The Ozark Society (OS) is soliciting proposals for its Youth Engagement Grants from local organizations working with students in environmental and conservation efforts.
Donor Name: The Ozark Society Foundation
State: Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/30/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Grants will be awarded to organizations who encourage young people (K-12) to engage in environmental awareness and conservation. The Ozark Society wants to see projects that start with the community and start with the young people. Grant recipients will be announced in early February 2026. Funds may be combined with other sources of funds to increase the size / impact of the project. To apply, groups must be affiliated with a 501c3 nonprofit or school. Past projects awarded grants by the OS Grant Committee engaged young people in hands-on conservation activities and environmental engagement involving service learning and community projects.
Funding Information
Funds will generally range between $500 and $2,500 depending on the scope and needs of the project.
Preferences will go to
- New projects that have not previously received funding from the Ozark Society
- Projects that include hands-on learning, conservation activities, service projects, and/or tangible outcomes. OS wants to see active engagement, not passive learning
- Small nonprofits with under 25 full-time employees or an annual budget of less than $500,000
- Organizations with a mission that is based in the region in which the Ozark Society is active.
- Projects that take place within the region that the Ozark Society serves, including the Ozark, Ouachita, River Valley, and Bayou regions as well as the nearby watersheds.
- Organizations that are NOT fully funded by county, state, or federal governments
- Projects that engage students in lasting conservation efforts that will have long term outcomes
- Projects that serve marginalized communities, low income families, communities of color, and diverse ethnic groups
Grant Requirements
- All grant projects should align with the Ozark Society’s mission: The principal purpose is the preservation of wild and scenic rivers, wilderness, and unique natural areas. A greater understanding of mission can be gained by researching the Ozark Society.
- All grant projects should engage youth (people under 18 years of age).
Applicants should be associated with a 501c3 organization or an accredited K-12 school - Projects should take place in a region where the Ozark Society is active. See the list of active chapters here. This includes much of Western and Central Arkansas, Southern Missouri, as well as some border regions of Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Who OS will NOT fund
- Direct grants to individuals
- Political campaigns, events, or lobbying activities
- Projects serving religious purposes
- Any use not specified in the grant proposal and budget
- Projects that take place outside the scope of the Ozark Society’s region
- International organizations based outside the United States
- Organizations that are fully funded by county, state, or federal tax dollars
- Funds may not be used for administrative operating expenses, including but not limited to postage, billing, computer software or systems, rentals, paper goods, food/beverages, social functions, or gas/mileage.
- Administrative costs, such as paying staff, is limited.
- Funding was not awarded to projects in which students merely listened to lectures or were just taken outdoors.
- Funding typically does not get granted to vegetable garden projects without a greater conservation effort.
For more information, visit The Ozark Society Foundation.
