OEA Educational Foundation
The work of the Ohio Educational Foundation is to fund initiatives that enhance student learning, student achievement, and well being, as well as promote social justice. Its Board of Directors is pleased to introduce four new funding opportunities available to all OEA members:
- Diversity Grant
- Innovation Grant
- Whisper Grants
- Make-A-Wish® / Adopt-A-Wish®
Grant applications may be submitted using the new OEA online form tool or printed and then mailed/email to the addresses within the application. Click HERE for more details!
OEA ESP Aspiring Teacher Scholarship
The $4,000 ESP Aspiring Teacher Scholarship is presented each year to an Education Support Professional member currently enrolled in an undergraduate teacher education program in Ohio or a senior-level education student who has been formally accepted for graduate study in a master’s degree of education program at an accredited Ohio college or university.
Applicants must be current members of the Ohio Education Association. Current members of the OEA Board of Directors and association staff members are not eligible for this scholarship. In addition, OEA Awards and Scholarship Committee Members are not eligible for two years after completion of service on the committee to apply or to be nominated.
The award will be presented at the OEA Spring Representative Assembly.
The online nomination form must be completed in a single session, as you will not be able to save, and return to it at a later time without starting over. In addition it must be received on or before February 29, 2024. Late applications will not be considered.
TIP: Consider using this nomination worksheet as a guide prior to completing the online form. This guide can not be submitted in lieu of the online nomination form.
Please click here to see the rubric that the OEA Awards Committee will use to evaluate each submission.
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OEA Paul Swaddling Peace and International Relations Award
The Ohio Education Association recognizes individual members and local associations who have furthered the cause of peace and international understanding by presenting the Paul Swaddling Peace and International Relations Award.
Paul Swaddling was a teacher for over 20 years in the Berea City Schools located in northeastern Ohio. His personal and professional life exemplified a commitment to his two great passions: education and peace.
Many in the community marveled at the perseverance he exhibited in his work with and for the poor and at his ability to persuade others to support the causes in which he believed. Paul’s search for peace, marked by an interest in peace-making literature and peacemakers, ended with his sudden death in 1987.
The online nomination form must be completed in a single session, as you will not be able to save, and return to it at a later time without starting over. In addition it must be received on or before February 29, 2024. Late applications will not be considered.
TIP: Consider using this nomination worksheet as a guide prior to completing the online form. This guide can not be submitted in lieu of the online nomination form.
Please click here to see the rubric that the OEA Awards Committee will use to evaluate each submission.
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OEA Charles A. Glatt — Human and Civil Rights Award
The Ohio Education Association recognizes achievements in human relations and related intercultural activities that impact children, communities, the educational process, and/or the United Education Profession by presenting the OEA Charles A. Glatt — Human and Civil Rights Award.
Dr. Charles A. Glatt was a professor of education at The Ohio State University specializing in human relations, affirmative action, and desegregation. He served as a presenter for many OEA workshops. On September 19, 1975, Dr. Glatt was shot and killed by an assassin while working on the desegregation plan in Dayton Public Schools.
This “Special Friend” Award symbolizes the commitment Charles Glatt had to humanity as well as the equality of educational opportunity for all.
The online nomination form must be completed in a single session, as you will not be able to save and return to it at a later time without starting over. In addition, it must be received on or before February 29, 2024. Late applications will not be considered.
TIP: Consider using this nomination worksheet as a guide prior to completing the online form. This guide can not be submitted in lieu of the online nomination form.
Please click here to see the rubric that the OEA Awards Committee will use to evaluate each submission.
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Holloways — Human and Civil Rights Award
The Ohio Education Association recognizes achievements in human relations and related intercultural activities that impact children, communities, the educational process, and/or the United Education Profession by presenting the OEA Holloways — Human and Civil Rights Award.
The Holloways Award is presented to an individual OEA member for outstanding contributions to the promotion or execution of excellent human relations skills and interpersonal relationships as modeled by example.
Current association staff members are not eligible for this award.
The online nomination form must be completed in a single session, as you will not be able to save and return to it at a later time without starting over. In addition, it must be received on or before February 29, 2024. Late applications will not be considered.
TIP: Consider using this nomination worksheet as a guide prior to completing the online form. This guide can not be submitted in lieu of the online nomination form.
Please click here to see the rubric that the OEA Awards Committee will use to evaluate each submission.
