The Golden LEAF Foundation announced this month that it is seeking proposals for a special $4 million initiative geared toward preparing North Carolina’s youth for careers requiring skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Organizations receiving funding under the Golden LEAF STEM Initiative can receive up to $750,000 for projects spanning a three-year period.

The Initiative will focus on supporting successful models that increase STEM education for students in grades 4 through 9 in rural, economically distressed and/or tobacco-dependent counties of North Carolina.

Priority will be given to projects that represent collaborative efforts aimed at preparing students to be college and/or career ready in disciplines that require strong STEM skills; have data demonstrating successful outcomes in student enrollment and achievement; represent collaborative arrangements among educational partners and industry targeting the current and future employment opportunities of a region or local area; and focus on rural, Tier I and Tier II, and/or tobacco-dependent counties that currently have low concentrations of STEM programs.

Competitive proposals will target under-represented minorities, females and limited resource students. For a full list of priorities, click here.

Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or governmental entity, serve the people of North Carolina, and be a local education agency, university, community college or direct provider of training in order to be eligible to apply. Letters of Inquiry are due September 7, 2010 and may be accessed by clicking here.