Funding Sources

If you are an educator looking for financial assistance with your environmental education, recycling, or science literacy project, the following links may help you find funding resources. Some grants are limited to local governments, but what a great partnership you could make by enlisting your local solid waste department to work jointly with you on your project! The links are categorized by project type and posted in alphabetical order:

• Energy
• Environmental Education
• Environmental Justice
• Garden and Landscape
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Service Learning  

Local funding sources may be available in your region of the state.

Sustainable Schools Resource (www.sustainableschools.dgs.ca.gov/SustainableSchools/financing/incentives.html)
The Division of the State Architect has compiled a matrix of funding opportunities available to schools.

Energy

Captain Planet Foundation (www.captainplanetfdn.org/mission_statement.html)
The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to fund and support hands-on environmental projects for children and youths. Through environmental education, the Captain Planet Foundation believes that children can achieve a better understanding and appreciation for the world in which they live. The Captain Planet Foundation has awarded grants around the country. Check out what's being done in your area, and perhaps you will be inspired to pursue funding from them to implement a hands-on environmental project in your community.

Innovation Work Group (www.epa.gov/oswer/iwg/)
The US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) has announced a funding opportunity for the new fiscal year 2004. The IWG (Innovation Work Group) Pilots provide funding to test creative approaches to waste minimization, energy recovery, recycling and land revitalization that may be replicated across various industries, communities and regions. All government, non-profit, and public education institutions are eligible to apply for the funds.

Environmental Education

Captain Planet Foundation (www.captainplanetfdn.org/mission_statement.html)
The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to fund and support hands-on environmental projects for children and youths. Through environmental education, the Captain Planet Foundation believes that children can achieve a better understanding and appreciation for the world in which they live. The Captain Planet Foundation has awarded grants around the country. Check out what's being done in your area, and perhaps you will be inspired to pursue funding from them to implement a hands-on environmental project in your community.

Environmental Education Competitive Grant (www.cde.ca.gov/cilbranch/oee/comgrtrfa.html)
The Office of Environmental Education at the California Department of Education (CDE) is charged with promoting effective local programs through environmental education grants and other services. Each fiscal year new funds are available.

Environmental Education Grants Program (www.neg.pge.com/grantProgram.html)
PG&E National Energy Group administers the Environmental Education Grants Program to encourage and support educators and conservation groups with innovative ideas for educating young people about our environment.

IDEAS (ideas.stsci.edu/)
The Initiative to Develop Education through Astronomy and Space Science (IDEAS) is a program with the objective of providing grants that will enhance science education through astronomy and space science via collaboration between scientists and educators.

The Nature of Learning (www.nfwf.org/programs/tnol.htm)
The Nature of Learning is the National Wildlife Refuge System's new community-based environmental education initiative. It seeks to use National Wildlife Refuges and other natural areas as outdoor classrooms to promote a greater understanding of local conservation issues; encourage an interdisciplinary approach to learning that seeks to enhance student academic achievement; utilize field experiences and student-led stewardship projects to connect classroom lessons to real world issues; and involve a partnership among local schools, community groups, natural resource professionals and local businesses. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis to support start-up expenses.

Toyota TAPESTRY Grants  (www.nsta.org/programs/tapestry)
A partnership program of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and the National Science Teachers Association, the Toyota TAPESTRY grant program offers grants and mini-grants to K-12 science teachers. Grants are given to innovative projects that enhance science education in schools and/or school districts.

U.S. EPA Environmental Education Grants Program (www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html)
The Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques, including assessing environmental and ecological conditions or specific environmental issues or problems.

U.S. EPA Region 9 Project Grants (www.epa.gov/region09/funding/index.html)
Project grants are available to a broad range of recipients for a wide spectrum of EPA priorities such as environmental justice, pollution prevention, and environmental education. Available grants change from year to year.

Whale Tail Grants Program  (www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/plate/plgrant.html)
The Whale Tail Grants Program distributes funds from sales of the Whale Tail License Plate. The goal of the program is to encourage the development of efforts to teach California's children to value and take responsibility for the health of the state's marine and coastal resources.

Environmental Justice

Captain Planet Foundation (www.captainplanetfdn.org/mission_statement.html)
The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to fund and support hands-on environmental projects for children and youths. Through environmental education, the Captain Planet Foundation believes that children can achieve a better understanding and appreciation for the world in which they live. The Captain Planet Foundation has awarded grants around the country. Check out what's being done in your area, and perhaps you will be inspired to pursue funding from them to implement a hands-on environmental project in your community.

U.S. EPA Region 9 Project Grants (www.epa.gov/region09/funding/index.html)
Project grants are available to a broad range of recipients for a wide spectrum of EPA priorities such as environmental justice, pollution prevention, and environmental education. Available grants change from year to year.

Garden and Landscape

Captain Planet Foundation (www.captainplanetfdn.org/mission_statement.html)
The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to fund and support hands-on environmental projects for children and youths. Through environmental education, the Captain Planet Foundation believes that children can achieve a better understanding and appreciation for the world in which they live. The Captain Planet Foundation has awarded grants around the country. Check out what's being done in your area, and perhaps you will be inspired to pursue funding from them to implement a hands-on environmental project in your community.

Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education Grant (www.cde.ca.gov/nsd/nets/fo_index.htm)
This division of the California Department of Education administers a grant program that provides funding to applicants that demonstrate they are incorporating the three elements of nutrition education, agricultural concepts, and integrated waste management concepts into their programs using school gardens as teaching tools.

Tree Planting Grants (www.ufei.calpoly.edu/data/news/announcements.html)
Funds are available through several tree planting grant programs designed for kids to improve their school environments.

Youth Garden Grants (www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp)
The National Gardening Association's KidsGardening.com annually awards 400 Youth Garden Grants to schools and other programs throughout the United States. The grants may be awarded to groups who plan on gardening with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

California Integrated Waste Management Board Grants  (www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Grants/)
The CIWMB administers several grant programs as well as partners with other agencies to help promote their grant opportunities. Links to all of the CIWMB grant descriptions can be found at this address.

Captain Planet Foundation  (www.captainplanetfdn.org/mission_statement.html)
The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to fund and support hands-on environmental projects for children and youths. Through environmental education, the Captain Planet Foundation believes that children can achieve a better understanding and appreciation for the world in which they live. The Captain Planet Foundation has awarded grants around the country. Check out what's being done in your area, and perhaps you will be inspired to pursue funding from them to implement a hands-on environmental project in your community.

Department of Conservation's Division of Recycling  (www.consrv.ca.gov/dor/grants/index.htm)
A total of up to $500,000 is available annually for the implementation of recycling grant programs throughout California. Grant funds are awarded only for projects relating to beverage container recycling and litter abatement.

U.S. EPA Innovation Work Group Pilots (www.epa.gov/oswer/iwg/announcement.htm)
The US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response has announced a funding opportunity for fiscal year 2004. The IWG (Innovation Work Group) Pilots provide funding to test creative approaches to waste minimization, energy recovery, recycling and land revitalization that may be replicated across various industries, communities and regions. All government, nonprofit, and public education institutions are eligible to apply for the funds.

U.S. EPA Region 9 Project Grants  (www.epa.gov/region09/funding/index.html)
Project grants are available to a broad range of recipients for a wide spectrum of EPA priorities such as environmental justice, pollution prevention, and environmental education. Available grants change from year to year.

Service Learning

Cesar E. Chavez Youth Initiated Service-Learning Mini-Grants (www.yscal.org)
This pilot program is a civic engagement and youth leadership program that will empower young people to honor the life and work of Cesar E. Chavez, and create positive change in their communities through service-learning. These minigrants, which are offered in 4 regions of the state: Eureka, Oakland, Fresno, and Los Angeles are available to help young people address real community needs through a youth initiated service-learning project. Each minigrant must be able to link their project to one of the 10 core values of Cesar E. Chavez.

GreenWorks! (www.plt.org/greenworks/grantinfo.cfm)
GreenWorks! are community action and service learning grants, funded through Project Learning Tree.

Maurice R. Robinson Mini-Grants (www.crf-usa.org/network/robinap200.html)
Each year, the Constitutional Rights Foundation awards mini-grants for K-12 service learning projects designed to address serious community issues.

YouthActionNet (www.youthactionnet.org)
YouthActionNet invests in the power and promise of young social entrepreneurs around the globe. Launched in 2001 by the International Youth Foundation, YouthActionNet strengthens, supports, and celebrates the role of young people in leading positive change in their communities. They support aspiring and accomplished young leaders by providing skill-building, advocacy, and networking opportunities."

Local Funding Sources

Northern California

Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund (www.rosefdn.org)
The Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund was established in 2003 by a consortium of foundations to support community-based grassroots environmental efforts throughout Northern California. The Fund's goal is to award
small grants to small organizations that are currently underserved by most funding strategies.

Sacramento 

K-12 Earth Day Youth Project Grants (www.earthdaysac.org)
The purpose of this grant program is to provide encouragement and financial support for K-12 classrooms, school clubs and community youth groups to conduct an Earth Day project of their choice. Student groups are encouraged to develop and conduct an educational activity or project that helps bring some element of sustainable living to their classroom, school, neighborhood, or community.

San Francisco Bay Area

Center for Ecoliteracy (http://www.ecoliteracy.org/pages/letterofinquiry.html)
Through a grant-making program, the Center for Ecoliteracy nurtures school communities and educational organizations in the San Francisco Bay-Delta region engaged in fostering the experience and understanding of the natural world.

Sustainable Communities and Economies (www.columbia.org/sustain_fr.htm)
The Columbia Foundation considers grants for the creation and dissemination of sustainable economic development models; the development of the intellectual and policy frameworks for sustainability; public education; advocacy; and leadership development for sustainable communities and economies.

Do you know of other resources?
Do you know of other good sources for funding the types of projects found on this page? Please send us the information and we'll add a link to this page so others can benefit from your knowledge.