PEF Individual Teacher Grants

The PEF Individual Teacher Grants are offered through the Peabody Education Foundation's signature PEF Grants program to support teachers and students in Peabody, Massachusetts. Since 1985, the Peabody Education Foundation has raised more than $1 million from within the community to bring innovative programs to Peabody public schools. Funding for PEF Grants is made possible through donations from community members and local businesses. The Individual Teacher Grants provide teachers with supplemental funding for classroom programs and resources that fall outside the normal school budget, helping educators bring creative project ideas and additional learning opportunities to their students. Individual teachers may submit grant applications for their classrooms and may apply for up to $2,500 total per year. Teachers are permitted to submit multiple applications, but the guidelines establish a $2,500 total annual limit for teachers. Applicants may choose between two program categories: Creative Learning, which is academically based, and Mental Wellness "HOPE," which focuses on emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Proposed activities must focus on programming and resources that are not provided through the school budget. The Foundation describes its mission as supplementing, rather than supplanting, existing school funding, and the Grants Program is intended to fund programs benefiting students rather than teachers or parents. Certain expenses and grant-management requirements apply. Transportation, food, and refreshments will not be funded. All grant money must be used by the end of the current school year and should be applied to the program for which it was originally approved. Any proposed changes to the original application must be reviewed and approved by the PEF Grants Committee. Failure to notify the Committee of changes may result in loss of funding. If a grant is awarded, the teacher is responsible for working with vendors or performers to obtain necessary documentation, including invoices and receipts, and submitting the paperwork to the Grants Committee in a timely manner. The Committee does not work directly with vendors or performers. If a vendor requires a purchase order, teachers should request the purchase order from the PEF Grants Program Committee by email. Teachers purchasing materials from Amazon must use their own funds and then request reimbursement from the PEF with supporting documents such as receipts and packing slips. Applications must be submitted online through the PEF Grants program application process. Only the 2026-2027 PEF Grants Program On-Line Application will be accepted, and past application forms will be returned. Applications must be completed in full. Applicants must provide a detailed description of the proposed program so the Committee can easily understand and evaluate the proposal. Complete and detailed financial information must also be provided, including the total cost of the project and any estimated shipping and handling charges. An itemized budget is required, and applications submitted without an itemized budget will not be reviewed. Applicants may upload additional information they want included with their application. Before checking the applicable box on the application form, a teacher must notify their principal that an application is being submitted. The principal will also receive a copy of the grant approval or rejection letter. Applications are evaluated by the PEF Grants Committee based on innovation, educational objective, and financial impact. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, making timely submission relevant to funding availability. For awarded projects, all invoices and receipts must be submitted by email to the PEF Grants Committee within 30 days after completion of the program. When statements or press releases about an awarded project are issued through a school website, social media channels, newspapers, school newsletters, or similar outlets, they must include the statement: "This project is supported by a grant from the Peabody Education Foundation." Applications for the current cycle are accepted beginning August 1, 2026 and continue to be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through December 31, 2026, or until funding is no longer available. The stated deadline is December 31, 2026. All awarded grant funds must be used by the end of the current school year. The Peabody Education Foundation describes PEF Grants as funding offered every school year, indicating that the program is recurring. Questions regarding the program may be directed to PEFGrantsProgram@gmail.com. No individual contact person or telephone number is identified in the supplied materials.

Emphasize innovation, educational objective, and financial impact; provide a detailed program description that the Committee can easily understand and evaluate; submit complete financial information and an itemized budget; request programming and resources outside the normal school budget; ensure the project benefits students rather than teachers or parents.