Environmental Education Grants
Grant: Environmental Education Grants
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Deadline: The deadline was December 12, 2012.
Description: This program supports environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers and citizens. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods or techniques. Be careful to distinguish environmental education (which is based on objective, scientifically sound information; does not advocate a particular point of view or course of action; and provides tools for individuals to think critically about the issues at hand) from environmental information/outreach (proposals that will simply disseminate information will not be funded). For more about this distinction, download the grant solicitation notice.
In addition to following the environmental education guidelines, projects must address at least one of the EPA educational priorities and at least one of the EPA environmental priority listed below.
EPA's Educational Priorities:
- Community Projects - address environmental stewardship using outdoor, place-based, experiential, service learning and/or community-focused stewardship activities as the primary teaching tool.
- Human Health and the Environment - educate students and train educators/community leaders on how to teach about human health threats from environmental pollution.
- Career Development - educate students and train educators/community leaders on how to teach about environmental issues to encourage interest in environmental careers.
EPA Environmental Priorities
- Protecting Air Quality - protect the health of all Americans and the ecosystems we depend on by preventing pollution, increasing energy efficiency, and improving indoor and outdoor air quality.
- Assuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution - protect against potential risks from pesticides and toxic chemicals, and prevent pollution before it begins.
- Cleaning up our Communities - provide guidelines for safe and environmentally-friendly practices in waste management and support the redevelopment and reuse of potentially contaminated sites.
- Protecting America's Waters - ensure that drinking water is safe, and restore and maintain oceans, watershed and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health.
The EPA encourages proposals for projects that reach a variety of communities especially those more likely to be affected adversely by environmental risks. Additionally, the EPA encourages developing partnerships in implementing the proposed project. Partnerships can strengthen recruitment plans by increasing potential numbers and diversity of audiences.
Fit for Public Broadcasting: Public broadcasters will find a natural fit in this grant program. Among the eligible applicants, the EPA identifies noncommercial educational broadcasting entities as fundable applicants given their successful history as disseminators of information with the potential to reach a broad audience. Stations with experience in education and community outreach, and an interest in the environment are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility:
- Noncommercial educational broadcasting entity.
- Local education agency.
- State education or environmental agency.
- College or university.
- Nonprofit organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
- Tribal education agency (which includes schools and community colleges controlled by an Indian tribe, band, or nation).
Anticipated Funding: EPA expects to make approximately $2,160,000 across ten environmental education awards at a maximum of $216,000 per grant. Each of EPA's ten regions anticipates funding one grant. A full listing of the ten regions with relevant contact information can be found in the program notice.
Matching funds of at least 25 percent of the total cost of the grant project are required for awards made under this announcement.
How to Apply: Applications may be submitted electronically or by mail or hand delivery. Applications submitted electronically via Grants.gov requires registration a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the grant deadline.
Resources:
Program notice
Program website
