MEEA Mini-Grants

MEEA Mini-Grants is sponsored by Missouri Environmental Education Association (MEEA). MEEA Mini-Grants provide support to a wide variety of environmental education projects, such as school gardens, life jackets, and raptor cams. The grants are for purchasing materials or supplies for advancing environmental or sustainability education.

Environmental Education Grants - MEEA Grants, Awards, and Contests Funding and recognition for your community and environmental education programs. MEEA Environmental Educator Mini-Grant MEEA began a mini-grants program in 2013 that has provided support to a wide variety of environmental education projects–from school gardens to life jackets to raptor cams.

These grants are open to any MEEA member , whether a formal or non-formal educator, except for members of the board. MEEA will award six grants annually (spring and fall cycles) of $250 each to purchase materials or supplies for advancing environmental or sustainability education. Awards will be made to the recipient’s school or organization.

Spring 2026 Grant Timeline–The application period has now closed. Notification: June 1, 2026 Funds Available: Upon notification Final Report Due: June 1, 2027 Download the Photo Release Information you will need for the application Audience you plan to reach How the audience will be different as a result of your efforts How you will know you have been successful in changing your audience Donald Samull Classroom Herb Garden Grants.

Ten grants in the amount of $500 are available. Elementary classrooms grades 3-6 with fifteen students or more may apply for a grant to establish an herb garden. In addition to plants, the funds may be used for supplies such as soil, plants trays, containers, child or youth sized tools, etc. Applications opened January 1, 2027 through January 31, 2027.

Apply Here. Educator Academy in the Amazon. Join us in Peru for our annual Educator Academy in the Amazon for an experience that will feed your soul, expand your professional toolkit for inquiry based science, anchor your global perspective, and change your definition of professional development.

Featuring interdisciplinary programming for TK-16 classroom and nonformal educators. Registration opens August, 2026. Apply Here.

The Renewal Bee Grant, Whole Kids Foundation. The Bee Grant program allows for schools and non-profit organizations to receive support for educational bee hives, so students can observe bees up close and learn about the vital role these pollinators play in our food system. Available to K-12 to start a new or enhance an existing bee program.

Deadlines: October 15 and October 31, 2025. Apply Here. Community Action Grants.

Community Action Grants provide funding to individuals, AAUW branches and AAUW state organizations as well as community-based nonprofits for innovative programs that promote education and equity for women and girls. Since 1972, AAUW has provided support to hundreds of communities across the United States.

Grants must have direct public impact, special consideration to projects focused on K-12 and community college girls’ and women’s achievements in science, technology, engineering or math. Deadline: October 31, 2025. Apply Here.

Youth Garden Grant. Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for students and their communities. In 2023, fifty programs will receive award packages consisting of a cash prize and a variety of gardening tools and supplies.

Applications open November 2025. Apply Here. American Chemical Society ChemClub Community Activities Grants.

Community Activity Grants support chartered ACS ChemClubs in community interactions by providing funds for service projects or improving science learning experiences. Chartered ChemClubs are eligible to receive up to a $300 Flinn Scientific gift card. Community activities done in collaboration with ACS Local Sections, ACS Student Chapters, or other ChemClubs are eligible to receive up to a $500 Flinn Scientific gift card.

Deadline: November 1, 2025. Apply Here. Mid Missouri Solid Waste Management District (MMSWMD).

“Our grant program provides financial assistance to cities, counties, non-profits, businesses, schools, and individuals which will: 1. Develop new or improved programs that will reduce the creation of solid waste; or 2. Create new markets or improve existing markets for recovered materials; or 3.

Improve the handling of items banned by Missouri law from landfills. Applicants must operate within Region H: Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau, or Osage County”. Preliminary Application Due 1/9/2026 for large projects, Final Application Due 11/14/2025 for small projects & 2/18/2026 for large projects.

Apply Here. Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants. Grants are open to any city, county, and public school for building playgrounds, pools, water parks, shooting ranges, fishing facilities, trails, passive areas, etc. up to $500,00 per project, with minimum 50% match in funds.

Deadline: November 14, 2025. Apply Here. GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant.

The GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant, brought to you by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening, is designed to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens to communities across the United States. 165 programs will be awarded in 2023. Applications open January 2026.

Apply Here. Fund for Teachers. F ull-time teachers in the continental US, Hawaii, and Alaska in public, private and charter schools are eligible to apply if they meet the following requirements: Spend at least 50% of their time directly providing instruction to students.

Intend to return to a classroom or teaching environment the year following their fellowship and demonstrate the ability to incorporate what they learn into their teaching. Have at least three years of experience as a preK-12th grade teacher at the end of the school year. Deadline: January 22, 2026.

