Grant Program: General Category           

Previously funded proposals have ranged from small grass roots initiatives to statewide programs. Projects should enhance the environmental literacy of Wisconsin citizens. Special consideration is given to underserved audiences and/or projects that incorporate citizen action experiences.

Eligibility

WEEB general environmental education grants are available to the following Wisconsin entities:

• Corporations (nonstock, nonprofit corporations) registered under chapter 181 of state statutes
• Public agencies (counties, cities, villages, towns, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts, school districts, and cooperative educational service agencies)
• State agencies, tribal governments, public colleges, and universities
• Private nonprofit colleges and universities � if the school is not pervasively sectarian, including the absence of sectarian entrance and graduation requirements
Private pre-school, elementary and secondary schools �provided that a corporation or public agency applies for funds on their behalf and they meet the following four criteria:
1. Grant funds may not be used for religious activity or instruction.
2. Any materials purchased under the grant shall be nonsectarian in nature and content and may not be used for religious activity or instruction.
3. Title to and administrative control of any capital goods purchased shall remain with the corporation or public agency. However, as long as the environmental education program remains in effect and meets criterion 2, the capital goods may be located in the private school facility.
4. Grant funds may not be used to pay a private school instructor's base salary. Grant funds may only be used to supplement a private school instructor's contractual salary.

Previous grant recipients must have submitted all reports to be awarded funds from the 2008-2009 grant cycle. Contact the WEEB office if uncertain whether this criterion has been met.

Amount Available

A 5% surcharge on environmental fines, along with private donations fund approximately $45,000 worth of proposals. Maximum award per proposal is $5,000.

The "capital expenditure" limit for mini-grant proposals (grant award of <$1,000) is a maximum of 75% of WEEB grant funds requested.

The "capital expenditure" limit for small grant proposals (grant award of $1,001 to $5,000) is a maximum of 50% of WEEB grant funds requested.

Please see "Preparing the Budget Summary" link below for a definition of "capital expenditure".

How to Apply

To apply for a general environmental education grant use the link above (pdf file) to download the application directions. The direction booklet does contain blank "print and type" application forms. However, for "electronic fill-in" forms use the links below. Submit the original and 5 copies (6 sets total) of the following:

• WEEB Cover Page (see Preparing the Cover Page)
• WEEB Consortium Verification (if required, see Preparing the Consortium Verification Page)
• WEEB Budget Summary (see Preparing the Budget Summary)
• Map or diagram page (optional, limited to 1 side of 1 sheet)
• Narrative describing project (limited to one side of one sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" paper,  minimum of 10 pt font, 1" margins)

  The narrative should include: 

  • How project is tied to one or more fundamental tenets of environmental education
  • How project is tied to an EE2010 goal
  • Who will benefit
  • How  they will benefit
  • What you intend to do to bring about this benefit
  • Timeline
  • How you will determine the impact
  • Qualifications of staff person(s)

  For more information about the narrative see Preparing the Narrative or the application directions.

To avoid disqualification and receive full consideration, make sure the minimum criteria for funding summarized in the Quality Assurance Checklist are met. Absence of any starred and bolded item will cause the proposal to be disqualified.

Grant writers may also wish to have someone who is unfamiliar with the proposal use the technical review form (jump to technical form in Word.doc format) and merit review form (jump to merit form in Word.doc format) to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal. Note this review form is from a prior year, and may not correspond directly with this year's requirements. Project directors are responsible for meeting the 2008-2009 requirements for funding.

Mail materials by February 15, 2008 to:

Wisconsin Environmental Education Board
110B College of Natural Resources
UW-Stevens Point
800 Reserve Street
Stevens Point WI 54481

Samples

Samples are provided as an aide to those writing proposals and are not meant to restrict your vision of possible projects. For more examples of  projects that have been funded in the past, please also refer to the grant recipient database.