Application DEADLINE is fast approaching – Janary 15th!
In our 6th year, St. Louis Earth Day plans to award $10,000 in small grants to support the implementation of environmental stewardship projects within the St. Louis community. Grant requests for up to $2,000 will be considered; we anticipate the average grant award will be between $500 and $1,500. Partial project funding may be granted — indicate on the application whether partial funding would be accepted. Funded projects will be notified in February 2018. Each funded project will be required to assemble a poster presentation of their project to be displayed at the 2018 St. Louis Earth Day Festival. You may or may not have a representative present to talk about your project. Funds will be distributed upon receipt of signed agreement.
NOTE: The level of funding available for the Earth Day Action Grant program is based strictly on the amount raised through the St. Louis Earth Day Festival as well as our individual giving campaign. St. Louis Earth Day will only be able to award funding as generated through fundraising efforts and does not guarantee being able to distribute $10,000 if that amount is not raised.
Eligible applicants include: schools, non-profit organizations, 501(c)3 corporations, or small community groups, including community gardens. Grants may be awarded to small community groups without official 501(c)3 status, but will require a fiscal agent to receive the funds. Only proposals that take place in the St. Louis region will be considered (St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Madison County, and St. Clair County). With the exception of schools, first preference will be given to organizations with an annual operating budget under $500,000. If you are uncertain about eligibility, please contact info@stlouisearthday.org.
- Supplies for a small group trash pick up
- Seeds and trees for a community garden (stipulations may apply)
- Licensing fees to show an environmentally-themed documentary
- Tools for a school garden or outdoor classroom
- Supplies and instructor expenses for an environmentally-themed workshop or special course
- Speaker fees for an environmentally-themed program
- Rain barrel installation at a school or community center
- Native plants for a bird sanctuary or butterfly garden
- Materials for environmentally-themed teacher training
- Implementing recycling & composting at an Earth Day event
- Plants for an outdoor classroom
- Tools for a bike repair workshop
- and many more possibilities!
Grantees will be required to sign a grant agreement, submit a final report that includes both a financial and narrative summary, and comply with all terms of the agreement. Projects must be completed by March 1, 2019 and the final report is due within 4 weeks of project completion or equipment/supplies purchase. Final reports should include pictures and copies of publicity/news articles (if applicable).
1. Send in one or two photographs or images (if available) that capture the project, plan or group involved in the proposal. (This will appear as part of a project profile on the St. Louis Earth Day website).
2. Complete the online application, which requires information in the following areas (online applications onlly):
- Project description: Give a detailed but concise description of project objectives, activities, and an associated timeline (grant funds available as early as March 1, 2017, and projects must be completed by March 1, 2019).
- Measurable outcomes: Identify a few specific, measurable outcomes which demonstrate success of your project.
- Project partners: List any partner organizations and briefly describe their contribution.
- Project budget and grant request amount. (Indicate whether partial funding would be accepted.)
- Project location (may be general or specific)
- Project participants (estimate of number participants or those benefiting from project)
- Project’s connection to Earth Day Programs: St. Louis Earth Day Festival, Green Dining Practices, Recycling, Education
- Organization(s) and contact information: List the information for the individual to be contacted about the grant award, and responsible for implementation and reporting the project.
- Fiscal responsibility: Identify the grantee fiscal agent and signature authority for grant agreement, and list nine-digit Federal Tax ID Number. Provide contact information for the signature authority.
- Letter of partner commitment, if applicable.
- St. Louis Earth Day must be recognized as a funder of your project in any media or marking related to your funded project.
- Beginning with the 2018 grants, ongoing projects may not be funded if they’ve been funded for more than 2 consecutive years. This will allow St. Louis Earth Day to diversify the projects we fund.
A committee which will be composed of St. Louis Earth Day staff, board members and community representatives will rank the proposals based on the following criteria (100 points possible):
- Community Engagement/Impact/Measurable Outcomes (25 points)
- Connection to Earth Day programs (Festival, Green Dining Practices, Recycling, Education) (25 points)
- Promotion of Sustainable Behaviors (25 points)
- Budget is reasonable and cost effective/Ability to Leverage Matching Funds (25 points)
Now open: Applications are available online.
January 15: Applications for grant proposals close; all proposal materials are due.
February 15: Judges complete application reviews; all applicants will be notified about grant status.
March 1-April 30: Checks will be mailed to recipients upon receiving signed agreements.
April 21-22: Grant recipients showcase their projects at the 2018 St. Louis Earth Day Festival.
Read about the 2017 awarded projects.
About St. Louis Earth Day
Review the above linked page to familiarize yourself with St. Louis Earth Day’s vision, mission and values.
