IDEA Mini-Grants

The 2024 - 2025 Mini-Grant applications are now closed!

Are you looking for a way to make your school or classroom Maker Space a reality, seeking a few more devices to facilitate an engaging and exciting classroom project, or wanting to try a cutting-edge innovation that is so new you missed your school's budget cycle?


Illinois Digital Educators Alliance is the leader in supporting and promoting innovative education for all.  IDEA (and previously ICE) understand that innovative ideas in our schools sometimes need an extra financial boost to come to fruition, which is why being able to offer mini-grant awards to educators is so important to us. The purpose of the IDEA Mini-Grant Program is to provide IDEA members with funding for educational projects that showcase innovation and creativity and directly benefit students.


See the full Mini-Grant Guidelines for more information. If you have any questions about the IDEA Mini-Grant Program, please feel free to contact the IDEA team at info@ideaillinois.org.

Important Dates

The application form closes October 15 at 11:59pm.


Applications will be notified of their grant status by the beginning of January, 2025. 


Reimbursements for awarded Mini-Grants must be submitted to the IDEA office by June 15, 2025.

Proposal Guidelines

The following guidelines apply to all Mini-Grant proposals:


  • The primary applicant must be an IDEA member in good standing. 


  • The primary applicant must be an employee of a public, private, or parochial PK-12th grade school.


  • The maximum amount of the Mini-Grant award is $1,000.  Projects for any amount up to $1,000 are welcome. Budget should reflect the actual amount needed to fund the project. Subscriptions are less likely to be funded based on the one-time allocation of funds.


  • Grant awardees agree to share their project/activities at the annual IDEA Conference, IDEAcon, or in an electronic format (blog post, live webinar, etc.) posted on the IDEA website. 


  • Each application must be for one project/activity, although a person can submit applications for more than one grant. Each application will be evaluated independently. Only one project/activity will be awarded.


  • Completed applications must be submitted via the application form by the announced closing application date as posted on the IDEA website. Incomplete applications will not be accepted past the closing application date.


  • All funds must be used to support the project as stated in the application and the detailed budget.


  • Awards are non-transferable.


  • Current Executive Board and Governing Board members of IDEA are not eligible for Mini-Grant awards.


  • Projects must be completed by the primary applicant no later than twelve months after receiving the award in February 2025.


  • Grant awardees agree to complete the project and ensure that all funds are used as requested in their detailed budget.


  • All receipts for reimbursement must be submitted to the IDEA office no later than June 15, 2025. The reimbursement process will be shared with you upon notification of grant award.


  • In the event of a conflict, IDEA policies will not supersede school district policies of the primary applicant.



  • Award winners will be notified via email, but award announcements will not be made public until IDEAcon 2025.



View full guidelines HERE.


Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate Mini-Grant proposals:


  • Proposal effectively integrates educational technologies into classroom instruction.



  • Initiates a project or aspect of a project that is new, innovative, and creative.


  • Demonstrates the ability to fulfill a currently unmet need or addresses an emerging problem.


  • Proposal has potential for other teachers to replicate or build upon the project and extend its use.


  • Project purpose, goals, and descriptions are well-defined and concise; and



  • Detailed budget, timeline, and plan for evaluation of outcomes are clearly stated.

Are you interested in helping our educators?


Each year, IDEA sets aside designated funds for our Mini-Grant and Scholarship programs to support IDEA's mission to inspire & empower educators. Your donation will help us reach more educators.


 Click below to donate to IDEA's Mini-Grant and/or Scholarship programs. Together, we can make a lasting impact on education.

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