To support educators so they can inspire students by amplifying educator voices, advocating for public schools, promoting equity, and providing professional growth and member services across Maine.
Focus Areas
K-12 educationHigher educationTeacher professional developmentCollective bargaining / labor advocacyEquity and student support
Who They Fund
parties engaged in mediation/arbitrationorganizations providing mediation/ADR serviceslegal aid or dispute-resolution programs
Funding Style
operational supportdirect service fundingcost-specific assistance
About Maine Education Association
A defining part of Maine Education Association’s grant activity is support for costs tied to mediation and arbitration in Maine schools. In 2024, the foundation made multiple grants for financial assistance with those expenses, including $10,445 to Sanford, $6,300 to Sad 49, and $5,250 to Afum. That same year, it also directed larger operational support to Citizens Who Support Maine Public Schools - PAC in Augusta and to MEA-Retired in Caribou, showing that its funding is used both for advocacy-related operations and for practical dispute-resolution costs.
The foundation’s broader purpose centers on educators, public schools, equity, and professional growth. Its stated focus areas include K-12 education, higher education, teacher professional development, collective bargaining and labor advocacy, and equity and student support. Recent grants also include support for MEASO Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy, which points to an emphasis on member services alongside school-related advocacy. Across the available grant data, the pattern is local and entirely within Maine, with awards made to organizations and school-related entities rather than individuals.
What Maine Education Association Funds
In labor and advocacy-related work, Maine Education Association gave $120,000 to Citizens Who Support Maine Public Schools - PAC for operational support, alongside $20,000 to MEA-Retired for operational support. Those awards show that part of the foundation’s funding is directed to organizations connected to public-school advocacy and member support.
The foundation also supports mediation and arbitration cost relief. It awarded $10,445 to Sanford, $6,300 to Sad 49, and $5,250 to Afum for financial assistance for mediation/arbitration cost, a narrower use that removes expense barriers in dispute processes.
Its program areas also include education and student support through MEA-run and NEA Foundation-linked grant programs, with focus areas named as K-12 education, higher education, teacher professional development, and equity and student support.
How Maine Education Association Gives
Typical grants cluster in the low five-figure range, with a p25 of $7,336, median of $11,222, and p75 of $18,000. The recent-grants list shows a wide spread: one large operational award and several smaller, purpose-restricted grants. The pattern appears recurring rather than one-off, with operating support and assistance for mediation/arbitration costs both appearing in 2024. The foundation does not fund individuals. Available program listings include some unsolicited opportunities, but the MEA-specific grants pages also link to awards and scholarships rather than a direct nonprofit application route.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$20K
Total Assets
$7.4M
Total Revenue
$10.1M
Total Expenses
$10.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $7K and $18K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$18K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Rachelle Bristol
Deep Analysis
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mediation and arbitration expense coveragealternative dispute resolution (ADR) supportaccess to justice / dispute-cost removallegal process facilitation
Where Maine Education Association Makes Grants
Grantmaking is entirely local and lands in Maine, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Augusta appears repeatedly in the recent grants list, including Citizens Who Support Maine Public Schools - PAC, MEASO Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy, Sanford, Sad 49, and Afum. Caribou is another recipient city in the list. The distribution shows a Maine-only footprint rather than regional or national giving.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maine Education Association
What kinds of work does Maine Education Association fund?
Its stated focus areas include K-12 education, higher education, teacher professional development, collective bargaining and labor advocacy, and equity and student support. Recent grant activity also shows funding for mediation and arbitration cost assistance, along with operational support for education-related advocacy and member-service organizations.
How large are the typical grants?
The typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: p25 is $7,336, median is $11,222, and p75 is $18,000. The recent grants list ranges from smaller cost-assistance awards to a $120,000 operational grant.
Does Maine Education Association give outside Maine?
No. The geographic scope of giving is local, and 100% of grants in the provided data went to recipients in Maine. The recent-grants list also shows Maine cities such as Augusta and Caribou.
Are there any grant programs with unsolicited applications?
Yes. The Human, Civil Rights and Social Justice Grant and several NEA Foundation-linked programs listed in the data accept unsolicited applications. The MEA Grants pages themselves are described as portals linking to awards, contests, scholarships, and external opportunities rather than direct nonprofit application routes.
Does Maine Education Association fund individuals?
No. The provided data says it funds individuals is False, and the recent grants shown are made to organizations or school-related entities such as public-school advocacy groups, retiree associations, and local districts.
Current and upcoming funding from Maine Education Association that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Dec 14, 2026Award: $0 – $1K
Instruction and Professional Development Grant
Professional developmentInstructionEducational leadership+1 more
Who can apply: Available to MEA local associations or members with local governing-board support. Activities must align with MEA policy and an association goal. Funds support new initiatives and are not recurring; they cannot pay association members for their work or support routine association business.
Political actionPublic education advocacyCommunity engagement+1 more
Who can apply: Local association members must obtain local governing-board support. Activities must align with MEA policy and support election of friends of education, innovative models for affiliates, or increased participation in educator political action.
Who can apply: MEA local associations or members must obtain support from the local association governing board. Activities must align with MEA policy and at least one stated association goal. Funds may support speakers, materials, space rental, equipment and related project costs, but not member compensation or routine association business.
Who can apply: The request must be made by the president of a local governance affiliate sponsoring an association activity for the Read Across America program.
Professional learningTeacher developmentStudent success+1 more
Who can apply: Typically available to educators, teams of educators, schools, and education-focused nonprofit organizations; specific eligibility determined by NEA Foundation guidelines.
Student successEquityReducing barriers to learning
Who can apply: Typically available to educators, teams, schools, and education-focused nonprofit organizations; see NEA Foundation eligibility details.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Recent Grants
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
Recipient
Location
Amount
Year
Purpose
MEA-RETIRED
CARIBOU, ME
$20,000
2026
OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
MEA-RETIRED
CARIBOU, ME
$20,000
2025
OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
Citizens Who Support Maine Public Schools - PAC
Augusta, ME
$120,000
2024
Operational support
MEA-Retired
Caribou, ME
$20,000
2024
Operational support
MEASO Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy
Augusta, ME
$12,000
2024
Operational support
Sanford
Augusta, ME
$10,445
2024
Financial Assistance for Mediation/Arbitration Cost
SAD 49
Augusta, ME
$6,300
2024
Financial Assistance for Mediation/Arbitration Cost
AFUM
Augusta, ME
$5,250
2024
Financial Assistance for Mediation/Arbitration Cost
Citizens Who Support Maine Public Schools - PAC
Augusta, ME
$144,000
2023
Operational support
MEASO Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy
Augusta, ME
$24,000
2023
Operational support
MEA-Retired
Caribou, ME
$21,500
2023
Operational support
MEA-RETIRED
$20,000
CARIBOU, ME2026
OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
MEA-RETIRED
$20,000
CARIBOU, ME2025
OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
Citizens Who Support Maine Public Schools - PAC
$120,000
Augusta, ME2024
Operational support
MEA-Retired
$20,000
Caribou, ME2024
Operational support
MEASO Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy
$12,000
Augusta, ME2024
Operational support
Sanford
$10,445
Augusta, ME2024
Financial Assistance for Mediation/Arbitration Cost
SAD 49
$6,300
Augusta, ME2024
Financial Assistance for Mediation/Arbitration Cost
AFUM
$5,250
Augusta, ME2024
Financial Assistance for Mediation/Arbitration Cost
