The NEA Foundation Grants

Professional Development and Innovative Programs

The NEA Foundation supports a variety of efforts by teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to improve student learning in the nation's public schools, colleges, and universities.

NEA's Books Across America Library Books Awards
Made in collaboration with the National Education Association, these awards provide $1,000 to public schools serving economically disadvantaged students to purchase books for school libraries. The 2009 awards are made possible with support from individuals who donated to NEA’s Books Across America fund to bring the gift of reading to students affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. The application deadline is November 20, 2008.

Learning & Leadership Grants
These grants provide opportunities for teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to engage in high-quality professional development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. See table below for deadlines.

Student Achievement Grants
These grants provide $5,000 to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. (These grants replace the foundation’s Innovation Grants program, which has been discontinued.) See table below for deadlines.

Learning & Leadership and Student Achievement Grant deadline and notification dates: