About Project Lead the Way
Project Lead the Way Inc. concentrates on helping schools implement and expand PLTW programs, and its recent grants show that work in large district-scale awards. One of the clearest signals is repeated support for Federal Way Public Schools, which received $645,000 in 2024 and the same amount in 2023 for program implementation. The foundation also made a $285,000 grant in 2025 to Bridgeton Public School District for the same purpose, showing that its giving is tied to classroom rollout rather than open-ended operating support.
Its grantmaking is built around K-12 STEM and career and technical education, especially PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, and PLTW Biomedical Science. Recent awards include recurring support for school districts in Washington, New Jersey, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, and California. The pattern across these grants is practical implementation funding: participation fees, professional development, equipment, and curriculum costs tied to adopting or growing PLTW instruction.
What Project Lead the Way Funds
A defining part of Project Lead the Way Inc.'s giving is program rollout at the district level. For example, it gave $255,000 in 2024 to Consolidated School District No 6 in Arnold, Missouri, for program implementation, and $250,000 in 2024 to Chicago Public Schools District #299 for the same purpose. It also supported Cicero School District 99 in Cicero, Illinois with $250,000 in 2024 for program implementation.
The foundation also backs expansion work, not just first-time starts. Racine Unified School District in Racine, Wisconsin received $185,000 in 2024 for program expansion, while Saint Paul Public School District in St Paul, Minnesota received $152,500 in 2024 for program expansion. In another area of work, it made a $150,000 grant in 2024 to Los Angeles Unified School District for program implementation and expansion.
Its active grant programs point to grants that can cover participation, training, curriculum, equipment, and supplies for PLTW Launch, Gateway, Computer Science, Engineering, and Biomedical Science.
How Project Lead the Way Gives
Typical grants sit in a middle band of $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent grant list also shows much larger district awards tied to implementation. The pattern is repeat funding to the same recipients across consecutive years, including multiple 2023-2024 awards to the same school systems. Project Lead the Way Inc. is a regular funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Unsolicited applications are accepted through its grant opportunities.
