North Carolina’s network of electric cooperatives collectively has contributed $10.2 million to classrooms statewide through Bright Ideas grants. Grants have funded innovative, hands-on classroom projects statewide for more than 20 years.

Bright Ideas grants are awarded by each of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives to local teachers. The grants fund creative learning projects in all subject areas and are available to Tar Heel teachers in grades K–12.

North Carolina’s 26 electric co-ops awarded 585 Bright Ideas grants worth $610,000 in 2015, which pushed the cumulative total for funding contributed to our state’s classrooms to $10.2 million. Over the life of the grant program, more than 9,800 projects have received funding statewide, directly benefiting more than 2 million students.

Bright Ideas grant applications are accepted annually from April through September and can be found at ncbrightideas.com.