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OEA Awards and Scholarships
OEA is pleased to celebrate, honor, and reward the outstanding work of our members, affiliates, and individuals who have made special contributions to the improvement of public education. Awards are presented at the OEA Awards Banquet during the weekend of the OEA Spring Representative Assembly. For an application or nomination form, use the links below or write to: Awards Committee, Ohio Education Association, P.O. Box 2550, Columbus, OH 43216.
- RETIREMENT BOARD TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP
In the interest of supporting the best, most highly qualified OEA members in their preparation for election to Ohio’s retirement boards, the OEA is sponsoring a Retirement Systems Training Program. The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), the largest educational association serving the employee benefits and compensation industry, will conduct the training program.
To encourage participation in the Retirement Board Training Program, the OEA will offer scholarships for members interested in pursuing seats on the STRS, OPERS and SERS Boards. These scholarships will cover the cost of training sessions required to complete a Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy (CAPPP), as well as other related trainings and/or meetings. - JFK SCHOLARSHIP
The $4,000 John F. Kennedy Scholarship is presented each year to an OEA member who is a career teacher enrolled in a graduate-level program and in need of financial assistance. The applicant must be able to demonstrate a reasonable prediction of success in graduate work. - JEAN KERSHAW SCHOLARSHIP
The $2,000 Jean Kershaw Scholarship is presented each year to a student member currently enrolled in an undergraduate teacher education program in Ohio or a senior education student who has been formally accepted for graduate study in a master’s degree of education program at an accredited Ohio college or university. Applicants must be current members of the Ohio Student Education Association (OSEA) and the NEA-Student Program. Applicants must also be able to provide evidence of success in their teacher education program and of financial need. - MARILYN CROSS SCHOLARSHIP
The $4,000 Marilyn Cross Scholarship is presented to an OEA member and career teacher enrolled in a graduate-level program directly linked to his/ her current area of licensure, and must demonstrate a need of financial assistance and a reasonable prediction of success. - ESP AWARD
The Education Support Professional Award is presented each year to an OEA member whose activities reflect the contributions of education support professionals to public education. The recipient must have been a member of OEA for three years as of July 15 of the award year. Each OEA-affiliated ESP local association may nominate one of its members. The winner qualifies as the OEA nominee for NEA’s Education Support Professional Award. - OEA PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AWARDS
OEA recognizes individual members and local associations who have furthered the cause of peace and international understanding by presenting the OEA Peace and International Relations Awards, of which there are two: The Paul Swaddling Award and The Peace and International Understanding Award. - OEA FRIEND OF EDUCATION AWARD
The OEA Friend of Education Award recognizes a person and/or organization whose leadership, actions, and support have contributed to the improvement of public education on a statewide and/or national level. Any member may nominate an individual or organization to receive this award by submitting the name of the candidate to the office of the OEA President, along with rationale and evidence supporting the nomination. - MEDIA AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
The Media Award for Public Service recognizes an individual and/or organization for a major contribution to the better understanding of the problems, progress, and needs of public education, or for programming of an outstanding educational nature. A member or local organization may nominate a candidate for this award. - OEA BLUE RIBBON ASSOCIATION AWARD
The OEA Blue Ribbon Association Award recognizes a local OEA affiliate for its demonstration of innovative problem-solving techniques and/or unique public relations and communication skills. This award comes with a monetary award of $1,000.00. - FISCAL FITNESS AWARD
The Fiscal Fitness Award recognizes local associations that have in place best financial practices. Applicants are required to submit a portfolio demonstrating evidence of meeting all of the listed criteria. Treasurers who have previously received the award judge the portfolios against the published criteria. The Fiscal Fitness Award is presented to winning locals rather than to the treasurers of the locals. The award includes recognition as an OEA Fiscal Fitness Award winner at the May 2021 Representative Assembly and on the OEA website, a plaque or certificate suitable for framing, and a grant for the local association to be determined annually based upon the amount budgeted by OEA. This amount represents the added value a fiscally fit local adds to the OEA.
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NEA-Retired Jack Kinnaman Memorial Scholarship
The NEA-Retired Jack Kinnaman Memorial Scholarship is to offset the tuition of a NEA student member, the amount has greatly increased to five scholarships of $3,500 each.
The NEA-Retired Jack Kinnaman Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of an education advocate and longtime NEA member, Jack Kinnaman, Vice President and former Advisory Council member of the NEA-Retired. Kinnaman is most fondly remembered as NEA’s “Cat in the Hat.”
