National Art Education Foundation

The National Art Education Foundation (NAEF) invests in innovative initiatives to support instructional practice, research, and leadership in visual arts education. As an independent, philanthropic organization, NAEF has supported 395 individual projects for NAEA members since its inception in 1985.

A sister organization to the National Art Education Association (NAEA), NAEF helps fund a variety of visual arts education programs for the Association and its members, providing $630,000 for NAEA Initiatives since 2011.

NAEF 40 for 40 Campaign: Celebrating 40 Years of Support for NAEA Members

To celebrate its 40th Anniversary, NAEF aims to raise $40,000 by December 2025 for grants and services. If you can donate $40 to help us celebrate the 40 years of support for NAEA members that would be wonderful. If you can donate $4 to support the work of your NAEA peers, great! If you can donate $1000 to help us do more to help you, fantastic! Any donation amount is welcome, especially during this special time, our anniversary year. Donations are tax-deductible and will be recognized on the NAEF website (unless you prefer anonymity) and in the 2026 NAEA National Convention Program.

And, you can even donate in honor or in memory of someone if you wish! To do so, make your donation online as you would and then fill out our writeable pdf, NAEF Donor Commemoration Form and email it to naef@naea.arteducators.org.

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Grant Program Information

Announcing: NAEF guidelines and submission information for the July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 Project Year will be available here in mid-August 2025.

Overview of NAEF Grants and Grant Cycle

Older 2024-25 Grant Guidelines (for Reference Only until August 2025)

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Grant Recipients

The NAEF Board of Trustees has announced the 2024-2025 Grant Awards. View the list of 2024 NAEF Grant Recipients for project dates: July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

Featured Grantee Summaries

View summaries of select NAEF funded projects.

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Questions

Questions about the National Art Education Foundation? Email us at naef@naea.arteducators.org.

What would YOU like to see in the future from NAEF? Please share your suggestions here.

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Donate

Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution to the National Art Education Foundation and help fund the future of visual arts, design, and media arts education.

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About

NAEF Mission
The National Art Education Foundation (NAEF) invests in innovative initiatives to support instructional practice, research, and leadership in visual arts education.

NAEF Vision Statement
As an independent, philanthropic organization, the National Art Education Foundation (NAEF) supports a wide variety of professional activities, including support for visual art educators to participate in professional development programs; the promotion of visual arts education as an integral part of the curriculum; the exploration of new models of visual arts instruction; the promotion of the teaching of art through activities related to the instructional process, curriculum, student learning, student assessment, management, or discipline; the purchase of equipment and/or instructional resources; and conducting research in visual arts education. NAEF has supported 365 projects since its inception in 1985. NAEF is a sister organization to the National Art Education Association (NAEA) and provides support for a variety of visual arts education programs for the Association and its members. NAEF shares NAEA’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and encourages the submission of grant applications by all eligible NAEA members, especially those who are members of and/or teach in settings of historically marginalized groups.

History of NAEF Video:

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Helpful Links

Art Education Research Institute (AERI)
NAEA Research Commission