PA DEP Announces 2025 Environmental Education Grant Round – Technologist

The 2025 Environmental Education Grant Round, program managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, opened on August 9, 2024.

The program will fund 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.

Program Priorities

Projects must address one or more program priorities: Water, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice.

• 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. Use the DEP PennEnviroScreen to verify an audience is located within an Environmental Justice area.​

Grant Award Amounts

Funding is available for non-formal education (projects outside of the formal, PreK-12 school/higher education setting) or Formal education (projects integrated into the formal, PreK-12 school/higher education curriculums). Two types of awards are available:

• Mini Grants – of up to $5,000 may be awarded for local (school, county, municipality or other defined area) environmental education projects. Mini grants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to form project partnerships and include a project match (Cash or In-Kind).
• General Grants (Level I) – From $5,001 up to $30,000 may be awarded for implementation of large-scale, regional and/or statewide environmental education projects.
• General Grants (Level II) – From $30,001 to $65,000 may be awarded for non-formal environmental education programs designed to widely* engage teachers and youth at the county, state and national levels. (*Teachers and students from at least 60 Pennsylvania counties must directly participate in the project). Additionally, the project must demonstrate that at least 30% of program participants are community members of an Environmental Justice Area.

Application Process

Applications, including a written proposal and required documents, must be submitted electronically through the Keystone Login. (First-time users will need to register.)

Applications must include the following: 1) Project Proposal; 2) Scope of Work; 3) Detailed Budget Sheet; and 4) Letter(s) of Commitment. Applications that fail to provide all required documents will be considered incomplete and ineligible for EE Grant Program funding. Application Deadline: November 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Incomplete applications and/or those submitted prior to the opening date or after the deadline will not be considered.

Helpful Resources

Attend the Live EE Grants Program Webinar on October 10 to learn more. REGISTER by September 30, 2024.

General questions about the Environmental Education Grants Program may be directed to: [email protected]