THE NEA FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION), WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS TO ADVANCE THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$56.2M
+6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+48.6% YoY
Grant Count
28
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$58K
-25.7% YoY
About The Nea Foundation for the Improvement
Based on IRS filings
The Nea Foundation for the Improvement is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in WASHINGTON, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $56.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 28 grants totaling $1.6M. Net investment income was $2.0M.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with The Nea Foundation for the Improvement?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $56,235,764 | $52,733,359 | $47,215,857 |
| Revenue | $6,815,298 | $6,658,255 | $3,234,576 |
| Expenses | $6,770,078 | $6,194,524 | $5,860,697 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,035,141 | $3,040,609 | $-117,539 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The Nea Foundation for the Improvement
Global Learning Fellowship Grant
THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Learning & Leadership Grants
THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
NEA Foundation- Student Success Grants
THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Aeh Community Health Services Center Inc ($225,000), Batesville School District ($200,000), Little Rock Public Schools ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AEH COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES CENTER INC CLARKSDALE, MS | SPECIAL GRANTS | $225,000 |
| BATESVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT BATESVILLE, AR | SPECIAL GRANTS | $200,000 |
| LITTLE ROCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS LITTLE ROCK, AR | PLANNING GRANTS | $200,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRATIC ED IN AMERICA JACKSON, MS | SPECIAL GRANTS | $130,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MISSISSIPPI JACKSON, MS | SPECIAL GRANTS | $120,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF PINE BLUFF, AR | PLANNING GRANTS | $115,000 |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW OAKLAND, CA | SPECIAL GRANTS | $100,000 |
| CLARKSDALE MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CLARKSDALE, MS | SPECIAL GRANTS | $58,000 |
| RURAL COMMUNITY ALLIANCE LITTLE ROCK, AR | SPECIAL GRANTS | $55,000 |
| GRANTMAKERS FOR EDUCATION PORTLAND, OR | SPECIAL GRANTS | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARA SNEED | PRESIDENT & CEO | 37.5 | $304,983 |
| NICK ARCHULETA | CHAIR | 10 | — |
| OLETA GARRETT FITZGERALD | VICE-CHAIR | 2 | — |
| TIA DOWDELL | SECRETARY-TREASURER | 2 | — |
| ARTHUR AFFLECK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AARO JEAN BELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAAIYAH BILAL-THREATS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRET CONKLIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BERTIS DOWNS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAURA ENGEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ERICA WEBBER JONES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOANNE KRELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STUART LUCAS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRENT MCKIM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARC MOORGHEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROGER POLLAK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BECKY PRINGLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JANE QUIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARCY SINGER-GABELLA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DENISE SHEEHAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DERRON WALLACE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MONICA WASHINGTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JERRY WEAST | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROSS WIENER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CICELY WOODARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARGARET PORTA | COIO | 37.5 | $187,181 |
| ERIC JAMES | CFAO | 37.5 | $192,796 |
| KATHERINE GIBNEY | SVP OF DEVELOPMENT | 37.5 | $158,402 |
| ALEXANDER WILKINS | VP OF FINANCE & ADMIN | 37.5 | $103,822 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Nea Foundation for the Improvement?
The Nea Foundation for the Improvement is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in WASHINGTON, DC. It holds $56.2M in total assets as of 2025.
How large is The Nea Foundation for the Improvement?
As of 2025, The Nea Foundation for the Improvement holds $56.2M in total assets with $6.8M in annual revenue. It awarded 28 grants totaling $1.6M in 2025.
Where does The Nea Foundation for the Improvement operate?
The Nea Foundation for the Improvement has awarded grants in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
What size grants does The Nea Foundation for the Improvement award?
In 2025, The Nea Foundation for the Improvement awarded 28 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $58K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Nea Foundation for the Improvement's EIN?
The Nea Foundation for the Improvement's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7035089. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Nea Foundation for the Improvement's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.