2025-2026 Grant/Scholarship Information

Please note: when you apply online for one of the grants or scholarships below, you must have a Google account to login to the online application so you’ll be able to upload documents. If you don’t have a Google account, you can create one to apply online.

Although the PDF version of the application can be used to apply, we strongly encourage the use of the online application.

CLASSROOM-FOCUSED PROJECT GRANT

Classroom-Focused Project Grants are project focused, not item focused.

Classroom teachers, faculty, guidance counselors and others who require a license or credential to carry out their work are eligible for this grant.

Classroom-Focused Project Grants are projects that go beyond the already implemented curriculum and will improve student achievement and instructional practice. Projects that are replicable and address the needs of students from diverse backgrounds will receive preference, including geographic, racial, gender, academic, socio-economic, etc.

Applicants may request up to $3,000 for a project designed for implementation during the upcoming school year. Recipients of the higher education faculty grant must pay for all grant expenses out-of-pocket, and then submit receipts to the Education Minnesota Foundation for reimbursement.

Second-Year Classroom-Focused Project Grant

This application is intended for previous Classroom-Focused Project Grant recipients who wish to expand on their original objectives, and who have the potential to realize additional goals based on the learning and outcomes of their first grant. You may request up to $3,000.

A second year of funding may be awarded to a current grant recipient who meets the following guidelines:

  • Final project and final financial reports have been filed and closed with the Foundation office before applying.
  • The applicant has reasonable expectation of being employed in the capacity to carry out the grant if awarded.
  • The applicant continues to be an active member of Education Minnesota.
  • The data sheet is completed and returned with the narrative questions to the Foundation by the deadline; these two items constitute the application.

Classroom-Focused Project Grants are awarded once per school year.

The Classroom-Focused Project Grant deadline is Friday, December 5, 2025 at 4 p.m.

Although the PDF version of the application can be used to apply, we strongly encourage the use of the online application.

2025-2026 Classroom-Focused Project Grant Application, PDF

Click HERE to apply online.

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Second-Year Classroom-Focused Project Grants are awarded once per school year.

The Second-Year Classroom-Focused Project Grant deadline is Friday, March 6, 2026 at 4 p.m.

Although the PDF version of the application can be used to apply, we strongly encourage the use of the online application.

2025-2026 Second-Year Classroom-Focused Project Grant Application, PDF

Click HERE to apply online.

IMPACT GRANT

The Education Minnesota Foundation seeks to encourage and support broad-based efforts to inject meaningful, long-lasting change in the policies and practices that shape teaching and learning. Using innovative program designs and projects, and in partnership with agents most likely to assist in driving these changes, the Foundation ultimately expects to positively impact the learning experiences of students in Minnesota.

The Foundation believes that a major and effective way to attain this far-reaching goal will be through innovative improvements in the experiences of educators and students. Through this grant, it is the Foundation’s intent to promote the research, development and adoption of policies and practices that will become the basis for those improvements.

The program consists of awards for theme-based, renewable projects with second-year funding contingent on progress toward the goal demonstrated in year one. IMPACT Grant projects must be coordinated by an active member of Education Minnesota who has teamed up with a nonprofit/community organization.

Up to $15,000 is available for one year. The budget should reflect a one-year project.

This grant program is intended to influence policies and generalized practices concerning educators and students; not designed to accommodate individual classes or improvements to specific curricula.

Although it is not mandatory to apply, it is strongly encouraged to reach out to the Grant Coordinator at foundation@edmn.org, before applying for the IMPACT Grant.

IMPACT Grants are awarded once per school year.

The IMPACT Grant deadline is Friday, January 2, 2026 at 4 p.m.

Although the PDF version of the application can be used to apply, we strongly encourage the use of the online application.

2025-2026 IMPACT Grant Application, PDF

Click HERE to apply online.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT

Professional Development Grants for Individual Members

Professional Development Grants are intended to provide education support professionals (ESPs*), higher education faculty** of colleges and universities, and licensed educators*** with opportunities to take the lead in acquiring and/or sharing new skills and knowledge. For example, new instructional tactics, use of technology or working with a caregiver. Applicants may request a grant to acquire these skills and share what you learn with your colleagues.

It is suggested that all applicants seek in-kind funds to help finance the venture. Recipients of the higher education faculty grant must pay for all grant expenses out-of-pocket, and then submit receipts to the Education Minnesota Foundation for reimbursement.

All applicants may request up to $3,000.

Professional Development Grants for Groups of Members

In addition to Professional Development Grants for individual members, the Education Minnesota Foundation also offers applicants the opportunity to submit a Professional Development Grant application for a group of members to either attend professional development or be trained at their worksite. All members named in the group application must fulfill the individual eligibility requirements to be eligible for the group application.

Professional Development Grant applications for a group of members have a maximum funding request of up to $3,000 per person.

Group applications may be for 2-5 members, and ALL members must be from the same local union or district in order to be funded.

Members looking to apply for a Professional Development Grant for groups should designate one group member to be the group lead, and the group lead should collect all required information listed on the application for the other group members. If approved, each person on the application will be responsible for their own grant. FUNDS CANNOT BE POOLED TOGETHER.

The Education Minnesota Foundation Board will not retroactively fund learning opportunities that have passed by the date grants will be awarded by, which are listed below.

Classroom (licensed educator), ESP, and Higher Education Faculty Professional Development Grants are awarded twice per school year.

The fall 2025 Professional Development Grant deadline is Friday, November 7, 2025 at 4 p.m.
The spring 2026 Professional Development Grant deadline is Friday, March 6, 2026 at 4 p.m.

Although the PDF version of the application can be used to apply, we strongly encourage the use of the online application.

2025-2026 Professional Development Grant Application, PDF

Click HERE to apply online for fall 2025.

Click HERE to apply online for spring 2026.

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS SCHOLARSHIP

In an effort to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) offers a professional certification in K-12 education called National Board Certification. Thanks to a generous contribution from Tradition Mortgage, the Education Minnesota Foundation will fund scholarships up to $500 per component (up to $1,000 per applicant) once per school year for Education Minnesota members who have not requested reimbursement of the $5 assessment fee to the Foundation and who are licensed to teach working toward National Board Certification.

The intent of this scholarship is to encourage motivated members who have not yet been through the National Board Certification process. Preference is given to applicants moving through the process for the first time, although members trying to maintain certification may also apply for this scholarship.

Scholarship recipients do not need to be completed with their certification to receive the scholarship, but scholarships will be held until proof of payment for the National Board Certification process has been submitted to the Education Minnesota Foundation.

National Board Certified Teachers Scholarships are awarded once per school year.

The NBCT Scholarship deadline is Friday, November 7, 2025 at 4 p.m.

Although the PDF version of the application can be used to apply, we strongly encourage the use of the online application.

2025-2026 National Board Certified Teachers Scholarship Application, PDF

Click HERE to apply online.

*ESPs include paraprofessionals, clerical staff, bus drivers, etc.
**Higher education faculty include college and university faculty.
***Licensed educator teachers, counselors, psychologists, social workers, speech language pathologists, etc.