Apply Here. Grants with Multiple Award Dates or no Deadlines National Forest Foundation Matching Awards Program. The National Forest Foundation (NFF) Matching Awards Program (MAP) provides funding for results-oriented on-the-ground projects that enhance forest health and outdoor experiences on National Forests and Grasslands.

Deadline: January 1st. Apply Here. Dr. Scholl Foundation.

Foundation funding for education, social service, healthcare, civic and cultural, and environmental programs aimed at improving the world. $5,000 to $25,000. Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) must be submitted by January 31st at 4:00 p.

m. CST the following year to be invited to apply for the full application. The application is due by March 1st at 4:00 p.

m. CST. Apply Here.

Clif Bar Family Foundation. Provide small grants to groups that demonstrate strong community ties and operate at the community level and promote positive change through both the projects and their implementation process. Deadline: March 1st and August 1st.

Apply Here. The Lawrence Foundation. This private family foundation was founded in 2000 and has since awarded over $4.

5 million to charitable organizations around the US. Their funding priorities focus on projects that are related to the environment, human services and disaster relief. Guidelines can be found here.

Deadlines: April 30th and October 31st. Apply Here. Fund For Wild Nature.

The Fund provides small grants for North American campaigns to save native species and wild ecosystems, with particular emphasis on actions designed to defend threatened wilderness and biological diversity. Deadlines: May 1st and October 1st. Apply Here.

Community Conservation Cost-share Program. MDC’s Community Conservation Cost-Share Program promotes sustainable development practices and the establishment of natural resource conservation practices in municipal and developing areas. Available in July, evaluated quarterly.

Apply Here. Community Forestry Cost-share. Community Forestry Cost-Share is designed to assist Missouri communities with improving their community forest.

This cost-share program encourages communities to have a sustainable, balanced, and comprehensive community forestry program based on a current tree inventory and managed with the guidance of a community forestry professional. Lastly, Community Forestry Cost-Share is designed to promote community forest benefits through the proper management and care of trees. Available in July, evaluated quarterly.

Apply Here. Bass Pro Shops Grants. Support conserving wildlife and habitat, connecting new audiences to the outdoors, and strengthening communities in the Missouri Ozarks.

Apply Here. The Pollination Project. The Pollination Project offers a grant every day to individuals with a plan to make a positive difference in their community.

Environmental projects are encouraged. They have given out a grant every day since 2013. Apply Here.

ExtremeTerrain’s Clean Trail Initiative Program. This program will provide eligible groups the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund their next trail improvement related project which could range from trail clean-up, trail restoration, trail expansion, to name a few. Environmental groups and organizations as well as publicly and privately owned off-road trails are all invited to apply for the grant.

Along with the grant, ExtremeTerrain will provide industrial strength trash bags for collection of any debris. ​ Apply Here. KC Water Quality Small Grant Opportunity.

MARC, on behalf of the Water Quality Public Education Committee annually requests proposals from individuals and community groups to implement educational activities, events or projects designed to promote actions that will improve water quality in the Kansas City area.

The Committee wants to continue its focus on educating citizens about stormwater as a primary source of water pollution and about actions that individuals can take to reduce the amount of polluted stormwater that enters our lakes, rivers and streams. Apply Here. Shumaker Family Foundation.

Funding for social justice, education, and environmental justice projects in the Kansas City region. Apply Here. KC SciencePioneers Grant Website.

1. An applicant must have their headquarters, or significant presence no further than a 50-mile radius from Union Station. 2.

Applicants must be a registered organization with Missouri or Kansas Secretary of State and be in good standing. Please provide your organization charter papers for easy finding. 3.

Organizations will be prioritized the following way: a. Registered Non-Profit or Charity with the IRS under any 501 classifications. Please provide a copy of your determination letter from the IRS.

b. Registered Not-for-profits in Missouri or Kansas. Please provide a copy of your state issued registration.

4. While LGBTQ+ centric organizations are preferred, it is not a requirement. However, the organization MUST have a publicly accessible inclusion statement.

Please provide your inclusion statement and where to publicly find it. 5. There must be a specific need with a specific dollar amount requested.

Requests without a specific dollar amount and specific need will not be considered. Those requests for “General Fund”, etc. will not be considered. Please provide detailed information on your request and cost structure behind the figure requested.

Apply Here. Community Foundation of Central Missouri. Two community impact awards of $5000 will be granted to two mid-MO organizations.

Apply Here. Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Pathway to a variety of grants.

