Advancing Environmental Education Grants

Request for Proposals –Released July 30, 2012

Proposals due September 1, 2012

The Environmental Education Association of New Mexico (EEANM) has been awarded a $150,000 grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Education Small Grants program. In partnership with the other four EE associations in the Region 6 states, Texas Association for Environmental Education (TAEE), Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education (OKAEE), Louisiana Environmental Education Association (LEEA), Arkansas Environmental Education Association (AEEA), and the Albert I. Pierce Foundation (AIP Foundation), EEANM will award  grants to organizations in TX, NM, OK, AR, and LA. The small grants will support the development and implementation of projects that advance regional environmental education priorities as defined by state environmental literacy plans and strategic plans, as well as the EPA’s own educational priorities.

The Small Grants:

•  At least 19 competitive grants will be awarded.
•  The maximum competitive grant award is $5,000.  The EPA mandates that exactly $92,273.50 will be awarded per region which necessitates that some grants will be for less than $5,000.
• No entity may receive more than one award.

How to Apply:

Fill out the Attached Application and submit by email to info.eeanm.org@gmail.com.

Project period:

Funded projects will begin December 1, 2012 and must be completed by November 30, 2013.

Matching requirement:

At least 33% of the grant amount (or 25% of the total project cost) must be matched by non- Federal funds.

Process:

A Region 6 Small Grants Program Leadership Team, with at least two representatives from each of the five state associations, will over-see the program’s administration. The Leadership Team will determine awards, based on the assessments of proposals by a team of volunteer

reviewers from each state.   An evaluation rubric is provided as an appendix to the application. Awardees will submit quarterly progress reports and will work with EEANM and the state associations to promote and disseminate the results of the projects.  The Leadership Team will be available for technical assistance if the project encounters obstacles.

Schedule:

State Priorities:

Priority will be given to proposals that contribute to increased and sustained capacity to deliver effective environmental education. Proposals must also address specific state priorities that advance environmental literacy and other goals. Those priorities are derived from state Environmental Literacy Plans and state association strategic plans and are listed below:

Oklahoma

Oklahoma proposals should address the one of the following priorities of OKAEE:

1.  Professional development opportunities for formal and non-formal educators

2.  Student-led community projects

EPA Educational Priorities:

All small-grant projects must address at least one of the EPA’s educational priorities:

Capacity Building: Increasing capacity to develop and deliver coordinated environmental education programs across a state or across multiple states.

Educational Advancement: Utilizing environmental education as a catalyst to advance state or local education reform goals.

Community Projects: Addressing environmental stewardship in a local educational context and using community-based stewardship activities as the primary teaching tool.

Human Health and the Environment: Educating K-12 youth, post secondary students, and educators in formal and non-formal settings about human health threats from environmental pollution/issues and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health.

EE Teaching Skills: Providing pre-service and in-service professional development for teachers, faculty, or non-formal educators to improve their environmental education teaching skills and/or knowledge about environmental issues and content.

Career Development: Educating K-12 youth, post secondary students, and their educators in formal and non-formal settings about environmental issues, solutions and stewardship for the purpose of encouraging interest in environmental careers.

EPA Strategic Environmental Priorities:

Every small-grant project must address at least one of the following EPA strategic priorities:

• Taking Action on Climate Change
• Improving Air Quality
• Assuring the Safety of Chemicals
• Cleaning Up Our Communities
• Protecting America’s Waters
• Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice
• Building Strong State and Tribal Partnerships

More information about the EPA environmental priorities is found at:

http://blog.epa.gov/administrator/2010/01/12/seven-priorities-for-epas-future/

Eligibility:

Any local education agency, college or university, state education or environmental agency, or nonprofit organization as described in Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, may submit a proposal. A teacher’s school district, an educator’s nonprofit organization, or a faculty member’s college or university may apply, but an individual teacher or faculty member may not apply.

Applicant organizations must be located within the five states and the activities must take place within the five states.   The project may take place in two or more states.

“Tribal education agencies” that are eligible to apply include a school or community college which is controlled by an Indian tribe, band, or nation, which is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians and which is not administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribal organizations do not qualify unless they meet that criteria or the non-profit criteria listed above.