{"id":1468,"date":"2026-03-26T15:40:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-uwsp-multi.pantheonsite.io\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/?page_id=1468"},"modified":"2026-05-26T16:43:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T16:43:11","slug":"gtmg","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/keep\/gtmg\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Team Mini-Grants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"bannerheight650 hero-bwnb bpbr blockspacebottom overlay-image-container\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2026\/05\/keep-gtmg-panel.jpg)\"><div class=\"smaller-banner\"><div class=\"bannerheight650 bpbr smaller-banner-image-container site-width\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2026\/05\/keep-gtmg-panel.jpg)\"><\/div><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"imgforsmallscrn\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2026\/05\/keep-gtmg-panel.jpg\"\/><div class=\"overlay-text-backdrop\"><div class=\"bannerheight650 overlay-contentwidth\"><div class=\"hero-purple-bg overlay-pos-ll overlay-w-half  overlay-text-container\"><div class=\"hh-mobile-textwidth\"><div class=\"overlay-headlineone\">Fund your energy projects!<\/div><div class=\"overlay-text\">Wisconsin K-12 student groups can apply to receive $300 to $700 for a project to reduce the carbon footprint of their school community.<\/div><div class=\"overlay-linkbuttons\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-horizontal-cards light-gray-solid blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div class=\"site-width\"><section class=\"hcard-container\" aria-label=\"Horizontal Card\"><div class=\"uwsp-horizontal-card-container\" aria-live=\"off\">\n<div class=\"uwsp-horiz-card-block\" id=\"hcard17781852572844988\"><div class=\"uwsp-horiz-card-individual split5050 hcard-imgright\"><div class=\"hcard-infocell\"><h3 class=\"hcard-title\">Who Should Apply?<\/h3><div class=\"hcard-content\"><p>Any passionate and committed group of&nbsp;<strong>Wisconsin K-12 students<\/strong>!<br>This can include school clubs, classes, community groups, or any other group of students passionate about energy and being part of the climate solution. While we especially encourage high school groups to apply, younger students with higher levels of staff support or a partnership with older students are also welcome to apply.&nbsp;<\/p><\/div><div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hcard-mediacell\"><div class=\"hcard-images hcard-threeimg\"><div class=\"hcard-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2026\/05\/keep-gtmg-amherst.jpg)\">\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"hcard-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2026\/05\/keep-gtmg-maple-grove-3.jpg)\">\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"hcard-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2026\/05\/keep-gtmg-sheboygan-south.jpg)\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"hslider-buttoncontainer\"><button class=\"hsliderBack horizontal-sliderbutton\" aria-label=\"previous slide\">\u276e<\/button><div class=\"single-card-nav\"><\/div><button class=\"hsliderForward horizontal-sliderbutton\" aria-label=\"next slide\">\u276f<\/button><\/div><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-statistics-block blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div style=\"text-align:\" class=\"statistics-card-intro\" id=\"\"><h2 class=\"h2\">How much money is available?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"statscontainer statistics-grid\">\n<div class=\"single-stat\"><div class=\"main-stat\"><div class=\"stat-number\">$300-$700<\/div><\/div><div class=\"stat-text\">Typical Mini-Grant Budget Range<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-stat\"><div class=\"main-stat\"><div class=\"stat-number\">$5,000<\/div><\/div><div class=\"stat-text\">Total Annual Funding Available<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-horizontal-cards light-gray-solid blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div class=\"site-width\"><section class=\"hcard-container\" aria-label=\"Horizontal Card\"><div class=\"uwsp-horizontal-card-container\" aria-live=\"off\">\n<div class=\"uwsp-horiz-card-block\" id=\"hcard17798118318728325\"><div class=\"uwsp-horiz-card-individual split5050 hcard-imgright\"><div class=\"hcard-infocell\"><h3 class=\"hcard-title\">Get Inspired!<\/h3><h4 class=\"hcard-subtitle\">Project Ideas<\/h4><div class=\"hcard-content\"><p>KEEP welcomes any project proposal that has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of a school community. Need some project inspiration? You can see the full list of previously funded Green Team Mini-Grant projects on our <a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/c8734cfbac074d9fbfc3ba1d434b1425\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Green Team Mini-Grant Storymap<\/strong><\/a> and can read more ideas below:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Scope 1 &#8211; direct emission reductions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Projects to support biking to school<\/li>\n<li>Anti-idling campaigns<\/li>\n<li>Doing an energy audit of the school<\/li>\n<li>Adding shade to reduce the heat load on the school<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Scope 2 &#8211; electricity use reductions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>LEDs<\/li>\n<li>Lighting occupancy sensors or lighting dimmers<\/li>\n<li>Smart power strips, timers, etc.<\/li>\n<li>Solar chargers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Education<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Solar array display<\/li>\n<li>Energy education<\/li>\n<li>Energy education software<\/li>\n<li>Attending a sustainability conference<\/li>\n<li>Materials for KidWind, Solar Olympics, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Not all projects have an equally direct impact on carbon footprint reductions, so be prepared to defend your project choice with data!<\/p>\n<p><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">KEEP is no longer funding Mini-Grants related to gardening, hydroponics, or food-related projects. KEEP is also no longer funding projects about composting, recycling, or other waste-reduction strategies. These can be great projects to work on at your school, but to receive funding from a Mini-Grant you need a project that relates to energy.