LAPTA Grants and Application Links
Grants from LAPTA support local PTAs and teachers in their efforts to advance our top priorities. This includes reading and literacy skills, mental health, community outreach beyond the school, creative teaching lessons, and child advocacy through legislative means. For complete details, see the LAPTA Toolkit: Awards, Grants, & Contests. Find other grant sources in this independent Grant Guide.
The $750 LAPTA Literacy Grants help Local PTA Units host literacy programs at their affiliated schools. Literacy skills in Louisiana are unacceptably low, and LAPTA and National PTA are making literacy opportunities a priority for our children. For program suggestions, see PTA.org Programs.
$750 LAPTA
Literacy Grant
Deadline: November 22, 2024
Announced: December 2, 2024
Quantity Offered: 4
$750 Healthy Minds Grant
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Announced: April 15, 2025
Quantity Offered: 4
The Day of Service Grants encourage Local PTA Units to reach beyond the school and into the community to make a difference. Where is there a need? Who needs the PTA? February 17 is the National PTA Founders’ Day! How can you continue the legacy of PTA? Perhaps you could partner with other aligned non-profits or agencies who serve populations like foster kids, food insecurity programs, the elderly, a community library, or an animal shelter.
$500 Day of Service Grant
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Announced: April 14, 2025
Quantity Offered: 4
LAPTA offers Creative Teacher Grants to classroom teachers to fund creative, innovative, and fun programs or projects for students. Grants may fund instructional and classroom materials, videos, parent involvement programs, or anything that supports student enjoyment, wonder, and engagement. The hope is that this grant will result in fun and enriching projects or opportunities for the students that would not otherwise have been possible.
$500 Creative Teacher Grant
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Announced: April 14, 2025
Quantity Offered: 4
Apply for a grant from LAPTA to attend the virtual 2025 National PTA Convention, which is June 25 - 28. Connect with PTA leaders, parents and educators to reinforce our mission, outreach and impact in our school communities to make a bigger difference for every child. Attend workshops and much more. Attendees might be voting delegates representing Louisiana PTA at the General Membership Meetings. Winners will be announced May 1, 2025.
National PTA
Convention Grant
Deadline: May 30, 2024
Announced: June 4, 2024
Quantity Offered: 20
National PTA Grants
Louisiana had four $1,250 grant recipients from National PTA in 2023! Nation-wide, there were 1,200 applicants for 2,600 grant opportunities with $702,500 in funding. Caddo Parish Magnet High PTSA and Lyon Elementary PTA both won the Healthy Lifestyles Grant, Sixth Ward Elementary PTA won the PTA Connected: Ready, Tech, Go Grant, and Mandeville High PTSA won the PTA Connected: Build Up & Belong Grant! We can't want to see what you do with the grant money!
Healthy Minds Grant Winner's Fair
Lake Harbor Middle School PTA had the honor of hosting their Inaugural Healthy Minds Family Engagement Fair that brought together parents and caregivers with community partners. Participants interacted with local partners, who provided valuable resources and information on important topics like internet safety, mental health, physical well-being, nutrition and more. There were 130 parents, caregivers and children in attendance from Lake Harbor Middle School, Marigny Elementary, Magnolia Trace Elementary, Fontainebleau Junior High, Fontainebleau High and Gayle Sloan Middle.
Community partners who presented were START Corporation, Beacon Behavioral Health, NAMI, Ochsner, Culinary Kids, St Tammany Healthy System and their BE WELL BUS, and the American Heart Association. The special guest speaker was Detective Brian Brown with the District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit. His presentation educated parents about the dangers of their children’s online use of electronic devices. This presentation was open to adults only due to the nature of the topic. Children in attendance played games during this time in a supervised environment. Raising Canes Chicken and Jeremiah’s Ice were provided to all. All participants also receive a fresh produce box from the American Heart Association and Covey Rise Farms. Lake Harbor Middle School PTA received great positive feedback from the event and they were thankful for grant funding from LAPTA to provide this important event for LHMS families and surrounding schools.
