Educator Grants

The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), a private nonprofit dedicated to aerospace education and advocacy, offers the Educator Grant to support innovative, STEM-aligned learning experiences in K–12 classrooms across the United States. This program is rooted in the belief that empowering educators with targeted funding can have a direct and lasting impact on student achievement, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as they relate to aviation and aerospace history. Each year, AFA awards grants of up to $600 for projects that demonstrate strong educational value and relevance to both STEM learning and aerospace heritage. The AFA Educator Grant prioritizes projects that blend classroom curriculum with hands-on engagement, encouraging teachers to incorporate historical aerospace events or figures into their lesson plans. The association provides a robust list of suggested topics, such as the Wright Brothers’ first flight, the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, or pioneers like Amelia Earhart and Neil Armstrong. This requirement aims to deepen interdisciplinary learning by connecting STEM activities with pivotal historical moments and individuals, fostering a more comprehensive educational experience. Eligible applicants include K–12 educators across the United States. The grant encourages participation from teachers looking to implement classroom activities that not only emphasize STEM but also enrich curriculum through historical context. All applicants must provide a detailed lesson plan outlining objectives, materials, evaluation methods, and a clear link to both STEM principles and a relevant aerospace historical reference. Additional questions address student and educator impact, collaboration across schools or districts, and how the lesson will enhance current curriculum standards. Applications must be submitted via SmarterSelect between September 1 and December 15. The application involves several steps: account creation, data entry, project description with budget, submission confirmation, and the option to print the application for records. Notifications of award status are expected by late February. No pre-application steps such as letters of intent are required. The evaluation criteria include clarity and feasibility of the project plan, relevance to STEM and aerospace history, student impact, and dissemination potential for broader educational use. The grant is highly competitive, with all proposals reviewed by a committee of aerospace education experts. Funding decisions are based on merit and alignment with AFA’s mission to support student learning through aerospace-themed education. The maximum grant amount is $600 per project. The program does not indicate any recurring or multi-year funding but does run annually, making it suitable for recurring classroom initiatives. Applicants are encouraged to visit the official application portal and review all submission requirements early in the cycle. Questions or account recovery issues can be directed to [email protected]. Technical communication from the SmarterSelect platform may be filtered as spam unless whitelisted. Applicants are advised to prepare thoroughly and align their proposals with the stated evaluation metrics for the best chance of success.