Grants

NEEF offers a variety of grants and awards to support the great work being done across the nation at the local level. We routinely highlight individual and group commitment to nature through education and service.

In 2017, NEEF provided nearly $600,000 in grants and awards to educational (both formal and informal) and public land partners across the country. Our grantees embrace the mission and values of NEEF and do the essential work necessary to achieve the visionary goal of reaching 300 million people by 2022.

Current Funding Opportunities

The majority of NEEF’s grantmaking is through competitive grant award programs. Search below for all available funding opportunities and learn how to apply for a grant. To apply, please select the program below and follow the guidelines and application requirements. We recommend that you carefully review eligibility criteria and selection guidelines as they vary by grant program. All applications must be submitted via our online grants system by the deadline date provided. As a reminder, we do not accept unsolicited proposals.

Organizations may apply for more than one grant, although current Every Day grantees must close out of their current grant year before applying for another Every Day grant.

Please review NEEF’s Glossary of Terms and Frequently Asked Questions before applying for a grant opportunity.

Volunteers at National Public Lands Day 2015 at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

2018 Every Day Event Grants

NEEF, with support from Toyota, is offering $100,000 in mini-grants to support restoration- & resilience-focused volunteer events on public lands.

Applications Due September 28

Every Day Capacity Building Grants - Spectrum Events in St. Louis

2018 Every Day Capacity Building Grants

Every Day Capacity Building Grants provide Friends Groups with grants of up to $5,000 to build their organizational capacity to serve public lands.

Applications Due November 5

Recently Awarded Grants

Get acquainted with NEEF’s grantmaking by learning about past programs and grantees.

2018 Hands on the Land Mini-Grants

NEEF, in collaboration with Partners in Resource Education, has announced the 19 recipients of the 2018 Hands on the Land Mini-Grants.

2018 Samsung Greening STEM Grant for Educators

NEEF, with support from Samsung, has distributed nearly $30,000 in funding to programming that provides place-based, hands-on learning experiences.

2018 US Forest Service BioBlitz and Pollinator/Community Garden Grants

NEEF, with support from US Forest Service, has awarded over $28,000 in mini-grants to facilitate BioBlitz and Pollinator/Community Garden activities.

2017 Every Day Event Grantees

NEEF awarded 25 Friends Groups up to $2,000 each to hold a minimum of three events on their public land site(s).

2017 Every Day Capacity Building Grantees

13 non-profit organizations were awarded capacity building grants to help preserve public lands & waterways.

Contact NEEF’s Grantmaking Department at grantsadmin@neefusa.org or (202) 261-6468 with any questions or for additional information about current or impending grant opportunities. Sign up for NEEF’s Grantmaking distribution list to receive the latest news and updates.

Grantee Highlights

NEEF's Centennial and Beyond Fund

Commemorating NPS’ 100th year, NEEF launched its Centennial and Beyond Fund, providing financial support to partnering friends groups of NPS units.

Davey Tree Company presentation during BioBlitz

BioBlitz with the Americas for Conservation + the Arts

During the BioBlitz, students acted as citizen scientists by taking guided tours of the park, identifying species, and cataloging their discoveries.

Fourth grade students at Deschutes National Forest during Discover Your Forest's 2016 BioBlitz

How One NEEF Grantee Connects Communities to Their Local Public Lands

Learn more about how NEEF grantee, Discover Your Forest, designs successful outdoor field experiences for K-12 students.

What has 7.8 miles of open trails, 406 acres of parks, free fitness classes AND an urban farm?

By 2030, the Atlanta BeltLine is expected to loop 22 miles of modern streetcar, 33 miles of multi-use trail, and 1,300 acres of parks.

Nonprofit Tools and Resources

Free or Low-Cost Resources for Nonprofits

To help organizations accomplish all of their goals in the coming year, NEEF has compiled a list of free or low-cost resources for nonprofits.

7 Tips for Writing an Effective Grant Proposal

Whether you are applying for grant funding from NEEF, or elsewhere, these tips will ensure that your proposal is in top shape.

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Grants