1. Successful Environmental Education Grant Writing Strategies
September 29, 2016
Dial-in number for audio:
Access code:
WebEx Technical Support:
Tom Wolf, Governor
Patrick McDonnell, Acting Secretary

2. What is going on with the EE Grants Program?
Why Changes?
What is going on with the EE Grants Program?

3. Background Environmental Education Act 5% of fines and penalties
DEP responsibilities
Since 1993, awarded more than $10 million to 1,841 organizations
2017 grants – purpose
General grants for large scale, high impact regional or statewide initiatives
Mini-grants

4. What are General Grants and Mini Grants? Can I apply for both?
General Grants Vs. Mini Grants
What are General Grants and Mini Grants? Can I apply for both?

5. Overview Grant tracks General Grants
Apply up to $50,000 for two-year project
July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019
Focus on priority topics
High impact, large scale regional or statewide initiative
Feature specific project option components
20% match
Reimbursement program only
Funds must be spent in budgeted fiscal year; cannot “roll over” funds.
Progress reports required every six months

6. Overview Grant tracks Mini Grants
Apply up to $3,000 for a one-year project
July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Broader project focus
Any size project eligible—i.e. school field trip
Match not required
Eligible for advanced payment
Final report only

7. What are the priority topics?

8. Priority Topics Climate Change
Public education campaigns emissions and public health
Education projects demonstrate and encourage
Reducing engine idling
Conserving energy
Sustainable schools
Alternative transportation
Renewable energy
Climate adaptation projects
Tree/riparian buffer plantings
Water quality monitoring

9. Priority Topics Water Reducing non-point source pollution and other
Agricultural nutrient management
Abandoned mine drainage/reclamation
Water conservation
Storm water management
Private water wells/Groundwater
Road salt
Citizen’s science/volunteer water quality monitoring
Cold water habitats and fisheries
Habitat restoration, etc.

10. Priority Topics Environmental Justice
Proper HHW disposal and green cleaning.
Vehicle idling/promote alternative transportation.
Demonstration projects
Citizen involvement projects/EACs
Storm water education/improving water quality;
How-to trainings about DEP and public participation.
Connect to nature and urban environment for inner-city students; hands-on stewardship projects.

11. Is my organization eligible to apply?
Eligibility
Is my organization eligible to apply?

12. Eligible Applicants Public and private schools/school districts (K-12)
Colleges and universities
Intermediate units
Environmental education centers
Nonprofit conservation/education organizations and businesses
County conservation districts

13. When Do I Find Out if I’m Funded?

14. Timeline October 3, 2016 November 4, 2016
Grant round opens; applications submitted before this date will not be considered
November 4, 2016
Optional one-page summary due
December 16, 2016 at 11:59 p.m.
Applications must be submitted
April 22, 2017
Awards announced on or around Earth Day
July 1, 2017
Grant start date
June 30, 2018
Mini-grants complete. No time extensions
June 30, 2019
General grants complete. No time extensions

15. Reports General Grants Mini Grants Progress Reports December 15, 2017
June 30, 2018
December 15, 2018
No Progress Reports Required
Final Report
July 15, 2019
July 15, 2018

16. Project Options Non-Formal EE Projects Any target audience
Priority topics
Youth programs—academic standards and STEM
General Grant Applicants
Promote project at statewide conference
Include strong technology component
Plan to sustain project after funding ends
Partnerships
Evaluation component to assess impact and metrics
Mini Grant Applicants
Hands-on supplies
Field trips, EE projects on priority topics

17. Project Options Formal EE Projects Formal K-12 school setting
Priority topics
Academic standards and STEM
General Grant Applicants
Teacher professional development
Integrate into curriculum
Student-led action project; local issue
Multiple field experiences
Career development
Promote project at statewide conference
Include strong technology component
Plan to sustain project
Strong partnerships
Strong evaluation component

18. K-12 Schools Project Options
Sustainable Schools
Reduce environmental impact
School health
Outdoor classrooms
Topics
Energy efficiency and conservation
Water quality and conservation
Sustainable school transportation
Waste and recycling
Climate change
Air quality, radon, IPM
Energy teams, Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager
Energy conservation plans with audits

19. K-12 Schools Project Options
Curriculum Integration
Articulation of the EE standards into K–12 curriculum for school district, charter, cyber school or private school.
Goal is for permanent change.
Curriculum Revision
Revise or write lessons plans/units to meet changes in the approved alignment and provide classroom assessment

20. K-12 Schools Project Options
Mini Grant Applicants
Hands-on activity supplies
Field trips
Teacher education/professional development
EE projects on priority topics

21. Not Funded Non-EE or Pennsylvania projects Basic research
Beautification/landscaping
Defaulted on prior EE grants
Construction activities
Real estate acquisitions
Fundraising/membership drives
Political advocacy
Ineligible budget items

22. How to Obtain a Grant

23. Key Points Related to environmental topics and/or standards
Clear goals and objectives
Well thought out activity steps that lead to goals and objectives
Reasonable budget
Addresses all components
Reasonable timeline
Project recruitment
Key people highly qualified

24. How Do I Submit Application?

25. EE Grants webpage: dep.pa.gov/EE_Grants
E-Grants System
EE Grants webpage: dep.pa.gov/EE_Grants

26. Customer Service (800) 379-7448 or
E-Grants System
Customer Service (800) or
Deadline to apply - 11:59 p.m. by December 16, 2016

27. Composting Teacher Workshop
Trash into Treasure: (St. Vincent College) Mini Grant Project Timeline
Sept Develop workshop agenda (Activity A) Nov Develop/print recruitment brochure and evaluation tool (Activity B) Dec Send recruitment brochure and promote program to formal and non-formal educators (Activity C) March 2016 Conduct Trash to Treasure: Composting Workshop for K–6 educators (Activity D)

28. Composting Teacher Workshop
May 2016 Conduct follow-up assessment with educators attending the workshop and summarize results (Activity E) July 15, 2016 Submit final report (Activity F)

29. Sample Budget Activity letters Correct budget categories Match
Complete - number of people and hours included
Activity letters
Correct budget categories
Match

30. Award Process and Responsibilities
Agreement
Benchmarks
Reports
Report due
Reimbursements
Requests/budget changes (more than 10 percent)
Advance payment option
Partial/return to EE Fund
No time extensions

31. Benchmarks

32. Greening Schools
Pathways to Green Schools
Information and best practices
Healthier, environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient
Green Ribbon School Program
U.S. Department of Education
Energy efficient buildings, healthy students and school environment, and the environmental literacy

33. NOAA Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)Program
Competitive grant program
Supports K-12 environmental literacy projects within Chesapeake Bay Watershed
1 to 3 year grants. $50,000 - $150,000/year
Eligible organizations include K-12 school divisions, colleges, State & local agencies, & non-profit organizations
PROJECTS MUST DELIVER MWEEs
wet/bay-watershed-education-and-training-b-wet
Grants announcement released in late fall (Nov-Dec). Application Deadline Jan-Feb
It’s acceptable for some students and teachers from outside the watershed to be served by the grant as long as the majority of the target audience is within the watershed

34. Ann Devine adevine@pa.gov
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in” -- Rachel Carson
Ann Devine