Grants & Scholarships

Financial help for professional development

Grant Writing Tutorial - The NEA Foundation's grant writing tutorial walks you through what you should include in a great grant proposal. Take the time to review this resource. It may move your grant from the bottom of the stack to the top of the list.
Tuition Grant for probationary teachers - Thanks to funding from Reliant Financial Services, MNEA members who are probationary teachers in their first five years of teaching can receive a $500 tuition grant toward the cost of a three-hour graduate course.
Tuition Grant for ESP - Thanks to funding from Reliant Financial Services, MNEA members who are education support professionals can receive a $500 tuition grant toward the cost of a three-hour course.
NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education - Learning & Leadership grants provide opportunities for teachers and education support professionals to engage in high-quality professional development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. Application deadlines are Feb. 1, June 1 and Oct. 15.
Student loan information
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Teacher Tuition Assistance Programs and Scholarships

Grants for the classroom

Endorsed by MNEA since 1996, California Casualty offers discounted rates and unique coverage and services such as zero deductible for vandalism and collision to your vehicle if it occurs on or within 500 feet of school premises and ID Defense, free for policyholders! For a personal, no-obligation auto or home insurance quotation, please call 1- 877-411-3419 or go online for a rate quote and get entered in the drawing for a classroom grant.

CenturyLink technology grant program - The Teachers and Technology Project supports innovative classroom projects through funding from the CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation. Teachers can receive up to $5,000 for technology to benefit students in their classrooms.
California Casualty Arts & Music Grant - Apply for a grant to help fund your high school arts and music programs, sponsored by California Casualty. Grants of $250 or more are awarded each year.
California Casualty Academic Award – Enter to win $2,500 to help pay for out-of-pocket school supplies and instructional materials. DonorsChoose.org makes it easy to help classrooms in need. Public school teachers post classroom project requests that could be as simple as pencils or calculators to equipment for robotics. Then, the public donotes money to the project. If the project reaches its funding goal, DonorsChoose.org sends the needed materials to the school.
NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education - Hundreds of grants of up to $5,000 are awarded each year to fund your big ideas related to classroom innovations, the fine arts or professional development. Applications are accepted on a year-round ongoing basis.
NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants - The NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants provide $5,000 to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve student's habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. Application deadlines are Feb. 1, June 1, and Oct. 15.
Missouri State Parks Bus Grant - The Bus Grant Program is temporarily suspended during the 2020-2021 school year, but please continue to check our website for more information about when the Bus Grant Program will resume.
Toshiba Grant for Schools - Teach Science and math with 3D design and 3D printing - Toshiba America Foundation believes science and mathematics are exciting fields in which all students can succeed with the proper tools and instruction, and funds schools $5,000 or more to purchase 3D design and printing equipment.
NEA. org - Links to grants and awards available on the Web.
Student-Centered Advocacy Grant - NEA’s Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy Department will be awarding grants to affiliates to design and implement student-centered initiatives through collective bargaining or other forms of advocacy.
Hope Fund - Through its Humanitarian Outreach Project for Education Fund (HOPE), Missouri NEA assists students and schools in financial need.

For high school seniors & college students

Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship - For minority high school seniors
Support Our Students Fund - Set up a contribution to give the gift of MNEA-Student membership to one or more college students.
Support Our Students Scholarship Application
Educators Rising Scholarship - This scholarship was established to encourage and support high school students wishing to become teachers.
Phi Delta Kappa Scholarship - annually, Phi Delta Kappa International, through its Educational Foundation, awards scholarships to prospective educators.
The Cochran Scholarship is a $500 scholarship offered to students pursuing a career in education. Applicants must currently be in their freshman, sophomore or junior year at a Missouri college or university.
Jack Kinnaman Scholarship - The Jack Kinnaman Scholarship was created in the memory of Jack Kinnaman, Vice President and former Advisory Council member of the NEA-Retired. In addition, Jack represented the NEA-Retired on the Fund for Children and Public Education and in numerous local, state and national Association positions, Active and Retired. He is most fondly remembered as NEA's "Cat in the Hat".
CollegExpress.com - Search for colleges, scholarships, government loans and private loans. Find out what you are eligible for by searching the extensive database of more than $7 billion in scholarships. Making a plan for college is made easier by logging into this Web site.
Apply Electronically for Federal Student Aid - For a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), visit the U.S. Department of Education's website
StudentAid.edu.gov - Start Here, go further, federal student aid programs and resources for getting money for college tuition and repaying student loans.
The National Geographic Student Expeditions Scholarship Program provides financial support for students seeking educational summer experiences who otherwise could not afford them.
Access student loan help and information from NEA's Degrees Not Debt program.
Student Financial Aid Search Engine: Find & Apply for Financial Aid to Pay for College
“No Essay” College Scholarship
United Negro College Fund Scholarships
Scholarship America Scholarships

Miscellaneous Grants

Public Relations Grants - Local associations across the state have the opportunity to implement their ideas for spreading good news about public education with a little financial boost from Missouri NEA.
MNEA Organizing Grant - The Missouri NEA Organizing grant is available to MNEA local leaders who need a little extra cash for Local Association organizing efforts. Contact your UniServ Director for more information.
The School Funding Center - Sign up for a newsletter filled with grant sources, tips on grant writing, best sources for programs & materials, top Web sites and —best of all—it's absolutely free.

Get the latest information at www.mnea.org/coronavirus.

Share your story

Even though we are not at school supporting Missouri students, members continue to help every day during this crisis. MNEA wants to share your stories as we struggle through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are hearing about members who are continuing to care for their students by

volunteering at school district Grab & Go meal distribution centers and food drives
providing child care for essential medical staff
shopping for the elderly so they don’t have to leave the safety of their homes

Your stories help show that educators don’t stop caring. Please send your stories with pictures to MNEA at coronavirus@mnea.org, so we can share them. You can post to social media, making sure you tag @MissouriNEA and use the hashtags #MNEAheroes and #MNEAprotects.