Ohio · National Grant

Dollar General Literacy Foundation: STEM Literacy (Ohio)

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation funds literacy and education programs in communities near Dollar General stores, with Ohio schools and nonprofits eligible for youth literacy, GED, and STEM literacy grants.

Funding

$1,000–$25,000

Eligibility

Nonprofits and schools within 20 miles of a Dollar General store

Grade Focus

K-12 and adult education

Subject

Literacy / Education / STEM Literacy

Deadline

Annual (spring cycle)

Type

National Grant

About This Grant

Dollar General operates over 800 stores in Ohio, making virtually every community in the state — including rural Appalachian towns — within 20 miles of a Dollar General location. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is therefore one of the most geographically accessible funders for rural and small-town Ohio schools and nonprofits.

The foundation funds youth literacy programs, back-to-school initiatives, and increasingly STEM literacy programming that connects reading, writing, and digital skills. Ohio programs serving students in communities near Dollar General stores — which includes nearly every rural and suburban Ohio community — are eligible to apply.

For rural Ohio schools that struggle to access major STEM grants designed for large districts, Dollar General Literacy Foundation offers a direct, accessible path. While grants are modest, they can fund initial coding materials, curriculum licenses, or teacher training that launches a school's first CS program.

View Dollar General Literacy Foundation: STEM Literacy (Ohio) →

Eligibility

Nonprofits and schools within 20 miles of a Dollar General store in Ohio
Programs serving youth literacy, adult education, or STEM literacy goals
Organizations in rural, small-town, or suburban communities
Programs with documented community need and clear educational outcomes

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
Books, educational materials, and basic technology for literacy learning

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

Frame your CS program as digital literacy — Dollar General's mission is literacy, so coding and technology skills should be presented as a new form of literacy.
Rural Ohio schools in Appalachian counties are ideal Dollar General applicants — the store proximity requirement is easily met and the rural equity narrative is strong.
Applications are modest in size and straightforward — a good first grant for Ohio organizations new to formal grantwriting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How close does a school need to be to a Dollar General?

Within 20 miles of a Dollar General store. Ohio's dense Dollar General network means nearly every Ohio school qualifies.

Does Dollar General fund STEM specifically?

Dollar General's primary focus is literacy. STEM literacy and digital literacy programs that connect to reading, writing, and communication qualify.

What's the maximum grant amount?

Youth literacy grants typically cap at $4,000-$10,000. Back-to-school grants are smaller. Check current guidelines at dgliteracy.org.

Can a first-time grant applicant succeed?

Yes. Dollar General Literacy Foundation applications are designed to be accessible for first-time applicants without professional grant writers.

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.