Funding Opportunities

The Lancaster County STEM Alliance (LCSA) is proud to support a variety of STEM initiatives within Lancaster County. We provide funding to nonprofit, charitable organizations that are exempt from income taxes and located within the county. Our grants are aimed at enhancing and launching innovative and creative STEM programming.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

LCSA requires all grant applicants to demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This commitment must be evident in both principle and practice, ensuring services and opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of age, disability, economic status, ethnicity, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. DEI integration is a critical evaluation criterion for funding.

LCSA Grant Opportunities

The Lancaster County STEM Alliance (LCSA) provides funding to support programs that enhance STEM education and career exploration. Our funding priorities focus on key areas that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity across diverse learning environments.

For additional guidance, we encourage applicants to watch the informational webinar and review our Grants FAQ document for further details, resources, clarifications, and answers to commonly asked questions.

The timeline for the 2026 Grant Cycle is as follows:

2026 Grant Cycle Opens on January 2, 2026.

ALL GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE FEBRUARY 23, 2026.

Grant Recipients announced March 27, 2026.

ALL GRANT DOLLARS TO BE SPENT DECEMBER 31, 2026.

How will I know if my proposal is accepted or rejected?
Every applicant will be contacted, regardless of whether or not they receive funding. If your proposal is not awarded, it is most often due to one of the following reasons:

The proposal lacked a clearly defined vision, goals, or measurable outcomes.
The project did not align closely enough with LCSA’s primary focus areas.
Limited funding prevented us from supporting all strong applications.

While we are unable to provide individualized feedback for every submission, we encourage applicants to revisit our funding priorities and consider applying in future grant cycles.

Out-of-School STEM Learning

We invite applicants to provide innovative hands-on STEM programming, highlighting all aspects of STEM. Programs should focus on problem-solving, critical thinking, and enhancing STEM skills in a fun and informal learning environment. We welcome applications from programs that serve learners of all ages (early childhood, pre-K, K-12, higher education, adult) beyond the traditional school day, including before school, after school, weekends, and summer.

Applications open January 2, 2026

Application is due February 23, 2026

Amount available: $100,000

Grant Recipients announced March 27, 2026

Out-of-School STEM Learning Grant Application

STEM Career Exploration

We encourage innovative and creative programs that highlight STEM careers, the required training, and the necessary skill sets to apply for funding. Programming can occur during or outside of school hours and is open to participants from Pre-K through adult learners with a focus on exploring STEM careers.

Applications open January 2, 2026

Application is due February 23, 2026

Amount available: $100,000

Grant Recipients announced March 27, 2026

STEM Career Exploration Grant Application

In-School K-12 Project Based Learning

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is an instructional method that engages students in learning and applying knowledge and skills through problem-solving experiences. PBL offers opportunities for deeper, in-context learning and the development of essential skills for college and career readiness. Programs must take place during the traditional school day and can serve students within the range of early childhood through post-secondary education, though they do not need to serve all students within this range. Learn more about PBL: https://newtechnetwork.org/resources/what-is-pbl/

Applications open January 2, 2026

Application is due February 23, 2026

Amount available: $100,000

Grant Recipients announced March 27, 2026

In-School K-12 Project Based Learning Grant Application

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in STEM Learning

STEM learning environments must be welcoming to all students. Incorporating best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion into STEM programming ensures that every child can thrive and grow in curiosity, teamwork, creativity, critical thinking, communication, and real-world problem-solving. Funds are available to enhance programming, increase capacity, diversify offerings and recruitment, provide DEI training, or launch new initiatives.

Applications open January 2, 2026

Application is due February 23, 2026

Amount available: $125,000

Grant Recipients announced March 27, 2026

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in STEM Learning Grant Application