As the back-to-school season approaches, teachers across North Carolina are preparing their classrooms and gathering supplies to kick off a new year of learning. To support their efforts, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are offering a special incentive for educators who apply early for a 2025–26 Bright Ideas education grant — helping them cross off some last-minute items from their wish lists.

All educators who apply before the early bird deadline of Aug. 15 will be automatically entered into a drawing to win one of five $100 gift cards. Winners will be randomly selected and awarded their prizes by their local electric cooperative. Last year, nearly 500 educators submitted applications ahead of the early bird deadline.

Commitment to education

A shared initiative of all 26 of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, the Bright Ideas education grant program was created in 1994 to bring learning to life in classrooms across the state and support projects that may otherwise go unfunded.

Now in its 31st year, the co-ops have collectively awarded more than $16.5 million in grants, supporting nearly 15,400 projects and benefiting close to 4 million students statewide.

“We’re proud to support educators across North Carolina through the Bright Ideas program and to invest in the students who represent the future of our communities,” said Chris Powell, director of public relations at Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation. “We encourage every educator with a bright idea — no matter how big or small — to apply for a grant and continue creating meaningful learning experiences that last a lifetime.”

Apply for a 2025–26 Bright Ideas grant

Bright Ideas grants are available to K–12 educators in all 100 North Carolina counties. Funding is awarded for projects across a variety of curriculum areas including art, history, math, reading, science, technology and more. Educators can apply individually or as part of a team.

The number of grants awarded each year varies, but more than 700 grants were awarded statewide last year, totaling approximately $785,000. Winners received grants ranging from $300 to $3,000 to support their projects and lesson plans.

The final deadline for submitting grant applications is Sept. 15 for most cooperatives. However, interested applicants are encouraged to visit their local co-op’s website for specific application requirements and deadlines.

To learn more and apply, visit www.ncbrightideas.com.