The big picture: Idaho Education Association members who want to create their dream classroom projects and help students can find the resources they need through National Education Association grant programs.
IEA reaps the benefits: Many IEA members have taken advantage of NEA grant programs over the years. Here are some recent examples:
• Belinda Sell, a member of the Moscow Education Association, received a $3,500 Learning and Leadership grant to attend a two-week course on Modeling Instruction.
• Mary Anne McGrory and Sarah Olds from the Pocatello Education Association received $3,600 to attend a social studies conference in Washington, D.C., where U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is scheduled to speak. “It was not that hard to apply, and now we get to go to this conference that we’ve been wanting to go to for years,” McGrory said.
• Last year, four IEA members traveled to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique to study as part of the Global Learning Fellowship program.
More opportunity out there: NEA isn’t the only source of help out there. Check out the Idaho-specific and national grant programs available to K-12 educators in our mega list below.
Grants Available Through the National Education Association
NEA Foundation Learning and Leadership Grants: These grants focus on professional development and instructional innovation.
Open to: K-12 educators who are NEA members
Award size: $1,500 or $5,000 grants
Deadlines: There are three annual windows, which usually fall on Feb. 1, June 1 and Oct. 15 — but double-check to be sure. Recipients learn whether they have earned a grant two to three months after the deadline.
Website: neafoundation.org/educator-grants-and-fellowships
NEA Foundation Student Success and Envision Equity Grants: For assistance with project-based learning, equity, cultural inclusion and civic engagements.
Open to: K-12 educators who are NEA members
Award size: Up to $5,000
Deadlines: The current application runs until Sept. 15, but members must register by Sept. 11. The foundation typically opens a spring window, as well, that runs from March to May. Check the website over winter for more details.
Website: neafoundation.org/educator-grants-and-fellowships
NEA Global Learning Fellowship: This fellowship helps public school educators develop the knowledge and skills to integrate global competency into their daily classroom instruction, advocate for global competency in their schools and districts, and help students to thrive in our increasingly interconnected world. Fellows transform their classrooms to give students a global perspective.
Open to: K-12 public school educators.
Award size: Difficult to put an exact price on the ongoing workshops, webinars and support — as well as the trip overseas. The 2026 fellows will head to South Africa.
Deadlines: NEA usually opens the application period for the next cohort in December.
Did you know?: Four IEA members traveled to Mozambique in 2024 as part of this program.
Website: neafoundation.org/educator-grants-and-fellowships
Grants Available Nationwide
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grants: These provide funding to help students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. The grants can be used to implement or expand literacy programs; purchase new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives; encourage summer reading; or to purchase books, materials or software for literacy programs.
Open to: Public schools, public libraries and non-profit organizations
Award size: Up to $5,000.
Deadline: Multiple deadlines depending on the grant; check the website for more details.
Website: www.dgliteracy.org/grant-programs
Foundation for Rural Service Community Grant Program: FRS Community Grants are awarded annually to people doing good work in their communities.
Open to: Nonprofit organizations, schools, community groups, municipalities and other organizations.
Award size: Up to $5,000.
Deadline: Sept. 5, 2025
Website: www.frs.org/programs/grant-program/community-grant
Fund for Teachers Fellowship Grant Awards: This fund gives educators the resources to reflect on what’s missing in their students’ learning experiences and then empowers them to pursue content or skills to fill in those gaps.
Open to: Full-time PK-12 educators.
Award size: Grants are self-designed by educators and vary based on available funds.
Deadline: The grant application for 2026 opens on Oct. 1, 2025.
Website: fundforteachers.org
McCarthy Dressman Education Foundation Academic Enrichment Grants: The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation offers academic enrichment grants designed to develop in-class and extra-curricular programs that improve student learning. The Foundation considers proposals that foster understanding, deepen students’ knowledge, and provide opportunities to expand awareness of the world around them. The grants provide funding for programs that nurture the intellectual, artistic and creative abilities of children from low-income households.
Open to: Educators who are employed by schools or non-profits.
Award size: Up to $10,000 per year for two years.
Deadline: Application period opens Jan. 15, 2026.
Website: mccartheydressman.org/academic-enrichment-grants/
McCarthy Dressman Education Foundation Teacher Development Grants: These grants provide funding to individuals or small teams of teachers in the formation and implementation of groundbreaking K-12 classroom instruction.
Open to: Licensed K-12 teachers in public or private schools.
Award size: Up to $10,000 per year for two years.
Deadline: Application period opens Jan. 15, 2026.
Website: mccartheydressman.org/teacher-development-grants/
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation Grants: These grants provide support services to school districts and musical instruments to underfunded music programs nationwide.
Open to: Public schools (including public charter schools) where at least 65% of the student population is economically disadvantaged.
Award size: Determined by the foundation.
Deadline: Ongoing; schools must meet the criteria laid out by the foundation and apply to be considered online.
