Who We Are

About NEEF

Learn how we engage the public in environmental education

Connecting people to the Environment

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is the nation’s leading organization in lifelong environmental learning, creating opportunities for people to experience and learn about the environment in ways that improve their lives and the health of the planet.

Purpose

To cultivate an environmentally conscious and responsible public

Mission

To make the environment more accessible, relevant, and connected to people's daily lives

Vision

That people’s everyday actions are guided by an understanding and concern for the well-being of people and the planet

Congressionally chartered in 1990 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to complement the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NEEF is a non-partisan, non-advocacy organization working to make the environment more accessible, relevant, and connected to people’s daily lives. Our program focus areas are K-12 Education, Conservation, and Health.

3:1

NEEF raises $3 for every dollar of NEEA funding it receives

TRUSTWORTHY & IMPACTFUL

NEEF is proud to have been evaluated and honored by the following institutions.

See Our Impact

Our Values

For years, NEEF has been committed to ensuring fair access to environmental opportunities for all. We collaborate with public lands groups, environmental organizations, local communities, and others who share our mission of making the environment accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Learn more about how these values shape our work.

OUr Values

Our History

1990 - The National Environmental Education Foundation is established by the National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) in 1990. The Foundation was established to extend the contribution of environmental education and training to meeting critical environmental protection needs. The foundation aims at fostering an open and effective partnership among Federal, State, and local government, business, industry, academic institutions, community based environmental groups, and international organizations.

Senate Representatives standing near a signed document on an easel. — Signing of the National Environmental Education Act in 1990.

1994 - NEEF held the first Public Lands Appreciation Day, soon to be known as National Public Lands Day, or NPLD. What started with one agency, three sites, and 700 volunteers has grown exponentially to become the largest single day volunteer event for public lands - with over 150,000 volunteers and 2,000 events throughout the US. NEEF holds the trademark on National Public Lands Day and it is held annually the fourth Saturday in September.

B/W Photo from NPLD in 1995 from Yankee Engineer newspaper — 1995 Newspaper article on NPLD in the Yankee Engineer

1998 - NEEF commissioned a Roper Starch Worldwide study to evaluate the American public’s understanding, attitudes, and behaviors around environmental issues. A first of their kind, the reports exposed significant knowledge deficiencies and persistent myths and outdated or erroneous information the public held. Produced annually until 2002, these reports were foundational in the development of environmental education programs and are still referenced in academia today

2000 - In 2000, NEEF launched GreenBiz.com. In 2005, it was leveraged into a private, successful media group and membership network for businesses working to advance sustainability, including Campbells, Caterpillar, and Sony.

Screenshots of Earth Gauge website from NEEF

2001 - NEEF created Earth Gauge, the first nationwide campaign that built on the reach of weathercasters by providing them with information on the connection between weather and the environment, converting TV weather reports into high-impact outlets for adult environmental education.

2004 - In 2004, NEEF launched the first National Environmental Education Week to celebrate EE efforts nationwide and to connect educators with resources to promote K-12 students’ understanding of the environment.

2005 - NEEF released Environmental Literacy in America, an overview of national environmental literacy efforts based on ten years of NEEF/Roper research and related studies.

2009 - NEEF established Rx for Outdoor Activity, an initiative that pioneered writing prescriptions to nature for health benefits creating Nature Champions across the country. This trailblazing effort laid the foundation and trained medical professionals to carry on the concept.

NEEF partnered with Kimberly Clark to develop The Engaged Organization, a large-scale study on how leading companies approach internal environment and sustainability employee education and engagement. Study participants included Cisco Systems, Verizon, and Bank of America, among others.

2009 - 2012 - NEEF implemented a three-year, three-city water education program pilot—Be Water Wise (BWW). With funding from Wal-Mart, BWW engaged 112 teachers and 2,400 K-12 students in a meaningful, interdisciplinary environmental learning experience that was translated into local action. BWW provided training for teachers and school facility managers, technical support for data collection and project implementation, standards-based curricular materials on local water issues, family and community engagement through media outreach, and student presentations to city officials.