Applicants must be a member of the NEA Student Program. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered. To be considered for this award, aspiring educators must submit an application and several letters of recommendation. The NEA-Retired Intergenerational Committee selects the winners, who are announced at the NEA-Retired Annual meeting. Applications are due on April 15, 2024. To submit an application click here.
Please read the NEA site for the deadline for current application and all relevant materials.
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Revised January 22, 2024
OEA Secretary-Treasurer’s Fiscal Fitness Award
The OEA Secretary-Treasurer’s Fiscal Fitness Award recognizes Local Associations excelling in the implementation of financial best practices. (It is presented to winning Locals rather than to the individual treasurer of the locals.) The full criteria and how to participate is outlined HERE as well as in the October/November 2023 Ohio Schools magazine. Locals must submit materials for the 2022-2023 fiscal year award by January 31, 2024, to:
Ohio Education Association | Office of the Secretary-Treasurer
OEA Fiscal Fitness Award
225 East Broad Street | Columbus, OH 43215
614-227-3199
Have an Additional Question?
InfOEA is a one-stop point of contact providing phone and email assistance to all members, particularly local treasurers and other members with administrative responsibilities.
- Email: membership@ohea.org
- Call: 1-(844)-OEA-INFO or 1-(844)-632-4636 | Mon.-Fri., during traditional business hours
Additional Resources
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Updated October 11, 2023
Affiliate Grants Program
The OEA Affiliate Grant Program was created to build strong and effective locals.
The Program makes grants available to all local OEA affiliates, whether a large local or a small local. To be eligible for a grant, the affiliate must provide a statement of how its program will strengthen the Association at the local, state, and/or national level. OEA Districts are not eligible.
There are four (4) types of grants available:
- One-Year Special Project Grant – available every year.
- Two-Year Special Project Grant – available every two (2) years only, must apply in a fiscal year beginning with an odd number. (e.g., 2023-2024 fiscal year application cycle)
- Effective Locals Grant – available every two (2) years only, must apply in fiscal year beginning with odd-numbered year. (e.g., 2023-2024 fiscal year application cycle)
- Release Time Grant – available every year, approval subject to NEA’s guidelines.
Click here to download a flier with additional program details and general grant requirements, or download a description of the different affiliate grants types. | Click the icon above or click here for an OEA Affiliate Grant Application
Applicants must apply using an application downloaded from the OEA website, or by request via email to Grants@ohea.org. Click here to download a timeline of the Affiliate Grant application process (Oct. 1, 2023, through midnight Jan. 31, 2024).
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Updated: September 29, 2023
NEA Foundation Grants
The NEA Foundation is a public charity founded by educators for educators to improve public education for all students.
Throughout the year, the NEA Foundation awards over 150 grants to support educators’ efforts to close the achievement gaps, develop creative learning opportunities for students, and enhance their own professional development.
OEA encourages all eligible educational professionals to apply for these grants. There are two primary grant categories open to all public education professionals:
- Student Achievement
- Learning & Leadership
Student Achievement Grants: $5,000
These grants promote classroom innovation and engage students in critical thinking, inquiry, and self-direct learning that deepens knowledge of standards-based subject matter. Approximately 75 awards are announced annually.
Criteria / Proposed learning opportunity should:
- Include specific and measurable goals for student that are rigorous and aligned to state standards
- Include activities that engage students in critical thinking and problem solving
- Align goals, assessment, activities, and budget
Learning & Leadership Grants:
These grants support high-quality professional development opportunities, including, Summer Institutes, action research, collegial study, lesson study, and mentoring. Approximately 75 grants are award annually —$2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups.
Criteria /Proposed professional development should:
- Be directly related to a clear and compelling student need, based on data
- Include collegial sharing that is interactive and sustained over time
- Be likely to improve student achievement
- Include a budget that is appropriate to the project goals
Applying for Foundation Grants:
Applicants must be a practicing U.S. public school employee:
- PreK-12 teachers
- Education support professionals
- Higher education faculty and staff
As a grantee, you are expected to:
- Fully implement your proposed plan
- Complete a final report that includes a narrative of your project’s accomplishments and a financial report of expenditures
- Share any materials developed and press clippings collected
- Share your findings with colleagues and others
Applications are accepted throughout the year and are reviewed three times a year, beginning on February 1, June 1, and October 15. The NEA Foundation offers writing tips for grants on its website at www.neafoundation.org. The site also includes brief descriptions of past recipients’ work.
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