<\/span><\/p><\/div><div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hcard-mediacell\"><div class=\"hcard-images hcard-threeimg\"><div class=\"hcard-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2026\/05\/keep-gtmg-maple-grove-2.jpg)\">\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"hcard-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2026\/05\/keep-gtmg-maple-grove-1.jpg)\">\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"hcard-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2026\/05\/keep-gtmg-group.jpg)\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"hslider-buttoncontainer\"><button class=\"hsliderBack horizontal-sliderbutton\" aria-label=\"previous slide\">\u276e<\/button><div class=\"single-card-nav\"><\/div><button class=\"hsliderForward horizontal-sliderbutton\" aria-label=\"next slide\">\u276f<\/button><\/div><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"uwsp-accordion blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"\"><div class=\"card-intro\" style=\"text-align:left\"><h2 class=\"h2\">How to apply<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"panelcontainer nofirst\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">1. Submit an Idea Form<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Connect with KEEP by submitting the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/uwsp.az1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_4J9OBazxJLqxZVc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mini-Grant Idea Form<\/a>. If you have any questions, attend <a href=\"https:\/\/cnroutreached.asapconnected.com\/#CourseID=282825\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">an Info Session<\/a> or email Heather Phelps at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Heather.Phelps@uwsp.edu\">Heather.Phelps@uwsp.edu<\/a>.&nbsp;The fall deadline for the Idea Form is&nbsp;<strong>November 7<\/strong>\u202fof the current school year. If you aren\u2019t able to apply by the fall deadline, the spring deadline is <strong>February 13<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After sharing your project idea, your team can begin to plan your Green Team Mini-Grant Application. Teams can&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/11KDFegYz4OTPJqBpp63K_Nl8n6oN2g9ayvzP2h4hws4\/edit#heading=h.ezxtvl90z0ef\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">preview the application questions<\/a>.\u200b<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">2. School visit with KEEP<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>KEEP will visit your team virtually to meet with student team members and further refine the project idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We will discuss ways to make your idea stronger, including adding baseline measurements related to your project (e.g., waste, energy use, etc.). KEEP can help provide tools and technical assistance to establish a good baseline measurement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We will also talk about how to build a project budget and how to consider the long-term impact of the project.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">3. Submit Mini-Grant Application<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Based on the school visit with KEEP, students will refine their idea and submit a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/11KDFegYz4OTPJqBpp63K_Nl8n6oN2g9ayvzP2h4hws4\/edit#heading=h.ezxtvl90z0ef\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mini-Grant Application<\/a>.&nbsp;This must include a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1sGi6gZ5fKhG_TmaVAD6RITzZWNm9zDiJM0cKXQ9gTxc\/edit#gid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">budget<\/a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;how the requested money will be spent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fall application deadline is <strong>December 12<\/strong>.\u202fThe spring deadline for Mini-Grant applications is&nbsp;<strong>March 13<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">4. KEEP evaluates applications<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>KEEP will evaluate the Mini-Grant Applications based on a\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1EmsgSf0d3414IY6ZARj9tnkB8-pyoJmtG1LACC5MoII\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rubric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When an application is approved, KEEP will notify your team lead and a check will be sent to your school. If an application is not approved, KEEP staff will provide feedback on how to submit a stronger application next time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">5. Implement, Evaluate, Celebrate<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Students teams that receive funding will carry out the project plan as proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the school year, student teams will report back about their outcomes and what they accomplished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Student teams and KEEP will celebrate and share project successes with other students and stakeholders across the state!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dates\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase\">Dates &amp; Deadlines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#6c757d\"><em>2025-2026<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-default\" style=\"background-color:#91ac3e;color:#91ac3e\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fall Deadlines:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>October 23 or 27<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/cnroutreached.asapconnected.com\/#CourseID=282825\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Green Team Mini-Grant Info Session<\/a> (4 p.m. on Zoom)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>November 7<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/uwsp.az1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_4J9OBazxJLqxZVc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Idea Form<\/a> \u2013 Fall Deadline&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>December 12<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/uwsp.az1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_1LDPYOSiekxtALI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Application Form<\/a> \u2013 Fall Deadline&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Late December<\/strong> \u2013 Winners will be announced&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Early January<\/strong> \u2013 Money will be distributed&nbsp;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Student groups who are approved for fall