Grants

DEADLINE: 5pm on December 12, 2025

APPLY HERE

MEA members…Do you have a good idea for: 

• helping students understand Human, Civil Rights and Social Justice issues? 

• helping teachers understand and support the issues of Human, Civil Rights and Social Justice? 
• involving parents and community members with these issues? 

The Maine Education Association will award up to $1,000 in grants to local associations (determined by the number of grant applications awarded). The grants are designed to help local association members provide HCR leadership in their schools and communities. 

Grant money may be used for speakers, materials, space rental, or equipment. It may not be used to pay association members for their work nor for routine association business. Activities funded must be aligned with MEA policy and at least one of the following association goals: 

• enhance the quality of education in public schools 

• equalize educational opportunities for students in public education 
• support Human, Civil Rights and Social Justice development of members/students 
• encourage participation in local association activities 
• enhance, broaden, or improve HCR issues in public schools 

Grants are reviewed and funding decisions are made by MEA’s Human, Civil Rights and Social Justice Committee. Grant applications must be received in the MEA President’s office in Augusta according to application directions 

Directions: 

Applicants must seek and receive the support by the local association governing board. Proposals must be submitted electronically using the online form. Proposals must be received no later than December 12, 2025. Late proposals will not be considered for funding. 

Checklist for Applicants (Successful proposals must include all items in this section): 

• Proposal includes description and supporting elements. 
• Applicant acknowledges that you have notified your local president about your grant proposal and have their support. 

• Applicant agrees to submit brief follow-up report with receipts (including pictures, if any) for use in MEA communications no later than June 1, 2026. 
• Proposal requests are for up to $1,000 and must include a reasonable, detailed budget. 
• Money requested is for legitimate purposes such as speakers, consultants, rental of space, materials, travel, equipment, awards, programs, activities with students/staff, etc. 
• Money requested will benefit or promote the Association and/or its goals and purposes. 
• Proposal describes how the community will be made aware that MEA funded the proposal. 

• Proposal provides evidence of meeting at least one association goal 
• Proposal will enhance the quality of education in public schools. 
• Proposal will equalize educational opportunities for students in public education. 
• Proposal will improve the understanding of Human, Civil Rights and Cultural Affairs of members and/or students. 
• Proposal will encourage membership in local, state and national association. 

Submit description and supporting elements for your proposal. 

Late proposals will not be considered for funding. 

Please note, this is a reimbursement program. After the MEA receives the invoices for costs associated with your project, a check will be sent to the local association.

DEADLINE: 5:00 p.m. on December 12, 2025 

APPLY HERE 

MEA members, does you union need resources to:

• Provide union-led professional development?
• Promote the association as the provider of high-quality professional development?
• Create opportunities to collaborate with community organizations and businesses to enhance real-world connections in the curriculum?
• Propose a novel initiative to improve the skills and knowledge of your union members?

The Instruction and Professional Development Grants are designed to help local association members provide professional and educational leadership in their schools and communities. The Maine Education Association will award grants of up to $1,000 to local associations or members. 

Grant money may be used for speakers, consultants, materials, space rental, equipment, etc. It may not be used to pay association members for their work nor for routine association business. Grant funds are intended to help support new initiatives and are not recurring. Activities funded must be aligned with MEA policy and at least one of the following Association goals: 

1. enhance the quality of education in public schools 
2. equalize educational opportunities for students in public education 
3. support professional development of members 
4. encourage participation in local association activities 

Grants are reviewed and funding decisions are made by MEA’s Instruction and Professional Development Committee. Grant applications must be received in the MEA President’s office in Augusta according to the application directions. 

Directions: 

Applicants must seek and receive the support by the local association governing board. Proposals must be submitted electronically using the online form. Proposals must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 12, 2025. Late proposals will not be considered for funding. 

Checklist for Applicants (Successful proposals must include all items in this section): 

• Proposal includes description and supporting elements. 
• Proposal provides evidence of improving instructional and professional development by adhering to at least one association goal (check all that apply):
  • • enhance the quality of education in public schools 
    • equalize educational opportunities for students in public education 
    • improve the professional quality of members 
    • encourage membership in local, state and national association
• Applicant acknowledges that you have notified your local president about your grant proposal and have their support. 
• Applicant agrees to submit a final report for use in MEA communications by June 1, 2026. (Grant awardees who do not submit a final report will not be considered for grant money the following year.) 
• Proposal requests $1,000 or less and includes a reasonable, detailed budget. 
• Money requested is for legitimate purposes such as speakers, consultants, rental of space, materials, travel, equipment, awards, etc. 
• Proposal describes how the community will be made aware that MEA funded the proposal.

Late proposals will not be considered for funding. 

Please note, this is a reimbursement program. After the MEA receives the invoices for costs associated with your project, a check will be sent to the local association.

