CTA Grants, Scholarships & Awards
For the most up to date information on grants, scholarships and awards offered by CTA, please visit their main website:
https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards
https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards
IFT Grants
IFT helps all students and schools by awarding grants directly to CTA members and local chapters. To date, CTA members have funded 643 grant projects totaling more than $7.6 million. All CTA members are eligible to apply for grants.
Grants available for the 2025-2026 school year include:
The application can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/ift-institute-for-teaching
IFT helps all students and schools by awarding grants directly to CTA members and local chapters. To date, CTA members have funded 643 grant projects totaling more than $7.6 million. All CTA members are eligible to apply for grants.
Grants available for the 2025-2026 school year include:
- Environmental Education Cohort (NEW!): Up to $5,000 (Environmental Educator Grant) or $20,000 (Environmental Impact Grant) for projects focused on environmental education, plus networking opportunities and an in-person convening!
- Educator Grant: Up to $5,000 for individual educators to impact a classroom or group of students.
- Impact Grant: Up to $20,000 for teams of two or more Educators (three recommended) to make an impact across multiple classrooms or school sites.
The application can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/ift-institute-for-teaching
LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant and Guy DeRosa Scholarship Program
The LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant and Scholarship Program in Honor of Guy DeRosa was created to promote human and civil rights by making our public schools safe for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning+ persons (LGBTQ+). The program was renamed in 2009 in the memory of CTA member and educator Guy DeRosa. Guy was a lifelong advocate for civil and human rights and LGBTQ+ issues.
The application can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards/lgbtq-safety-in-schools
The LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant and Scholarship Program in Honor of Guy DeRosa was created to promote human and civil rights by making our public schools safe for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning+ persons (LGBTQ+). The program was renamed in 2009 in the memory of CTA member and educator Guy DeRosa. Guy was a lifelong advocate for civil and human rights and LGBTQ+ issues.
- The grant program will support groups, projects and presentations that promote understanding of and respect for LGBTQ+ persons.
- The scholarship program will support self-identified LGBTQ+ active CTA/CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) members enrolled in a teacher/counseling credential or graduate program who are pursuing a career in public education and who understand the importance of LGBTQ+ educators as role models in our public schools.
The application can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards/lgbtq-safety-in-schools
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program encourages Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students to become educators, school nurses, school counselors or school therapists and to promote professional growth for BIPOC teachers and Education Support Professionals (ESP) members.
Application Deadline: February 21, 2025
The application can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards/mlk-scholarship
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program encourages Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students to become educators, school nurses, school counselors or school therapists and to promote professional growth for BIPOC teachers and Education Support Professionals (ESP) members.
Application Deadline: February 21, 2025
The application can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards/mlk-scholarship
Gloria Pedretti Credential Candidate Scholarship
In July of 2021, CTA/NEA-Retired member Gloria Pedretti reached out to CTA/NEA-Retired, wanting to help potential educators in their credential preparation journey and willing to provide a generous donation in order to make this happen. Together, we created the Gloria Pedretti Credential Candidate Scholarship.
Dedicated to Gloria’s former students, this scholarship will provide financial aid to potential educators pursuing a Pre-K through 12th grade teaching credential through an accredited institution of higher education.
The application can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards/cta-nea-retired-pedretti-credential-candidate-scholarship
In July of 2021, CTA/NEA-Retired member Gloria Pedretti reached out to CTA/NEA-Retired, wanting to help potential educators in their credential preparation journey and willing to provide a generous donation in order to make this happen. Together, we created the Gloria Pedretti Credential Candidate Scholarship.
Dedicated to Gloria’s former students, this scholarship will provide financial aid to potential educators pursuing a Pre-K through 12th grade teaching credential through an accredited institution of higher education.
- Award Amount: $1,500.00
The application can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards/cta-nea-retired-pedretti-credential-candidate-scholarship
César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards Program
The César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards Program provides recognition for educators and their students who demonstrate an understanding of the vision and guiding principles embraced by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta.
Application Deadline: March 7, 2025
The application and more information can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards/cesar-chavez-and-dolores-huerta-award
The César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards Program provides recognition for educators and their students who demonstrate an understanding of the vision and guiding principles embraced by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta.
Application Deadline: March 7, 2025
The application and more information can be found on CTA's website: https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards/cesar-chavez-and-dolores-huerta-award