The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education is a national nonprofit and philanthropic organization based in Washington, DC, founded by educators in 1969. It works in partnership with others to promote public education and supports educator-led projects, professional learning, community-school partnerships, and educator recognition.
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education at a glance
In short: The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education gave $1.6M across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $58K), top state Mississippi. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,614,927
- +48.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $57,676
- -25.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $56,235,764
- +6.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (36% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
- Contact
Mailing address: 1201 16Th Street Nw 416, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 822-7840
Website: https://neafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
Global Learning Fellowship Grant
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Learning & Leadership Grants
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
NEA Foundation- Student Success Grants
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was AEH Community Health Services Center Inc ($225K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 94 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its Community Schools Initiative as supporting community-school development across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In its 2025 grant data, Mississippi and Arkansas each accounted for 36% of grant dollars; California accounted for 9%, Oregon 3%, and the District of Columbia 2%. Its 2025 grants also included recipients in other states, including Kansas and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education gives
- 39% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $442K (2020) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,235,764 | $6,815,298 | $6,770,078 | $1,614,927 | 28 | $2,035,141 |
| 2024 | $52,733,359 | $6,658,255 | $6,194,524 | $1,087,000 | 14 | $3,040,609 |
| 2023 | $47,215,857 | $3,234,576 | $5,860,697 | $1,076,841 | 15 | $-117,539 |
| 2022 | $46,299,667 | $13,777,530 | $6,620,376 | $1,444,973 | 24 | $10,084,065 |
| 2021 | $54,448,457 | $2,951,280 | $4,728,435 | $1,365,074 | 13 | $872,397 |
| 2020 | $47,174,635 | $4,854,534 | $4,195,565 | $442,000 | 6 | $2,198,764 |
| 2019 | $45,790,387 | $4,442,208 | $6,220,311 | $890,878 | 19 | $1,614,780 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to work in partnership with others to promote the very best in public education. Its website describes its work as investing in educators’ and communities’ leadership, learning, partnerships, and advocacy to advance educational justice, equity, excellence, and opportunity.
Its educator grant programs support classroom projects and professional development. Student Success Grants address areas such as critical thinking, academic learning, cultural understanding, communication, collaboration, and real-world learning. Learning & Leadership Grants support educators’ professional development, innovation, and collaboration. Envision Equity Grants support educator-led projects centered on equity. The Foundation also supports the development of community schools in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi through partnerships among educators, schools, community organizations, families, students, and local institutions.
The Foundation’s 2025 grants included school districts, a university, education-focused nonprofits, and community organizations. Grantee missions illustrate this range: the Community Foundation for Mississippi says it connects donors, communities, and nonprofits to make lasting change in Mississippi; the National Center for Youth Law describes work to protect children’s rights and ensure their voices are heard; and the Learning Policy Institute says it conducts research to improve learning for children. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 28 grants totaling $1,614,927. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $225,000, with a median of $30,000. Among the largest were $225,000 to AEH Community Health Services Center Inc. in Clarksdale, Mississippi; $200,000 to Batesville School District and $200,000 to Little Rock Public Schools in Arkansas; $130,000 to the Institute for Democratic Ed in America in Jackson, Mississippi; and $120,000 to the Community Foundation for Mississippi.
The Foundation’s website describes grants for educators as supporting educator-conceived projects and professional development. For Student Success and Learning & Leadership grants, lead and partner applicants must be current National Education Association members. Eligible applicants include teachers, education support professionals, and specialized instructional support personnel; current NEA Foundation grantees are ineligible, and a successful proposal makes an applicant ineligible for other Foundation funding opportunities until the grant is completed and closed out. The Foundation’s FAQs identify critical thinking and problem-solving, essential academic content, communication and collaboration, project-based learning, and learning connected to real-world issues as topics most likely to be funded.
