Funding Fun: Fall 2012 Environmental Education Grants, Part II
Searching for funding or grant programs that you can use to support your Chesapeake Bay watershed, environmental and/or outdoor education-related activities and projects can be a time consuming pain… Skip the hassle by taking a look at this shortlist of funding sources that have deadlines this October and November:
This grant program provides individual public K-12 school or non-profit parent group associated with a public K-12 school with financial tools to help improve their children’s schools. This year, the foundation is challenging itself to seek ways to prioritize basic necessities while providing the greatest impact. Lowe’s will donate $5 million to selected applicants at more than 1,000 different schools during the school year. Grants of between $2,000 and $5,000 per school are available. Application Deadline: October 12, 2012 by 5:00 pm EST, however, if 1500 applications are received before the application deadline, then the application process will close.
The Nickelodeon & NEA Foundation Big Help Grants program is dedicated to the development and implementation of ideas, techniques, and approaches to addressing four key concerns — environmental awareness, health and wellness, students’ right to a quality public education, and active community involvement. Multiple grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to select applicants. Public school teachers or public school education support professionals practicing in the U.S. are eligible to apply. Application Deadline: October 15, 2012
NEA Foundation’s Learning & Leadership grants support public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for one of the following two purposes: (1) Grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes or action research; or (2) Grants to groups fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment. All professional development must improve practice, curriculum, and student achievement. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. Application Deadline: October 15, 2012
The NEA Foundation provides grants to improve the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area(s). The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. Proposals for work resulting in low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged. Grant funds of between $2,000 and $5,000 may be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, software, or scholars-in-residence. Although some funds may be used to support the professional development necessary to implement the project, the majority of grant funds must be spent on materials or educational experiences for students. Application Deadline: October 15, 2012
Maryland’s Stream Restoration Challenge (Maryland Only)
This competitive grant program, open to local governments and non-government organizations (including watershed organizations, school systems, and other academic institutions), seeks to establish 1,000 acres of stream-side forests by 2015. For this challenge, the state and its partners have allocated $6 million to plant forested stream buffers with the goals of improving Bay water quality and creating opportunities for middle and high school students to engage in service-learning and environmental literacy activities. There will be a webinar on September 5 at 3:00 pm for any and all interested to learn more and ask questions – more info on the webinar is coming soon. Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2012
2012 Subaru Healthy Sprouts Award
The Subaru Healthy Sprouts Award recognizes and supports youth gardening programs focused on teaching about our environment, nutrition and hunger issues in the United States. To be eligible for the 2012 Healthy Sprouts Awards, your school or organization must plan to garden in 2012 with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18. This year, 50 schools or organizations will be awarded grant packages that include a $400 gift certificate to the Gardening with Kids catalog and online store for youth gardening supplies and supporting educational materials, NGA’s Eat a Rainbow Kit, full of engaging taste education and nutrition lessons, a set of hand tools and three pairs of child-sized gloves, a curriculum package from NGA, and a Plantcam to document the growth and changes of your garden. Application Deadline: October 31, 2012
EPA’s Environmental Education Regional Grants
The EPA’s Office of Environmental Education has issued a new Request for Proposals for a grant program that will support environmental education projects that enhance the public’s awareness, knowledge, and skills to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible actions towards the environment. The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $2,160,000 nationwide. EPA expects to award one grant per Region (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV are all in EPA Region 3) for an expected total of 10 grants nationwide; the award amount for each grant will be approximately, but no more than, $216,000, subject to the availability of funds, the quality and quantity of applications received, and other applicable considerations. EPA will host webinars on September 5th and 26th for potential applicants interested in additional information about the application process. Application Deadline: November 21, 2012
Funding Fun: Fall 2012 Environmental Education Grants, Part I
Looking for more funding opportunities? Take a look at this shortlist of funding sources that have deadlines this September and early October!