
The National Academy of Education (NAEd) advances high-quality research to improve education policy and practice. The Academy undertakes research studies to address pressing educational issues and administers professional development fellowship programs to enhance the preparation of the next generation of education scholars.
The National Academy of Education’s largest recurring awards are $70,000 postdoctoral fellowships that support early-career scholars in education research, paired with professional development retreats and mentorship. That pattern points to a funder built around individual scholar support rather than institutional program grants. The Academy’s recent grant records show a steady emphasis on helping researchers move from doctoral training into independent work through fellowship funding tied to education policy and practice questions. The same structure appears in its dissertation program, which awards $27,500 to doctoral candidates writing dissertations relevant to improving education. The fellowship is open to candidates from a wide range of disciplines and professional fields, indicating that the Academy’s research interest is not limited to education departments alone. Its EMERG initiative adds another layer by supporting equity in mathematics education research. Across these programs, the Academy funds people at key stages of the research pipeline: doctoral candidates, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career academics. The emphasis is on research development, mentorship, and sustained scholarly work in education-related fields.
One major theme is education research training. The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship provides $27,500 to doctoral candidates to support the writing phase of dissertation research relevant to improving education, with professional development retreats and mentorship built in. A second theme is postdoctoral development. The NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship gives $70,000 to early-career postdoctoral scholars and is tied to education research, education policy, and education practice. The Academy also supports equity-focused work in mathematics education through EMERG, a grant program centered on math education and equity in education research. In addition, its fellowship programs are open to scholars from a range of disciplines and professional fields, showing an interdisciplinary approach to education research support.
The typical grant size is tightly clustered: p25, median, and p75 are all $13,750 or $35,000 depending on the program, while the recurring postdoctoral fellowship sits at $70,000 and the dissertation fellowship at $27,500. The recent record shows repeated awards to scholars across multiple years, especially in the postdoctoral program, which appears in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Academy is structured around fellowship support and individual researcher funding rather than project-only grants. It funds individuals and also offers at least one unsolicited program, the dissertation fellowship.
$3.8M
$12.6M
$321K
$6.5M
Most grants fall between $14K and $35K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$35K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MN.
Top 5 recipient countries by grant volume for National Academy of Education.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 344 | $8.9M | 97.7% |
| 2 | Canada | 5 | $245K |
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Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, which accounts for 344 grants, or 97.7%, in the recipient-country distribution. Outside the US, recipients appear in Canada, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom. Within the US, the top state by grant count is Minnesota. Recent recipient cities include Tucson, Burlington, Berkeley, Philadelphia, Madison, New York, and Minneapolis, showing a broad national spread rather than concentration in Washington, DC.
It funds doctoral candidates, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career academics. The active programs include a dissertation fellowship for doctoral candidates, a research fellowship for early-career scholars, and a postdoctoral fellowship for early-career postdoctoral scholars in education research.
The grant record shows a p25, median, and p75 pattern centered on $13,750 and $35,000, while program-level awards include $27,500 for the dissertation fellowship and $70,000 for the postdoctoral fellowship.
Yes. The dissertation fellowship is open to doctoral candidates from a wide range of disciplines and professional fields, as long as the dissertation research is relevant to improving education.
Active programs focus on education research, early-career scholar support, math education equity, education policy, education practice, and dissertation research related to formal education, informal education, history of education, and theory of education.