funding have from when they receive funds until May to work on their project<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spring Deadlines:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>February 2 or 4<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/cnroutreached.asapconnected.com\/#CourseID=282825\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Green Team Mini-Grant Info Session<\/a> (4 p.m. on Zoom)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>February 13<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/uwsp.az1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_4J9OBazxJLqxZVc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Idea Form<\/a> \u2013 Spring Deadline&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>March 13<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/uwsp.az1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_1LDPYOSiekxtALI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Application Form<\/a> \u2013 Spring Deadline&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mid-March<\/strong> \u2013 Spring winners announced<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Early April<\/strong> \u2013 Money will be distributed&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Deadlines for Both Groups:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>May 11 at 4 pm<\/strong> \u2013 Project Share-Out event via Zoom \u2013 ALL groups required to have at least one person attend or share a video with the group<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>May 22<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/17GfwwED_FBk8RPUeN8Wex6QlICEqitlVpwBO5zRYrH0\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Final reports<\/a> due \u2013 for ALL groups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"resources\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase\">Key Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-default\" style=\"background-color:#91ac3e;color:#91ac3e\"\/>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cnroutreached.asapconnected.com\/#CourseID=282825\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KEEP Green Team Mini-Grant Info Session<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Attend an optional, virtual information session to learn more about the Mini-Grant program. Fall 2025 dates are October 23 and 27.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/uwsp.az1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_4J9OBazxJLqxZVc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mini-Grant Idea Form<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; Share your project ides with KEEP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/11KDFegYz4OTPJqBpp63K_Nl8n6oN2g9ayvzP2h4hws4\/edit#heading=h.ezxtvl90z0ef\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mini-Grant Application &#8211; Preview<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; This document is a PREVIEW of the questions that appear in the official application form \u201cGreen Team Mini-Grant Application\u201d. Plan ahead for the application by collecting and organizing the necessary information in advance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1sGi6gZ5fKhG_TmaVAD6RITzZWNm9zDiJM0cKXQ9gTxc\/edit#gid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mini-Grant Proposed Budget Spreadsheet<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; Create a budget for your Mini-Grant application to record how you will spend the grant funds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/uwsp.az1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_1LDPYOSiekxtALI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Green Team Mini-Grant Application<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; This is the application to request funding for a school energy or sustainability project that will reduce the carbon footprint of the school community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/10dUGLjMMB7CZIX9DZaGSpf5j6O0WqfAK\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Letter of Support Template<\/strong><\/a> &#8211; Use this letter template to show that your school administration is on board with your proposed project plan.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1dckwnZ2RZlss_Y7nA8M8Wk7hLyTVburo\/edit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sample &#8211; IT Coordinator<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/13iPSGBFF-qNY691_nPHe8luLdXTVoOMm\/edit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sample &#8211; Food Service Manager<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1GPrP3pz--cKHmMD-nzakf6Y2Xu0iwez0\/edit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sample &#8211; Facilities Manager<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1KD6nR2Nm3GlebYEvdjDI3AoZwskhtiYG\/edit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sample &#8211; Other Supporter<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1EmsgSf0d3414IY6ZARj9tnkB8-pyoJmtG1LACC5MoII\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Grant Review Rubric<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; This rubric will be used to evaluate the project proposal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/17GfwwED_FBk8RPUeN8Wex6QlICEqitlVpwBO5zRYrH0\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mini-Grant Final Reporting Requirements<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; At the end of the year, create a report for KEEP on the outcomes and impact of the project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"mailto:hphelps@uwsp.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Contact Us!<\/strong><\/a> &#8211; KEEP will be available throughout the application process to work with student teams to assist with project planning and design.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"uwsp-accordion blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"\"><div class=\"card-intro\" style=\"text-align:left\"><h2 class=\"h2\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"panelcontainer openfirst\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Can a school apply for multiple grants?<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>In different years \u2013 yes. If someone from your school applied for a grant last year, you can apply again for a grant this year. Note that KEEP will give a higher priority to applications from schools that haven\u2019t received much (or any) funding from KEEP before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you apply for a grant in the fall and are denied, you may try again in the spring. KEEP will be happy to give you suggestions on how to improve your grant application. KEEP will not fund multiple grants for the same school during the same school year.