Bright Ideas Grants

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Application Period is now open!

  • Final Deadline: September 15, 2026
APPLY NOW

Contact Information

Emily Aldridge
emily.aldridge@union-power.com
704-220-0703

Educators with creative ideas for hands-on classroom projects are encouraged to apply for a grant starting on April 1, each year. The deadline to submit an application is in mid-September. Educators may submit multiple grants during one given year. Grants are awarded each year in November for projects in all grade levels and for disciplines, including math, science, language, art, English, and history.

Bright Ideas grants provide funding for innovative, classroom-based projects that would otherwise not be possible. Since 1994, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have worked to enhance education by engaging students in meaningful learning projects that encourage creative approaches. Over the last 30 years, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have contributed $17 million to teachers for 16,000 projects benefiting more than 4 million students.

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Bright Ideas Winners!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Early Bird deadline? + –

Applications that are submitted between April 1 and Aug. 15 will be entered into the Early Bird drawing for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

What are the judges looking for? + –

The judges are looking for projects that demonstrate creativity and innovative hands-on engagement that focuses on enhancing the learning experiences for students. They are especially interested in the project’s impact on the students and how it will be integrated and utilized within the classroom or throughout the school. They would also like to see how the project will impact the students and school in the long term.

Here are some grant writing tips from NC Electric Cooperatives.

Can a project I currently do in the classroom become a Bright Ideas grant? + –

Yes. If you have a project you are currently working on in your classroom; you can apply for a Bright Ideas grant to help further fund the idea.

Can my project budget be more than $2,000? + –

Yes, but if you are awarded a grant, you will have to determine which items will be covered under the grant and consider reapplying again next year for additional funding. Please note that we award grants of up to $2,000.

Can I submit more than one grant? + –

Absolutely! You can apply for multiple grants, whether your projects are individual, or group based. Each grant may have specific criteria, so check the requirements for each application.

When will I be notified if my project will be receiving a grant? + –

In November, we make surprise visits to the schools to present the awarded grants. We encourage you to be camera-ready during this month.

Once I receive a grant, do I need to send in my report card? + –

Yes! Our judges are interested in understanding and seeing how the grant has positively impacted the school environment and the students’ experience. We also look forward to seeing how the grant funds are being utilized across the class or throughout the school.

When will I know if I did not receive a grant? + –

Once all the grants have been delivered throughout November, we will send denial letters to all applicants who did not receive a grant. We also encourage you to follow our page, union-power.com/brightideas, as we frequently update the website to announce the winners from each county.

If I don’t receive a grant this year, can I reapply next year? + –

Absolutely! We encourage you to apply again next year. While we receive many excellent proposals every year, unfortunately, we cannot fund every application submitted due to budget constraints. Our judges appreciate seeing previously submitted projects and improvements made by the grant writer to meet the qualifications.

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