NEA Professional Excellence Grants

What are Professional Excellence Grants?

• Professional Excellence Grants support NEA local and state Affiliates in implementing and/or developing resources and practices that meet professional learning needs and gaps identified by their members and students. The work funded through Professional Excellence Grants center student success, reinforce systems that recognize, value, and support a quality, professional educator workforce, while recognizing the role of the Association in creating and sustaining those systems of success.
• Professional Excellence Grants fall under two categories:
  • Program Implementation Grant: Affiliates working with a NEA staffer can apply for a Program Implementation Grant that supports implementing an existing CPESL program. Examples may include:
    • ESP Bill of Rights
    • ESP Peer Mentoring Program
    • ESP Professional Growth staff-facilitated PLCs
    • Praxis training
    • Induction Institute
  • Innovation Grant: Affiliates can apply for an Innovation Grant based on an affiliate’s need and implemented through the utilization of Professional Learning Theory. Examples may include:
    • Family and community partnerships, such as Parent-Teacher-Home Visits and Community School initiatives
    • National Board candidate support, such as Jump Start and year-round candidacy programs
    • Entry into the teaching profession initiatives, such as Educators Rising
    • Implementation of digital learning resources, such as micro-credentials implementation
• Typical funded grant amounts range from $3,000 to $25,000.
• Projects must be completed within 12 months after funding approval.
• Please e-mail [email protected] for additional resources to assist in completing an application.
• Only State and Local Affiliates of NEA may apply for Professional Excellence Grants.

Application Deadlines, contingent upon available funding:

• Cycle #1: Friday, October 17, 2025
• Cycle #2: Friday, February 13, 2026

Expectations:

• All grantees will be expected to participate in a grant reporting and evaluation process during and at the close of the funding cycle.
• All grantees receiving an Innovation Grant will participate in regularly scheduled facilitated collaborative learning sessions with fellow grantees.
• All grantees receiving a Program Implementation Grant will be provided professional and technical assistance by an assigned NEA staff member.

For questions and link to the application, please email [email protected]