Operation Literacy presents
Equity matters!
Here’s our current list of resources teachers can use to secure funding for school groups.
Opportunities
Apply for the Jeff and Gina Wheeler Grant
Thanks to the generous donation of Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Jeff Wheeler and his wife Gina, StoryCon is thrilled to provide a need-based scholarship to help students attend the conference. Apply for a $500 grant to help send a group of 25 4th-6th grade students to Tween Author Boot Camp or a group of seven 7th-12th grade students to Teen Author Boot Camp. (Transportation costs are not included.)
Get a Discounted School Pass
If you bring at least 10 students from your school, they will each receive a discount on their registration. See our Promotional Kit to start promoting this event at your school to get students excited.
Accessing Utah School LAND Trust Funding
To find how your school is spending the annual School LAND Trust funds, click below or visit your school website.
PTA/PTO
District Foundation
Splitting Costs
Many times individuals or organizations such as the PTA, School Board Assoc, principal, superintendent, librarian, etc. within your own district and school can help with field trips and travel costs. Often, donors are more willing to assist with filling a specific need, rather than just donating money. Contact your district transportation department and see what busing costs will be and calculate in the School Pass Discount for registrations. Once you have a total cost, approach these groups with the request for sponsorship. If you can let them know that another group will cover half the sponsorship, they will often match the offering.
Offering Recognition
You can offer to recognize individuals and organizations for their sponsorship within your school and community, such as having administration thank them publicly in school weekly announcement emails, or displaying a poster or sign thanking that sponsor at a school event.
Administrative Funds
Administrators often have funding to use at their discretion. Perhaps your administrator can help with a portion of the funding. Please use our form letter as a resource to help you explain and request this funding.
Media Services Director/Curriculum Director
District office directors are incredibly supportive of literacy initiatives, and may be aware of unused funding that was looking for a home. Ask them to sponsor a portion of the cost.
Share a Bus with a Neighboring School
Maybe you don’t have 60 students who will fill up a bus and attend the conference. See if a neighboring school will split the cost of the bus with your school.