Purpose

The Environmental Education Grant Program supports locally and regionally focused environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and community members. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques that increase public awareness and knowledge about local environmental issues and provides participants in its programs the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions toward the environment.

Eligible Entities

Only these types of organizations may apply:

• Local Education Agencies
• Colleges or Universities
• Tribal Education Agencies
• Local or County Environmental Agencies
• State Education or Environmental Agencies
• Tribal Organizations that qualify as a nonprofit organization described in Section 501(C)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Noncommercial educational broadcasting entity as defined and licensed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Further information and definitions of eligible organization types can be found in Section 3 of The National Environmental Education Act and on the EE Grant Program FAQ webpage.

Please note that the following entities are INELIGIBILE to receive an award: Individual teachers, educators, faculty members, students, or community members; Individual schools that are not nonprofit organizations; Tribal education agencies administered by the Bureau of Indian Education.

Eligible Activities

Successful applicants must meet address the following requirements:

1. the EPA Educational Priority described below;
2. the EPA Environmental Priority described below; and
3. a project that specifies how the topic satisfies the definition of “Environmental Education” described below.

 

EPA’s Educational Priority
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Educating students, educators, and community members on the responsible use and application of artificial intelligence (AI) to address local and/or regional environmental issues. Projects should explore how AI tools can be used or developed to collect, analyze, and visualize environmental data; predict environmental trends; or support environmental stewardship efforts.

 

EPA’s Environmental Priority
Ensuring Clean and Safe Water: These efforts help ensure clean and safe drinking water and/or contribute to the restoration and maintenance of oceans, lakes, rivers, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitats for wildlife and plants.

 

Environmental Education Definition

Educational activities and training activities involving elementary, secondary, and postsecondary students, as such terms are defined in the State in which they reside, and environmental education personnel, but does not include technical training activities directed toward environmental management professionals or activities primarily directed toward the support of noneducational research and development.”   intersected interested groups, including senior Americans.

 

EE increases public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and provides the participants in its programs the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. EE is based on objective and scientifically-sound information and does not advocate a particular viewpoint or a particular course of action. EE involves lifelong learning; its audiences are of all age groups, from very young children through senior citizens. EE can include both outdoor and in-classroom education, in both formal and non-formal settings.

Award

Estimated Total Program Funding:  $3,200,000

Number of Awards:  13-16

Award Ceiling:  $250,000

Award Floor:  $200,000

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:  Yes--Minimum Cost Share = (1/3) x EPA Funding Request