U.S. Department of Education Grants

• In 2010, $38.8 million in grants were shared by 11 states as part of the Department of Education's Safe and Supportive School Program. Despite the roller coaster of government budget cuts and consequent reinstatement of grant funds for bullying initiatives, it's still a good idea to launch your search for grant funds at the federal government level. For fiscal year 2011, the Safe and Supportive School Program has requested $165 million to fight bullying. The U.S. Department of Education has myriad types of anti-bullying initiatives your school may wish to pursue to qualify for one of these grants.
  
  

Health Resources and Services Administration Grants

• As part of this federal agency's efforts to stop bullying, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has introduced a "Stop Bullying Now" campaign with a heavy presence on the Internet, including the launch of websites Bullyinginfo.org and stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov. Funding is primarily aimed at early education---the mission is to stop bullying behavior at the elementary and middle school levels. If you are looking for grant funds to start or support an anti-bullying initiative via guest speakers, curricula, esteem building exercises and other age-appropriate actitivties for kids from kindergarten to eighth grade, the HRSA website has eligibility information.
  
  

State-Specific Funding For Anti-bullying Initiatives

• If you've exhausted efforts to garner anti-bullying grant funds at the federal level, the next logical step is your state. State funds are just as vulnerable to budget cuts, but that doesn't mean there are none. For example, the Colorado Trust's Bullying Prevention initiative has spread anti-bullying grant funds across 40 Colorado counties to build self-esteem in gay and lesbian teens and teach school populations the harm that can come from taunting schoolmates. Visit your state government's Department of Education and Health Department sites for viable funding sources to bolster your school's commitment to end bullying.
  
  

Turn to Area Private Foundations for Help

• Private foundations are as eager to see an end to bullying as are government entities. In 2011, The Chartrand Foundation of Jacksonville, Florida gave area high schools more than $60,000 to advance school gay/straight alliances and further the cause of understanding between heterosexual and gay students. The Salem Education Foundation of Massachusetts and Community Foundation for Central Florida have both come to the aid of schools in their respective states by supplying grand funds for publications, media and lesson plans written to teach kids tolerance.