How to Access Grants from Matthew McConaughey’s New Foundation

Accessing federal grants can be a tricky and time-consuming process, but the Greenlights Grant Initiative is here to help.

Actor Matthew McConaughey and his actress-model wife Camila Alves are taking action to create a safer future with the Greenlights Grant Initiative, which will assist schools across the nation in accessing funds to prevent mass shootings.

As a native of Uvalde, Texas, McConaughey has been very outspoken in the wake of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in May 2022, which killed 19 children and two adults. The couple established the Greenlights Grant Initiative to help schools and families across the country access funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) as the need to bolster safety measures within schools has never been more apparent, with school shootings on the rise nationwide.

President Joe Biden signed the BSCA into law in June 2022, and it aims to crack down on gun trafficking, fund community violence interventions, and establish an enhanced background check process for gun buyers under 21. It also makes billions of dollars in grants available to school districts, helping fund violence prevention efforts, mental health services, security upgrades, training, and more.

All About Greenlights Initiative

With the ever-growing concern for school safety and the need for mental health services, plenty of federal funding is available for schools. However, accessing that funding isn’t as straightforward as you might hope. On average, applying for a single grant takes 50-100 hours, while using professional grant writing services for a federal grant will cost schools anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000.

To school districts with limited staff or funding, securing federal grants can seem like a distant dream. In fact, McConaughey and Alves learned many school district leaders weren’t even aware of the many federal school safety grants made available by the BSCA — and even those that knew about the money had difficulty accessing it. That’s where the Greenlights Grant Initiative comes in.

With the hope of turning schools into safer environments, the Greenlights Grant Initiative aims to spread awareness about available grants and simplify the grant application process to help more school districts access federal funding. After all, any unused money will be redistributed in 2026.

The Greenlights Grant Initiative provides website visitors with a menu of all the currently available grants. Not only can school districts discover grant deadlines, but they can also better determine which offering is best for their needs and follow tutorials that can help them write more competitive proposals.

The Greenlights Grant Initiative even provides grant writers for some of the highest-risk schools, significantly increasing their chances of obtaining federal funding. From urban areas to rural school districts, the program aims to ensure every child has access to a safe and supportive learning environment.

How To Access Grants

To get started with the Greenlights Grant Initiative, head to their website and view a list of available grants. Here, you can view vital information about grants from the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Department of Education.

The Greenlights Grant Initiative offers a variety of resources, including webinars, how-to’s, tutorials, and guidebooks, to provide school districts with the information and support they need to successfully apply for and obtain federal funding. Each grant differs, but school district leaders will want to:

• Take a proactive approach: In most cases, grants won’t fall into school districts’ laps. Instead, schools need to actively seek out grant opportunities. Don’t be afraid to dive into the research process. Focus on finding grants designed to promote school safety or student well-being.
• Stay informed about the grant application process: The grant application process is intimidating enough as it is, so school districts need to stay up-to-date and take the time to review the process. Look into the documents, financial information, and other requirements needed to use grant funds. Also, pay attention to the necessary word limits, formats, and supporting documents.
• Understand the criteria: One of the first steps to creating a successful grant application is understanding the eligibility criteria. After all, no one wants to waste time, money, and energy applying for funding they aren’t eligible for. School districts will want to check that their goals and funding categories align with what the grant is offering and they fall within any geographical restrictions associated with the grant before initiating the application process.
• Emphasize the impact funding would have on student safety and well-being: When creating a grant proposal, school districts will want to emphasize the impact the money would have on their students and staff. For example, a school might write about how having funding for a mental health program could create a more positive learning environment for all or how additional money for their security measures could keep students and staff safe. Just make sure the proposal aligns with the grant program’s mission and funding priorities.
• Receive help from grant writing services: If possible, school districts should turn to professional grant writing services to raise their chances of receiving federal funding. Grant writing services can make all the difference — and the Greenlights Grant Initiative offers fully-funded grant writing services to school districts in need. With help from professional grant writers, school districts can submit more compelling and competitive proposals.

If you’d like additional support beyond the webinars, how-to’s, tutorials, and guidebooks, you can submit an application to the Greenlights Grant Initiative. They will then review your application and determine what level of support they can offer your district.

Creating a Better Environment To Help Students Thrive

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act opened up many funding opportunities, but the competition for grants can be fierce. So, school districts need to put their best foot forward and create compelling applications.

Luckily, the Greenlights Grant Initiative can help, as it provides valuable insights into available grants, the grant application process, and it offers grant writing support to districts in need. By making grant funding more accessible, Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves, and the Greenlights Grant Initiative are helping create a safer environment where students can thrive.

At Turn-key Technologies, Inc. (TTI), we also want to help schools create a positive learning environment, which is why we offer K-12 school districts full-stack IT and network support and can help with everything from smart cameras to E-rate funding. Talk to us today to learn more.