About Nea Foundation for the Improvement of Education
The NEA Foundation is a national nonprofit and philanthropic organization founded by educators to work in partnership with others to promote the absolute best in public education, investing in educators' leadership, shared learning and collaboration, supporting partnerships that prioritize antiracism, educational justice, equity, excellence and opportunity, and sharing improvements in education policy and practice.
Focus Areas
K-12 educationEducator professional developmentEducational equity and antiracismCommunity schoolsStudent supports and successGlobal competency and international fellowshipsAwards and recognition for teachers
Who They Fund
K-12 studentsteachers and educatorsschool staff and administratorsschool community partners (e.g., nonprofit partners serving schools)
About Nea Foundation for the Improvement of Education
The Nea Foundation for the Improvement of Education’s largest recent grants are tied to community schools work in Arkansas and Mississippi, including $225,000 awards to Aeh Community Health Services Center Inc in Clarksdale and City of Little Rock Co Little Rock Public Schools in Little Rock. That pattern fits a broader grantmaking profile centered on public education, educator leadership, and school-based partnerships. The foundation supports K-12 students, teachers, and school community partners through programs that emphasize educational equity, antiracism, student supports, and collaboration between schools and local organizations. Its community schools portfolio shows a practical, place-based approach: grants support planning, development, and locally led partnerships rather than one-size-fits-all programming. The foundation also funds educator-facing work through grants for professional learning, global competency, and project-based learning. Recent awards also show support for national education intermediaries and policy-adjacent organizations, such as National Center for Youth Law in Oakland and Education First Consulting LLC in Seattle. Across the portfolio, the foundation gives in ways that connect classroom practice, school climate, and community engagement.
What Nea Foundation for the Improvement of Education Funds
Community schools are a major theme. The foundation gave $198,000 to City of Little Rock Co Little Rock Public Schools for Community Schools and $150,000 to Batesville School District for the same purpose, showing support for district-level planning and implementation. In Mississippi, it awarded $130,000 to Institute for Democratic Ed in America in Jackson for Community Schools work. Educator learning and leadership is another clear area. Through its grant programs, the foundation supports professional development, mentoring, and action research; that shows up in a $215,000 special grant to Education First Consulting LLC in Seattle and a $115,000 community schools grant to Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC. The foundation also backs equity-centered and student-centered school programming. A $64,500 grant to Journey for Justice Alliance in Chicago and a $45,000 responsive grant to Network for Public Education Fund in New York City point to partnerships around public education advocacy and school improvement.
How Nea Foundation for the Improvement of Education Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.6M
Total Assets
$56.2M
Total Revenue
$6.8M
Total Expenses
$6.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $82K, with a median of $45K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$45K
75th Percentile
$82K
Geographic Reach
National16 states funded
About 6% of grants go to recipients in AR.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
SARA A SNEED
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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