TVA Opens Applications for K-12 STEM Education Awards

Educators Can Apply Now Through September 15 for Up to $5,000 in Funding

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority is now accepting applications for its 2025 STEM Education Awards, offering up to $5,000 in funding for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects across its seven-state service area. The application window runs from August 1 through September 15, 2025.

TVA will award a total of $1.5 million to support hands-on STEM learning in classrooms, with a focus on projects that address TVA’s core mission areas: energy, environment, economic and career development, and community problem-solving. Since launching the program in 2018, TVA and its retiree partner organization, Bicentennial Volunteers Inc. (BVI), have awarded nearly $8 million in grants, impacting more than 730,000 students.

“This program is about investing in the future of the Tennessee Valley,” said TVA President and CEO Don Moul. “By supporting STEM education, we’re preparing students for high-quality careers and ensuring a skilled workforce for our region’s energy future.”

The awards are administered in partnership with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, managed by Battelle. Last year, the program received 647 applications and funded 342 projects.

Eligible applicants include teachers and administrators at public or private schools serving grades K-12. Schools must be located in the TVA service area and receive electricity from a local TVA-served power distributor.

BVI President Kathy Black emphasized the program’s broader impact: “We believe STEM education lays the foundation for future innovators and problem solvers. This program helps students see what’s possible and pursue careers that strengthen our communities.”

Educators can apply and learn more at TVA.com/STEM.