PTA/PTO (Parent Teacher Association/Organization)

Parent organizations LOVE to support the Kindhearted Kids Program, especially if they have experienced the joy of caring for one of the Two by Two pets at home!  

Local Grants

Search for grantors in your area who focus their charitable giving on education, character education, youth and/or animals. See below for grant writing hints!

Community and School Foundations

If you have a Community Foundation in your area or School Foundation, check with them about local grant opportunities. They may even have a specific donor that
would like to support your request!

Business Partnerships

You are educating their future employees; therefore, many businesses are interested in funding character education efforts. You just have to make the “ask.” Reach out to Two by Two for suggestions on how to do this!

DonorsChoose.org

DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America can post classroom project requests on the site, and donors can give any amount to the project that most inspires them. Go to DonorsChoose.org to post your request for character education resources!

Below are examples of questions you may be asked when applying for a grant. Answers are provided to help with your grant writing process.

1. State the need for such a project or program.

We have a growing need in our world to promote and cultivate positive character traits through social-emotional learning programs. Here are three of many data-driven reasons why we need social-emotional programming, like the Kindhearted Kids for our children:

1. There is a measurable dip in empathy among today's youth. Teens are 40% lower in empathy levels than three decades ago, and narcissism has increased 58%.
2. There has been a clear increase in peer cruelty. Youth bullying increased 52% between 2003-2007. Cyber-bullying tripled within a year.
3. The plugged-in, high-pressure culture is leading to a mental health epidemic among young people. One in five youth meets the criteria for a mental disorder in their lifetime.¹

Therefore, it is imperative that we pay attention to the lack of empathy and respect around us and become single focused on what we can do to help the world become a kinder place.

¹ Michele Borba,Ed.D, Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World. Touchstone, May 2016. p. xv-xvi

2. What population benefits from the project/program?

(Your city’s name) school-aged children, families, and work force will all benefit from this program. A current Gallup Poll found that despite the public’s interest in morals, values and character, statistics show that children are not getting the nurturing experienced by earlier generations and, instead, they are bombarded with negative influences through media and external sources prevalent in today’s culture. According to American Youth Policy forum, schools and communities that embrace character education/social-emotional learning see signs of increased positive behavior in their community and schools. (Your school’s name and name of project/program) will begin this positive journey to restoring a community of character.

3. State how your project will benefit the residents of (state or city’s name).

Over the last decade, research has shown that focused, community-driven character education initiatives create communities where families are strong, homes and streets are safe, education is effective, businesses are productive and neighbors care about one another.
The Kindhearted Kids Program has also proven effective time and time again over the past 16 years. The program collects quantitative and qualitative data from the program recipients – including the classroom teachers, parents, and the students. There is a statistically significant improvement in social-emotional learning skills after completion of the program, and testimonials from the children’s teachers and parents testify to this, as well. 

• "We are thrilled with the progress our students continue to make by incorporating the values and social-emotional skills taught by the Kindhearted Kids Program.
  
  - Students have shown a 20% growth in care and compassion towards people, animals, and the environment.
  - Students demonstrated a 33% growth in decision-making skills.
  
  My class is especially challenging, and the Kindhearted Kids Program helped to truly create responsibility and respect in each and everyone one of them!"
  
  - Karen Noel, 2nd Grade Teacher
  

Developing productive citizens in (your school or city’s name) will benefit residents in our community and in the communities our future generations live and work.