DEADLINE: 5pm on December 12, 2025

APPLY HERE

MEA members…Do you have a good idea for: 

• Local political action? 
• Implementing a political action plan in your school district? 
• Involving the community in supporting public education? 
• Increasing Association involvement in activities that promote public education? 

The Maine Education Association will award up to $200. The Leroy Lambert Political Action Grants are designed to help Local Association members develop and implement a political action program in their schools and communities. This grant is coordinated by the MEA Government Relations Committee. 

Grant money can be used for speakers, materials, space rental, or equipment. It may not be used to pay Association members for their work nor for routine Association business. Activities funded must be aligned with MEA policy and at least one of the following Association goals: 

• aid in the election of friends of education to local office. 
• serve as innovative models to other MEA affiliates. 
• increase membership involvement and participation in the educator political action process at the local level. 

Grants are reviewed and funding decisions will be made by MEA’s Government Relations Committee. Grant applications must be postmarked, or emailed to the MEA President’s office in Augusta according to application directions 

Directions: 

Applicants must seek and receive the support by the local association governing board. Proposals must be submitted electronically using the online form. Proposals must be received no later than December 12, 2025. Late proposals will not be considered for funding. 

Checklist for Applicants (Successful proposals must include all items in this section): 

• Proposal includes description and supporting elements. 
• Proposal provides evidence of meeting at least one Association goal (check all that apply): 

• aid in the election of friends of education to local office. 
• serve as innovative models to other MEA affiliates. 
• increase membership involvement and participation in the educator political action process at the local level. 
• Applicant acknowledges that you have notified your local president about your grant proposal and have their support. 
• Applicant agrees to submit a final report for use in MEA communications by June 1, 2026. (Grant awardees who do not submit a final report will not be considered for grant money the following year.) 

• Proposal requests $200 or less and includes a reasonable, detailed budget. 
• Money requested is for legitimate purposes such as speakers, consultants, rental of space, materials, travel, equipment, awards, etc. 
• Proposal describes how the community will be made aware that MEA funded the proposal. 

Late proposals will not be considered for funding. 

Please note, this is a reimbursement program. After the MEA receives the invoices for costs associated with your project, a check will be sent to the local association.

Under the Partnership for Caring, the MEA will assist local affiliates to meet exigent expenses of an unpre-dictable nature incurred by members or their immediate families. Specifically, the MEA will match, dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,500 in contributions raised by a local affiliate or combination of affiliates to meet such expenses.

APPLY HERE

APPLY HERE

To help plan and prepare for a reading celebration, MEA is offering Read Across America Incentive Grants to our local associations who sponsor association activities for this event. Grants of $50 each will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests must be made by the local association President for funding of activities within the local association.

DEADLINE: February 6, 2026

Grants will support schools with the purchase of equipment, materials and promotional initiatives facilitating Breakfast After the Bell delivery models (such as Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab and Go, or Second Chance Breakfast) in an effort to increase student participation in school breakfast. Please apply for one school per grant application. It is possible to apply for multiple school grants within one district; however, we still request one application per school. Kellogg generously supports this grants funding.

FMI: https://www.nokidhungry.org/kellogg-breakfast-grants

The KSTF Teaching Fellows Program is a comprehensive, five-year professional development program designed to support early-career science and mathematics teachers.

HOW: FMI and to apply: http://www.kstf.org/fellowships

https://www.gallerycollection.com/greeting-cards-scholarship.htm

With a Toshiba America Foundation grant, elementary teachers can bring their best new teaching ideas to life. Do you teach in an elementary school classroom? Do you have an innovative idea for improving math or science instruction in your classroom? Is your idea project based learning with measurable outcomes? What do you need to make learning math and science fun for your students? K-5 grade teachers are invited to apply on-line for a $1,000 Toshiba America Foundation grant to help bring an innovative hands-on project into their own classroom.

http://toshiba.com/taf/k5.jsp

Discover Student Loans Sweepstakes

https://scholarship.collegecovered.com/

Essay Contests for Ayn Rand s Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged https://www.aynrand.org/students/essay-contests

https://comedydefensivedriving.com/scholarships

Win a $2500 Rover Scholarship

https://www.rover.com/college-scholarship/

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Teacher at Sea Program sends K-12 teachers aboard research ships for up to one month. The mission of NOAA Teacher at Sea Program is to provide teachers hands-on, real-world research experience working at sea with world-renowned NOAA scientists, thereby giving them unique insight into oceanic and atmospheric research crucial to the nation. The program provides a unique opportunity for kindergarten through college level-teachers to sail aboard NOAA research ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Applications are available online in the fall.

WHEN: Rolling
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/#/about/How_to_Apply

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $30,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.

https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships