The Growing in STEM Mini-Grants are offered by the South Carolina Coalition for Mathematics & Science (SCCMS), with support from S²TEM Centers SC, to empower educators who wish to bring innovative, STEAM-focused projects to their classrooms or schools. SCCMS is dedicated to amplifying the voices and impact of South Carolina’s STEM community. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to foster a lifelong love of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Humanities, and Mathematics) in students by supporting projects that promote real-world applications, collaboration, and critical skills aligned with the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.

The mini-grants provide a maximum award of $2,500 and are intended for PreK-12 educators in both public and private schools across South Carolina. Eligible projects must be completed by May 1, 2026, and should integrate multiple aspects of STEAM education while supporting key Life and Career Characteristics and World Class Skills. Projects must be new and innovative, and the funding cannot be used for the expansion or maintenance of existing programs, nor can it cover personal expenses, personal honorariums, or needs already addressed through other funding streams.

Applicants must prepare by reviewing the Grant Information Packet, completing a Planning Worksheet, and detailing a Budget Worksheet. Applications must be submitted online by 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2025, and require pre-approval from the applicant’s principal or organizational leader. The grant review process is competitive and conducted by a committee of business and community leaders and educators. Funding decisions will be announced by February 14, 2025. Awardees will also be recognized on April 2, 2025, at the STEM Education Day at the State Capitol.

The application process includes responding to a series of narrative questions addressing project innovation, real-world applications, curriculum connections, mathematics integration, evaluation metrics, and plans for sharing lessons learned. Successful projects will be evaluated based on a scoring rubric emphasizing mathematics integration, innovation, real-world relevance, alignment with STEAM curriculum, and support of the Profile of the SC Graduate. A final report detailing project outcomes, including student deliverables and financial documentation, must be submitted by May 29, 2026.

Contact for questions is available at grants@sccoalition.org. Awardees are also eligible to request a free, one-day onsite professional development session from S²TEM Centers SC, valued at $1,375, to further support project implementation.