NEA Professional Excellence Innovation Grants
Internal — National Education Association only
NEA Professional Excellence Innovation Grants support state and local affiliates in developing professional learning resources and practices to meet educator and student needs and advance student success.
Funder: National Education Association
Due Dates: November 9, 2026 (Cycle #1) | April 5, 2027 (Cycle #2)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards of $5,000–$30,000; projects completed within 12 months of funding approval
Summary: Supports NEA state and local affiliates in developing and implementing professional learning resources and practices that address educator and student needs.
Key Information: Only NEA state and local affiliates may apply.
Description
The National Education Association’s Professional Excellence Innovation Grants support NEA state and local affiliates in developing and/or implementing resources and practices that meet professional learning needs and gaps identified by their members and students. Funded work centers student success and reinforces systems that recognize, value, and support a quality, professional educator workforce. The program also recognizes the Association’s role in creating and sustaining those systems.
Funding decisions are guided by alignment with the NEA Professional Excellence Theory of Change. This framework helps teams connect educator practice, shared resources, and collective leadership with measurable improvements in education systems. Grant recipients participate in reporting and evaluation throughout the funding cycle and at its close, and may join facilitated collaborative learning sessions with fellow grantees.
