New Champions Fund

The New Champions Fund is an annual initiative led by the Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA), an initiative of InnovateEDU, which is focused on elevating emerging leaders who are dedicated to improving access and belonging in education. Launched in 2022, the Fund exists to provide critical support for community-based organizations and individual leaders who work to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities and learning differences. The 2026 round of this program opens applications on February 6 and closes on March 6, 2026. With an emphasis on equity, the Fund prioritizes applicants from marginalized backgrounds or dedicated allies, and seeks to offer both unrestricted financial resources and structured mentorship to enhance the impact of their work. The program offers three subgrants annually: a primary unrestricted grant of $35,000 awarded to the selected New Champion and two additional $5,000 unrestricted grants to runners-up. Beyond financial assistance, the initiative also includes a comprehensive year-long support structure. Recipients participate in a virtual retreat to build community and connect with past champions, engage in quarterly one-on-one mentorship sessions with experienced leaders, and receive national exposure through podcasts, webinars, and EALA-affiliated events. The Fund thus combines capital, capacity-building, and visibility to maximize the reach of high-potential educational leaders whose work has yet to be widely recognized. The New Champions Fund is open to leaders of community-based organizations, schools, school districts, nonprofit entities, and for-profit organizations operating within the United States. For-profit applicants must be eligible to receive funding from nonprofit organizations and have annual revenues under $2 million. All applicants must demonstrate a commitment to serving students with disabilities and learning differences, especially those from underserved or marginalized communities. EALA expressly welcomes first-time grant applicants and provides office hours and additional support to reduce barriers to entry during the application process. Applications are submitted via an online portal and are guided by a formal Request for Proposals (RFP), which outlines the application questions and evaluation criteria. The submission process does not involve any pre-application gating mechanisms such as letters of intent or concept papers. The application itself requests details such as the applicant's organizational background, demographic information (optional), a clear problem statement, goals for the use of funds, alignment with EALA’s mission, organizational capacity, anticipated challenges, and sustainability planning. Additional supporting materials may also be submitted voluntarily. A 40-member panel of expert judges, representing diverse backgrounds in education, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, will evaluate submissions using a defined rubric. This evaluation panel includes past New Champions and other professionals who understand the complexities of improving access for students with learning differences. The winners will be selected in a collaborative review summit and announced in May 2026. The retreat for new awardees will also take place in May. Though the program does not specify a recurring date formula, it is structured as an annual fund and includes clear references to prior cohorts dating back to 2022, indicating ongoing commitment and yearly cycles. Applicants interested in future opportunities should monitor the EALA website or subscribe to their communications. For any questions or direct support, applicants may contact Aurora Dreger, EALA’s Project Director, at [email protected]. Office hours for support were held on February 5, 18, and 24, with additional times available upon request.

Clearly articulate alignment with EALA’s mission to support underserved students with disabilities.