Environmental Education (EE) Grants Program

Grants starting at $50,000 to USA and territories nonprofit organizations, educational and environmental agencies, colleges and universities, and noncommercial educational broadcasting agencies for environmental education activities. Applicants are advised that registration required to apply may take at least one month to complete. Funding is intended to support projects that foster environmental stewardship and awareness, and that demonstrate, disseminate, and design educational methods and techniques.

Projects will help provide people with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. 

In order to be eligible, all applicants must address at least one of the following EPA educational priorities:

1. Agricultural Education
2. Community Projects
3. Career Development

Further details related to these priorities can be found in Section 1 of the 2020 Solicitation.

In order to be eligible, all applicants must address at least one of the environmental priorities listed in any current solicitation notice. In the 2020 solicitation notice both environmental priorities and suggested sub-topics are listed (see the list below), and applicants are instructed to select a priority and name the sub-topic they will address under that priority (they could address one of the suggested topics listed or name one of specific concern to their audience, as long as it aligned with an EPA environmental priority).

• Improving air quality to ensure Americans are living and working in areas that meet high air quality standards.

a. Work to prevent future air quality issues by making appropriate preparations for the prevention of wild fires.

b. Work to educate communities about sources of air pollution and potential solutions; e.g., using farmers' markets and farm to table systems to teach about the environmental benefits of local food supplies that do not require long distance transportation.

• Ensuring clean and safe water by supporting clean drinking water, aquatic ecosystems, and recreational, economic and subsistence activities.

a. Work to prevent future water quality and human health issues through appropriate management for flood and hurricane preparedness.

b. Work to prevent future water quality and human health issues through appropriate communications about the risks of poor water quality resources; e.g., educating school-aged children, their parents, and the community about water conservation through the establishment and maintenance of school or community gardens or the removal of invasive plant species and/or planting of native gardens.

c. Work to manage nutrients in water systems by reducing the use of pesticides and/or nutrient run-off from soil, while maintaining both quality agricultural yields and minimal environmental harm.

d. Work to manage the health of aquatic ecosystems to achieve the maximum in environmental and human health benefits and support recreational, economic, and subsistence activities.

• Ensuring the safety of chemicals.

a. Work on Integrated Pest Management to achieve the most environmentally effective management of pests in the agricultural setting.

b. Work collaboratively on Integrated Vegetation Management issues for the maximum in environmental benefits; for example, for maintaining native species within public rights-of-way.

c. Work to educate school-aged children, their parents, and the community on pesticide and environmental health issues; e.g., maintaining school gardens to teach about pesticide management.

• Revitalize land and prevent contamination.

a. Work to manage food waste for environmental benefits; e.g., the benefits of composting, reduction of waste going to landflls, etc.

b. Work to increase electronic recycling and other efforts to reduce waste disposal in landfills.

c. Work to increase plastic recycling and other efforts to reduce plastic disposal in landfills.

d. Work to educate individuals about human health and environmental risks associated with improper management of waste and the benefits associated with reducing trash in waterways.

Applications may address more than one priority in each category. However, it is important that the application is clear as to what the focus of the project will be and how that focus will contribute to a project with quality outputs and outcomes.

Applications must specifically reference one or more of EPA's Strategic Goals in the application and explain how the project will support the goal(s). Read more about EPA’s Strategic Goals in EPA's Strategic Plan.