School Assembly Funding Sources

Have you been offered an incredible school assembly program but lack the funds to bring it to your school? Are you looking for an enriching educational experience and unsure how to finance it? We’ve created this guide to help you explore funding options and secure sponsorship for your next school assembly.

We’ll start with a list of national education and arts organizations that may offer funding support. Be sure to reach out to each organization directly to understand their specific opportunities, requirements, and deadlines.

Please note: The resources provided are not exhaustive, and inclusion does not guarantee funding. We strongly encourage you to do your own research and contact each organization directly to verify eligibility, availability, and timelines. If you discover other useful funding sources, feel free to share them with us—we’ll update our listings as new opportunities arise.

Click on each state to learn more….

National Funding Sources

• Federal Grants Clearing House (http://www.grants.gov/)
• U.S. Department of Education (http://www.ed.gov/)
• National Endowment for the Arts (https://www.arts.gov/grants)
• National Endowment for the Humanities (http://www.neh.gov/grants)
• National PTA (https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/Awards-Grants)
• Target (https://corporate.target.com/sustainability-governance/communities/grants-corporate-giving)
• Mocking Bird Foundation (https://mbird.org/grants)
• DonorsChoose.org (http://donorschoose.org)
• DonorBox.org (http://donorbox.org)

Potential Local Funding Sources:

• Rotary International
• Kiwanis International
• United Way of America
• Association of Junior Leagues International
• Lions Clubs International
• U.S. Jaycees
• Local police departments
• Mental health organizations, clinics, and hospitals
• District or school safety and improvement funds
• Violence prevention groups
• Neighborhood Watch programs
• Parent-teacher associations
• Faith-based organizations

Money-Saving Tips for School Assemblies:

• Block booking with other schools
• Hosting multiple assemblies in one day
• Taking advantage of early-bird or last-minute booking discounts
• Offering flexible scheduling
• Partnering with sponsors
• Using professional development funds
• Accessing district or Title I funding
• Reaching out to local arts councils or organizations

State-Specific Funding

Some states have their own ways to fund assemblies and arts programs. Here are the two we get asked about most.

New York Schools: Booking Through BOCES

In New York, many schools book and fund our programs through their BOCES. If that’s your school, our free BOCES Resource Guide covers the step-by-step booking process, a pre-submission checklist, and direct links to the BOCES catalogs that list our programs.

California Schools: Proposition 28 Arts and Music Funding

California’s Proposition 28 provides ongoing funding for arts and music education in public schools. How it can be spent depends on your district’s plan and the program rules, so check with your administrator before booking. For Dare to Draw!, we have a one-page Prop 28 & VAPA funding overview (PDF) with suggested wording you can share with your district. See more on our Prop 28 funding guide.