Menu
Log in

cRUCES
CREATIVES


The Cruces Creatives Classroom Mini-Grant 

The Cruces Creatives Classroom Mini-Grant, for Las Cruces public schools during the 2025-2026 school year, funds hands-on classroom projects and events in partnership between teachers and Cruces Creatives.

The Cruces Creatives Classroom Mini-Grant offers funding to K-12 educators in Las Cruces public schools to engage their students with a hands-on project in coordination with Cruces Creatives.

Grant funds can be used for materials, equipment, compensation for Cruces Creatives staff or community partners, and other expenses related to hands-on, project-based learning.

We encourage applications that

•  Involve teachers, students, and community partners working together on “real-world” projects

•  Engage multiple community partners from different disciplines, particularly the arts and STEM

•  Involve a community partner over multiple sessions (vs. "one-off" engagements)

•  Include opportunities for student agency/student-driven projects

•  Create collaboration among teachers

Timeline

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 school year

          • Applications are accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis and at the sole discretion of Cruces Creatives.
          • For consideration, submit applications at least 4 weeks before the planned project start date.

Eligibility

  • The applicant must be an active instructor or educational staff member in the Las Cruces Public Schools, including public charter schools.
  • The funds must be for Las Cruces public classroom students (clubs, extracurricular activities, and sports groups are not eligible).
  • The project must be educational and help students develop academic and/or life skills.  
  • There must be an identified community partner for the project. The community partner may be a Cruces Creatives staff member or another community partner. (All community partners are subject to Cruces Creatives approval.)

  • Any community partner must agree to meet in-person or over a live video with students at least once per $500 classroom mini-grant.
  • The project must fit within the 2025-2026 school year.
  • The application must be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the project date.
  • The proposed budget must be less than or equal to $500 x the number of classrooms involved in the project, up to a maximum of $1,500. (I.e.,1 classroom = a max budget of $500; 2 classrooms = max budget of $1,000; 3+ classrooms = a max budget of $1,500).
  • The applicant must agree to report results, capture photographs (at least 5) during the project or event, and submit results and photographs to Cruces Creatives. (Photos and results help us maintain relationships with our funders and improve possibilities for future funding.)
  • The application must be completed in its entirety.
  • If the applicant is a previous classroom mini-grant awardee, all previous reports must be completed.
  • Applicants may have a maximum of one active mini-grant at a time.

  • Applicants must review and meet the requirements of the Eligibility Checklist.

Disallowable Expenses

The below items should not be requested.**

 Busing 
 Entry fees / field trip costs Exceptions can be made when other funding sources have been exhausted
 Toys / giftcards / prizes  
 Promotional materials  Only exceptions are when funding is used to buy materials for students to make their own materials
 Pre-made objects, unless tied to an activity It is better for students to build their own objects whenever possible
 Guns or weapons  Includes no field trips to places to use guns or weapons
 Sponsor fees / IDC for fairs 
 Marketing for events run by adults 
 Trampoline / bounce house Or other risky activities or materials
 Non-project clothing 
 Furniture Tables, chairs, cabinets, etc
 Alcoholic beverages  
 No explosives or fireworks 
 Travel expenses*  *Can be included as part of a speaker's fee
 Kits* *Only allowed if a community partner is directly tied to the use of the kit for the project
 Food* *May be allowed for special projects and if special funding is available. Please ask the Cruces Creatives team ahead of time.
 Speaker Fees* *Unless an activity or project is connected to the speakers' topic


















**Depending on the project, exceptions may be allowed. Please ask.

Cruces Creatives reserves the sole discretion to disallow any material, community partner, or project.

Other Considerations

          • If a community partner participates as a guest speaker, please ensure that they are approved by your administrator.
          • Please ensure that you have a district photo release form signed for each student involved in your project. If permission is not given, please exclude that student from photos.
          • When a mini-grant is determined to be eligible, applications will be scored to determine feasibility and impacts. View the Scoring Matrix
          • Once an application is approved, the Cruces Creatives team will work with you to purchase materials and/or contract for services. We purchase materials and services, and manage deliveries to save you time and to bring our expertise in making when appropriate.

We encourage educators to work with a community partner to collaboratively plan and write the grant. The teacher must do the actual submission.


If multiple instructors are working together for a larger project, instructors can submit one application. Please make sure to list all instructors and all community partners. Each instructor with an individual class can each qualify for $500, so 2 instructors can submit an application for $1,000, 3+ instructors can submit an application for $1,500. Max funding for any one project is $1,500.

View mini-grant application examples.

If you have questions, need help finding a partner or developing a project, or have never written a grant before, please feel free reach out to us. We're happy to help through the whole process - we want to you succeed and want to give you support!

Call or Text us
Office: (575) 448 - 1072
Email:
support@crucescreatives.org

Address:
205 E. Lohman Ave
Las Cruces, NM 88001

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software