Nellie Mae Event Sponsorship Fund Grant

The Nellie Mae Event Sponsorship Fund supports one-time events that promote education justice and racial equity in New England. Organizations targeting local communities, with annual budgets under $2 million, can apply for funding for events scheduled in 2026 or the first four months of 2027. The foundation prioritizes public entities and 501(c)3 educational organizations, ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities for all students. Note that operational costs and online fundraising are not eligible for funding.

Background
The Foundation is proud to have supported hundreds of organizations across New England through our Event Sponsorship program, offering one-time event support that closely aligns with our mission, vision, and values. Over the last several years, the number of sponsorship requests the Foundation received has increased exponentially, requiring us to assess, clarify, and tighten our criteria, eligibility, and selection process. Please carefully review the Criteria and Eligibility sections below before submitting a request.
Criteria for Selection
Mission & Values Alignment: The organization's mission champions efforts that advance excellent student-centered public education within one or multiple local communities in New England.
One-Time Event: The organization is applying for an Event Sponsorship to support a one-time event, such as, but not limited to: a conference, learning event, product/research or white paper launch/release, community meeting, or an in-person fundraiser. The Event Sponsorship program is NOT designed to fund opening/closing celebrations for programs/camps, workshops/training series that take place on multiple days throughout the year, or extended time periods, operations, programming, capital campaigns, or online fundraising
Funding
Applicants can apply for an Event Sponsorship of up to $5,000

Eligibility

The event must target communities in one or more of the New England statesConnecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,VermontThe requesting organization’s current-year budget does not exceed $2M.The event must be scheduled for 2025 or in the first four months of 2026.The Foundation funds public entities such as districts and public schools and 501(c)3 educational organizations that fall under the tax designation 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) and have an education focus, as evidenced in their articles of incorporation.

Ineligibility

The Event Sponsorship program is not designed to fund operations, programming, capital campaigns, or online fundraising.Organizations that received an Event Sponsorship from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation in 2024 are not eligible to receive one for 2025 events.Current grantees and partners (organizations with a current contract with the Foundation) are not eligible.Due to the Foundation’s tax status, private foundations (described in section 509 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code) and supporting organizations (described in section 509 (a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) are NOT eligible grantees.

New England-focused public schools/districts or 501(c)(3) public charities (509(a)(1)/(2)) with current-year budgets of $2M or less; not private foundations, supporting organizations, or religious organizations; 2025 event sponsorship recipients and current grantees/partners are ineligible; event must occur in 2026 or the first four months of 2027.