Grants for FUSE

The Mazda Foundation and FUSE are dedicated to furthering equitable access to our unique STEAM program.

Mazda Foundation supports FUSE partner schools in Southern California. Our partnership began in 2021 with the launch of FUSE in 10 schools located in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. In 2023, Mazda Foundation committed to launching FUSE at 16 additional schools over the next two years. We are thrilled to continue our partnership and increase equitable STEAM experiences for students in Southern California.

2023-25 Grants

Our grants for schools in Orange and Los Angeles Counties are available through the continued generosity of the Mazda Foundation. This year, eight middle schools will receive a two-year implementation grant. Priority will be given to schools serving a high percentage of low-income students (80% or higher).

Application Submission Deadline: April 14, 2023

Calendar for the FUSE Grant

April 14, 2023: Applications are due at 11:59pm CST.
April 2023: Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a phone call interview.
Early May 2023: Schools will receive notification about the grant decisions.
Summer 2023: Professional development trainings; FUSE materials delivered to schools.
2023-2024 school year: year one of grant implementation
2024-2025 school year: year two of grant implementation
June 30, 2025: grant period ends.

FUSE Grant Application Request Form

Please fill out this form to request the 2023-25 FUSE grant application.

The FUSE Grant

This grant will provide awarded schools two years of the FUSE program, for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years, including:

Site license and materials for the FUSE Innovate package (32 Challenges), a $20,000 value.
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.
Unlimited access to the FUSE website, which hosts the FUSE’s learning activities, help resources, and studio management tools
Professional development: two-day training for teachers and administrators from selected schools in summer 2021
Year-round implementation support from the FUSE team.
Renewal fee for the 2023-2024 school year ($6,000 value), covering licenses, website access, etc.
$800 towards materials and new Challenges to re-supply Studio materials over the two years.

Eligibility

This grant is available for schools located in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. For the current opportunity, eight schools will be selected to receive a two-year implementation grant.

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 5. Make sure you submit your application by March 24, 2023!

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-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.