Teaching Tolerance

Grants of up to $2,000 are available to K-12 teachers from the Teaching Tolerance project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit group that fights discrimination. The grants are awarded for activities promoting diversity, peacemaking, community service, or other aspects of tolerance education. Requests should include a typed, 500-word description of the activity and the proposed budget. Application deadline: open.

Types of Grants Funded

Projects funded by Teaching Tolerance tend to be:

small-scale, resourceful and student-focused, promoting acceptance of diversity, peacemaking, community service or any other aspect of tolerance education;


clearly defined, well-integrated and tailored to the specified needs and interests of particular learners;


responsive to the manifest needs (financial, social, affective) of the wider community from which the proposal originates;


economically responsible, involving staff participation, community volunteers and in-kind contributions wherever possible;


reflective of ongoing rather than one-time-only events or activities.

Teaching Tolerance generally funds projects that promise the most direct and immediate student impact. For this reason, salaries, stipends, presenter fees, overhead costs, travel expenses, food items and computer hardware are not normally within the realm of funding. When a proposal represents a fraction of a much larger project, or seeks to underwrite the cost of other tolerance-related programs, funding is unlikely.

Funding Limitations

Teaching Tolerance generally funds conceptual projects that promise the most direct and immediate student impact. For this reason, salaries, stipends, presenter fees, overhead costs, travel expenses, food items and computer hardware are not normally within the realm of funding. When a Teaching Tolerance grant is a fraction of a much larger proposal, or is sought to underwrite the cost of other tolerance-related programs, funding is unlikely.

Submitting Grant Proposals

There is no deadline for proposals, but please allow for a 10- to 12-week processing time when planning for your project;


Grants are non-returnable and restricted to one per applicant or school per school year;


Grants are awarded for one-time funding per project and are not renewable;


All proposals must be submitted using the Grant Application Form provided by Teaching

Tolerance and should contain the following:

A contact person (one person only, please)


A detailed budget


A one-to-two page (maximum) narrative


Supplemental material (if applicable)

Reviewing Proposals

When reviewing proposals, we look for clear and specific objectives that not only establish a clear need but also situate the itemized resources within a comprehensive program that ensures their widespread and continued use.

Notification Process

All proposals submitted, regardless of funding outcome, will receive a notification letter. If your proposal is accepted, you will be asked to submit a report telling how the project was implemented and the effect it had on your school and community. We may also request permission to write (or ask you to write) about your project for possible publication in Teaching Tolerance or other Southern Poverty Law Center materials.
To apply, click here to download the application, complete the application and mail it with the required attachments to:

Grants Administrator
Teaching Tolerance Grants
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104