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Can we do a project that has an environmental benefit but doesn\u2019t affect the school\u2019s carbon footprint? <\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>The grants are only for projects that reduce the school\u2019s carbon footprint, BUT there are a lot of ways to connect projects to a school\u2019s carbon footprint. Be creative! A school garden doesn\u2019t decrease your school\u2019s carbon footprint as directly as turning off the lights does, but it can still make a difference. For example, will you eat the food you grow in the garden? Will you eat the food grown in the garden instead of food grown somewhere else and trucked in? What is the carbon footprint of that transportation which you will avoid?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>KEEP can help you brainstorm ideas, but don\u2019t forget that you\u2019ll need to defend your arguments with CO2 emissions calculations, so if it\u2019s something completely unrelated (e.g. building bat houses), it might be better to look for other sources of funding or think of a different project to do for the Mini-Grant.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">What is a carbon footprint?<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>This will be a very good topic to research before you write your grant application! The short answer is that it\u2019s how much carbon dioxide (or other greenhouse gases like methane) go into the atmosphere because of your school. This can include direct CO2 emissions (like burning natural gas to heat your school) or indirect CO2 emissions (from the power plant that gives your school electricity or parents driving students to school) or even the manufacturing of things that your school uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climateleadership\/scope-1-and-scope-2-inventory-guidance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climateleadership\/scope-1-and-scope-2-inventory-guidance<\/a> for more information on the types of carbon emissions an organization can produce. KEEP is most interested in projects that reduce scope 1 emissions, then scope 2, and lastly scope 3 (upstream or downstream).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Can I do this alone?<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Not completely alone! All projects need at least one adult advisor (someone either at the school or part of a registered nonprofit you\u2019re working with) to accept and manage the money. All projects need at least three students working together to apply (But the students don\u2019t need to be in the same grade level, class, club, or any other official\u00a0organization. You\u00a0only need to decide to work together on this).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">What if the project won\u2019t get finished during this school year?<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>It depends. KEEP would like at least some data and conclusions about the project by the final report due date, but this doesn\u2019t have to be completely \u201cfinished\u201d data (for example, \u201c300 carrot seedlings sprouted and we have 27 students who have volunteered to water them over the summer, but they won\u2019t be fully grown and ready to eat in the cafeteria until next fall.\u201d).\u00a0 However, KEEP is concerned about projects that won\u2019t even be started until the summer or next fall. In that case, KEEP recommends applying for the Mini-Grant the following fall, so there\u2019s time to do the project during the same school year as you apply. If your school administration says that part of the project has to be done during the summer (for example installing new motion sensor switches), please talk to KEEP and we\u2019ll decide on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">When do we need an official letter of support? <\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>If your project requires doing something that someone in your school could say \u201cNo\u201d to. Specifically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you want to turn off computers at night, you need a letter of support from your school\u2019s IT person that it\u2019s okay for the computers to be fully off at night instead of asleep and waiting for updates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you want to serve food you\u2019ve grown at your school, you need a letter of support from your school nutrition staff saying that they are willing to serve it.\u00a0 (Serving homegrown food in the cafeteria is legal, but not all cafeteria staff may be aware of that or comfortable with it. If you get objections, KEEP staff have resources that may help.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you want to install something (LED bulbs, motion sensors switches, etc.), you need a letter of support from your school\u2019s facilities staff that they approve the installation.\u00a0 This should state whether facilities staff will do the installation themselves, or whether someone will need to be hired to do the installation, and if so, what that will cost and whether or not it will be paid for through Mini-Grant funds or some other funding source (in which case tell us what that is).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have another idea and you\u2019re unsure if it requires a letter of support, either ask KEEP, or just include the letter \u2013 it\u2019s always better to have extra support than not enough support!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Can my teacher or advisor write the grant instead? <\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>No. This is a grant for students. If none of the students in your group have email addresses that can accept outside emails, your teacher\/advisor can do the emailing back and forth with KEEP. If necessary, your teacher\/advisor can take what you\u2019ve written and copy and paste it into the grant application form. And your teacher\/advisor can always give you help and support as you figure out what to write (and so can KEEP!). But the actual text of the grant application should be written by students.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">What if we need more than $700 to do our project?