The National Education Association (NEA) Foundation Educator Grants

Deadlines: February 25, 2022, May 1, 2022 or September 15, 2022 

The National Education Association (NEA) Foundation has three grant opportunities available for educators.

Student Success Grants support educators engaging students in project-based and deeper learning to support the development of skills and dispositions contributing to success and fulfillment in a changing world. Two levels of funding are available: $1,500 and $5,000 and can be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, or technology. Applications are invited from educators, specialized instructional support personnel, and education support professionals to:

• develop and implement a project that will enhance students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and/or supporting personalized and experiential learning;
• support students’ mastery of essential academic content; and/or support students’ cultural understanding and appreciation;
• promote students’ communication and collaboration skills; or
• enable students to engage in learning experiences connected to real-world issues and challenges.

Learning & Leadership Grants support the professional development of NEA members by providing  $1,500 to $5,000 grants to: 

• Individuals to participate in high-quality professional development like summer institutes, conferences, seminars, travel abroad programs, or action research and 
• Groups to fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson plan development, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff.

Grants are available to current members of the National Education Association who are educators in public schools or public institutions of higher education, including education support professionals. Grant funds can be used for travel, room, meals, registration fees, materials, etc. for individual grants. For group grants, funds can be used for educator stipends, substitute fees, materials, travel, meals, etc. 

Envision Equity Grants enable educators to test creative new ideas and innovations, demonstrating exemplary teaching and learning. They also support project-based learning and help educators to advance students' cultural understanding and appreciation, anti-racism commitments, and understanding of civic engagement and democracy. Envision Equity grants will fund projects between $1,500 and $5,000. Examples of possible uses of funds (this is not an exhaustive or prescriptive list):

• Bring trainers to your school to support culturally-sustaining teaching and learning;
• Purchase and implement new social and emotional learning curriculum materials;
• Pay for supplies to implement project-based learning, addressing a real-world challenge;
• Develop stronger education-focused family, school, and community partnerships;
• Gain access to resources that can help to deepen students’ understanding of racial equity and anti-racist commitments and actions;
• Implement projects elevating student voice and supporting students’ engagement in civic and community life.