Grants of up to $5,000, grants of up to $30,000, and grants of up to $65,000 to Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations, businesses, school districts, schools, IHEs, and conservation districts for projects that educate students about the environment. Funding is intended to support education projects that foster an understanding of natural world functions and cultivate critical thinking and actions that promote environmental protection and sustainable resource management.
DEP’s Environmental Education Grants Program welcomes applications for the development of innovative formal and non-formal environmental education projects that: 1) Address grant program priorities; 2) Provide opportunities to expand the public’s understanding of Pennsylvania’s environmental issues; and 3) Develop skills required to make informed decisions and take responsible action on behalf of the environment.
Funding priority is given to environmental education projects that engage people living, working and/or attending school within Environmental Justice areas in topics related to Climate Change and/or Water:
- Water: Education programs promoting effective ways to reduce non-point source and source water pollution to improve water quality.
- Climate Change: 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.
- Environmental Justice: Education programs designed to engage audiences (youth and/or adults) living and/or working within Environmental Justice (EJ) areas.
For project examples, see page 3 of the Grants Program Manual on the Full Grant Text RFP link.
Two types of awards are available:
- Mini Grants may be awarded for local (school, county, municipality or other defined area) environmental education projects.
- General Grants: - General grants are offered at two funding levels:
- General Grants (Level I): may be awarded for implementation of large-scale environmental education projects, such as School District-wide projects, engagement of multiple communities, collaboration involving multiple counties or statewide projects.
- General Grants (Level II): may be awarded for non-formal projects engaging youth and teachers at three (3) levels: local, state and national.
- Widely* engages teachers and youth at the county, state and national levels. (*Teachers and students from at least 60 Pennsylvania counties will directly participate in the project); and
- Demonstrates at least 30% of program participants live, work, or attend school within an Environmental Justice area.
People living, working and/or attending school within Environmental Justice areas are considered priority audiences. Projects may be designed to engage youth, teachers, municipal officials, farmers, developers, site designers, businesses, and homeowners, community residents, or others.
For Eligible Grant Expenses, see page 13 of the Grants Program Manual on the Full Grant Text RFP link.
