Contests, Grants & Scholarships

Missouri NEA, NEA, and our partners look out for our members. We offer a number of grants to help professional members further their careers, participate in global studies, and fund their BIG ideas for student-centered learning projects. Scan the list below to see which contests, scholarships, and grants may benefit you and your students. 

Questions? Contact MNEA Teaching and Learning Director Samantha Hayes at samantha.hayes@mnea.org or (573) 644-9625.

MLK contest

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay-Poster Contest

MNEA Human Rights Committee sponsors 2023 contest The Missouri NEA Human Rights Committee is sponsoring the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay-Poster Contest for K-12 public school students. "Fulfilling Dr. King's Dream: Reading to Lead and Transform" is the theme for the 2023 contest. Winners are determined in five grade-level categories: K–1, 2–3, 4–5, 6–8, and 9–12. A certificate and gift...
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GB Minority Scholarship

Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship

The Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship was created in memory of one of Missouri NEA's own. For more than 20 years, Gilbert Balderrama served MNEA and its members as a UniServ director. Gilbert received numerous degrees and certifications and strongly believed in furthering one's knowledge through education. ELIGIBILITY: This scholarship is awarded to one high school senior of color...
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Cochran Scholarship

Cochran Education Major Scholarship

Former Missouri NEA Executive Director Peggy Cochran and late husband Paul were both teachers. Both come from families of teachers. Two of their children are teachers in the St. Louis area. They believe that teaching is the most rewarding career anyone can choose. To encourage people to become teachers, they created a $500 scholarship in support of one of these individuals each year. Applicants...
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EdRising Scholarship

Educators Rising Scholarship

This is a $500 scholarship established to encourage and support high school students pursuing a degree in education. Teaching is a rewarding career in many ways. With the number of candidates declining for careers in education, Educators Rising is here to offer support to those just beginning the journey. Eligibility: Applicants must be Missouri high school seniors planning to attend a college...
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tuition grant

Tuition Grant

Grants for Probationary Teachers and ESP. Missouri NEA understands your struggles as educators and support professionals. You want to be the best educator you can be for the students in your school. You know there's more knowledge to gain, but the budget is tight, and you're not sure how you'll swing it. Missouri NEA can help. Thanks to funding from Reliant Financial Services, your MNEA membership...
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cheer

CHEER Grant

Request for Assistance Caring Help for Education Endeavors by Retirees was formed by Missouri NEA-Retired to be a public service by enhancing the learning conditions of Missouri's children. CHEER provides opportunities for MNEA-Retired members to reach out to public school district employees and provide financial and material resources. Application Process Complete the Missouri NEA-Retired CHEER...
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hope

HOPE Grant

Through its Humanitarian Outreach Project for Education Fund, Missouri NEA assists members, students, and schools. The HOPE Fund is designed to provide relief to victims of natural disasters; relief to the poor, distressed or underprivileged; and research and implementation of projects that address critical needs in education. The HOPE fund also provides financial assistance for educational...
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pr grant

Public Relations Grant

Grow your local P.R. program with an MNEA grant. Local associations across the state have the opportunity to implement their ideas for spreading the good news about public education with a financial boost from Missouri NEA. MNEA’s public relations grant program is a project of the Association’s Communications and Media Advisory Committee. Grants of up to $300 are awarded for Read Across America...
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NEA foundation

NEA Foundation Grants and Global Learning Fellowship

NEA Foundation Grants Over the past decade, the NEA Foundation has invested more than $8 million in teaching grants to support the work of more than 5,000 educators from every state in the country to help students succeed. Each year, the Foundation awards approximately 150 Student Achievement and Learning and Leadership Grants. The NEA Foundation awards two levels of grant funding, $1,500 or $5...
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Organize

Student-Centered Bargaining and Advocacy Grant

NEA’s Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy Department (CBMA) awards grants to affiliates to design and implement student-centered initiatives through collective bargaining or other forms of advocacy. Grants made through the NEA Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy Department support affiliate work all over the United States. Affiliates have used these grants to make collective bargaining...
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grants

More Grants & Scholarships

MNEA Organizing Grant The Missouri NEA Organizing grant is available to MNEA local leaders who need a little extra cash for local association organizing efforts. Contact your UniServ Director for more information. Grant Writing Tutorial The NEA Foundation's grant writing tutorial walks you through what you should include in a great grant proposal. Take the time to review this resource. It may move...
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Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant

Athletics Grant

Give your athletes a sporting chance with a Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant from California Casualty, provider of the Missouri NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program.

MNEA members can apply for a $1,000 grant to support their middle/high schools sports program(s) impacted by reduced budgets. 

 Apply TODAY

Music & Arts Grant

Music grant

Apply to receive $250 for your school's program. The California Casualty Music & Arts Grant was established to provide support for K-12 public schools negatively impacted by reduced budgets.

California Casualty understands the importance of music and arts education for children. As a member of MNEA, you can apply for a grant award of $250 for a music or art need at your school.

Apply Today

$10,000 Staycation Dream Givaway

Staycation

California Casualty, the MNEA endorsed program for auto and home insurance, wants to help you escape the everyday with $10,000 to spend your way. Get that hot tub you’ve always wanted, create your dream kitchen, turn your backyard into an oasis, add a media room the whole family can enjoy – the possibilities are endless, but only if you enter to win. You give back every day…now it’s time to take care of yourself.

The winner for the $10,000 prize will be randomly selected in October 2022. 

No obligation to enter. Open to all MNEA members. 

Enter Today