Grants and Funding Opportunities

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board funds service-learning projects between $25,000 and $100,000 that address environmental issues. Examples of projects include building a school greenhouse and developing a water pollution community education program. Visit the Web site to view other project examples. 2010 deadlines have not been announced.

Greenways—corridors of protected public and private lands—link recreational, cultural and natural features and provide multiple public benefits. They provide paths for people and wildlife; protect forests, wetlands and grasslands; and improve the quality of life for everyone. The Kodak American Greenways Program provides grants to organizations seeking to create or enhance greenways in their communities. Most grants range from $500 to $1,000. You can construct a greenway on or near your school grounds as part of your school’s greening efforts.

The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award honors an outstanding high school teacher who has successfully integrated environmental education into the traditional classroom setting and served as an inspiration and model to others. The recipient receives a $5,000 award and a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of the national environmental education community.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) offers $1,500 grants for local education and outreach efforts on water quality issues. Projects should address non-point source pollution or water-quality issues, focus on one education or outreach activity and fit into a local watershed’s activities.

The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program provides grants to educational organizations to establish outdoor learning centers.

Project Learning Tree’s GreenSchools Initiative provides training and funding for students and teachers to investigate environmental issues at their school and engage with their community in service-learning projects that create green and healthy learning environments.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality offers grants ranging from $20,000 to $200,000 to Montanan governmental entities and nonprofit organizations. Projects must fall under the categories of watershed restoration, ground water protection/restoration or education and outreach. Applicants must also be able to meet a minimum 40 percent non-federal, in-kind or cash match.

Scholastic and Lexus have partnered to give students the opportunity to make a difference in the health of our planet. In the Lexus Eco Challenge teams will define an environmental issue that is important to them, develop an action plan to address the issue, implement the plan and report the results. Teams consist of five to 10 students and one teacher adviser.

Public school educators are eligible to apply for individual grants worth up to $5,000 for the development and implementation of ideas, techniques and approaches for teaching "green" concepts.

The America the Beautiful Fund offers grants for free seeds to groups striving to beautify our world through gardening. Use seeds for a school garden, restoration project or schoolyard habitat. Grants of 100 to 1,000 seed packets are offered on a basis of availability and need.

Photo: Uwe H. Friese