LAPTA Grant Winner Example
One of the 2023-24 LAPTA Healthy Minds Grant Winner was Lake Harbor Middle School PTA in Mandeville. With their grant money, they hosted the Lake Harbor PTA Mindfulness Day. The event included a Joy Jar Station, Silent Disco, yoga, Make-Your-Own Healthy Snack Station, and Gratitude Rock Painting Station. The personalized, colorful rocks were spread throughout the campus gardens. It was such a success that they plan to continue it annually. Everyone truly enjoyed the day! If you have questions, reach out to pta.lakeharbor@gmail.com.
Grant Writing Tips
For many organizations, grant writing is the most important component of their fundraising strategy. When trying to secure funding for a nonprofit, it’s important to learn how to write a strong, successful proposal. The best grant proposals are clear, organized documents that illustrate why your organization should receive funds from the grantor.
First and foremost, know your audience and get to know the institution that is offering the grant. Consider its goals, values, and objectives. Understanding these elements will help you demonstrate how and why your organization is a good fit. Research the eligibility expectations for each specific grantor and make sure you meet the minimum requirements. Compile a list of testimonials, recommendations, data sets, and success stories to include with your application. Every grantor is different, but they all want to know their money is being used wisely.
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Know What Grants Exist and When to Apply. Sign up for National PTA’s newsletters and bookmark the grants page.
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Tell a Compelling Story. Make sure all your answers work together to highlight your PTA’s strengths and mission or the reason why you’re here.
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Share How the Grant Would Impact Your School Community. Identify an existing need in your school community and explain how the grant will address that need.
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Show Your Enthusiasm. Say how the grant will provide an exciting opportunity for your school and PTA.
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Answer All Parts of the Question. Include concrete, detailed examples and explanations that expressly answer the questions asked.
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Promote Family Engagement. Demonstrate how this grant will help you build stronger families in your community and encourage all families to attend your event.
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Get a Second Set of Eyes. Ask someone to proofread your work for spelling, grammar, and clarity before submitting the application.
Peek, Sean. “How to Write a Grant Application for Your Organization” USChamber.com, February 5, 2021.
Sec 11. Awards, Grants, & Contests
Index:
Awards, Grants, and Contests Summary......................................... 153
Monthly Membership Challenges....................................................... 154
Annual Membership Awards................................................................. 154
Fire Safety Poster Contest..................................................................... 155
Reflections Theme Search Contest................................................... 156
Reflections Program................................................................................. 157
Outstanding PTA Newsletter Award.................................................. 158
Advocacy Award for Local PTA Units............................................... 159
Advocacy Award for Students.............................................................. 159
Volunteer of the Year Award................................................................. 160
Mentor-a-PTA Award................................................................................ 160
Apply for National PTA Grants............................................................ 161
Louisiana PTA Grants............................................................................. 161
Top Grant Writing Tips........................................................................... 161
$750 Literacy Grant Application....................................................... 162
$750 Healthy Minds Grant Application......................................... 163
$500 LAPTA Day of Service Grant Application........................ 164
$500 Creative Teacher Grant Application.................................. 165
2023-24 LAPTA Grant and Award Winners
Healthy Minds Grant Winners
The LAPTA Board of Directors is proud to announce the LAPTA $750 Mental Health Grant winners for 2023-24 to host a program or event that prioritizes mental health for their students or community. Congratulations to our four winners: Abita Springs Middle PTA in Abita Springs, Herndon Magnet PTSA in Belcher, Lake Harbor Middle PTA in Mandeville, and Shreve Island Elementary PTA in Shreveport. We are excited to see the impact of these grants on the students!
Creative Teacher Grant Winners
The LAPTA Board of Directors thoughtfully reviewed the applicants for the LAPTA $500 Creative Teacher Grants. The BOD members each blindly judged the applicants. Congratulations to our four winners: Christy Barber with University Elementary PTA in Shreveport, Jennifer Stine with Tchefuncte Middle PTA in Mandeville, Stacey Crews with Tchefuncte Middle PTA in Mandeville, and Jordan Umbach with Magnolia Trace Elementary PTA in Mandeville. Their creative projects will have a big impact on their students!
Literacy Grant Winners
The LAPTA Board of Directors thoughtfully reviewed the applicants for the four LAPTA $750 Literacy Grants. The BOD chose those who served the greatest number of their student population as PTA is for every child! Congratulations to our four winners! We can't wait to see pictures from and hear about your programs!