Butterfly Project Grants

We are now accepting grant applications for the 2024-2025 school year!
Apply at the bottom of this page.

About the Butterfly Project: Participants of all ages in the Butterfly Project learned about children who died in the Holocaust and received a card with the story of a specific child. The participants then paint ceramic butterflies, inspired by the story of that child. The international movement aims to paint 1.5 million butterflies to honor the 1.5 million children killed during the Holocaust. As they learn about children lost in the Holocaust, we will challenge the community to embrace difference and to fight against bigotry and intolerance happening now. Learn More!

This program is funded by The Lipsman Family Endowment Fund in memory of Charles and Hilda Lipsman.

 In years past, we have conducted Butterfly Project sessions with local schools and organizations, including 23 public libraries in 2018. We are now into the third phase of the Butterfly Project: giving schools Butterfly Project Grants to facilitate bringing The Butterfly Project to their students.

“The kids really put their heart and soul into this! I was so proud! I think it turned out beautifully and was a memorable learning experience for them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

– Colleen Childs, PPS – Sunnyside

How it works:

• Educators apply for a Butterfly Project grant from the Holocaust Center. If approved, the Holocaust Center will provide one or two kits (depending on your classroom size). The Holocaust Center will only approve one request per school, per year. The Butterfly Project grants are available for educators located in our outreach region, including Western Pennsylvania, parts of Ohio, and parts of West Virginia.
• Once approved, the Holocaust Center will submit orders to The Butterfly Project organization in San Diego and have kits shipped directly to educators.
• Holocaust Center will send the educator a lesson plan and powerpoint that they can use during painting sessions. Educators must use this or another relevant structured curriculum to provide students with an educational component of the project.
• Educators coordinate painting sessions and kiln firing with their students and other teachers, working with school art departments or soliciting local ceramic businesses. Acrylic painting is also acceptable in case firing is not possible.
• Educators are responsible for coordinating the installment of the finished butterflies into a publicly displayed temporary or permanent art piece, exhibition, sculpture, etc.
• At the culmination of the project, educators must update the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and send pictures of the installation. Educators are strongly encouraged to send the Holocaust center photos and updates throughout the whole process.
• The Holocaust Center can provide additional offerings to complement this program, such as a Generations Speaker or a field trip! See grant application below.

With a grant, educators receive:

• Free ceramic butterflies and painting kits for up to either 36 or 72 students sent from The Butterfly Project in California (educators contact San Diego and arrange for shipping, and the bill will be sent to the Holocaust Center)
• A curriculum and powerpoint designed by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh

Requirements to qualify for the grant:

• Educators plan and implement their own Butterfly Project in their school. Holocaust Center staff will provide resources for teachers. This project provides an opportunity for cross-curricular collaboration at the school level.
• There must be an educational component to the project that relates to the Holocaust.
• Educators must coordinate a method of firing glazed butterflies (acrylic painting is also acceptable in case firing is not possible, and a stipend may be issued to pay for acrylic paint).
• Butterflies must be publicly displayed in a temporary or permanent exhibition, art piece, etc.
• At the culmination of the project, educators must send the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh pictures of the installation. Educators are strongly encouraged to send the Holocaust center photos and updates throughout the whole process. Pictures may be used by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh in grant reporting and on our website.
• Public, private, and charter schools are eligible for this grant. Libraries may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Apply Now:

Having trouble seeing the form? Click here.