Planning resources for schools and districts
School Funding for a Mobile AR Sandbox
Explore current grant opportunities, district-administered funding paths, and practical materials for purchasing a complete MARS system.
Complete system price: $7,500
EXAMPLE ONLY — FUNDING IS NOT GUARANTEED.
Program rules, eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines can change. Confirm current requirements with the official program and your school or district before applying or purchasing. OCS Fabrication does not determine funding eligibility or award decisions.
Start with the right funding path
Some programs accept applications directly from educators or schools. Others are controlled by a district, consortium, or federal-program administrator and must be approved before a purchase.
Direct grant opportunities
Review eligibility, build a project around measurable student outcomes, and apply through the program’s official process. A grant may cover all or only part of the $7,500 system.
District-administered funding
Talk with your district business office, federal-program lead, CTE consortium, or curriculum administrator. These funds are not awarded directly by OCS Fabrication and may require local approval before purchase.
Minnesota opportunities
Current grants worth reviewing
These programs are open as of the last verification date below. Always confirm details on the official website before applying.
Open
MAELC AFNR Education Grant
Amount: $1,500–$25,000.
Eligibility: Minnesota K–12 and postsecondary agricultural, food, and natural resource education programs; priority includes school-based agriculture education and connected programs.
Deadline: November 15, 2026.
Equipment eligibility: Equipment and facilities are identified priorities, subject to the program’s requirements.
Why MARS may fit: A project can connect topography, watersheds, soil, land use, and natural-resource instruction through applied learning.
View the official MAELC grant page ↗
Last verified: September 22, 2026
Open
Education Minnesota Foundation Classroom-Focused Project Grant
Amount: Up to $3,000.
Eligibility: Licensed or credentialed Education Minnesota members, including teachers, faculty, counselors, and other eligible education professionals.
Deadline: December 4, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
Equipment eligibility: The proposal should center on a classroom project and measurable outcomes, not simply an item purchase. It may provide partial funding toward the system.
Why MARS may fit: Frame the request around a defined STEM, earth-science, or environmental-learning project and how student learning will be assessed.
View the official foundation overview ↗
Last verified: September 22, 2026
National and local grant programs
Open · Cycle 3
Walmart Spark Good Local Grants
Amount: $250–$5,000.
Eligibility: Eligible K–12 schools, higher-education institutions, public charities, and government entities serving the local facility area. Spark Good and Deed verification are required.
Cycle: August 1–November 30, 2026.
Equipment eligibility: Potentially eligible when tied to a demonstrated local need; confirm the proposed expense with the program and local facility.
Why MARS may fit: A school can present it as a shared, hands-on STEM resource with classroom and community impact.
View the official grant guidelines ↗
Last verified: September 22, 2026
Opening soon · Monitor
Casey’s Cash for Classrooms
Typical amount: $3,000–$50,000.
Eligibility: K–12 public and nonprofit private schools in Casey’s 17-state footprint, including Minnesota.
Expected cycle: The next application period is expected in October 2026; exact dates were not posted at last verification.
Equipment eligibility: Prior awards and program materials include physical improvements, classroom material needs, and technology or equipment projects.
Why MARS may fit: Position it as shared classroom technology that strengthens hands-on learning and community engagement.
View Casey’s official program update ↗
Last verified: September 22, 2026
Closed · Limited fit
NEA Foundation Learning & Leadership Grant
Amount: Up to $5,000.
Eligibility: Active NEA-member public-school educators and education support professionals.
2026 deadline: September 15, 2026; the cycle is closed.
Equipment eligibility: This program focuses on professional learning, so it is not a straightforward full-system equipment grant.
Why it is listed: Monitor future cycles only when MARS is part of a strong professional-learning plan.
View the official NEA Foundation page ↗
Last verified: September 22, 2026
District and federal funding paths
These are not direct consumer grants. Work with the responsible district, consortium, or program administrator before including MARS in a plan or purchase.
Title IV-A
Amount and cycle: Varies by annual district allocation and local plan.
Eligibility: District or local educational agency controlled.
Equipment eligibility: Potentially allowable when aligned to a documented need and an approved well-rounded education, STEM, environmental education, or effective-use-of-technology activity.
Why MARS may fit: It can support interdisciplinary STEM and environmental learning. The district must determine allowability.
Official Minnesota Title IV-A information ↗
Status: Annual district-controlled path · Last verified: September 22, 2026
Perkins V / Minnesota CTE
Amount and cycle: Varies by consortium plan, allocation, and approval schedule.
Eligibility: Minnesota secondary and postsecondary CTE programs working through an approved consortium.
Equipment eligibility: Minnesota provides an equipment-acquisition request process. Approval and alignment to an approved program of study and identified need are required before purchase.
Why MARS may fit: Possible alignment with natural resources, geospatial, construction, environmental, or other approved CTE instruction.
Official Minnesota Perkins V information ↗
Status: Consortium-controlled path · Last verified: September 22, 2026
REAP: SRSA or RLIS
Amount and cycle: Varies by annual formula award and district eligibility.
Eligibility: Eligible rural local educational agencies receive either a Small, Rural School Achievement or Rural and Low-Income Schools award.
Equipment eligibility: Some technology equipment can be allowable when it supports an authorized, supplemental activity. The district and program administrator must confirm the specific purchase.
Why MARS may fit: A rural district may connect it to an approved STEM, technology, or academic-achievement plan.
Official Minnesota REAP information ↗
Status: Formula funding for eligible districts · Last verified: September 22, 2026
School or district budgets
Ask about curriculum, STEM, technology, environmental education, capital equipment, or instructional-material budgets. Purchasing rules, vendor setup, quotes, and approval thresholds vary by district.
OCS Fabrication accepts school purchase orders subject to approval and can provide a W-9 and vendor-registration paperwork. Schools requesting tax-exempt treatment should provide a tax-exemption certificate. Formal quotes are valid for 60 days. Shipping is quoted separately, and normal lead time is 3–4 weeks, with faster fulfillment sometimes available depending on inventory and options ordered.
Local foundations and PTO/PTA support
A local education foundation, PTO/PTA, service club, or community sponsor may fund all or part of a project. Present a clear student need, shared-use plan, total cost, and measurable outcome.
Status, amount, and cycle vary locally. Confirm equipment eligibility with each organization.
Request a School Funding Packet
Tell us about your school and intended use. We’ll provide product information you can use while planning a grant request or internal funding conversation.
Need a formal quote for your application?
The complete Mobile AR Sandbox system is $7,500. Request a school quote to begin your purchasing or funding review.