Apply Here. Missouri Botanical Garden Youth Fellowship. The Missouri Botanical Garden Youth Fellowship Program is designed to recognize and support exceptional young individuals committed to environmental fields such as plant science, environmental research, restoration, education, advocacy, horticulture, botany, and nature immersion.

Recipients will participate in a competitive fellowship program with like-minded peers and receive a $2000 scholarship for higher education. Deadline: November 7, 2025. Apply Here.

Conservation Scholarships. Charles P. Bell Conservation Scholarship (undergraduate and graduate).

Chambers Family Memorial Scholarship (undergraduate and graduate). Kirkham Family CFM Scholarship (undergraduate or graduate). Ed Stegner Natural Resource Scholarships (undergraduate: Fisheries, Forestry, Wildlife, Parks & Recreation and Soil & Water Conservation).

Carl Morrow Graduate Scholarship (graduate: Fisheries, Forestry, Wildlife, Parks & Recreation and Soil & Water Conservation). Minority Natural Resource Scholarship (undergraduate). The Nana Family Scholarship – Minority (undergraduate or graduate).

Deadline: January 31st. Apply Here. Missouri Agribusiness Academy.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is giving 30 high school students representing 4-H clubs and FFA chapters, as well as farm families, throughout Missouri the opportunity to explore careers in agriculture through the Missouri Agribusiness Academy – a competitive program for sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related college degrees and careers. Deadline: February 1st. Apply Here.

Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Scholarship. The Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture Committee are accepting applications for Youth in Agriculture scholarships for Missouri high school seniors graduating in 2021. Applicants must be high school seniors and active members of Missouri 4-H or FFA, and have participated at least once as a 4-H or FFA exhibitor at the Missouri State Fair.

Selected students must enroll (fall and/or spring semester immediately following graduation from high school) in an accredited community college, college or university in the state of Missouri. $1500-$5000 scholarships available. 2026 information will be available in mid-April.

Apply Here. Shaw Institute for Field Training. The SIFT program is an introductory field skills training program at Shaw Nature Reserve designed to engage teenagers, entering grades 10-11, in scientific exploration of the natural world.

SIFT’s virtual and in-person training activities emphasize collaboration, field skills acquisition, and scientific knowledge gain. SIFTers are exposed to a variety of field projects and career field scientists over all four seasons. Participation includes learning and paid fieldwork during the summer and the following school year.

Transportation from the St. Louis area is provided. Apply Here.

President’s Environmental Youth Award. Apply or encourage a student you know to apply for PEYA and see what a difference they can make for the environment with an award-winning project. Applicants are eligible to compete for a regional certificate of special recognition and a national Presidential award.

Evaluation results consistently demonstrate that participation in the PEYA program is frequently a life-changing experience for many of the young people and their project sponsors. Deadline: December 1, 2025. Apply Here.

Live Deliberately Essay Contest. Reflecting on Henry David Thoreau’s two years, two months, and two days at Walden Pond, consider how his commitment to simplicity and deliberate living resonates with you. Think about how you have (or could) incorporate intentionality and purpose in your own life.

What would a life focused on essential, meaningful experiences look like for you, and why might this be key to a truly fulfilling life? Essays should be no more than 750 words. Deadline: December 19, 2025.

Apply Here. Exploravision. U.S. EE Savings bonds $10,000 for four teams, $5000 for four teams, all expense trips to DC for finalists.

K-12 students of all interests and abilities work in teams of 2 to 4 to study a technology of interest and predict what it will be like 10 or more years from now. Teams submit web pages showing the future of the technology. Sponsored by Toshiba and NSTA.

Deadline: February 3, 2026. Apply Here. World of 7 Billion.

Create a short video – up to 60 seconds – about human population growth that highlights one of this year’s global topics. Students can win up to $1. 200.

Apply Here. Young Eco-Hero Award. Four different grants.

We Serve to Remember 9/11 Day of Service Grants. Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grants. Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grants.

Everyday Young Hero Awards. Apply Here. Do Something.

Lots of campaign ideas for students to try out. Apply Here. Freecycle and Wish List Sites (Teachers will Love These!)

Teacher Wish Lists – Supported by folks who provide school supplies, make your list and get your school and parents on board. Visit the website. Adopt a Classroom – Partners donors with teachers.

Visit the website. Donors Chose – Connects teachers in high-need communities with donors who want to help. Visit the website.

Free Online Grant Writing Class – Learn how to write grants. Visit the website. National Gardening Association Grants – Visit the website.

North American Association for EE Resources – Visit the website. Missouri Grant Watch – Visit the website. Missouri Department of Agriculture Financial Assistance – Visit the website.

American Chemical Society – Funding & Awards – Visit the website. Target Grants & Corporate Giving – Visit the website.