Pennsylvania Educator, Leslie Nicholas, receives top honor at the 2013 Awards Gala

(L to R: Harriet Sanford, President & CEO of The NEA Foundation; Leslie Nicholas, language arts educator at Wyoming Valley West Middle School in Kingston, PA; Gary Phoebus, President & CEO of NEA Member Benefits)


More than 800 national leaders in education, philanthropy, and business, gathered at the National Building Museum in the nation’s capital on February 8, 2013 to celebrate the best in public education. Through dance, music, and readings, student performers from Lee County,

"My Kids": President & CEO Harriet Sanford at the 2013 Awards Gala

"There are things in life that bring pure joy…you know eating your favorite ice cream or seeing your child master a new skill, when just months ago they were certain they’d never learn how. And while each day in my work here at the

Issue Brief: Unions, Districts, and Communities to the Table

The NEA Foundation embraces deep and enduring collaboration among the local teachers union and the teachers they represent, the district and community as a core philanthropic strategy. In our funded sites, local collaborative teams plan and

New Online Games Let Students Tryout STEM Careers

According to a recent national study, across the fields of Science, Technology, and Engineering, and Math, job postings outnumbered unemployed people by almost two to one, while, overall, unemployed people outnumbered job postings by well more than

Need a Grant? $2,000 & $5,000 Grants Available

Every year, the NEA Foundation awards more than 150 grants to support public school educators’ innovative ideas. On average, each grant impacts the learning of 200 students.


Now, with two levels of grant funding, $2,000 and $5,000, we’re

Simpler is Better

We’re pleased to announce the launch of the updated NEA Foundation Web site. By organizing the site by our core programs – Unions & Districts, Grants to Educators, Innovation, and Awards – and incorporating more videos, images, and

Celebrating Excellence in Education

On February 8, 2013, in front of more than 800 leaders in public education, five educators will receive The Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence, $10,000, and recognition as the nation’s top educators at the NEA Foundation’s Salute

Huffington Post Blog: A Real Recipe for Improving Schools

"A Real Recipe for Improving Schools"


By Harriet Sanford

President & CEO, The NEA Foundation


"To get one idea of how to improve teaching in our nation's schools, drop by the local hospital. Chances are you'll see a group of doctors and medical

Issue Brief: High Performing School Systems

Today, several prescriptions exist for enabling schools and districts to effectively fulfill their missions to systemically improve outcomes for students. Systems thinking helps organizations identify the inter-relationship of the factors that

Giving Thanks on DonorsChoose.org

Mrs. Johnson’s thankful 3rd-5th graders

“The technology tool that you have funded will enable students to choose a just right book, be engaged, use word work applications to further and strengthen their vocabulary and increase their

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