Honoring the Past and Giving to the Future
The Missouri Retired Teachers Association Foundation was established in 2001 as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable corporation – the charitable arm of MRTA, dedicated to honoring the service of Missouri’s educators and investing in the future of public education.
The Foundation began awarding grants in 2003. Its grant program has grown significantly over the years, with recent distributions including 99 Classroom Grants and 14 PEERS Grants ($500 each) in 2024, and 127 Classroom Grants and 27 PEERS Grants in 2023. In 2026, MRTA-F will award 84 grants to classroom teachers and 14 to support staff.
In 2009, the Foundation completed construction of a permanent office facility, funded through fundraisers and a $400,000 loan that was fully paid off by 2012. An elevator was added in 2014 to improve accessibility at a cost of $107,000.
Grants for classroom teachers and support staff remain the major emphasis of MRTA-F’s fundraising activity, providing resources and materials that benefit Missouri’s public school students across the state.
Grant & Scholarship History
| Year | Grants Awarded | Scholarships |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 99 Classroom @ $500<br /> 14 PEERS @ $500 |
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| 2023 | 127 Classroom @ $500<br /> 27 PEERS @ $500 |
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| 2022 | 124 Classroom @ $500<br /> 21 PEERS @ $500 |
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| 2021 | 120 Classroom @ $500<br /> 11 PEERS @ $500 |
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| 2020 | 102 Classroom @ $500<br /> 10 PEERS @ $500 |
— |
| 2019 | 103 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2018 | 98 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2017 | 84 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2016 | 72 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2015 | 56 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2014 | 45 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2013 | 44 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2012 | 15 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2011 | 16 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2010 | 7 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2009 | 5 Classroom @ $500 | — |
| 2008 | 1 Classroom @ $500 | 4 @ $1,000 |
| 2007 | 4 Classroom @ $500 | 16 @ $1,000 |
| 2006 | 3 Classroom @ $500 | 11 @ $1,000 |
| 2005 | 3 Classroom @ $500 | 10 @ $1,000 |
| 2004 | 1 Classroom @ $500 | 10 @ $1,000 |
| 2003 | — | 5 @ $1,000 |