questions about FUSE, your proposal, or aligning to our priorities, please don’t hesitate to contact our Program Director, Lizzie Perkins, at lizzie@fusestudio.net.