2014 - NEEF became NOAA’s first Weather-Ready Ambassador, kick-starting a group of partners that would grow to over 10,000 members, working to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather through educational and training.

2015 - NEEF released Environmental Literacy in the United States: An Agenda for Leadership in the 21st Century, collaborating with the USDA Forest Service and building on NEEF’s 2005 research to provide deeper insights and recommendations into strengthening the environmental education field to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

2015 - 2017 - NEEF partnered with the Department of Education, National Park Service, and the 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school programs to implement Greening STEM in 24 schools in underserved communities, reaching over 1,200 students.

2016 - In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Asthma Control Program, NEEF developed its Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma Guidelines training to equip pediatric health care providers and clinicians with knowledge and tools to manage environmental asthma triggers and intervention strategies.

bobble head cartoons of NBA all-star men and women, welcome to the NBA Green Energy All-Star Team

2017 - NEEF partnered with the National Basketball Association (NBA) Green (a social responsibility program of NBA Cares) on the NBA Green Energy All-Star engagement campaign, which included NBA Hall of Famers Bill Walton and Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Legends Jason Collins and Felipe Lopez, and WNBA Legends Swin Cash and Ruth Riley. The campaign successfully rallied fans around saving energy through small actions in their daily lives.

2018 - NEEF partnered with the National Hockey League (NHL®) on the Play it Forward campaign. Through educational graphics and videos, NEEF and the NHL urged hockey fans to reuse and recycle, save water and reduce energy usage.

2019 - NEEF’s Pediatric Asthma Guidelines training was adopted by the National Association of School Nurses to improve asthma care of school-age children. The online training was the most accessed course in 2019 and has potentially impacted 836,250-1,115,000 students.

2005 - 2019 - From 2005 to 2019, NEEF has distributed over $7 million dollars in grant money to support organizations of all sizes

2020- NEEF responded quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NEEF establishes the EE at Home resource for educators and parents with resources, videos, and virtual events to support at home learning.
NEEF established the Restoration & Resilience COVID Recovery Fund to provide support for the agencies and organizations—both locally and nationally—that maintain America’s public lands.
NEEF expanded National Public Lands Day (NPLD) event options to include virtual events for participants to experience the sights and sounds of public lands sites without having to physically travel to them. NEEF collaborated with Corazón Latino to create a unique, cross country musical event highlighting our public lands.

2022 - NEEF partnered with the Climate Mental Health Network to create tools and resources that support teachers in helping students process emotions related to climate change in age-appropriate ways. This important work receives a grant from the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global.

Young woman looking pensive with a statistic about youth finding the future frightening

2023

NEEF partnered with the Hip Hop Public Health, co-founded by hip hop icon Doug E. Fresh and renown neurologist Dr. Olajide Williams, to create a dynamic educational multimedia collection called EMPOWER. Comprised of eight original songs and animated videos, EMPOWER aims to inspire young people with asthma to take charge of their health with evidence-based, self-management skills.
NEEF was honored with the Bronze Award in "Sustainability, Environment & Climate" at the 3rd Annual Anthem Award for its impactful partnership with iHeartMedia on the iHeartRadio Earth national awareness campaign, emphasizing the significance of small actions for a greener world. Selected from over 2,000 submissions worldwide by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), NEEF stands among esteemed finalists like Doctors Without Borders and the United Nations Development Programme.

2024

NEEF presents at Climate Week in New York City. The impactful, "Harmony for Health," panel discussed explored how the arts, music, and public health messaging come together to engage youth and raise awareness about climate change and health issues. Panelists included renown neurologist Dr. Olajide Williams, entertainer and UN Youth Ambassador AY Young, Chief Medical Officer from Web MD Dr. John Whyte and NEEF President Sara Espinoza.

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