Its giving is national. In the recipient-country data, 344 grants went to US recipients, and smaller numbers went to Canada, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
1.4% |
| 3 | Belgium | 1 | $70K | 0.3% |
| 4 | France | 1 | $14K | 0.3% |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 1 | $14K | 0.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAILU MESERET | TEMPE, AZ | $70,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| CASTILLO ELISE | HARFORD, CT | $70,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| MUMMA KIRSTEN SLUNGAARD | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| VENTURA JULISSA | MILWAUKEE, WI | $70,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| SALAZAR KARINA | TUCSON, AZ | $70,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| LEATHERWOOD CHRISTOPHER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| RUIZ SANDRA ZUNIGA | SAN JOSE, CA | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| SCOTT MALLIKA | FULLERTON, CA | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| BELTRAN-GRIMM SUSANA | PORTLAND, OR | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| HUITZILOPOCHTLI SALVADOR | EAST LANSING, MI | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| REGENTS OF NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERS | LAS CRUCES, NM | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| ORTIZ NICKOLAUS ALEXANDER | ATLANTA, GA | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| VELASCO RICHARD | NORMAN, OK | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| CATHERY YEH | AUSTIN, TX | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| UNIVERSITY OF DENVERALVAREZ-VARGA D | DENVER, CO | $56,559 | 2025 | EMERG |
| CLEMONS ARIS | KNOXVILLE, TN | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| BLANEY JENNIFER | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| VAN WYCK BRIAN | BALTIMORE, MD | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| HAILEY CHANTAL | AUSTIN, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| CHANDRAS JESSICA | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| TOLIVER STEPHANIE | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| VEA TANNER | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| SEO EUNJIN | SAN MARCOS, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| PADILLA-RODRIQUEZ IVON | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| CHANG ETHAN | HONOLULU, HI | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| BROWNELL CASSIE | TORONTO | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| RODRIGUEZ LUIS | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| PHAM JOSEPHINE | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| THOMPSON MARISSA | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| WILSON CHANELLE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| NG MEIXI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| LIERA ROMAN | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| AUSTIN TASHA | AMHERST, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| ROJAS NATALIA | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| MCCAMBLY HEATHER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| JACKSON DAVENA | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| HENRY DAPHNE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2022 POSTDOCTORAL |
| COLEMAN JAMES JOSHUA | IOWA CITY, IA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| DOOLITTLE SARA | EDMOND, OK | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| LAFORTUNE JULIEN | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| LYON MELISSA | ALBANY, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| BROWN TASHAL | KINGSTON, RI | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| MITTLEMAN JOEL | NOTRE DAME, IN | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| CIOE-PENA MARIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| HELLER BLAKE | HOUSTON, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| JOHNSON ANTHONY | COLUMBUS, OH | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| KIRCHGASLER KATHRYN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
| SINGH MICHAEL | SACRAMENTO, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2023 POSTDOCTORAL |
| KEENAN HARPER | VANCOUVER | $35,000 | 2025 | 2022 POSTDOCTORAL |
| VIANO SAMANTHA | FAIRFAX, VA | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 POSTDOCTORAL |
HAILU MESERET
$70,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
CASTILLO ELISE
$70,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
MUMMA KIRSTEN SLUNGAARD
$70,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
VENTURA JULISSA
$70,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
SALAZAR KARINA
$70,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
LEATHERWOOD CHRISTOPHER
$56,559EMERG
RUIZ SANDRA ZUNIGA
EMERG
SCOTT MALLIKA
$56,559EMERG
BELTRAN-GRIMM SUSANA
$56,559EMERG
HUITZILOPOCHTLI SALVADOR
$56,559EMERG
REGENTS OF NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERS
$56,559EMERG
ORTIZ NICKOLAUS ALEXANDER
$56,559EMERG
VELASCO RICHARD
$56,559EMERG
CATHERY YEH
$56,559EMERG
UNIVERSITY OF DENVERALVAREZ-VARGA D
$56,559EMERG
CLEMONS ARIS
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
BLANEY JENNIFER
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
VAN WYCK BRIAN
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
HAILEY CHANTAL
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
CHANDRAS JESSICA
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
TOLIVER STEPHANIE
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
VEA TANNER
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
SEO EUNJIN
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
PADILLA-RODRIQUEZ IVON
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
CHANG ETHAN
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
BROWNELL CASSIE
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
RODRIGUEZ LUIS
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
PHAM JOSEPHINE
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
THOMPSON MARISSA
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
WILSON CHANELLE
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
NG MEIXI
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
LIERA ROMAN
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
AUSTIN TASHA
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
ROJAS NATALIA
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
MCCAMBLY HEATHER
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
JACKSON DAVENA
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
HENRY DAPHNE
$35,0002022 POSTDOCTORAL
COLEMAN JAMES JOSHUA
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
DOOLITTLE SARA
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
LAFORTUNE JULIEN
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
LYON MELISSA
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
BROWN TASHAL
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
MITTLEMAN JOEL
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
CIOE-PENA MARIA
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
HELLER BLAKE
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
JOHNSON ANTHONY
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
KIRCHGASLER KATHRYN
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL
SINGH MICHAEL
$35,0002023 POSTDOCTORAL
KEENAN HARPER
$35,0002022 POSTDOCTORAL
VIANO SAMANTHA
$35,0002024 POSTDOCTORAL