Learning & Leadership Grants

Learning & Leadership Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
Amount: Up to US $5,000
Last Updated: March 15, 2026

Summary

The Learning & Leadership Grants support educators in enhancing their professional development and leadership skills. With funding up to $5,000, these grants are available for individual educators or groups pursuing high-quality learning experiences such as conferences and seminars. Eligible applicants must be current members of the National Education Association. These grants aim to empower educators to implement innovative practices in their classrooms, ultimately benefiting students and the educational community.

Overview

Background Educators are the backbone of our public education system, yet all too often, don’t have resources at their disposal to prioritize their professional learning journeys. Learning and Leadership Grants enable educators to grow their leadership skills and invest in professional development to maximize their impact inside and outside the classroom. Learning and Leadership Grants are available to individual educators or groups of educators who are pursuing high-quality professional learning experiences that will enhance their classroom teaching, leadership skills, or professional partnerships. Individuals to participate in high-quality professional development like summer institutes, conferences, seminars, travel abroad programs, or action researchGroups to fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson plan development, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff. Learning and Leadership grants are intended to provide resources for educators hoping to engage in professional learning that can be implemented in their classrooms. Funding Learning & Leadership grants will fund projects up to $5,000. Grants fund activities for 12 months from the date of the award. Grant funds can be used for travel, room, meals, registration fees, materials, etc. for individual grants. For group grants, funds can be used for educator stipends, substitute fees, materials, travel, meals, etc.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must be teachers, education support professionals, or specialized instructional support personnel and must be current NEA members.Education support professionals (ESPs) are defined as: paraeducators, school bus drivers or other transportation staff, custodial and maintenance staff food services staff, school nurses, health aides and other health and student services staff clerical staff, security staff, skilled trades staff, and technical services staff.Specialized instructional support personnel (SISP) include professionals such as:school counselors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, library media specialists, speech pathologists and others.Grants are available to current members of the National Education Association who are educators in public schools or public institutions of higher education. We especially encourage education support professionals* to apply. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.

Ineligibility

Unfortunately, the following groups may not apply as either the lead or partner:Educators who are not members of the National Education AssociationEmployees of the National Education AssociationEmployees, members of the board of directors, and immediate family members of the staff and board of the NEA FoundationGrant funds cannot be used to pay indirect costs, grant administration fees, salaries, or lobbying or religious purposes.We do not fund tuition or board certification. Current NEA Foundation grantees are ineligible for this funding opportunity. A successful proposal will also make an individual ineligible for other NEA Foundation funding opportunities, until the grant is successfully completed and closed out.Grant funds cannot be used to pay indirect costs, grant administration fees, salaries, or lobbying or religious purposes.