WEEB Grant Categories

Grant Program: Forestry Category

Download Application Materials (PDF format)

Purpose

Proposals must be primarily focused on forestry and forestry concepts. Proposals submitted should be respectful of the roles that forest management, products, conservation, protection and preservation play in our economy.

Proposals should leverage existing forestry education programs-not duplicate them. Proposals that address gaps in, utilize, or complement current forestry education programs are encouraged. Current statewide initiatives include:

• LEAF
• Wisconsin Project Learning Tree
• UW-Stevens Point Forestry Outreach
• UW-Extension Basin Education Initiative

There are many other forestry education efforts that occur at the local and regional level. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but is meant to provide an understanding of efforts already underway.

Eligibility

WEEB forestry 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 the following four criteria are met:
  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 2010-2011 grant cycle. Contact the WEEB office if uncertain whether this criterion has been met.

Amount Available

The Forestry Account of the Conservation Fund is expected to provide $190,000 for the 2010-2011 grant cycle. Maximum award per proposal is $20,000.

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

The "capital expenditure" limit and "site enhancement" limit for small and large forestry education grant proposals (grant award of $1,001 to $20,000) is a maximum of 50% of WEEB grant funds requested.

Please see "Preparing the Budget Summary" link below for definitions of "capital expenditure" and "site enhancement".

 

Download Application Materials (PDF format)

How to apply

To apply for a forestry 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
  • Mini-grants: 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)
  • Small grants: limited to two sides of one sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" paper, minimum of 10 pt font, 1" margins). The narrative should include:
    • Project Title and Applicant
    • Statement of need
    • Project goals, objectives, and activities
    • Dissemination
    • Project evaluation
    • Staff qualifications
    • Continuation
  • Large grants: limited to six sides of three sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" paper, minimum of 10 pt font, 1" margins). The narrative should include:
    • Project Title and Applicant
    • Statement of need
    • Project goals, objectives, and activities
    • Dissemination
    • Project evaluation
    • Staff qualifications
    • Continuation

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 review form in PDF format) and merit review form (jump to merit form in PDF format) to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal. Note these review forms are from a prior year, and do not correspond directly with this year's requirements. Project directors are responsible for meeting the 2010-2011 requirements for funding.

Mail materials by February 13, 2010 or hand deliver by 4:30 PM on February 12, 2010 to:

Wisconsin Environmental Education Board
110B Trainer Natural Resources Bldg.
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.