Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Education Matters

EducationMatters is a registered charity dedicated to enriching public school education in Calgary. As the dedicated fundraising partner for the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), it channels donations and partnership funding into programs, initiatives and awards that go beyond what government funding can provide. The organization focuses on ensuring that all CBE students, regardless of background, have access to essential resources, meaningful learning opportunities and clear pathways to post-secondary education.

EducationMatters administers several broad funding areas. Through its Essentials for Learning priority, it supports basic needs such as food, school supplies, winter clothing and transit passes for students and families facing financial hardship. Under Extraordinary Experiences, it funds enhancements like field trips, residencies, guest speakers and other experiential learning that expands education beyond the classroom. The Preparing for the Future area backs dual-credit and exploratory programs, hands-on and career-focused learning, and the equipment needed to deliver these programs.

In addition to programmatic grants for schools and CBE departments, EducationMatters manages a comprehensive portfolio of student awards, scholarships and bursaries. Through an online Student Award Application Portal, Grade 12 students from CBE, CCSD and other eligible Calgary schools can search available awards, complete a general application and apply for individual awards that match their profile. These awards typically support tuition and other post-secondary costs and may be based on academic achievement, community involvement, financial need, specific fields of study or other donor-defined criteria.

EducationMatters works closely with donors to establish both annual and endowed funds that generate sustainable support for students and schools. Donors can create named student awards or set up grants targeted at particular schools, subjects or student populations. The charity also hosts school-specific fundraising campaigns and processes donations on behalf of school councils and societies, then disburses funds directly to school accounts in line with gift agreements that specify eligible uses.

Beyond individual awards, EducationMatters provides grants that allow schools to invest in resources and initiatives that directly benefit students—such as learning materials, technology, wellness programs and equity-focused supports. Grants and endowments are designed to complement, not replace, core government funding, enabling schools to enhance educational quality and respond to emerging needs.

The primary beneficiaries of EducationMatters funding are CBE students, from those needing basic necessities to high-achieving and high-potential students preparing for post-secondary studies. Funds also support teachers, school leaders and school communities by equipping them with tools, experiences and infrastructure that enrich learning. Through its Grants and Student Awards Officer, awards committees and grants committees, EducationMatters oversees transparent selection and adjudication processes, ensuring that donor intent is honoured and that funds are directed where they can have the greatest impact.