EPA Environmental Education Grants: Innovation Funding 2026

The EPA Environmental Education (EE) Grants program, authorized under Section 6 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-619), has supported locally and regionally focused environmental education projects since 1992. The program funds projects that design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices that promote environmental stewardship and increase public awareness of environmental issues.

FY 2026 Funding Opportunity

Total Available: Up to $3.2 million

Number of Awards: Up to 16 grants nationwide

Award Range: $200,000 to $250,000 per grant

NOFO Number: EPA-EE-25-01 (released January 2026)

Application Deadline: March 3, 2026 (this deadline has passed)

Program Purpose

Support environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship, develop knowledgeable and responsible students/teachers/community members, increase public awareness of environmental issues, and provide environmental knowledge and skills for informed decision-making.

Eligible Activities

Projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate:

• Environmental education practices, teaching methods, and techniques

• Educational programs and curriculum development

• Community engagement strategies and professional development

• Youth programs and citizen science initiatives

Environmental Focus Areas: Local environmental issues, water protection, health and environment connections, natural resource conservation, environmental stewardship, sustainable communities.

Critical Requirements

Geographic Scope: Must be LOCAL or REGIONAL - national scope projects are NOT eligible. Projects must have clear connection to specific communities and demonstrate local environmental issues.

Measurable Outcomes: Projects must demonstrate measurable environmental outcomes, not just education/awareness metrics.

Sustainability: Must include plan for how project will continue beyond EPA grant period.

Cost Share: A 25% cost share of total project cost is required. Additionally, 25% of EPA funding must be used for subawards, with each subaward valued at $5,000 or less.

Partnerships: Collaboration and partnership are strongly encouraged.

Application Process

1. Review NOFO: Carefully read EPA-EE-25-01 on Grants.gov or epa.gov/education/grants

2. Attend Webinar: February 5, 2026 applicant training webinar (optional but strongly recommended)

3. Prepare Application: Project narrative, budget and budget narrative, required forms (SF-424, etc.), letters of support from partners

4. Submit: Through Grants.gov by March 3, 2026, 11:59 PM ET (requires active SAM.gov registration)

5. Review: EPA evaluation panel reviews applications against published criteria

6. Awards: Announcements in spring/summer 2026

Success Tips

Attend the Webinar: The February 5, 2026 applicant webinar covers NOFO details, how to write competitive applications, and commonly asked questions. This is invaluable preparation.

Emphasize Outcomes: Strong applications focus on measurable environmental outcomes (e.g., acres restored, pollution reduced, behaviors changed) not just knowledge gains.

Local Focus: Clearly define your local/regional scope and demonstrate deep understanding of specific environmental issues in your community.

Robust Evaluation: Include detailed evaluation plan with specific metrics, data collection methods, and timeline for measuring success.

Demonstrate Capacity: Show your organization's track record, staff expertise, and infrastructure to successfully execute the project.

Budget Detail: Provide detailed budget justification directly tied to project activities. Every line item should clearly support project goals.

Sustainability Plan: Explain how project will continue after EPA funding - through other funding, volunteer engagement, institutional adoption, etc.

Program History

Since 1992: According to EPA's Office of Environmental Education, the agency has distributed $2-3.5 million annually through this program.

Total Impact: Over 3,980 grants awarded over 32+ years, per EPA program records.

Contact Information

EE Grants Homepage: epa.gov/education/grants

NOFO (EPA-EE-25-01): Search on grants.gov or simpler.grants.gov

EPA Grants Portal: epa.gov/grants

Related Federal Programs: See also USDA Innovation Grants for agriculture education technology, and NSF I-Corps for commercialization training.