Can my school use community grants to pay for a youth motivational speaker? Yes.
It’s true, we’ve had a lot of schools call us without a budget and then we found that they were surrounded by resources to pay for a speaker to come and deliver a powerful message for their students.
When I speak, I touch on topics such as: mental health, youth suicide, bullying & drug prevention. Many organizations receive Title I funds and community grants to help pay for a speakers fee so they can come to their community and train students and adults. My approach is such as a training because students learn skills to help them cope with bullying and I teach students how to respond when they bullied on campus.
So contact our office and let’s start the discussion on planning your next event. Parent engagement is lacking in many schools, so let’s work together to improve that. I usually speak during the day to students and I ask them to invite their parents to come back later in the evening and then I speak at a parent night. Having a parent night will enable you to use community grants to pay for the event.
The number one issue for parent nights is that parents rarely show up. I’ve seen it over and over. The school has a goal of having 50 parents in attendance and they end up with ten. If you bring in a speaker during the day, students will run home and tell their parents to come in the evening. Here are some school assembly planning tips to help as you prepare to host your next event.
Also, if you plan on having a parent night, make sure to budget a meal and the amount of parents in attendance will increase.
This format has been a home run and I know it’ll be a huge success for your school as well.
Title I Funds for School Assemblies
Many schools know how to use Title I funds to support programs that improve student achievement, strengthen school culture, and increase family engagement. While every district has its own budgeting process, Title I funds may be used for educational assemblies, parent engagement events, and professional development when the program supports the goals of the Title I schoolwide plan.
School assemblies on topics such as bullying prevention, drug prevention, student leadership, attendance, character education, and academic success can reinforce the positive behaviors and life skills students need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. An engaging speaker can help students connect with these important messages in a memorable and meaningful way.
Adding a family or parent engagement night alongside a student assembly creates an even greater impact. It gives parents practical tools to continue the conversation at home while reinforcing the same strategies students learned during the school day. Many Title I schools prioritize family engagement because strong school-home partnerships are linked to improved student outcomes.
Title I funds may also be available for teacher professional development. Motivational keynotes and training sessions can equip educators with practical strategies to build positive school climates, improve student relationships, and increase engagement throughout the school year.
If you’re interested in bringing a speaker to your campus, talk with your principal, Title I coordinator, or district administration about available funding sources. Planning early can help your school secure the resources needed to create a meaningful event that benefits students, staff, and families.