The Tiger Woods Foundation provides grants that focus on providing opportunities to underserved children and families in the four program areas: education, youth development, parenting, and family health and welfare. In the education area, the foundation funds school programs and projects that enhance the learning process for children and transitional school programs for young adults to become productive adults. The foundation considers and awards grants four times each year: Feb. 1, May 1, Aug. 1, and Nov. 1. Applications submitted after one cycle has closed will be considered during the next cycle. Organizations may apply for a grant only one time during a calendar year.

Through its Computers for Learning program, the federal government has placed hundreds of thousands of surplus computers in schools across the country on a needs-first basis. Schools register and request equipment on the Computers for Learning web site, and federal agencies match their surplus equipment to schools with those needs. Most, but not all, of the available computers are Windows-based PCs rather than computers made by Apple. Most of the donated machines are older models, but as the government continues to upgrade its computer systems, the number of surplus Pentium computers will sharply increase. Computers and equipment are not refurbished by the government before being shipped to schools, nor are they covered by warranty.

The Corning Inc. Foundation, established in 1952, develops and administers projects in support of educational, cultural, and community organizations. Over the years, the foundation has contributed more than $83 million through its grant programs. Each year, the foundation fulfills approximately 225 grants totaling some $2.25 million. Corning's areas of involvement have included community service programs for students, curriculum enrichment, student scholarships, facility improvement, and instructional technology projects for the classroom. The foundation also supports youth centers, YMCAs, and local chapters of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. All requests for support must be made in writing.

The Teammates for Kids Foundation accepts proposals for grants from nonprofit organizations that specialize in working with children. Grants support the ongoing work of operating organizations that help needy children in the areas of health, education, and inner-city services. The foundation's priorities focus on educational achievement in areas of documented weakness; advanced learning opportunities to gifted children who would otherwise lack the resources necessary to pursue dreams and talents; and exposing children to learning opportunities they would otherwise not experience because of insufficient financial resources. The foundation will accept applications twice in 2005: Feb. 1 and July 31.

The Prudential Foundation's Ready to Learn grant program provides support to innovative direct-service education programs that address the needs of communities the company serves. Ready to Learn funds initiatives that strengthen public education at the elementary school level. The program supports education reform efforts that strengthen public education at the elementary school level. Within this framework, the Foundation will emphasize systemic school reform meant to improve the quality of teachers, principals, and other school leaders, and arts education. The program funds early childhood care and education initiatives, focusing on programs that support professional development for pre-kindergarten through third-grade teachers or create model classrooms. Funds are also provided for strategies to improve literacy that address professional development for teachers, family literacy programs, or literacy in the early years. The Prudential Foundation serves the Newark and surrounding New Jersey urban centers. It also funds programs in cities where Prudential has a significant presence. These cities include Atlanta, Chicago, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Phoenix. The Foundation may also fund national programs that further their objectives and can be implemented or replicated in cities where Prudential has a substantial presence. The Foundation receives and reviews proposals throughout the year. Grants that exceed $200,000 must be approved by its board of trustees, which meets three times a year.

The Home Depot Foundation gives cash and materials to help provide young people with safe places to play and learn, leadership programs that teach skills through community engagement, and job readiness training. The Home Depot Foundation focuses its support on programs that serve at-risk youth ages 12 to 18. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000. The foundation gives first priority to organizations that have been invited to apply for a grant. However, the foundation also will consider unsolicited requests that match its eligibility requirements. The foundation will consider only one proposal from the same organization in a 12-month period. Applications are reviewed four times per year and are to be submitted online.

Microsoft Corp. plans to commit more than $1 billion over the next five years to Unlimited Potential (UP), a global initiative focused on providing technology skills to disadvantaged individuals through community-based technology and learning centers. In the first round of UP grants, Microsoft awarded $8.1 million in cash and software to 82 nonprofit organizations. Initially, UP will provide funding to help community-based technology and learning centers hire and train technology instructors. Subsequent phases of the initiative will offer an online global support network delivering technology curriculum, research, tools, and help-desk services. UP also will sponsor a global and regional awards program, which will invest in technology solutions that deliver a social benefit. The awards are designed to encourage innovation and provide the funding necessary to help the best technology solutions scale for broader use.

This multi-million dollar program was created in 2004 to provide funding to organizations that enhance teacher recruitment, development, support, and retention, with the goal of increasing student achievement. The program ultimately seeks to increase student achievement in preK-12 public education by building and supporting teachers and the teaching profession in scalable and sustainable ways.

