Environmental Education Grants
Grants are a vital part of many environmental education efforts, but often it's difficult to stay apprised of current opportunities. This page will share available grants relating to environmental education.
If you know of grant opportunities you would like to share, please contact Delanie Bruce at communications@nacee.org
Click the grant title to link to the grant's website.
National Education Foundation STEM Grants
We support new ideas and practices to strengthen teaching and learning. Our goal is to fund and share successful strategies to educate and prepare students for bright and rewarding futures. We have learned that the best teaching methods come from our greatest assets: educators. To build our knowledge base and to uncover new, great practices in public education we invite all National Education Association (NEA) members to apply for these grants. The NEA Foundation also strongly encourages Education Support Professionals to apply for funding in any area. Funding preference will be given to projects that incorporate STEM and/or global learning.
Deadlines: February 1, June 1, and October 15.
Green Works! Grants
GreenWorks! is the service-learning, community action program of PLT that partners PLT educators, students, and communities in environmental neighborhood improvement projects. GreenWorks! blends service activities with the academic curriculum and addresses real community needs as students "learn by doing."
Deadlines: Fall
Nebraska Environmental Trust Grant
The Trust especially seeks projects that bring public and private partners together collaboratively to implement high-quality, cost-effective projects. Any project or portion of a project funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust must achieve one or more of the following Trust categories. These category areas are equally important: Habitat, Surface and Ground Water, Waste Management, Air Quality and Soil Management. Applications geared towards education of one of the mentioned categories are also accepted.
Deadline: September, Tuesday after Labor Day
Green Thumb Challenge
Green Education Foundation and Gardener’s Supply Company have teamed up on an exciting funding opportunity for established youth garden projects nationwide! The organizations are calling on schools and youth groups to submit chronicles of their garden projects in a race to win a $500 prize. The award is designed to support the continued sustainability of an exceptional youth garden program that has demonstrated success, and has impacted the lives of kids and their community.
Deadline: September
Lawrence Foundation
The Lawrence Foundation is a private, family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, education, human services and other causes. It awards both program and operating grants, with no geographical restrictions. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or similar organizations are eligible to apply. Average grant amount is $5,000.
Deadlines: April and November
Cedar Tree Foundation Grants
The Cedar Tree Foundation is interested in communicating the facts and urgency of environmental issues taught in schools in the United States by supporting organizations that provide summer professional development opportunities for current teachers. We are interested in programs which allow teachers to have an engaging hands-on environmental education experience with a cohort of other teachers, include networking and follow-up activities that support teachers in building their skills and bringing innovative and inspiring environmental stewardship education back to their classrooms in the fall.
Deadline: September
Waste Management Charitable Giving
The key to ensuring the preservation of the environment is learning about the importance of protecting it and acting in an environmentally responsible manner. To this end, Waste Management prefers to support environmental education programs targeted at middle and high school students. This includes environmental and science related projects, science fairs, Earth Day projects and others.
Deadline: year-round
Toshiba America Grants
Toshiba America has two grant programs - one for teachers of kindergarten-sixth grade, a second grant for teachers of 7-12 grades. Both programs are for the enhancement of science and math education. the K-6 grants are for up to $1,000. The 7-12 grants are divided into two groups - smaller than $5,000 and over $5,000.
Deadline: K–6 grade program grants are due October 1.
Deadline: 7 - 12 grade program grants over $5,000 are due June 1; grants under $5,000 are accepted on a rolling basis.
Nebraska Academy of Science Mini-Grants
The PIE Grants support the presentation and dissemination of information and perspectives that will stimulate enhanced environmental stewardship in any category eligible for Trust funding. The grant program seeks to expand dialogue on important conservation topics and to provide information on emerging or highly useful conservation methods. Grants are limited to $3,000.
Deadline: January, April, July, October
Captain Planet Foundation
Captain Planet Foundation invests in high-quality, solution-based programs that embrace STEM learning and empower youth to become local & global environmental change-makers. Educators, both K-12 classroom and informal, who are interested in receiving support for students to design and implement hands-on environmental solutions are eligible for project funding. Several grant opportunities are available, check out the website to see which one is right for you. Grants range in amount from $500 - $3,000.
Deadlines: vary depending on specific grant opportunity.
Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grants
Supported by the Lowe's Community Charitable Foundation, these grants are for $2,000 - $5,000 to help support school improvement projects at public schools. Any individual public/charter K-12 school or non-profit parent group associated with that public/charter K-12 school.
Deadline: September
American Honda Foundation Grants
The American Honda Foundation engages in grant making that reflects the basic tenets, beliefs and philosophies of Honda companies, which are characterized by the following qualities: imaginative, creative, youthful, forward-thinking, scientific, humanistic and innovative. We support youth education with a specific focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment. Grant amounts range from $20,000 - $75,000.
Deadline: New Organizations - February 1 and August 1
Deadline: Returning Organizations: May 1
Annie's Grants for Gardens
Annie's offers a limited number of small grants to community gardens, school gardens and other educational programs that connect children directly to gardening. These funds can be used to buy gardening tools, seeds or other needed supplies.
Deadline: Fall
Ben & Jerry's Foundation
The Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program offers general or project support to non-profit organizations throughout the United States. Grants are one-year in length and up to $25,000. The broad goals are to further social and environmental justice and support sustainable and just food systems, we focus on the types of activities and strategies an organization uses for creating social change rather than on the specific issues the organization is addressing.
Deadlines: February and October
U.S. EPA Environmental Education Grants
Under the Environmental Education Grants Program, EPA seeks grant proposals from eligible applicants to support environmental education projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship and help provide people with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques.
Deadline: varies, depends on approval of federal budget
KEEN Effect Grants
Programs that preserve and protect outdoor places and introduce new audiences to the outdoors through responsible outdoor participation. Grants range from $2,500 - $10,000.
Deadline: September