<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>KEEP will decide this on a case-by-case basis. If you\u2019re only a very small amount over, KEEP will still consider your grant application, but we may put it at a lower priority depending on how far it is over. If you need a lot more than $700 to do your project, KEEP will either ask you to rewrite your project to be within our budget, or suggest that you look for a different grant to apply for.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Does our group all have to go to a single school? <\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>No. The project has to benefit one or more schools, and the students involved have to be WI K-12 students, but it\u2019s okay if the group got together through a club\/organization\/program outside of school, and it\u2019s okay to either pick one school to support with your Mini-Grant project or support several schools at the same time. If you want to do a really complicated project involving lots of schools, please talk to KEEP first.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Can we apply for a Mini-Grant during a summer class or program?<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Possibly. Please talk to KEEP to discuss the details and check whether we have money available.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Can we put the money towards a giant project, like installing solar on our school? <\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Yes and no. KEEP cannot support a project by just adding money to a large fundraising pile.&nbsp; However, KEEP can help with specific, \u201cline item\u201d costs related to the project. These have to be specific items or payments that you can write in your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, KEEP likes projects related to educating students, so you could develop a project to put up a screen in your school to show how much electricity your solar panels are generating at a given moment. KEEP could help pay for the screen, the installation, and the software programming (plus we have free lessons and training for teachers so they can use this information in their classes!), but we aren\u2019t able to put $700 towards a $60,000 solar array installation bill.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Can we spend the Mini-Grant money before we get the check and just get reimbursed for it?<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Yes, if you have a project advisor or someone else with available money who is comfortable doing so. However, we recommend that you wait to at least find out whether the project is approved or not, or you might end up not being able to be reimbursed if the project isn\u2019t approved.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">What does a good application look like?<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Check out these example Mini-Grant applications from previous student groups! Note that student information has been removed and the application questions have changed slightly since these applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1jJKG0u--kEwooTEIaMqaGJa3SSIMuzN2\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Reusable Dishes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1rvkhUVV7g8UcXZh6GdFC9-BH6C9L0BQ1\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Locally Grown Food<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"min-height:300px;aspect-ratio:unset;\" id=\"partners\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#e9ecef\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-large-font-size\" style=\"color:#512698;text-transform:uppercase\"><br>Project partners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8bef542a wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/acespace.org\/youth-action-network\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"141\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2025\/12\/keep-ace-logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-502\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dcyec.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"141\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2025\/12\/keep-dcyec-logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-503\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/green-and-healthy-schools-wi-dnr.hub.arcgis.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"141\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2025\/12\/keep-ghs-logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-504\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.groundworkmke.org\/green-jobs-and-education#gj-green-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"141\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2025\/12\/keep-gwm-logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-501\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/leaf\/plt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"141\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2025\/12\/keep-plt-logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-499\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/refloh2o.com\/environmental-interns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"141\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2025\/12\/keep-reflo-logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-500\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-callout-slim bg-purple blockspacetop blockspacebottom\" id=\"\"><div class=\"site-width\"><div class=\"cs-structure\"><div class=\"cs-icon\"><\/div><div class=\"cs-text\">KEEP &#8211; Wisconsin&#8217;s K-12 Energy Education Program \u2022 1108 Fremont St. SSC 201, Stevens Point, WI 54481 \u2022 715-346-4770 \u2022 keep@uwsp.edu<\/div><div class=\"cs-linkbutton\"><a class=\"cs-button\" href=\"https:\/\/visitor.r20.constantcontact.com\/manage\/optin?v=001rj1fkR1ia0lrr4gqQQWIqwZKP00du0N3kscOo_LRAzN-hL-ZSHaq-E94C-8mwV48-uGkqf5_AvT02bmJNfqMHtBlm94n0BYpdUpB1TmBTi3SpN1rO99O20A_Zyyhb3l4GyoXRk20zpLiTQgT2tNEAQ%3D%3D\">Join Our Mailing List<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dates &amp; Deadlines 2025-2026 Fall Deadlines: Spring Deadlines: Deadlines for Both Groups: Key Resources<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"parent":1488,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1468","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1468"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1468\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3411,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1468\/revisions\/3411"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-environmental-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}