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 $1,500.00 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.

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 how you can help!

HISTORY OF SUCCESS

Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union Simply Smart Foundation for Education was founded in 2010 on the Credit Union's core philosophy of People Helping People. Generosity from the community, Credit Union donations, and Board and Employee donations helped high school graduates by providing scholarships. One scholarship was awarded to every public high school in the Credit Union's nine service areas. In late 2014, Tennessee Promise began and provided Tennessee high school graduates the opportunity to attend community or technical college free of tuition or mandatory fees. The Simply Smart Board discovered many students took advantage of Tennessee Promise and, in 2015, voted to offer grants to educators to support the schools in our communities. Today, the Simply Smart Foundation awards grants up to $1500 to 50 eligible public high schools. Since the Foundation started, it has awarded $763,780.52 to education.

SUPPORT SIMPLY SMART

Simply Smart Foundation initiatives are made possible by the generous donations of the community, Members, employees, and Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union. KTVAECU^® pays all administrative fees.

If your business or organization is interested in helping with current grant projects, please contact us to see how you can help!

SIMPLY SMART PROJECTS

The Simply Smart Foundation supports educators in 50 public high schools across East Tennessee. Educators submit grant proposals for various classroom needs like microscopes, calculators, life skills supplies, hygiene items, robotics equipment, flexible seating, podcast equipment, laptops, iPads, and more. To see past recipient projects, click here.

ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS

Blount County

Alcoa High School
Eagleton College & Career Academy
Heritage High School
Maryville High School
Pershing Academy of Learning
Samuel Everett School of Innovation
William Blount High School

Hamblen County

Miller-Boyd Alternative School
Morristown East High School
Morristown West High School

Jefferson County

Jefferson County High School

Johnson City

Science Hill High School

Knox County

Austin East Magnet School
Bearden High School
Career Magnet Academy
Carter High School
Central High School
Farragut High School
Fulton High School
Gibbs High School
Halls High School
Hardin Valley High School
Karns High School
L&N STEM Academy
Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy
Powell High School
Richard Yoakley School
South Doyle High School
Tennessee School for the Deaf
West High School

Loudon County

Greenback High School
Lenoir City High School
Loudon High School

Roane County

Harriman High School
Midway High School
Midtown Education Center
Oliver Springs High School
Roane County High School
Rockwood High School

Sevier County

Gatlinburg-Pittman High School
Gardin Hardin Academy
Northview Academy
Parkway Academy
Pigeon Forge High School
Sevier County High School
Seymour High School

Sullivan County

Dobyns-Bennett High School
Sullivan East High School
Sullivan West Ridge High School
Tennessee High School

SIMPLY SMART FAQ

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE GRANTS?

The SIMPLY SMART Grant is valued up to $1,500.00 per school.
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.
WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE?

The deadline for applications to be submitted is October 1.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE SIMPLY SMART GRANT?

You can submit your application through the Simply Smart Online Portal.
CAN THE GRANT BE RENEWED?

No. To support and encourage the maximum number of educators, grant funds are not renewable.
HOW MANY GRANTS ARE AWARDED?

Grants are awarded to every public high school in the Credit Union service areas: Johnson City, Blount, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Sevier, and Sullivan counties.
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.
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.

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.