RALEIGH, N.C. [April 1, 2026] – Bright Ideas education grant applications are now open, and North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are calling on educators from all 100 counties across the state to submit their project ideas for a chance to bring their dream lesson plans to life.

All 26 of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives select Bright Ideas winners from across the state each year. Grants are available for K-12 educators in all curriculum areas. The number of grants awarded each year varies, but more than 700 were awarded in 2025 with winners receiving grants ranging from $500 to $3,000 to create memorable and lasting educational experiences for North Carolina students. 

Bright Ideas grants help educators bring their projects to life in the classroom. From building solar-powered models and launching student-run gardens to designing robotics challenges or community science projects, the grants turn creative lesson plans into interactive experiences that spark curiosity and deepen understanding.

At the same time, they help educators overcome barriers in the classroom, expanding access to resources and creating more meaningful, inclusive learning experiences that support students where they are.

“Receiving the Bright Ideas grant has made a meaningful and measurable impact by directly addressing barriers to literacy and access for a growing population of Spanish-speaking students,” said Avery Artis, principal at North Elementary. “The funding enabled the expansion of culturally relevant and bilingual resources, creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. As a result, students are better equipped to develop foundational reading skills in both their native language and English, while also feeling seen and represented within their school community.”

Classroom projects that enrich learning can be costly, and many teachers personally fund experiences that bring learning to life for students. That need in cooperative communities is one of the reasons why North Carolina’s electric cooperatives created the Bright Ideas education program in 1994. Now, thirty-one years later, North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives have collectively awarded more than $17 million in grants to fund 16,000 projects, benefiting four million students statewide.

“North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have always been committed to investing in the communities we serve, and supporting our state’s students, teachers and schools is a cornerstone of that continued commitment,” said Andrew Meehan, vice president of strategic communications at North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “We recognize the important need that Bright Ideas grants help fill in classrooms across North Carolina, and we’re excited to once again partner with outstanding educators to build a brighter future for our next generation of leaders.”

Educators can learn more and apply at ncbrightideas.com. Applications run from April to September of each year, with winners being notified shortly thereafter.

###

North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives collectively serve approximately 2.8 million people in 93 of the state’s 100 counties. For more information, please visit ncelectriccooperatives.com.