Pando PR Tips No. 68
It's awards season!
Funding and Fellowship Opportunities
Funding For Education Innovators — Applications due TODAY
Don't miss the deadline to submit for New Schools' unrestricted grants of $150,000–$250,000. In addition to financial support, teams receive personalized coaching and can connect with peers, all of whom share a commitment to improving outcomes for students.
TechGirls STEM Exchange Program — Application deadline Jan 20
The 2026 TechGirls program offers 111 fully-funded positions for women ages 15-17 from 37 participating countries. The comprehensive package includes a 23-day U.S.-based experience partnering with Virginia Tech University, followed by seven months of mentorship.
Female EdTech Fellowships — Various dates in Jan and Feb
The Female EdTech Fellowships from European EdTech Alliance accelerates the success of female founders in Europe by providing support at various stages of the entrepreneurial journey.
Upcoming Awards + Conference Deadlines
Tech & Learning Awards of Excellence: Best of 2025 — Submission deadline Jan 9
The Best of 2025 Awards to celebrate educational technology from the last 12 months. Enter if your product has excelled in supporting teachers, students, and education professionals. Entry is $625 per submission.
TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 — Final deadline is Jan 16
The TIME100 Most Influential Companies list recognizes organizations making an extraordinary impact around the world. The list is curated by TIME editors and correspondents reaching 120 million readers across all TIME platforms. Extended deadline entry fee is $995.
The Communicator Awards — Final entry is due Jan 30
The Communicator Awards is open to all companies, agencies, organizations, or individuals producing marketing, communications, or other creative projects. To be eligible, entries must have been produced after January 1, 2024. Entry fees vary.
EdTech Chronicle Best in Education Awards — Submissions due Feb 6
The third annual Best in Education Awards recognizing industry, deals, and partnerships in edtech just opened. Entries are relatively easy to complete. The cost is $150. Two categories recognizing educators are FREE to enter: Best Leader of an Academic Institution and Best Leader of a K-12 School/District.
2026 Tech Tactics in Education Conference — Call for speakers ends Feb 6
The one day virtual Tech Tactics in Education Conference in May 2026 features a variety of in-depth, interactive sessions on these topics: emerging trends in AI, cybersecurity, data, and ed tech impacting education institutions.
EdTech Innovation Hub Innovation Awards — Deadline is Mar 26
In their inaugural year, ETIH wants to shine a spotlight on the most impactful and forward-thinking work happening across K–12, higher education, and workforce learning. Cost is £80 per submission, or £150 for two or more entries.
Recommend New Stevie® Awards Categories for 2026
The Stevie Awards have opened a query to get feedback about new categories. If your products don't fit the existing categories, then make a suggestion and help shape future competitions.
Resources
Key Takeaways from a webinar on LinkedIn for Education Leaders
LinkedIn is an important community, so skim through this summary of key takeaways for education leaders from the team at Leoni Consulting Group. The simple engagement routine they recommend is to:
"Comment shortly before you post, stay active right after, and keep the thread alive for a few days. Consistency here matters as much as consistency in posting."
The Global Edtech Alliance of Alliances
Join this new community for EdTech alliances and associations from around the world. The mission is to work together in developing ecosystem sustainability and promote collaborative initiatives.
Getting Smart's Can’t-Miss Education Conferences in 2026
My Recent Article on GEO
I’m the founder and CEO of Pando Public Relations. If you liked this issue of PR Tips, subscribe here. New issues each Thursday, alternating between articles with practical advice on the PR profession and PR in EdTech Tips, which is a collection of awards, conference RFPs, general info, and other links that may be helpful in your PR efforts.