The Thermoforming Division has a matching grant program which provide funds to purchase thermoforming equipment for accredited schools. Equipment and school programs must meet the Thermoforming Division mission statement — Our mission is to facilitate the advancement of thermoforming technologies through education, application, promotion, and research.

The Thermoforming Division has paid more than $275,000 in grants so far. How can we help your school advance its Thermoforming Curriculum? For more information, please contact us at foundation@4spe.org.

Equipment Matching Grant Proposal Process

Grants from The SPE Foundation/Thermoforming Division are available every year, funds permitting, to schools/educational institutions seeking funding for the purchase of thermoforming equipment (forming equipment, auxiliary equipment, retrofitted controls or ovens for existing machines, trimming equipment, and/or software).

To apply for a grant, the following steps must be taken.

Apply for Thermoforming Grant Program Here

  • The application must indicate a specific amount for a specific piece of equipment and must be submitted prior to the purchase of that equipment. Grant requests over $10,000 will not be considered.
  • This is a matching grant program. Therefore, the application must state the source of matching funds for the equipment and indicate when those funds will be released to the educational facility.
  • A clear statement about the use of the equipment must be included with the grant application cover sheet. You should include items such as:
    • an overriding goal of the facility that the equipment will help accomplish
    • a timeline for the purchase of the equipment
    • sources of matching funds being used for the purchase of the equipment
    • the contribution the equipment will make to school’s plastics program
    • who will benefit or be served by the program (regular students/adults attending evening classes, etc.)
    • how the program will be conducted
    • who will provide leadership for the program
    • how the program will be evaluated
    • financial need of the organization
    • the future expectations of the program
  • Copies of records from the organization’s latest accounting cycle may be required as a final step in the grant process.
  • All grant applications must be typed or computer-generated, single-spaced, with appropriate headings.
  • Applications will be reviewed three times per year. Completed applications must be returned to The SPE Foundation by January 1st, April 1st or August 1st.

Apply for Thermoforming Grant Program Here