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SELCO Community Credit Union will once again support educators with up to $125,000 through its two flagship educator programs, each designed to help teachers who too often pay out of pocket for classroom-related expenses.
Back for a second year, the Regional Classroom Makeovers will fund three projects for up to $15,000 each. In addition, SELCO will award dozens of Creative Educator Grants, each worth up to $2,500 and designed to turn imaginative classroom projects into reality.
Educators can apply for both programs between Friday, Aug. 15, and Tuesday, Sept. 30.
The programs are part of SELCO Steps Up, the credit union’s community outreach initiative, which aims to foster meaningful, lasting change through nonprofit sponsorships, volunteerism, and funding for students and educators.
SELCO’s investment in educator support has proven especially timely, addressing a growing funding gap caused by rising costs and budget constraints. Too often, it has been educators who bridge this gap with personal funds. According to a national survey of educators, teachers spent an average of $895 of their own money on classroom expenses during the 2024-25 academic year. That out-of-pocket spending has increased 49% since 2015, according to the same survey.
“We were blown away by the number and quality of applications last year,” said Craig Carpenter, SELCO’s Senior Vice President of Lending & Business Banking. “The impact these grants and makeovers had on classrooms was immediate and inspiring. As a credit union founded by teachers, supporting educators isn’t just a priority for SELCO — it’s part of who we are.”
Said Olivia Sorensen, SELCO’s Community Development Supervisor for SELCO: “Each year, we’re reminded of what we already knew — educators have no shortage of passion and creativity, but they need support to bring their ideas to life.”
SELCO will begin accepting applications for the following programs starting Aug. 15:
- Classroom Makeovers: Three K-12 classrooms will receive makeovers worth up to $15,000 each. “Classroom” is loosely defined as any school learning space, including traditional classrooms, libraries, playgrounds, and gymnasiums. A SELCO Steps Up committee selects finalists in each of the three regions that SELCO serves: the Willamette Valley, Central and Eastern Oregon, and Northern Oregon. Then, through an online voting process held in October, SELCO members and the public at large select one winner from each region.
- Creative Educator Grants: Designed for K-12 educators with creative classroom ideas but lacking funds to get those projects off the ground. The program received a significant boost in 2024: SELCO increased the value of each grant to as much as $2,500 per recipient (up from $1,000) to support larger and more impactful projects. A selection panel reviews applications based on project originality, proposal clarity, number of students affected, potential for skill development, and diversity and impact of projects.
In the inaugural year of the Classroom Makeover program, Caldera High School in Bend received $15,000 to finish the build-out and expansion of its Makerspace Lab, Prairie Mountain School in Eugene was awarded $15,000 to create an ability-inclusive playground, and Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson received $11,700 to transform a music classroom.
“The mission of our Career and Technical Education department is to develop citizens with the necessary skills, attitudes, and tools to be successful and be positive contributors to our communities,” said Gavin Meyers, Caldera’s engineering, architecture, and graphic design teacher. “With the support of this grant, we will be one step closer to achieving our goal.”
2024 also saw a significant boost in applications to SELCO’s grant program, which ultimately awarded 44 grants to diverse programs across the state. Westside Village Magnet School in Bend purchased a new 3D printer, helping students create products to launch their own small businesses. Other recipients included Fern Ridge Middle School in Elmira for a hands-on automotive engineering class that teaches students to build working model engines and small electric vehicles.
John Sperry, a teacher at Hamlin Middle School in Springfield, was one of the grant recipients in 2024 for his project revamping his school's news broadcast channel, operated entirely by students.
"What I'm hoping for," Sperry said, "is that we'll feel more cohesive, more like we have a belonging culture here ... instead of it just being that school that they go to."
For more information about SELCO Steps Up Classroom Makeovers or Creative Educator Grants, to view past grant recipients, or to apply, visit www.selco.org/steps-up/student-and-educator-support/. For questions, please email stepsup@selco.org.