CyberLearning, a project of the National Education Foundation, aims to help bridge the digital divide by giving K-12 schools, colleges, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations the opportunity to receive matching grants to access more than 1,000 online courses in information technology (IT), management, and SAT preparation. Applicants must write a one-page proposal that describes their target population and how they would use the courses to improve the IT, management, or SAT skills of their target population, including students, teachers, and staff. One-year matching grants ranging from $30,000 to $10 million are awarded to applicants based on the poverty level of the target populations or communities. Recent awards include $50,000 to Seattle Shoreline Community College, $250,000 to the New Haven School District in Connecticut, and $4,000,000 to the New Jersey State Department of Education to train 75,000 disadvantaged high school students and teachers.

The Texas Instruments Foundation requires no special application form. Grants usually range from $5,000 to $10,000, but the foundation has awarded some schools up to $100,000. Approximately 65 awards are granted each year. Applicants are encouraged to submit one- or two-page proposals that briefly outline the following: purpose of the organization, population served, amount requested, how the requested funds will be used, how the proposal matches funding interests of the foundation, and a copy of 501(c)(3) designation. Proposals are considered from civic, research, educational, health, welfare, charitable, and cultural organizations that have been ruled to be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that are not private foundations as defined by the code.

The Sprint Foundation supports educational projects that foster school reform through the use of new technologies and through fresh approaches to the enhancement of teachers' skills. Although Sprint does not have an application form, the foundation recommends that applicants identify how their projects support Sprint's objectives: innovation and the use of technology in the classroom; enhanced education for minorities and/or the disadvantaged; and increased employee and public support of education. Because these grants are supported by employee contributions matched by foundation funds, grants are available primarily for projects in areas with a significant employee presence, such as Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, and Sacramento. Schools and other education-related nonprofit agencies can apply for grants totaling about $500,000 per year. The Sprint Foundation reviews unsolicited proposals on a continuous basis. Applicants typically will receive a response within four to six weeks.

Westinghouse actively contributes to programs that benefit nonprofit organizations. Areas of emphasis include health and welfare, education, and civic and social pursuits. Within each area, Westinghouse encourages programs that help to meet the needs of populations such as the disadvantaged, the young, the elderly, minorities, and people with disabilities. In the area of education, emphasis is given to elementary, secondary, and high school educational programs that emphasize math and science, although consideration will be given to other relevant, non-fine arts programs.

The Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, founded in 1957, funds large-scale education and community improvement projects that address issues of importance to local communities and are supported by the management of local Lowe's stores. The foundation has a long and proud history of contributing to grassroots community projects. Requests are processed within three to four weeks, and a written response will be sent via U.S. mail within eight to 10 weeks. Owing to the large volume of requests, the foundation is unable to fulfill every request. Unsolicited requests and proposals not aligned with Lowe's focus areas will not be funded.

The Kinko's Educator Savings Program aims to provide relief for teachers who often dig deep into their own pockets to purchase supplies for their classrooms. Through this program, educators can save 20 percent on most Kinko's products and services. Teachers and administrators from kindergarten through college can now enjoy discount pricing on such offerings as black and white and color copying and finishing, oversized copies, posters, signs and banners, paper, and desk supplies. Educators may obtain their 20 percent discount card through a program brochure available at participating Kinko's locations nationwide. Free discount cards are also available online.

Each year the Dow Chemical Co. supports many school districts/school boards and efforts in and around communities in which Dow is located wit cash or product donations, research grants, in-kind services, or volunteered times. Dow prioritizes its areas for K-12 education funding to: math and science; teacher training; and parental involvement. Dow further categorizes the qualified K-12 programs to: national, state and local programs that benefit Dow communities; programs that promote systemic education reform in math and science; and school districts and school boards, rather than individual schools.

The Comcast Foundation has given more than $43 million to nonprofitorganizations in Comcast communities nationwide. The goal of the ComcastFoundation is to maximize the impact of community investments so they yield tangible,measurable benefits to the neighborhoods Comcast serves and the people who livethere. Community partners are proactively identified by local Comcastersin the field.

The State Farm Companies Foundation awards grants to K-12 public schools in the United States and Canada to support the following education initiatives: education reform or curriculum changes that improve student achievement; after-school programs; improving teacher quality; and school-to-work programs. Proposals are accepted year-round and are reviewed in a timely manner. However, approval time depends on the requested amount and completeness of the proposal. Requests exceeding $100,000 are considered quarterly. The foundation accepts one proposal per organization per year. See the foundation's web site for more details.

Uno Chicago Grill offers a variety of programs that support school curriculum and help schools raise money. For the Uno fundraiser, schools distribute Uno Fundraising Tickets throughout their community and, for every person who dines at Uno's and presents a ticket during the agreed time period, Uno will donate 20 percent of their check plus tax and tip to your organization. Through Uno School Awards, the restaurant offers certificates and free meal coupons that teachers can use as incentives to motivate students. Uno's also throws Uno Pizza Maker Parties for elementary school classes. Students visit the restaurant, tour the kitchen, learn about cooking safely, and then make their own pizzas.