DEP’s Environmental Education Grants Program welcomes applications for the development of innovative formal and non-formal environmental education projects that Address grant program priorities; Provide opportunities to expand the public’s understanding of Pennsylvania’s environmental issues; and Develop skills required to make informed decisions and take responsible action on behalf of the environment.
Donor Name: Department of Environmental Protection
State: Pennsylvania
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Awards
Deadline: 12/09/2022
Size of the Grant: $30,001-$85,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The Environmental Education Grants Program, established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, mandates that five percent of all pollution fines and penalties collected annually by the Department of Environmental Protection be set aside for environmental education. Since its inception the Environmental Education Grants Program has provided more than $12 million to support environmental education throughout Pennsylvania.
Priorities
The DEP’s Environmental Education (EE) Grants Program provides funding to support environmental education projects that address one or more of the following priorities:
Education projects that promote practical solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the negative impacts of climate change including floods, changes to groundwater, pests, disease, agricultural disruptions, and potential threats to human health. Projects are not limited to the following examples:
- Education projects to reduce emissions, such as vehicle idling.
- Community projects promoting integrated water resource management, water conservation, and stormwater best management practices (BMPs).
- Educational tours featuring renewable energy and energy conservation projects, sustainable transportation, alternative fuels, waste reduction, and agricultural best management practices (BMPs).
- Educational demonstration projects that increase the community’s understanding of climate change impacts and promote adoption of green infrastructure practices such as renewable energy and energy conservation practices, permeable pavements, green rooftops, rain gardens, rain barrels or cisterns, tree box filters, urban tree plantings, and other related practices.
- Education projects supporting Green School initiatives.
- Selective climate adaptation projects, implemented as a part of a larger educational effort, such as urban tree and riparian buffer plantings, water quality monitoring, habitat improvement, and other meaningful experiences.
- Projects that explore everyday choices such as energy conservation, transportation, food wastes, consumer habits, and others that could address climate change.
Water
Education programs promoting effective ways to reduce non-point source and source water pollution to improve water quality. Projects are not limited to the following examples:
- Programs, workshops, and educational tours that connect local water quality issues with concepts involving watersheds, agricultural nutrient management, abandoned mine drainage/reclamation, water conservation, private water wells, groundwater, road treatment, water quality monitoring, stormwater management, cold water habitats and fisheries, stream restoration, or other relevant subjects.
- Watershed education programs culminating in stewardship and/or community action projects, such as tree plantings, stream maintenance and cleanups, and establishing rain gardens.
- Youth projects that help build connections between nature and the urban environment and encourage hands-on stewardship projects.
- Education projects that help residents identify sources of household and community hazardous wastes, understand how to properly use and dispose of products; and encourage practical use of “green” alternative products.
Education programs designed to engage audiences (youth and/or adults) living and/or working within Environmental Justice (EJ) areas. Projects that engage Environmental Justice audiences will:
- Encourage and support participants’ efforts to develop meaningful solutions that address one or more DEP EE Grant priorities as they relate to local environmental issues and public health concerns.
- Provide awareness about environmentally themed careers and/or workforce opportunities, as appropriate to the audience.
Funding Information
Grant Award Amounts Funding is available for Non-formal education (projects outside of the formal, PreK-12 school/higher education setting) or Formal education (projects integrated into the formal, PreK-12 school/higher education curriculums). Two types of awards are available:
- Mini Grants of up to $5,000 may be awarded for local (school, county, municipality or other defined area) environmental education projects. Mini-grants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to form project partnerships and include a project match (Cash or In-Kind).
- General Grants: – General grants are offered at two funding levels:
- General Grants (Level I): From $5,001 up to $30,000 may be awarded for implementation of large-scale, regional and/or statewide environmental education projects.
- General Grants (Level II): From $30,001 to $85,000 may be awarded for non-formal environmental education programs designed to widely engage teachers and youth at the county, state and national levels.
Grant Duration
2023 Project Period: July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024
Eligibility Criteria
- Public schools and school districts (PreK-12) (includes Intermediate Units and Charter Schools)
- Incorporated private schools (under limited circumstances, private religious schools may be exempted from the incorporation requirement)
- Incorporated conservation and education organizations and institutions
- Universities and colleges
- County conservation districts
- Incorporated nonprofit organizations
- Businesses (must be registered to do business in Pennsylvania)
Ineligible Applicants
Entities, including municipalities, that do not appear on the list of Eligible Applicants cannot receive 2023 Environmental Education Program funds. Ineligible applicants are encouraged to partner with an eligible applicant to deliver environmental education programs.
Note: Applicants that were previously awarded a DEP EE Grant, but failed to meet their contractual obligations, may be deemed ineligible to receive 2023 Environmental Education Grant Program funds.
For more information, visit Environmental Education Grants.
