Win $5,000 with the Science Everywhere Innovation Challenge!

The Overdeck Family Foundation and the Simons Foundation just announced the launch of Science Everywhere, an initiative to catalyze math and science learning beyond school walls, in partnership with DonorsChoose.org. The foundations are providing nearly half a million dollars to match donations from the public to support creative, hands-on project ideas submitted by educators to the DonorsChoose.org platform. At the end of the challenge, a panel of judges led by astronaut Leland Melvin will award five $5,000 prizes to the best ideas.

There are several steps and requirements, so make sure to carefully read the challenge guidelines. Here’s an overview:

1. Find a public school teacher to partner with.

• Submissions must come from them, so this is a great opportunity to build relationships!
• Read more about DonorsChoose.org’s eligibility requirements.

2. Propose an innovative science or math project that takes place outside of school hours.

• Review the rubric to ensure that your project is competitive.

3. Submit it to DonorsChoose.org ASAP.

• There are specific steps in the submission process, be sure follow them!
• Only funding requests for project materials are eligible, not staff time.
• Total costs must be kept under $2,000.

4. Start fundraising!

• Tell parents, partners, and community supporters all about your proposed project and get them to donate via the DonorsChoose.org platform.
• If you reach half of your funding goal through donations from the public, then you’ll receive a one-to-one match from the Foundations. That means up to another $1,000!

5. Implement the project in your afterschool program.

6. Capture student impacts for a chance to win an additional $5,000.

• Submit the required pre- and post-surveys by the end of this academic year.
• Five winning projects will be announced September 5, 2017.

Apply soon—donations will be matched only until funding runs out! Again, be sure to read the full set of submission guidelines here.