The Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA), an initiative of InnovateEDU, is proud to announce the launch of the 2026 New Champions Fund. Applications opened on February 6 and closed on March 6th, 2026.
Launched in 2022, the New Champions Fund is an annual competitive program designed to elevate unrecognized leaders who are doing exceptional work but often face systemic barriers to traditional fundraising.
EALA’s goal is to provide resources and a national platform for unrecognized leaders who are doing exceptional work, but may face barriers in traditional fundraising. Since 2022, EALA has committed to spotlighting these “New Champions” in education by providing the funding and mentorship necessary to help their organizations grow. To support a wide range of innovators, EALA awards one primary $35,000 subgrant and two $5,000 subgrants to runners-up, as selected by a broad panel of expert judges.
Karla Phillips-Krivickas is a co-founder of Champions for Kids. With over 20 years of experience in state and federal policy, she uses her unique professional and personal experiences to advise education leaders on sound policy and best practices to advance academic achievement for all students, including those with disabilities.
Karla is the proud mother of a 22-year-old son and a 18-year daughter, both with disabilities. Advocating for her children has provided a new lens through which she personally experiences the policies she has worked so long to develop and implement. Now, she is channeling her professional and personal experiences to passionately advocate for all students, especially those with additional needs.
Sandra Hunter is the Founder and Executive Director of Roadmap to Success Empowerment Center, a North Carolina-based nonprofit focused on expanding postsecondary access for underserved students. She brings over 30 years of experience in higher education, including 19 years directing federally funded TRIO programs. Her work has centered on supporting first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities through structured programming, compliance-driven services, and student success initiatives.
Sandra has led programs across multiple institutions and has developed scalable models to improve student persistence and outcomes. Through Access Ready: College Transition Institute, she is advancing a proactive approach to preparing students with disabilities to successfully navigate the transition from high school to postsecondary education.
EALA is looking for New Champions who bring exceptional leadership, a dedicated commitment to students with learning differences, and a passion for continued professional growth. The goal is to identify and fund these emerging leaders who are making a tangible difference, but have not yet received the level of attention or funding their work deserves.
An EALA New Champion fits ALL of the following profile:
*For-profit organizations must be eligible to receive contributions from non-profit entities and have under $2 million in annual revenue.
EALA is committed to providing our New Champions and Runners-Up with a comprehensive support ecosystem:
The judging process was guided by an individualized Request for Proposal (RFP) and evaluated against a well-defined rubric focused on impact, scalability, and applicants’ lived experience. To ensure the selection process is fair, accessible, and rigorous, all submissions were reviewed by a panel of over 50 expert judges (thank you, judges!). This panel represents the full spectrum of the education sector, including:
We are actively looking for applicants who are not- yet-recognized for their exceptional work and who may be first time grant applicants or someone who is unsure about the grant-application process. We want to support you through this grant application process.
Please keep in mind that we are looking to fund a new champion who is actively working to support students with disabilities, including students who are marginalized or come from underserved communities and those experiencing poverty. When writing your responses to the proposal questions, please keep in mind the focus on serving these communities of learners.
Additionally, before completing your submission, please review the EALA New Champions Rubric the judges will be using to determine the 2026 New Champion.
The New Champions Judges are leaders in the cross-section of inclusion, innovation, and education.
Together, they represent a diverse collective of leaders in the non-profit, advocacy, digital literacy, K-12 education, and EdTech sectors, all committed to advancing equity and opportunity in the field.
Lovisa Brown
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