SPIE Education Outreach Grants

SPIE Education Outreach Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: SPIE
Amount: Up to US $7,500
Last Updated: October 17, 2025

Summary

The SPIE Education Outreach Grants support optics and photonics-related educational activities. With a maximum award of $5,000, these competitive grants aim to enhance awareness of optics among students and the broader community. Proposals are encouraged to incorporate principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Eligible applicants include SPIE members and qualifying not-for-profit organizations. Evaluation criteria focus on potential impact, clarity of project structure, and a well-defined timeline and budget.

Overview

SPIE Education Outreach Grants As part of its education outreach mission, SPIE provides support for optics and photonics related outreach activities and events. Proposals should focus on general optics and photonics education outreach, or International Day of Light (IDL) specific activities and events. SPIE is committed to the principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). We encourage all proposals to have EDI principles at their foundation. Award The award process is competitive. The grant maximum is $5,000 and some proposals may receive partial funding. Evaluation Criteria The key criterion in evaluating and ranking applications is the potential to increase optics and photonics awareness among students or the larger community. A point system is used to judge applications on: potential to impact chosen audiencepotential to raise awareness and interest in optics and photonicsclarity and structure of the projectclear timeline and budget

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must be current SPIE MembersQualifying not-for-profit organizations, such as universities, optics centers, science centers, primary and secondary schools, youth clubs, industry associations, and international optical societies, are eligible for outreach activity support, as long as applicant is an SPIE Member. STEM activities must have an optics or photonics component.An endorsement from a staff member or advisor at the applying organization is required as part of the application process. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.

Ineligibility

SPIE's outreach grants cannot be used for: food and beverage costs exceeding 10% of the requested budget alcoholic beverages travel to conferences activities that benefit an individual speaker honoraria teacher stipends or salaries student stipends or salaries overhead and administrative costs of the organization applicants solely requesting classroom equipment to support teaching may not be considered sponsorship of technical conferences or workshops that are not limited to students or educators applicants solely requesting funds for purchase of classroom equipment to support teaching