Grants for Schools
Wildflower has raised and issued $7 million grants to date across over 70 schools in our national network. ​
The Wildflower Foundation Seed Fund
Teacher Leaders (TLs) who successfully complete their visioning and planning programs through Wildflower Schools are eligible for a grant through The Wildflower Seed Fund. The Wildflower Seed Fund helps new school founders take the first steps toward opening their own small, community-embedded Montessori schools. These grants provide early-stage financial support at key moments in a school’s journey—such as signing a lease, beginning renovations on classrooms, completing licensing applications, or securing essential materials. Seed Fund grants also support schools' eligibility for low interest loans from the Sunlight Loan Fund CDFI, which can provide a much greater share of capital for school startup costs.
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Unlike other Wildflower grants, which may be tied to specific locations or needs, the Seed Fund is designed to be widely accessible to Wildflower founders—both independent and charter schools—who have completed the planning phase and are preparing to open. While grant amounts vary based on need and available funding, Seed Fund awards are typically in the range of several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
Rooted in the Wildflower value of sufficiency, the Seed Fund is not meant to fully fund a school’s launch but to provide just enough at the right moment to help founders take meaningful next steps. Contributions to the fund support educators as they bring their visions to life, expanding access to Montessori education in communities across the country.
Third Party Grants
Current grant programs and funding partners that support Wildflower schools include:
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Federal Charter Replication Grant
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Regional Growth Initiative partners
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National grant partners
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The total amount of grant funding available to a school depends on the overlap between the school’s work and the priorities of funding partners. Schools that have limited overlap with partner priorities are likely to need to raise more startup funding on their own. Some schools have been able to raise money from members of their local community.
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The Wildflower Foundation helps guide Teacher Leaders to identify and secure sources of funding throughout the Wildflower School Startup Journey. Wildflower schools may also be eligible for grants after they have opened.
Black Wildflowers Fund aims to disrupt the barriers of systemic oppression in education and cultivate a sense of belonging for Black educators, children, and families.
By supporting the creation of Teacher-led microschools, providing funding to obtain a Montessori credential, and purposefully designing a thriving Community of Practice they're investing in Black educators and school founders at every stage of their leadership journey.
Exclusively for Wildflower Community: School Start-Up Grant
Designed to bridge the wealth gap and minimize the financial strain often experienced by Black educators who embark on the School Start-up Journey, this opportunity is exclusively for Black Teacher Leaders, affiliated with the Wildflower Schools Foundation.
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