I want to attend a conference that is scheduled to occur before the official notification date. Can I apply for a grant and use the funds to reimburse my expenses?

No. Grant funds may not be used to reimburse expenses. Applications that include activities or expenses scheduled prior to the notification date will not be considered. Applicants are encouraged to plan ahead.

Our whole study group wants to attend a conference that is related to our work. Can we fund this travel with a group Learning & Leadership Grant?

No. Group Learning & Leadership Grants are to fund collegial study and funds may not be used to support travel costs or conference fees for more than one person. One member of the study group may travel to the conference and share his or her knowledge with the rest of the group upon return.

Am I eligible to apply for your grant programs?

Any practicing U.S. teacher, counselor, or education support professional* employed by a public school, including public higher education institutions, is eligible to apply for a grant from the Foundation. Educators in the Department of Defense school system are also eligible to apply. Full time administrators, such as principals, assistant principals, and school district staff, are not eligible.

*Education support professionals can be classified as: para-educators, school bus drivers, maintenance and custodial staff, food services staff, school nurses and student services workers, clerical and office assistants, school security officers, and technicians.

I work with public school students, am I eligible to apply?

Although you may serve public school students through a community-based after school program, parochial school, or in some other setting, you are only eligible to apply if you are employed (and paid) by the local public school district. If your school is listed as part of the system on the district's web site you are probably eligible to apply.

The posted notification date has passed and I haven’t heard anything from the Foundation. What should I do?

All lead grant applicants are notified via email. If you have not heard from the Foundation by the notification date, please contact us at foundation_info@nea.org.

My Student Achievement Grant project is going to involve some after-school planning time. In my grant budget can I include stipends for the teachers who will be helping?

No. Stipends, salaries, and grant administration fees are prohibited in the Student Achievement Grant guidelines. Applications that include these expenses will not be considered for funding. Stipends are only allowed as part of a group Learning & Leadership Grant.

When should I send my grant application?

Applications are reviewed three times a year, so you may submit an application at any time. However, if you want your application to be reviewed for a specific notification date, then you must submit your application by the posted deadline. For example, if you wish to be notified about funding by April 15th, then your application should be received by the close of business on February 1st. If your application is received on February 2nd or later, it will be held for the next round with notification by September 15th.

I need materials for my classroom. Do you have any grants to help pay for supplies or technology?

While Student Achievement Grant funds may be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, or technology, the proposed work must address students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills. The grant should focus on deepening student knowledge and habits of inquiry and not on acquiring materials. The foundation does not currently offer any programs simply for the purchase of supplies or technology.

Does my budget have to total exactly $5,000 or $2,000?

Yes. The budget submitted with your application must account for the full grant amount. We do not award partial grants. You must also plan to spend all of the funds within 12 months of the notification date.

If I have received a grant from The NEA Foundation in the past can I apply for another grant?

Yes. As long as you have submitted all of the required reports for your previous grant, you may apply for the foundation’s grant programs as many times as you wish. However, you must submit a unique proposal; identical applications will not be considered for funding.

Do I have to designate a fiscal agent?

No. If you do not designate a fiscal agent the grant will be made to the lead applicant and the IRS may consider the grant personal income and therefore taxable. Fiscal agents are usually non-profits, schools, districts, or local unions that can accept the funds without tax liability. Before you designate a fiscal agent, make sure you know the organization’s procedures for dispersing funds. You will have to abide by these procedures and should be sure you are comfortable working with that system. Click here for more information on fiscal agents.

How many grants does the foundation award?

The application process is highly competitive and like many other foundations we receive more worthy applications than we can fund. The foundation typically awards 130 to 160 Student Achievement Grants and Learning & Leadership Grants a year.