NEA Foundation Grants

The NEA Foundation offers competitive grants of up to $5,000 for a range of professional development and instructional improvement endeavors. Application deadlines vary by program so click on each grant title for more information.

Learning & Leadership Grants

Our Learning & Leadership Grants support National Education Association (NEA) members who are public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for one of the following two purposes:

• Grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes, conferences, or action research


• Grants to groups fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson plan development, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff.

Apply online for a learning & leadership grant today!

Grants to Educators

These grants support new ideas and practices to strengthen teaching and learning. The goal is to fund and share successful strategies to educate and prepare students for bright and rewarding futures. Over the last 10 years, more than $7.1 million has been awarded to fund nearly 4,500 grants to public school educators to enhance teaching and learning. All National Education Association (NEA) members are invited to apply for these grants.

VEA Awards Programs

VEA Mini Grants

Educators from around the state can apply to fund innovative lessons in their classrooms and schools. Each year, members of VEA’s Instruction and Professional Development Committee review applications and select the winners. You are encouraged to apply for a VEA mini-grant of up to $500. For more information, call VEA’s Office of Teaching and Learning at 1-800-552-9554.

VEA Award for Teaching Excellence

This is the highest award VEA offers for teaching excellence in the Commonwealth. The winner earns $500 and becomes Virginia’s nominee for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence.

VEA Education Support Professional Award

This award honors outstanding work in the areas of professional practice, Association involvement, community engagement, personal achievement, and the enhancement of the image of support professionals. All local associations are encouraged to nominate a support professional for this prestigious award. Montgomery County Education Association President, Robbie Jones, in the current winner of the VEA Education Support Professional Award.

VEA Community Service Award

Has your local Association organized a community event? Helped out in a community fund drive? Cleaned up a neighborhood park or school? Held a reading or other education activity as part of a community festival? Helped advocate for a cause in partnership with a civic organization? The Communications/Public Relations Committee wants to know about your "good neighbor" deeds and advocacy. Applications are due Sept. 1, 2016.