Grants for FUSE
The Mazda Foundation and FUSE are dedicated to furthering equitable access to our unique STEAM program.
Since 2021, Mazda Foundation has supported FUSE in 26 schools in Southern California. In 2025, Mazda Foundation committed to launching FUSE at 16 additional schools in the Greater Chicagoland and Greater Huntsville areas, over the next two years. We are thrilled to expand our partnership to increase equitable STEAM experiences for students in Mazda’s communities in Illinois and Alabama.
Applications for Spring 2025 have closed; to request more information about FUSE please fill out our Interest Form.
2025-27 Grants
Our grants for schools in greater Chicagoland and Greater Huntsville areas are available through the continued generosity of the Mazda Foundation. This year, we anticipate awarding grants to four schools in each region.
Submission Deadline: March 7, 2025
Calendar for the FUSE Grant
- January 30, 2025: Grant application window opens
- March 7, 2025: Applications are due at 11:59pm CST
- March 17-21, 2025: Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a Zoom interview.
- May 1, 2025: Schools will receive notification about the grant decisions.
- Summer 2025: In-person trainings will be held in Chicagoland and Greater Huntsville areas. Training is held over two days; recipient schools are expected to send at least 2 educators and space permitting may be able to send additional people. Dates & Location TBD
- August 2025:FUSE materials delivered to schools
- 2025-2026 school year: year one of grant implementation
- 2026-2027 school year: year two of grant implementation
- June 30, 2027: grant period ends.
Our Typical Granting Cycle Calendar
- January: Grant opportunities are announced and applications open
- February-March: Grant application closes.
- March-April: Grantees are announced.
- Summer: Training and Onboarding
- Fall: FUSE Launches
FUSE Grant Application Request Form
Please fill out this form to request the 2025-27 FUSE grant application.
The FUSE Grant
This grant will provide awarded schools two years of the FUSE program, for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, including:
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Site license and materials for the FUSE Innovate package (34 Challenges), a $20,000 value.
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All equipment and materials needed for the program, including two 3D printers (Prusa MK4s), a vinyl cutter (Silhouette Cameo 5) 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 2025
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Year-round implementation support from the FUSE team.
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Renewal fee for the 2026-2027 school year ($6,000 value), covering licenses, website access, etc.
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$1,000 towards materials and new Challenges to re-supply Studio materials over the two years.
Eligibility
This grant is available for schools located in the greater Chicagoland and Huntsville areas. For the current opportunity, eight schools (four from each region) will be selected to receive a two-year implementation grant.
Chicago Area: This grant is available to schools in Cook or DuPage Counties that serve at least 50% low-income students; priority may be given to schools serving a higher percentage of low-income students (70% or higher).
Huntsville Area: This grant is available to schools in Madison, Limestone, Morgan, and Lawrence Counties that serve at least 50% low-income students; priority may be given to schools serving a higher percentage of low-income students.
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 workspace 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 5. Submit your application by March 7, 2025
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.
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 environment, where students direct their own learning.
FUSE Challenges
The learning activities, called Challenges, 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 concepts 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 with custom apps and concise, helpful tec 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.