The Trust for Public Education IV Fund, established in 1999 by NTS Virginia Development Company, offers annual grants aimed at enhancing the educational experience for students in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. As part of its founding commitment, NTS donated a percentage of profits from each home listed with the Fawn Lake Real Estate Company to support public education, creating a sustainable funding mechanism that now distributes over $10,000 annually.
This fund supports two main areas: professional development opportunities for public-school teachers in Spotsylvania County and character development programs for K-12 students. The goal of the professional development (Teacher Appreciation) grants is to enable educators to further develop their skills through both on-site and off-site training. These grants prioritize training programs that provide direct benefits to students and allow funding for tuition and travel expenses. However, funding may not be used for food, clothing, individual awards, or teacher incentives, except for meal costs associated with off-site training.
Character Development grants are intended to promote values-based education and build strong ethical foundations among students. These grants support projects aimed at school-wide character development and fund direct costs such as curriculum and program materials. Funding may not be used for awards or incentives. Notable examples of eligible programs include those aligned with the Josephson Institute’s “Character Counts” initiative.
Grants range in size depending on the category: Teacher Appreciation grants range from $500 to $2,000, while Character Development grants may reach up to $5,000. All funds must be spent within the grant period.
Applications for the 2025–2026 school year open on September 15, 2025, and must be submitted by 5:00 PM on October 20, 2025. Grant recipients will be announced around November 24, 2025. All applications must be submitted by public-school teachers or employees who directly serve students in Spotsylvania County. Evaluation criteria include the potential impact of the proposal, alignment with educational best practices, and sustainability plans. Applicants must answer a set of structured questions detailing project needs, implementation plans, sustainability strategies, and evaluation methods.
