Who We Are
OUR IMPACT
Chartered by Congress to build effective public-private partnerships, NEEF is harnessing the power of collaboration to make the environment more accessible, relevant, and connected to people's daily lives.
We're Here to Make a Difference
Established by the National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) in 1990, NEEF has over three decades of experience in cultivating an environmentally conscious and responsible public.
Here is how we made a difference in 2024.
3:1
NEEF raises $3 for every dollar of NEEA funding it receives
62,037
The number of people directly supported by grants and community projects.
21,883
The number of people engaged directly with our resources.
How NEEF Makes an impact
Funding Communities
We mobilize public and private funding to support community-based projects and respond to critical and emerging needs in the fields of K-12 education, public land conservation, and health.
Increasing Competency
We promote environmental literacy and behavior change among groups such as public lands managers, health professionals, educators, and corporate employees, who then share this information with their own constituents and communities.
Working Together
We partner with educators, public lands groups, environmental organizations, local communities, and others who share our mission of making the environment more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
NEEF Grants
K-12 Education
Greening STEM
Greening STEM continued to expand in 2024, supporting 16 projects across the country through partnerships with federal agencies and private foundations.
Several multi-year initiatives wrapped up successfully, including a collaboration with the National Park Service and 21st Century Community Learning Centers that connected students to national parks through STEM. New projects with the Bureau of Land Management engaged youth in environmental monitoring while supplying valuable data to land managers and sparking interest in STEM careers.
Support from Arconic Foundation helped students in Iowa and Tennessee explore local ecosystems—from prairie restoration to biodiversity on school campuses and in national parks. In Washington, DC, and Minneapolis, Greening STEM projects backed by the Danaher Foundation empowered middle schoolers to investigate local environmental issues through hands-on learning.
Funded by NEEF’s Greening STEM award, Pittsburgh middle schoolers studied microplastics at Moraine State Park—collecting samples by paddle board and reporting findings to national databases.
Even though (the students) come from Pittsburgh, the city of three rivers, they are not engaged in these waterways...This is a perfect opportunity for them to do so and also get excited about doing conservation and watershed science while they're out here.
Ian Smith, Executive Director, The Watershed Guild
Student Outcomes
Participation in Greening STEM affects students confidence, enthusiasm, and critical thinking about science by increasing:
- Enthusiasm & Interest - Interest in participating in similar activities or additional classes.
- Confidence - Self-assurance in thinking and learning about, understanding, and practicing STEM.
- Real-World Applications - Awareness of the relevance of STEM to the real world and opportunities to apply collaborative problem-solving in real-world scenarios.
- Motivation to Pursue Science - Opportunities to develop and apply persistence and resilience, and the awareness of STEM careers and relevant educational pathways.
- Science Thinking - Understanding connections between project activities and school subjects, and opportunities to develop and apply critical and systems thinking.
NEEF leverages nationwide community partnerships and equips educators with resources to create STEM learning experiences that connect with the local environment and community. Many projects provide students who lack access to outdoor experiential learning with a unique opportunity to engage deeply with STEM.
Impactful Resources
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse moved across North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. NEEF worked with Alexandra Sines, an AmeriCorps VISTA at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio, to design NGSS-compliant environmental education activities and resources on both the scientific and cultural significance of the eclipse.
Students from nearby Cleveland used these resources as part of their Greening STEM project, taking advantage of their position in the path of totality.
Conservation Impact
NEEF's Conservation work deepens public connection to the outdoors, encouraging participation in events like National Public Lands Day (NPLD) and fostering biodiversity and resilience in these spaces. By supporting inclusivity and accessibility on public lands, we build a more welcoming environment that strengthens engagement and stewardship.
I’ve seen people with tears in their eyes when they hear from the native Hawaiians about how restoring the fishpond is like restoring the soul of the community.
Helping Veterans Build New Lives Through the Power of Nature
NEEF and the US Forest Service grants help connect veterans with nature so they can heal, transition back to...
Nature Lovers Say “I Do” to a Wedding on National Public Lands Day
A Virginia couple took their love of volunteering on public lands to the next level by getting married on...
