Summer may be in full swing, but the next school year is already on the horizon. Before long, teachers across North Carolina will be preparing their classrooms and putting the finishing touches on lesson plans for the year ahead. To help educators get a head start, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are offering a special incentive for teachers who apply early for a Bright Ideas education grant, helping them check a few more items off their classroom wish lists before students return.

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.

Providing creative educational opportunities

A shared initiative of North Carolina’s 26 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 might otherwise go unfunded.

Now in its 32nd year, the co-ops have collectively awarded more than $17 million in grants, supporting nearly 16,000 projects and benefiting close to 4 million students statewide.

One of the educators impacted by the program is Tommy Kemp, who teaches agriculture courses at Franklinton High School. Kemp says he has been the proud recipient of nearly 20 Bright Ideas grants that have helped him expand learning opportunities for his students.

“The students were able to learn North Carolina State Curriculum learning objectives through hands-on projects that the grant funds provide,” said Kemp. “Students learn and retain more subject knowledge by actually doing rather than reading about it and taking a written assessment. One goal I always have when submitting a Bright Ideas grant proposal is that the grant has a strong element of hands-on learning and that instructional supplies purchased with the funds can be used for years to come.”

Most recently, Kemp received a grant for his project, “Under Pressure,” which gave students the opportunity to develop practical, hands-on plumbing skills by designing and constructing working water line systems. Through the project, students learned how to use modern plumbing materials and tools, troubleshoot common issues and apply problem-solving skills in a real-world setting. The project was made possible by a grant from his local electric cooperative, Wake Electric.

“I have clearly seen the impact of a Bright Ideas grant project on my students’ heightened level of engagement and comprehension of subject matter,” said Kemp. “As their teacher, I can clearly see that students enjoy the projects, and that’s why I keep applying for Bright Ideas grants.”

Apply for a 2026-27 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 future of our local communities is being shaped in today’s classrooms,” said Maria de Pedro, marketing and communications specialist at Wake Electric. “Supporting our local educators through the Bright Ideas grant program is one way Wake Electric fulfills our mission of bettering the communities we serve. We know every educator has a great idea to enhance their students’ learning experience, and we encourage all eligible educators to apply so we can help bring those ideas to life through these grants.”

Kemp encourages all educators to look into applying for a grant, no matter what their project is. He said the program can help turn creative ideas into meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for students.

“A Bright Ideas grant simply opens learning opportunities,” said Kemp. “A teacher just has to fill out an application. To me, the student learning opportunities that a Bright Ideas grant provides are well worth the effort to apply.”

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.