Focus In: National Art Education Foundation

Founded in 1985 by members of the National Art Education Association (NAEA), the National Art Education Foundation (NAEF) is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing visual arts education and empowering art educators.

Supporting Innovation
Over the past forty years, NAEF has supported innovative initiatives that enhance instructional practice, research, and leadership in visual arts education. As a sister organization to NAEA, NAEF has funded 395 individual projects for NAEA members and provided $630,000 for NAEA initiatives since 2011.

NAEF is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees—experienced NAEA members who serve four- to eight-year terms without compensation. All Trustees actively participate in the grant review process, ensuring that funding decisions align with the foundationʼs mission to support visual arts education.

Grant Opportunities
NAEF offers five distinct grant programs to support art educators:

Halvorsen Grant: personal professional development ($3,000)
McMullan Grant: new curriculum projects ($3,000)
SHIP Grant: art equipment/resources ($1,000)
Teacher Incentive Grant: classroom-based action research ($3,000)
Research Grant: scholarly research in art education ($10,500)

These grants are exclusively available to current NAEA members. Applications open in late August and are due by October 1. Proposals are reviewed in the fall/winter, with grants approved at the NAEA National Convention in spring. Recipients are notified on June 1, with funding beginning July 1 and running through June 30 of the following year.

Fortieth Anniversary Campaign
To celebrate its fortieth anniversary, NAEF aims to raise $40,000 by December 31, 2025, for grants and services. Donations of $4, $40, or $400—or any amount—are welcome to support art educators. Contributions are tax-deductible and may be recognized online and at the 2026 NAEA National Convention, unless you choose to remain anonymous. Donors can also commemorate someone with their gift by submitting the NAEF Donor Commemoration Form after donating.

Annual NAEF Benefit Event
At the NAEA National Convention, NAEF hosts several sessions to engage members:

NAEF Grants Session: Provides information on available grants and the application process.
NAEF Featured Grantees Session: Highlights recently completed grants, with grantees presenting their work and answering questions.
NAEF Benefit Event: A fundraising event featuring a highly-regarded speaker. The event is ticketed at $60, $50 of which is a tax-deductible contribution to NAEF. This year, a hands-on workshop will be offered featuring the presenter as an additional fundraiser ticket event.

To learn more about NAEF or to make a donation, visit arteducators.org/naef or email naef@naea.arteducators.org.