Driving Brighter Futures Grant

The Driving Brighter Futures grant is a philanthropic initiative led by the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in partnership with Carvana. The foundation, established by NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, focuses on supporting K-12 public education with an emphasis on improving access to quality learning environments and career readiness opportunities. Through this collaboration with Carvana, the program specifically aims to strengthen Automotive and Engineering Career and Technical Education programs by providing meaningful financial support and resources that enhance hands-on learning and workforce preparation. The purpose of the grant is to expand and improve existing Automotive and Engineering CTE programs in public schools across the contiguous United States. The initiative is designed to foster student interest in automotive and engineering career pathways while addressing resource gaps that may limit program effectiveness. Funding is intended to support programmatic needs such as equipment, instructional tools, facility improvements, and other resources directly tied to delivering high-quality technical education experiences. The funding structure offers a single award to one selected school. The recipient may choose between two options: a $45,000 cash grant or a combined package consisting of a $35,000 cash grant and a shop car valued at $10,000. This flexible structure allows the awardee to select the option that best aligns with their programmatic needs. The grant does not specify restrictions on cost sharing or matching requirements, indicating that funds are provided without a mandatory financial contribution from the recipient. Eligibility is limited to existing and certified Automotive or Engineering CTE programs within public schools serving grades K-12 in the contiguous United States. Charter schools offering eligible programs are also included. Nominations must be submitted by individuals who are at least 18 years of age, and each individual may submit only one nomination, although multiple individuals may nominate the same school. The program emphasizes that nominated schools must already have established CTE programs in place rather than proposing new initiatives. The application process begins with a nomination phase, during which nominators must provide key details including the school name, location, contact information for a staff member, and a justification describing the need for funding. From the pool of nominations, up to twenty semi-finalists are selected based on the quality of submissions and the discretion of the funders. Semi-finalists are then invited to submit a more detailed application, which includes both a video and written components, indicating a competitive, multi-stage evaluation process. The timeline for the grant includes a firm nomination deadline of August 28, 2026 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Semi-finalists are expected to be announced by September 21, 2026, and the final grant recipient will be announced by December 31, 2026. While the program does not explicitly state recurrence, the structured timeline and branded initiative suggest a potentially repeatable annual opportunity, though this is not confirmed. No specific contact person, email, or phone number is provided within the available information, and no official PDF guidelines are referenced.