Government Programs and Funding for
Outdoor Learning and Schoolyard Greening

Federal Government Programs

In recent years, the federal government in the United States has started to encourage schoolyard greening and outdoor learning through the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools program. The Green Ribbon Schools program provides national — and also state-level — recognition for schools that are doing exemplary work to make their buildings, grounds, and curriculum more environmentally sound. Although this program does not provide funding, the recognition is helpful for building the field.

Green Ribbon Schools Website and Application Process
U.S. Department of Education, deadline is February 1 annually
Information about the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools Program, which recognizes schools, districts, and institutions of higher education that have implemented sustainability practices in their buildings, grounds, and curriculum
Note: This program provides important recognition, but it does not provide funding.

Every Kid Outdoors, 2015 - August 31, 2021
U.S. National Park Service and collaborating federal agencies
This program, founded in 2015, provides free admission to national parks for 4th graders around the country. Students’ families and educators of 4th grade students can download passes for the students. In addition to free national park admission, this program includes four downloadable educational resources related to national parks, history, and environment.

State-Specific Government Grant Opportunities

Some state agencies are making green infrastructure investments on public school grounds to improve stormwater management and local watershed health by removing asphalt, which allows rain to soak into the ground. Some state agencies are also making investments to improve climate-resilience of school facilities and operations. They generally do this by reducing fossil fuel-based transportation to and from school, removing asphalt to reduce urban heat island effects, and increasing tree canopy coverage to cool playgrounds and children directly. A few states have also created grant programs to help schools take learning outdoors on and off school sites.

We hope to expand the references included below over time. If you know of additional funding opportunities that we should include in this list, please send us an email with a link and additional information. Thank you!

Urban Greening Grant Program
California Natural Resources Agency, 2020 (Round 4 closed July 15, 2020)
This state grant program has provided four rounds of funding to date. The most recent round in 2020, awarded $28.5 million for green infrastructure projects across the state, and a minimum of 80% of the funding has gone to projects in disadvantaged and low income communities (as per AB 1550). This program is funded by "Cap-and-Trade revenue (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund) and the grants support projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gases by sequestering carbon, decreasing energy consumption, and reducing vehicle miles traveled. The projects also convert built environments into green spaces that improve air quality and water quality.” (reference) Eligible applicants include: cities, counties, nonprofit organizations, special districts, and joint powers authorities. All projects must demonstrate that they are reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by doing at least one of the following: sequestering and storing carbon by planting trees, reducing building energy use by strategically planting trees to shade buildings, and reducing commute miles traveled. Some California schools have received funds from this source to create green schoolyards that further the climate mitigation goals and support outdoor learning.

Drought Response Outreach Program for Schools (DROPS)
California State Water Resources Control Board, 2014-2020
The DROPS program provided $25.5 million to California schools for multi-benefit stormwater management projects, funded by California’s Proposition 13, 40, and 50. Operational from 2014-2020, DROPS focused on “projects that reduce stormwater pollution and provide multiple benefits including water conservation, water supply augmentation, energy savings, increased awareness of water resource sustainability, and reduced dry weather runoff. All projects must include an education/outreach component that is designed to increase student and public understanding of the project's environmental benefits and the sustainability of California's water resources directly related to the project.” (reference) Click this link to see how DROPS funds were used at three high school campuses in Garden Grove Unified School District in Garden Grove, California. Visit this link to see how Los Angeles Unified School District has used DROPS and Proposition 84 funds (mentioned above) to improve stormwater management and increase green space on their grounds.

Georgia

Making the Shade Program
Georgia Forestry Commission
”The Making the Shade program provides grant funding to create healthier, shaded playground areas on elementary school campuses. This funding (up to $5,000) is available to PTAs, neighborhood associations and community groups. In addition, GFC’s community foresters help with species selection, location, planting and maintenance education.”

HAWAII

No Child Left Inside Grant Program
Hawaii State Legislature, effective July 1, 2020
State grant for schools to promote outdoor learning 

ILLINOIS

Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, application deadline November 30, 2021
This program awards small grants of up to $1,000 to schools to purchase plants and supplies needed to create pollinator gardens and other schoolyard habitat plantings. Their website also includes related curriculum materials and how-to information.

Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, next round of applications are due early-Spring 2021
“The new Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities (GIGO) Program funds projects to construct green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) that prevent, eliminate, or reduce water quality impairments by decreasing stormwater runoff into Illinois' rivers, streams, and lakes. …Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities utilizes funds distributed by the State of Illinois generated under the Build Illinois Bond Fund. Illinois EPA expects to award a total of $5,000,000 annually beginning FY2021-FY2025 and anticipates distributing this amount across two (2) to ten (10) awards per year. GIGO has a set maximum total grant award of $2,500,000 with a minimum grant award of $75,000. No more than 50 percent of the program total, per funding cycle, shall be allocated to any one applicant or project.” (reference) Based on a previous, similar grant program (below) it appears that school districts and their partners are likely to be eligible to apply for these funds.

A related, similar grant program founded in 2011 as the Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Program for Stormwater Management (IGIG), awarded stormwater infrastructure funding to many types of projects including green schoolyard related features at six schools in Illinois. This program ended after 2014.

Outdoor Learning Equity Grants
Illinois State Legislature, 2019 and 2020
Recent legislation granting funds to low socioeconomic schools for outdoor learning

Iowa

Trees for Kids
Iowa Department of Natural Resources, application due by March 5, 2021
”The Trees for Kids grant program serves to educate K-12 and college students in Iowa about the importance of trees through tree planting events at schools and on public land. Grant recipients are awarded up to $2,500 per project to purchase trees and mulch from Iowa nurseries. DNR staff members provide planting, mulching, and watering demonstrations and offer guidance to students as they plant their trees.”

Maryland

Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee Grants Program
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, grant proposals due February and July 15th each year
This program awards small grants of up to $1,000 per project to help community groups pay for tree planting and education-related projects across the state that enhance Maryland’s urban forest. Plantings may be located on school grounds or other public lands.

New York

School Seedling Program
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, open through March 31, 2021
This program offers New York schools two types of young, native tree seedlings and a variety of shrubs that attract wildlife for free. The program is intended to “help young people learn about ecosystems and the valuable role trees play.” Schools are encouraged to plant the seedlings they receive on their grounds with their students, and to connect the planning and stewardship process for these plants with standards-based lessons related to Next Generation Science Standards.

Credits

This page was written by Sharon Danks, MLA-MCP, Green Schoolyards America. The grants list was compiled by Marie Bacher, Santa Clara County Office of Education; Tim Baird, EdD, Superintendent (retired), Encinitas Union School District; Sandra Chen Lau, MA; Sharon Danks, MLA-MCP, Green Schoolyards America; Sean den Bok, Seattle Aquarium; Olivia Griset, MAT, Maine Environmental Education Association; Tony Knight, EdD, Superintendent, Oak Park Unified School District; Lauren McKenna, MLA, Green Schoolyards America; Vicki Moore, Living Classroom; Kathleen O'Connor, PhD; and Kirk Anne Taylor, MPA, Ten Strands.

National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative

The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective solutions to increase physical distancing capacity onsite and provide access to abundant fresh air. The Initiative seeks to equitably improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults using an affordable, time-tested outdoor approach to keeping schools open during a pandemic.