The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is excited to announce the No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Grant Program to support and increase efforts to expand programming that connects youth to the outdoors.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department for Natural Resources
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/07/2022
Size of the Grant: $5,001-$25,000
Details:
Through these grants, the DNR is addressing growing concerns over declines in youth participation in outdoor recreation, natural resource education, hunting, and angling. A minimum outcome of these grants is that the person leaves holding a positive experience and opinion toward outdoor education and recreation. Ideally, youth involved in awarded projects will maintain involvement in outdoor education and recreation through continued participation in and/or support of these activities.
The 2023 grants will consist of two types of grant awards. Applicants must choose only one.
- Mini Grants, with awards between $500-$5,000, will include a simple application and projects with smaller scope. Match of any amount is required. Demand for Mini Grants is expected to be high. Eligible projects will be entered into a lottery, and awards granted randomly on a regionally balanced, statewide basis. Those awarded Mini Grants will be notified by email in January 2023.
- Larger Grants, with awards between $5,001-$25,000, will include a more extensive application process, competitive review, and greater project scope. Match is required, but there is no minimum amount of match needed. The total match amount provided by applicants and partners will be considered in the evaluation of proposals.
Overarching Priorities
Programs that maximize the number of participants, especially from new and diverse audiences with limited opportunities
- Audience must be youth (under 18) – Activities that include participant families are also eligible
- Applicants commit matching funds or in-kind resources
- Projects that are community-focused with an ongoing impact rather than one-time events
- New or innovative programming – If an existing program or project, applicant must demonstrate a significant expansion in scope or inclusion of new audiences
- Projects must provide students direct experiences and understanding of nature
- Provide opportunities for outdoor recreation or to learn new outdoor skills
- Use public parks and other natural resource venues and personnel as resources
- Education classes that are held outside and use established environmental, ecological, agricultural, or natural resource educational curriculum
- Other projects that support natural resource education and outdoor recreation, as determined by the DNR
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must have a mission or educational purpose that supports natural resource education and/or outdoor recreation.
- Public entities (including cities, counties, other local governments, public & charter schools, public colleges & higher education institutions)
- Tribal Nations and schools
- Non-profit organizations (including informal, after school, early childhood, and community-based youth programs)
- Location of projects
- Grant funds must be used only for the delivery of programs within the State of Minnesota
For more information, visit No Child Left Inside Grants.
