The Nea Foundation for the Improvement logo

The Nea Foundation for the Improvement

WASHINGTON, DC EIN: 23-7035089 Website

THE NEA FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION), WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS TO PROMOTE THE VERY BEST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$52.7M

+11.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.1M

+0.9% YoY

Grant Count

14

-6.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$78K

+8.2% 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 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $52.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $3.0M.

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

17states
+9 more states

Cities

BatesvilleBaton RougeBillingsBronxChicagoClarksdaleEmporiaGreen BayJacksonLittle RockLynnwoodMarksMilwaukeeMoreno ValleyMysticNew YorkNew York CityOaklandPhiladelphiaPine Bluff

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$4M$8M$11M$15M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$52,733,359$47,215,857$46,299,667
Revenue$6,658,255$3,234,576$13,777,530
Expenses$6,194,524$5,860,697$6,620,376
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$3,040,609$-117,539$10,084,065
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$361K$722K$1M$1M6 grants202013 grants202124 grants202215 grants202314 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

AEH COMMUNITY HEALTH SER…$225KCITY OF LITTLE ROCK CO L…$225KBATESVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT$150KINSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRATIC…$130KCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR…$66KJOURNEY FOR JUSTICE ALLI…$65KCLARKSDALE MUNICIPAL SCH…$59KRURAL COMMUNITY ALLIANCE$45KUNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS A…$34KGRANTMAKERS FOR EDUCATION$24K

Grant Size Distribution

72 grants across all recorded years

32<$50K17$50–100K22$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

4 open opportunities from The Nea Foundation for the Improvement

Show all 4 →

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Aeh Community Health Services Center Inc ($225,000), City of Little Rock Co Little Rock Public Schools ($225,000), Batesville School District ($150,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
AEH COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES CENTER INC CLARKSDALE, MSCOMMUNITY SCHOOLS$225,000
CITY OF LITTLE ROCK CO LITTLE ROCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS LITTLE ROCK, ARCOMMUNITY SCHOOLS$225,000
BATESVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT BATESVILLE, ARCOMMUNITY SCHOOLS$150,000
INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRATIC ED IN AMERICA JACKSON, MSCOMMUNITY SCHOOLS$130,000
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MISSISSIPPI JACKSON, MSCOMMUNITY SCHOOLS$66,000
JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE ALLIANCE CHICAGO, ILCOMMUNITY SCHOOLS$64,500
CLARKSDALE MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CLARKSDALE, MSCOMMUNITY SCHOOLS$58,500
RURAL COMMUNITY ALLIANCE LITTLE ROCK, ARCOMMUNITY SCHOOLS$45,000
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF PINE BLUFF, ARCOMMUNITY SCHOOLS$34,000
GRANTMAKERS FOR EDUCATION PORTLAND, ORSPECIAL GRANTS$24,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

SARA SNEEDPRESIDENT & CEO$293KERIC JAMESCFAO$179KMARGARET PORTACOIO$175KKATHERINE GIBNEYSVP OF DEVELOPMENT$154KANDREW GRABELSVP OF COMMS. (UNTIL 6/18/24)$132K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
SARA SNEEDPRESIDENT & CEO37.5$292,844
NICK ARCHULETACHAIR10
VALERIA LASSITERIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR2
OLETA GARRETT FITZGERALDVICE-CHAIR2
JOY WHITLOWSECRETARY-TREASURER2
AARO JEAN BELLDIRECTOR1
DAAIYAH BILAL-THREATSDIRECTOR1
BRET CONKLINDIRECTOR1
TIA DOWDELLDIRECTOR1
BERTIS DOWNSDIRECTOR1
LAURA ENGELDIRECTOR1
ERICA WEBBER JONESDIRECTOR1
JOANNE KRELLDIRECTOR1
STUART LUCASDIRECTOR1
BRENT MCKIMDIRECTOR1
PEDRO NOGUERADIRECTOR1
ROGER POLLAKDIRECTOR1
BECKY PRINGLEDIRECTOR1
JANE QUINDIRECTOR1
MARCY SINGER-GABELLADIRECTOR1
DENISE SHEEHANDIRECTOR1
DERRON WALLACEDIRECTOR1
MONICA WASHINGTONDIRECTOR1
JERRY WEASTDIRECTOR1
ROSS WIENERDIRECTOR1
MARGARET PORTACOIO37.5$175,149
ERIC JAMESCFAO37.5$178,529
KATHERINE GIBNEYSVP OF DEVELOPMENT37.5$154,191
ANDREW GRABELSVP OF COMMS. (UNTIL 6/18/24)37.5$132,399

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 $52.7M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Nea Foundation for the Improvement?

As of 2024, The Nea Foundation for the Improvement holds $52.7M in total assets with $6.7M in annual revenue. It awarded 14 grants totaling $1.1M in 2024.

Where does The Nea Foundation for the Improvement operate?

The Nea Foundation for the Improvement has awarded grants in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin.

What size grants does The Nea Foundation for the Improvement award?

In 2024, The Nea Foundation for the Improvement awarded 14 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $78K 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 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Nea Foundation for the Improvement's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

What could you do with The Nea Foundation for the Improvement on Grantable?

  • Assess strategic fit with your organization
  • Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
  • Find open RFPs from this funder
  • Monitor for new funding opportunities