Funding Fun: May & June 2013 Environmental Education Grants
Finding funding to support environmental education can be a real challenge and identifying applicable grants can be a hassle. To help you kick-start the process of getting your classroom project off the ground, we here at Bay Backpack have identified some great grant opportunities that are about to fly by. Some of these grants are not directly related to environmental or Chesapeake Bay education, but all could be used to support it. Be sure to note the submission deadlines, and good luck with your applications!
BGE Green Grants of between $500-$10,000 are now being offered to local communities within the BGE service area. Applicant’s must be a 501c3 non-profit with a Board of Directors, and will be considered for new and existing programs that fall within the Environmental Focus Areas (conservation, education, energy efficiency, pollution prevention and community activism) as well as requests for funding that clearly demonstrates improvement in environmental efforts of the community. Applications are due by May 10, 2013.
Brower Youth Awards for Environmental Leadership
The Earth Island Institute established The Brower Youth Award for Environmental Leadership to recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of young people who are working for the protection of our shared planet. Each of the six recipients of the Brower Youth Awards will receive a $3,000 cash prize, a professionally produced short film about their work, and flight and lodging accommodations for a week-long trip to the San Francisco Bay Area. Applications are due by May 13, 2013 by 9:00 p.m. Pacific time
The Stream Restoration Challenge is once again accepting applications for projects that enhance or establish forested stream buffers while creating service learning and environmental literacy activities for students. With $4 million dollars available, the State of Maryland will add to the 364 acres of buffer funded from the first solicitation and the 13,300 Maryland students that will already be actively engaged. All proposals are due by Thursday May 30, 2013 at 5pm.
The 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. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. All professional development must improve practice, curriculum, and student achievement. Applications are due by June 1, 2013.
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. Grant requests can be submitted for $2,000 and $5,000. Applications are due by June 1, 2013.
K-12 Environmental Education Mini Grants
The Chesapeake Bay Trust Mini Grant Program supports activities such as Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE), teacher professional development and programs to advance environmental literacy in the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Non-profit organizations, community associations, faith-based organizations and more in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia can apply for funding of up to $5,000. Applications are due by June 7, 2013 at 5:00 pm.