Reviving Pearl Harbor's Royal Legacy on National Public Lands Day
Read the incredible story of how NEEF and DoD Legacy program united the Navy and native Hawaiians in restoring...
Using native seeds collected on US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands, Toyota Biodiversity Conservation grantee Salmon Valley Stewardship led the community in making nutrient-packed, protective seed balls that will ultimately grow into habitat and food for pollinators. Volunteers then used slingshots to distribute the seedballs in hard-to-reach areas throughout the Salmon-Challis National Forest.
By the numbers
See how NEEF’s grants and National Public Lands Day efforts contributed to the improvement of our public lands nationwide this year.
National Public Lands Day
On Saturday, September 28, 2024, thousands of volunteers across America came together to celebrate the 31st annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD). From Alaska to American Samoa and everywhere in between, over 50,000 participants rolled up their sleeves and pitched in at more than 750 volunteer events, generating over $10 million in value of volunteer service for our country's natural spaces.
Our 2024 theme was "Together for Tomorrow” to ensure the longevity of our cherished places while fostering environmental stewardship among youth and their communities. From trail maintenance to tree planting, beach clean-ups to forest bathing, and more, volunteers of all ages and abilities rolled up their sleeves and worked together for a common goal—stewarding America’s natural resources for future generations to enjoy.
50,000+
Volunteers
750+
Events
When NEEF came to us with this opportunity, we were so enthusiastic because we want to branch out into environmental education, ... share the benefits of gardening with all our residents and especially with young people so they can incorporate that in their day to day life.
Craven Rand, Executive Director, Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA)
NEEF & iHeart partnered to create a series of Public Service Announcements and a website dedicated to sustainability actions. Now in its second year, the iHeart Earth public engagement campaign, has an estimated media value of $2+ million.
291 Million
Number of iHeartRadio impressions in 2024
Health impact
Climate Week NYC
In September, NEEF staff, board members, and trusted partners came together to host a dynamic panel discussion for Climate Week at The Nest Climate Campus in New York City. "Harmony for Health: How Art and Music Can Drive Climate and Health Awareness and Reach New Audiences" explored how art and music can become powerful tools for raising awareness, inspiring action, and engaging diverse audiences on climate and health issues.
The discussion was moderated by environmental justice expert and NEEF board member Arielle V. King and featured fellow member Dr. John Whyte, chief medical officer at WebMD; Dr. Olajide Williams, founder of Hip Hop Public Health; AY Young, UN Youth Ambassador and founder of Project 17 and the Battery Tour; and Sara Espinoza, president and CEO of NEEF. Panelists showcased collaborative efforts using creative arts to inspire action and deliver empowering messages in times of global environmental challenges.
Supporting Health Professionals with Tools to Tackle Asthma
NEEF strengthened outreach to school nurses and healthcare providers with evidence-based resources and training.
At the 2024 National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Annual Conference, NEEF presented two webinars on environmental asthma management and student resilience in a changing climate, reaching over 300 school nurses. One session was made freely available through the NASN Learning Center.
NEEF and Hip Hop Public Health’s EMPOWER multimedia asthma resources program was featured on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)’s Breathe Better Network Partner Spotlight webpage, which reaches over 100,000 healthcare providers.
Amplify Your Impact
Meaningful, lasting change is possible when we work together. NEEF leverages its National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) appropriation to raise public and private matching funds at a ratio of 3:1, creating value and amplifying the impact of our partners.
Reaching Further
NEEF's resources help make the environment more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
How STEM Education Supports Career Opportunities in Rural Communities
NEEF grants help rural students access STEM education and build pathways to environmental science careers.
Water, Wasps, and Wonder: How Environmental Education Changed One Student’s Life
What started as a weekend trip to monitor invasive species became a turning point for one high schooler...
Revisiting Teaneck Creek: Lessons Learned for Lasting Collaboration in Greening STEM
Lessons learned from a collaborative Greening STEM partnership between Teaneck Creek Conservancy, New Jersey...