Website: mhopus.org/instrument-grants
National Council for the Social Studies Grant for the Enrichment of Geographic Literacy: Created to promote geography education in the schools, these grants are meant to enhance the geographic literacy of students at the classroom, district, or statewide level; and to encourage the integration of geography into the social studies curriculum/classroom.
Open to: Individuals or groups in school districts, public institutions or universities. There
Award size: $2,500 and up to $800 in travel reimbursement to present their work at the NCSS Conference. Recipients may reapply for another grant after three years.
Deadline: Check the website. Educators may also be submitted for NCSS national awards.
Website: www.socialstudies.org/membership/grant-geographic-literacy
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Education Trust Grants (and more): NCTM offers a variety of grants, scholarships and awards to help educators improve the teaching and learning of mathematics.
Open to: Math teachers, prospective teachers and other math educators.
Award size: $1,500-$24,000
Deadline: There are deadlines throughout the year; the next are on Sept. 15 and Nov. 1, 2025.
Website: www.nctm.org/Grants
State Farm Foundation Grants: These grants support K-12 academic performance, K-12 STEM learning, higher education or pathways for college and career success.
Open to: Educational institutions. However, applications are by invitation only — you must submit a form online to be considered for eligibility.
Award size: Awards have traditionally been up to $100,000.
Deadline: Ongoing; schools must meet the criteria laid out by the foundation and apply to be considered online.
Website: www.statefarm.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility/community-grants
Toshiba America Foundation Grants: The foundation offers a number of grants for educators who teach K-12 and want support for project-based learning.
Open to: K-12 science and math educators.
Award size: $1,000 for K-5 educators and up to $5,000 for 6-12 educators.
Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year — check the website for details.
Website: www.toshiba.com/taf
U.S. Department of Education Grants: This federal department has a wide variety of grants available, but the administration’s dismantling of the DoE means their availability may vary.
Website: www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/apply-grant/available-grants
California Casualty Athletic Grants and Music and Arts Grants: Receive funds for athletics, music or arts programs through this IEA Member Benefits partner.
Open to: K-12 public schools negatively affected by reduced budgets.
Award size: $300 for music and arts, $1,000 for athletics.
Deadline: Accepts applications year-round; music and arts applications received after July 15 will be considered for the next cycle. Athletics grants received after Jan. 15 will be considered for the next cycle.
Website: www.calcasathletics.com or www.calcasmusicartsgrant.com/
Idaho-Specific Grants
Idaho Humanities Council K-12 Grants: These grants help fund a huge range of projects, such as lesson plans, curriculum development, books and supplies, conference costs, consulting, field trips, and more.
Open to: K-12 educators or groups that support K-12 educators (nonprofits, libraries, etc.
The big caveat: These grants are currently on hold because they were funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, which has undergone severe budget cuts during the Trump administration. The council hopes to restart the program again soon.
Award size: Up to $1,000
Deadline: April 1, Aug. 1, Dec. 1
Website: idahohumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/K12-Guidelines81.pdf
Idaho National Laboratory K-12 Education Grants: This program seeks to align future workforce needs with STEM education in Idaho.
Open to: K-12 schools
Award size: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Next deadline is in autumn 2025; check the website for details.
Website: inl.gov/inl-initiatives/partnering-with-inl/k-12-stem/k-12-education-grants/
Idaho Community Foundation Grants: ICF offers more than 15 programs, many of which are designed to benefit students.
Open to: Idaho residents.
Award size: Sizes vary but can go all the way up to $20,000.
Deadline: Varies by grant; check the website for more info.
Website: www.idahocf.org/grants-scholarships.php#scroll_grants
Rocky Mountain Power Foundation: RMPF grants focus on five areas: community enhancement, environmental respect, arts and culture, and safety and wellness.
Open to: Nonprofit organizations, including schools.
Award size: Generally between $2,000-$5,000.
Deadline: March 15 for education/STEM grants, June 15 for community enhancement and environmental respect grants, Sept. 15 for arts and culture grants, and Dec. 15 for safety and wellness grants.
Website: www.rockymountainpower.net/community/foundation.html
WinCo Foods Grants: Available to pay for school fundraisers.
Open to: Schools located in communities with WinCo stores.
Award size: Varies; no limit listed.
Deadline: At least four, but not more than six weeks, before the fundraiser.
Website: www.wincofoods.com/community-support
Idaho Forest Products Forest Education Grants: Jack Buell Forest Education Grants fund projects that help young people learn more about Idaho’s trees, forests and forest products.
Open to: Educators and others who work with youth in Idaho.
Award size: Up to $250 to support forest-related education.
Deadline: Applications accepted year-round, but applications received by March 15 will be considered for April 1-March 31 projects. All applicants will be notified of decisions by March 31.
Website: www.idahoforests.org/content-item/forest-education-grants/
Have you used a grant that you don’t see here? Email Julie Sarasqueta at jsarasqueta@idahoea.org.
