Opportunity Overview
The Blaze Credit Union Foundation Teacher Grant Program supports Minnesota K-12 educators developing classroom projects that strengthen students’ financial well-being and life skills. The 2026 program is open to teachers at accredited public, private, and charter schools in Minnesota.
Funding and Deadline
Individual awards range from $500 to $2,500. The Foundation states that up to $50,000 will be awarded in the 2026 round. Applications are open August 10 through October 3, 2026 at 11:59 PM CDT. Award notifications are expected by October 31, 2026.
Eligibility
Applicants must be Minnesota K-12 teachers working for accredited public, private, or charter schools. Projects must be classroom-based, support financial well-being or life-skill development, and be underfunded or not funded by the school district. Multiple teachers from the same school may apply, and repeat applicants are eligible.
Costs, Match, and Restrictions
The published program criteria and Kaleidoscope program description do not state a mandatory applicant match or cost-share requirement. Grant funds are paid directly to the school or school district rather than to an individual teacher. A detailed project budget is required. Grant funds may not support gift cards, cash incentives, or salaries. Nonprofits, after-school programs, and sports programming are not eligible.
Application and Reporting
Applications are submitted through the Kaleidoscope online platform. Applicants should complete the live portal fields and provide the required detailed project budget. The public program materials do not identify a separate mandatory attachment package beyond the budget, so applicants should follow any current upload prompts shown in the live application. Recipients must complete a three-month progress report through Kaleidoscope with implementation updates, photos, and testimonials.
Strategic Fit
Atlas Opportunity Score: 68/100. This is a legitimate statewide Minnesota K-12 education opportunity with a clear deadline, direct classroom use, and simple award structure, but the award size is modest and the scope is limited to financial well-being and life skills.
N9+ Fit: 0/100. The controlling guidance does not establish a clinical, telehealth, diagnostic, remote-examination, or medical-device pathway.
QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. The program is classroom education funding, not healthcare-service procurement.
Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: not eligible. Applications are for eligible Minnesota K-12 teachers and awards are paid to their schools or districts.
Official Sources
Controlling sources are the Blaze Credit Union Foundation Teacher Grant page and its linked 2026 Kaleidoscope program page. Last verified September 15, 2026.