Florida · Private / Regional Grant

Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is one of Florida's largest private foundations dedicated to education. It funds programs that improve STEM learning and education outcomes for students from preschool through postsecondary, with a strong Florida focus.

Funding

$25,000–$500,000

Eligibility

Florida nonprofits, schools, and higher education

Grade Focus

PreK-12 and postsecondary

Subject

STEM / Education equity

Deadline

Rolling (check helios.org for open opportunities)

Type

Private / Regional Grant

About This Grant

Helios Education Foundation is headquartered in Tampa and focuses exclusively on improving educational opportunities in Florida and Arizona. In Florida, Helios prioritizes STEM learning, college access, and educational equity for underserved students. The foundation makes both competitive grants and strategic investments in organizations demonstrating measurable impact.

Helios has funded school-based STEM initiatives, teacher training programs, and curriculum development projects across Florida's diverse school communities. The foundation is particularly interested in programs that can demonstrate student learning gains and build toward long-term sustainability. Projects in underserved communities, including rural Florida and urban Title I schools, receive priority consideration.

Organizations applying to Helios should be prepared to articulate clear theories of change, measurable outcomes, and evidence of community need. Forward Education can support Florida partners applying to Helios by providing curriculum alignment documents, impact data from similar school implementations, and co-branding support.

View Helios Education Foundation →

Eligibility

Florida-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
Florida public schools, school districts, and charter schools (often partnering with a nonprofit fiscal agent)
Florida colleges and universities serving Florida K-12 pipeline programs
Programs with clear metrics tied to student learning or educational attainment

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
Program evaluation, community outreach, and data systems

Forward Education Products for This Grant

Forward Education offers classroom-ready kits that align with Florida 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

Helios is highly data-driven — build your proposal around specific, measurable student outcome goals rather than activity descriptions.
The foundation favors programs with equity at the center; show explicitly how your work serves underrepresented or underserved Florida students.
Before submitting a full proposal, reach out to a Helios program officer — they actively guide potential grantees and can save you from wasted effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Helios fund individual teachers or classrooms?

No. Helios funds organizations and institutions, not individuals. A school, district, or partnering nonprofit must apply.

Can a Florida school apply directly to Helios?

Schools and districts can apply, but many Helios grants flow through nonprofit partners. Check current open funding priorities at helios.org before applying.

What types of STEM programs does Helios prioritize?

Helios favors systemic approaches — professional development, curriculum adoption, and programs that scale across multiple schools or districts rather than single-classroom pilots.

Is Helios funding available statewide?

Yes, Helios funds programs across Florida, including rural and underserved communities. Geographic diversity in their portfolio is intentional.

How can Forward Education help?

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