Awards & Grants
Annual Awards for Membership
Each award requires the completion of an application form. Specific requirements must be met to qualify for each award. Applications are due via email or post to the Iowa PTA office no later than March 1. Apply here.
The Get Connected Award
This award is given to units that have 25 “new” members. A new member (for the purpose of this award) is defined as someone who was not previously a member of that unit. These individuals could have been members of other PTA units previously.
The All in This Together Award
This award is given to units that have 25 or more non-traditional members. This includes businesses, individuals in the community who do not have children at the school, community organizations or leaders, etc. (Parents and family members of students, teachers and staff of the school are considered traditional members for the purpose of this award.)
The Bloom Where You are Planted Award
This award is given to units that show an increase of 30% or more over the previous year’s membership. This award honors the success of units that are thriving in their communities.
The Oak Tree Award
This award is given to units that have existed for 10 years with regular, paid membership. This award honors the success of units that are successfully passing the torch from year to year, building a local history of working for Every Child with One Voice!
The Every Child One Voice Award
This award is granted to a unit that has a local unit membership equal to the number of children enrolled. This award honors the men and women who work to speak for EVERY CHILD in the school with an equivalent number of adult voices!
Annual Awards for Membership
Iowa PTA Lifetime Achievement Award (Fee: $75)
This award is the perfect way to honor those special people who contribute so much to our children and youth. Honor those who have made outstanding contributions to children and youth by presenting them with an Iowa PTA Life Achievement Award. This is the highest honor the Iowa PTA can give.
National PTA Lifetime Achievement Award (Fee: $125)
Give the National PTA® Life Achievement Award—the highest honor from the nation’s largest child advocacy organization—to the person who daily lives out his or her commitment to children.
Previous NPTA Awards & Grants
Phoebe Apperson Hearst Awards
May 1 – Oct 15, 2019
The Phoebe Apperson Hearst Awards for innovation in family engagement, named after National PTA co-founder Phoebe Apperson Hearst, recognize and celebrate achievement in building effective family-school partnerships. The awards are presented to PTAs that have earned the National PTA School of Excellence designation and demonstrated outstanding success engaging families in student success and school improvements.
The enrollment period for School of Excellence is now closed. To learn more about and enroll in the School of Excellence program next year, visit PTA.org/Excellence.
2019 PTA Connected Be Internet Awesome Family Workshop Grant, Sponsored by Google
October 15, 2019 – May 31,2020
The PTA Connected Be Internet Awesome Family Workshop Grant, sponsored by Google, has awarded 75 local PTAs with $1,000 in funding and materials, and 18 state/district/council/regional PTAs with $5,000 in funding and materials to host Be Internet Awesome Family Workshops in their school communities during the 2019-2020 school year. Check out the 2019 Be Internet Awesome Family Workshop Grantees!
2019 PTA Connected SmartTalk Conversation Grant, Sponsored by Symantec
February 1 – 29, 2020
The PTA Connected SmartTalk Conversation grant, sponsored by Symantec, has awarded 25 PTAs across the country with $1,000 to host a SmartTalk Conversation at their school during the month of February, in celebration of Safer Internet Day on Feb. 11, 2020. Check out the 2019 SmartTalk Conversation Grantees, sponsored by Symantec!
2019 PTA Connected SmartTalk Conversation Grant, Sponsored by Life360
February 1 – 29, 2020
The PTA Connected SmartTalk Conversation grant, sponsored by Life 360, has awarded 5 PTAs across the country with $1,000 to host a SmartTalk Conversation at their school during the month of February, in celebration of Safer Internet Day on Feb. 11, 2020. Check out the 2019 SmartTalk Conversation Grantees, sponsored by Life 360!
2020 Take Your Family to School Week Grant, Sponsored by Office Depot OfficeMax
February 16 – 23, 2020
The 2020 Take Your Family to School Week grant, sponsored by Office Depot OfficeMax, has awarded 15 local PTAs from across the country with $1,000 to host events during National PTA’s Take Your Family to School Week, which will be held Feb. 16-23, 2020. Check out the 2020 Take Your Family to School Week grantees!
2019 Healthy Hydration Grant, Sponsored by Nestlé Waters North America
November 1 – 30, 2019
The 2019 Healthy Hydration Grant, sponsored by Nestlé Waters North America, together with its national brand Nestlé® Pure Life®, has awarded 25 local PTAs with $1,000 to host hands-on and engaging Healthy Hydration Programs during Healthy Lifestyles Month this year—November 2019. Check out the 2019 Healthy Hydration Grantees!
2019 STEM + Families Science Festival Grant, Sponsored by Bayer
October 15, 2019 – May 31, 2020
The National PTA STEM + Families Science Festival Grant, sponsored by Bayer, has awarded 30 local PTAs $1,000 plus $250 for supplies to host a STEM + Families Science Festival, 5 State/District/Council/Region PTAs $3,000 plus $500 for supplies to host two STEM + Families Science Festivals, and two Renewal PTAs to receive $500 to host a STEM + Families Science Festival. Check out the 2019 STEM + Families Science Festival Grantees!
2019 STEM + Families Math Night Grant, Sponsored by Mathnasium
July 10 – September 11, 2019
The National PTA STEM + Families Math Night grant, sponsored by Mathnasium, has awarded 35 local PTAs with $1,000 to host a STEM + Families Math Night alongside their local Mathnasium franchises. Check out the 2019 STEM + Families Math Night Grantees!
2019 Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant
April 1 – June 30, 2019
Help bring arts education to your school! The Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant awards two Local PTAs $1,000 in matching funds for student-centered programs that increase access to high quality arts learning experiences and new pathways for students to participate in National PTA’s Reflections program. In line with Mary Lou Anderson’s belief in the importance of the arts for all students, this grant opportunity places special emphasis on increasing access to arts education among at-risk and under-served students.
State PTA Family Engagement Challenge
March 28 – April 28, 2019
National PTA is excited to invite state PTAs to apply for the State PTA Family Engagement Challenge. The Center for Family Engagement is excited to empower state PTA’s to be go-to resources for transformative family engagement through this two-stage leadership initiative.
Transformative Family Engagement & Whole Child Learning Grant
March 28 – April 28, 2019
National PTA’s Center for Family Engagement is excited to invite district/council/regional PTAs to apply for the Transformative Family Engagement & Whole Child Learning grant. This is a great opportunity for PTAs to live out our mission of making every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
Jan Harp Domene Award
Jan. 16 – March 31, 2019
The purpose of the Jan Harp Domene Diversity and Inclusion Award contest is to recognize PTAs that are dedicated to the needs of all families represented in their schools. The contest acknowledges PTAs that develop practices that are inclusive and equal for all families and that result in positive change. All diversity and inclusion efforts must be from the previous calendar year (2018).