Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded nearly $1 million to projects promoting environmental education and stewardship across Pennsylvania. Many of last year’s awardees also supported members of the environmental justice community, made up of Pennsylvanians facing threats from climate change, air pollution and water contamination.
DEP's FY 2025 Environmental Education Grant Program is accepting applications through November 15, 2024. Grants worth up to $1 million could be awarded for environmental education projects that engage people about clean water and climate change, with a particular focus on the areas of environmental justice. Eligible applicants include schools, universities, nonprofit community and environmental organizations, county conservation districts and businesses.
“Environmental Education Grants are one of the best ways to educate people about the water they drink and the air they breathe. The projects supported by these grants strengthen people's connections to their environment, empowering them to make informed decisions and take responsible actions for their communities,” he said. DEP Acting Administrator Jessica Shirley“These projects are especially important for communities that have been disproportionately affected by contamination.”
A free webinar on the 2025 Environmental Education Grants Program will be held on October 10, 2024. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. DEP staff will provide proposal tips and instructions on how to complete the required application. The program will conclude with a question and answer session. Registration required by September 30, 2024: 2025 EE Grant Program Webinar Registration.
Up to $5,000 will be awarded for locally focused projects, and up to $30,000 for regional or statewide efforts. Projects involving students and teachers from at least 60 Pennsylvania counties at three levels – local, state and national – will be awarded up to $65,000.
Funding will be provided on a reimbursable basis. Projects must be implemented between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
Information about the grant program can be found at Environmental Education Grants.. Electronic applications must be submitted through your Keystone login (first time users must register).
The Environmental Education Grants Program has supported a wide range of activities, from tours and workshops to hands-on field experiences and action projects. For a list of projects that have been awarded funds in spring 2024, see 2024 EE Grant Awards .
The Environmental Education Grant Program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which requires the DEP to dedicate 5 percent of pollution fines and penalties collected each year to environmental education in Pennsylvania. Since the program's inception, grants have been awarded to over 2,200 projects totaling more than $14 million.
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's website or follow the DEP on Facebook. Twitteror visit us on LinkedIn.