Ohio · National Grant

Best Buy Foundation: Teen Tech Centers & STEM (Ohio)

Best Buy Foundation funds Teen Tech Centers and STEM education grants at Boys and Girls Clubs and community organizations in Ohio, providing technology, curriculum, and mentorship for underserved teens.

Funding

$10,000–$100,000

Eligibility

Nonprofits with youth programs, Boys and Girls Clubs in Ohio

Grade Focus

6-12

Subject

Technology / CS / STEM

Deadline

Annual

Type

National Grant

About This Grant

Best Buy Foundation has invested in Teen Tech Centers at Boys and Girls Clubs across the U.S., including Ohio communities in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo. These centers equip community organizations with technology for teens to create — music, games, apps, digital media — not just consume. Ohio teens from low-income communities gain access to technology resources that would otherwise be completely out of reach.

Beyond Teen Tech Centers, Best Buy Foundation makes education grants to Ohio nonprofits providing technology enrichment for underserved youth. The foundation prioritizes programs where teens are active creators with technology, building real skills while producing tangible outcomes — a game, a website, a music track, a working device.

Ohio's large urban centers — Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton — have significant populations of low-income teens who benefit from Best Buy Foundation-funded programs. Best Buy's retail presence across Ohio means community ties are genuine, and employee volunteers in Ohio cities can meaningfully participate in funded programs.

View Best Buy Foundation: Teen Tech Centers & STEM (Ohio) →

Eligibility

U.S. nonprofits serving teens (ages 13-18) from low-income Ohio communities
Boys and Girls Clubs and youth organizations in Ohio
Programs focused on technology creation (not just consumption) for underserved teens
Organizations with established youth programming infrastructure

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
Digital media production tools, music technology, and gaming equipment

Forward Education Products for This Grant

Forward Education offers classroom-ready kits that align with Ohio CS standards and fit cleanly into grant budgets. All kits include teacher guides and curriculum.

micro:bit Starter Kit — Entry-level physical computing, perfect for introducing coding and computational thinking.
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit — Hands-on AI literacy curriculum covering machine learning concepts for K-12 classrooms.
Coding for Good Kit — Project-based learning kit connecting coding skills to real-world community challenges.
micro:bit Robotics Kit — Advanced robotics and engineering challenges for deeper CS exploration.

Keep in Mind

Best Buy wants teens creating with technology — music, games, apps. Frame your Ohio program around production and creativity.
Teen Tech Center grants require a Boys and Girls Club partnership; for non-BGCA orgs, the smaller education grants are more accessible.
Ohio Best Buy store employees can volunteer; mention openness to employee engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Best Buy only fund Boys and Girls Clubs in Ohio?

Best Buy has a strong BGCA relationship but also funds other nonprofits with strong teen technology programs.

What age range does Best Buy fund?

Teens ages 13-18 are the primary target. Middle and high school programs are most competitive.

Can Ohio schools apply?

Community nonprofits are stronger applicants given Best Buy's out-of-school focus, but school-community partnerships can work.

Does Best Buy fund physical computing kits?

Yes. Hardware for teen creation is fundable. The framing must emphasize skill-building and creative production.

How can Forward Education help?

We provide curriculum alignment documents mapped to Ohio CS standards, pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support for qualifying applications. Reach out before you apply.