TVA STEM Award Program Grant 26-27 - Tennessee

Tennessee State Funding

Public or private schools serving one or more grades K-12 are eligible.
Schools must be located in the TVA service area and receive electricity from a TVA local power company, or be located in the TVA Watershed Area.
Nonprofit organizations, homeschools, homeschool pods, and Pre-K organizations are not eligible. Religiously affiliated schools must meet the specific eligibility conditions stated in the grant.

Fund classroom- or school-level STEM projects that advance STEM activities in the classroom and help develop a talent pipeline for TVA and its customers.
Support projects addressing at least one TVA priority area: Environment, Energy, Economic and Career Development, or Community Problem Solving.
Prioritize unique, innovative, and creative STEM projects that incorporate design thinking, promote 21st-century skills, enhance college and career readiness, and support collaborative or interdisciplinary learning.

Applications open August 1, 2026, with announcements scheduled for November 15, 2026.
Funds must be expended and projects completed by June 1, 2027. Final reports are due June 30, 2027.

Awards may be requested in fixed amounts of $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, $3,500, or $5,000.

STEM resources that support classroom- or school-level STEM projects and activities.

LEGO® Education Science is most directly aligned to classroom STEM projects addressing Environment, Energy, and Community Problem Solving where projects incorporate design thinking, interdisciplinary STEM learning, collaboration, and defined student learning outcomes.
LEGO® Education Computer Science & AI can align to classroom projects addressing Economic and Career Development or Community Problem Solving when the project focuses on STEM learning, 21st-century skills, college and career readiness, or exposure to real-world careers and in-demand skills.
Professional Development does not align as a grant-funded expense because professional development is explicitly listed as a prohibited use of award funds.

Award proposals must be written and submitted by the educator who will perform the project, and submissions must be the educator's own unique work.
Applications must include a budget outline using the provided template for the full amount of funding requested.
Award payments are made by ACH to the organization or district, not to individual educators or schools. A W-9 and ACH form are required.
Funds must be expended and projects completed by June 1, 2027, with a final report due June 30, 2027.

A teacher may submit only one application. Different teachers from the same school may apply, but multiple applications from one school compete with one another and the grant notes it is unlikely that more than one proposal from a school will be funded.
Higher-scoring applications align to TVA focus areas, incorporate design thinking and 21st-century skills, enhance college and career readiness, involve collaboration or interdisciplinary learning, include community partners, impact a high percentage of students, and expose traditionally underserved students to STEM learning.
Applications should clearly describe the project, anticipated results, student learning outcomes, how the project will deepen STEM understanding, and how intended outcomes will be assessed.
AI may be used to help inform responses, but submissions must be the educator's own unique work. Applications suspected of being copied verbatim from AI may be disqualified.
Funds may not be used for furniture, cash, gift cards, travel, salary, food, professional development, construction or renovation projects, general office supplies unrelated to STEM activities, or sports.