About Us

SIMPLY SMART FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION

Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union Foundation for Education offers SIMPLY SMART Project Grants to assist educators with classroom needs and projects. Grants totaling up to $1500.00 are available to eligible public high schools in the Credit Union’s service area: Johnson City, Blount, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Sevier, and Sullivan counties.

The Foundation is funded by donations from the community, Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, Members, and Credit Union Staff. All funds donated to the Foundation support educational project grants.

In addition to providing educators grants, The Foundation partners with schools to provide resources and other support to maximize grant efforts. If your business or organization is interested in helping with current grant projects, please contact us to see if a school has a need that you can help meet!

How is the Foundation funded?

Foundation initiatives are made possible by the generous cooperation of the community, members, employees, and Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union. Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union pays all administrative fees.

What programs does the Foundation support?

The Foundation currently supports grants to assist educators in public high schools in the Credit Union's service area with classroom needs and projects.

About the Grant

What is the value of the grants?
Grant amounts vary according to funds available and are not guaranteed. The SIMPLY SMART Grant is valued up to $1,500.00 per school.

How many grants will be awarded?
Grants will be awarded to every public high school in the Credit Union service area: Johnson City, Blount, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Sevier, and Sullivan counties.

Who is eligible for a grant?
Full-time public high school educators in our service areas who intend to continue teaching in the consecutive school year are eligible for the grant. All projects must be conducted in the classroom or on-campus. Click here for a list of eligible high schools.

Are home school or private high school teachers eligible?

No. At this time, only eligible public high school teachers in the Credit Union service areas are eligible for the SIMPLY SMART Grants.

What are the criteria for selecting grant winners?
The SIMPLY SMART Grant is awarded to educators dedicated to implementing meaningful and beneficial experiences in their schools or classrooms.

What are the deadlines and application process?

To request an application, e-mail simplysmart@tvacreditunion.com.

Applications are accepted during the fall term, between August - October. Please mail to:

SIMPLY SMART
P.O. Box 36027
Knoxville, TN 37930

Can the grant be renewed?
No. To support and encourage the maximum number of educators, grant funds are not renewable.

Eligibility Criteria: (1) Employed full-time as an educator at an eligible public high school, (2) Intends to continue teaching in the consecutive school year, and (3) Project grant funds may be used for registration fees, but not for transportation. Recipients of the last year's Simply Smart Grant are not eligible to apply for this school year. However, any other educator from the school may apply.