The Global Learning Fellowship is described as a year-long program for K–12 public school educators, with online coursework, professional workshops, and an international field study in Costa Rica. The Foundation’s grants-and-fellowships page also lists Learning & Leadership Grants, Envision Equity Grants, Student Success Grants, and the fellowship. The Student Success Grants page lists an application period of June 15 through September 15 and registration by September 10; the page does not identify the year for those dates.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sara Sneed as President & CEO. Listed directors and officers include Nick Archuleta, Chair; Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald, Vice-Chair; Tia Dowdell, Secretary-Treasurer; Arthur Affleck; Aaro Jean Bell; Daaiyah Bilal-Threats; Bret Conklin; Bertis Downs; and Laura Engel.
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education is led by Sara Sneed, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 5 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sara Sneed
President & CEO
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$204K (2020) → $305K (2025)
Nick Archuleta
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daaiyah Bilal-Threats
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bertis Downs
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joanne Krell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Engel
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica Washington
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Becky Pringle
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brent McKim
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bret Conklin
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Quin
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcy Singer-Gabella
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ross Wiener
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaro Jean Bell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Weast
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roger Pollak
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Sheehan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derron Wallace
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erica Webber Jones
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stuart Lucas
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arthur Affleck
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cicely Woodard
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc Moorghen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric James
Cfao
CFO → Cfao, 2024
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$157K (2019) → $193K (2025)
Margaret Porta
Coio
COO → Coio, 2024
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$160K (2019) → $187K (2025)
Katherine Gibney
Senior Vice President of Development
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$154K (2024) → $158K (2025)
Alexander Wilkins
Vice President of Finance & Administrator
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$104K (2025)
Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tia Dowdell
Secretary-Treasurer
Director → Secretary-Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (35)
- Former: Joy Whitlow (2019–2024) — Secretary-Treasurer
- Former: Valeria Lassiter (2019–2024) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Andrew Grabel (2021–2024) — Senior Vice President of Comms.
- Former: Pedro Noguera (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Jerome Paige (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Schnieder (2023) — Cosi
- Former: Pamela Pinkett (2023) — Interim CFO
- Former: Kevin Anderson (2019–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Stacey Herndon (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Tammy Smith (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Schneider (2022) — Cosi
- Former: Jeffrey Freund (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Maryann Woods-Murphy (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Pedro Dejesus Jr. (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Ted Dintersmith (2021) — Director
- Former: Christian Duffue (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Eric Wayne (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Julian Vasquez Heilig (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Katherine Underwood (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Lily Eskelsen Garcia (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Peter Heckman (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Robert Adams Jr. (2019–2020) — Senior Vice President of Programs
- Former: Sean Corcoran (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Harriet Sanford See Schedule O. (2020) — President & CEO
- Former: Miguel Angel Sandana Villegas (2020) — Director
- Former: Patricia Jones (2020) — Director
- Former: Cathy Zier (2019) — Director
- Former: Crystal Brown (2019) — Director
- Former: Donna Blackman (2019) — Director
- Former: Edith Wooten (2019) — Senior Vice President of Committee
- Former: Elizabeth Dunning (2019) — Senior Vice President of Programs
- Former: Harriet Sanford (2019) — President & CEO
- Former: Paige Johnson (2019) — Director
- Former: Sandra Walker (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $305K, to Sara Sneed (President & CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
How much does The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education give each year?
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education gave $1.6M across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 14 grants.
What is The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's typical grant size?
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $57,676, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education give grants?
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's top state is Mississippi, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Arkansas (36%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Little Rock, AR (3 grants), Clarksdale, MS (2 grants), Jackson, MS (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Special Grants" (23 grants) and "Planning Grants" (5 grants).
Who are The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's largest grantees?
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's largest 2025 grantees include AEH Community Health Services Center Inc ($225,000), Batesville School District ($200,000) and Little Rock Public Schools ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education?
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education reported $56.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.8M.
What does The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to work in partnership with others to promote the very best in public education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education?
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check neafoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's EIN?
The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7035089. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 31, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-nea-foundation-for-the-improvement-of-education-morg_4e43dc579dc04e5ab8fdbce7bab9c509
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237035089_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-nea-foundation-for-the-improvement-of-education-morg_4e43dc579dc04e5ab8fdbce7bab9c509},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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