2024 Grant Timeline and Links

Please read below for the update on our spring 2024 cycle

In fall 2021 we collected input from current and previous grantees around the timing of our grant cycles and based on that input revised the timing of our grant cycles and offered multiple grant cycles in 2022. In 2022 and 2023 we made several multi-year commitments and as a result are continuing to open a single cycle in 2024. The cycle will run spring of 2024, with awards made in May 2024.

We are happy to share our updated 2024 Environmental Education RFP.

  • Step 1 – After reading the RFP, orgs should first contact Nell at ntessman@grayff.org to have an informal conversation and to receive application link beginning January 15, 2024
  • Step 2 – Invited Applications Due: March 22, 2024
  • Step 3 – Grant Award Notification: End of May, 2024

If you have any questions or an out of cycle project, feel free to contact Program Officer, Nell Tessman, at ntessman@grayff.org.

2024 Environmental Education Grant Program Overview

The Gray Family Foundation’s Environmental Education program seeks to support programs that stimulate or promote the teaching of environmental education in K-12 environments and increases outdoor experiences that connect youth with built and natural environments.

In 2024 Gray Family Foundation continues to seek applications from organizations that will inspire and promote outdoor, environmental, land-based, and/or climate education in formal and informal K-12 educational environments and increase outdoor experiences for youth – either during the school day, as part of distance or virtual learning, or as a service or opportunity offered to families and youth outside of the context of the school setting.

This year, we are also providing an option for organizations to apply collaboratively if they are leveraging their expertise and resources across the same region to provide youth quality, environmental or outdoor learning experiences. Applicants must be serving or benefiting primarily K-8 youth.*

**Please note that we only fund projects/programs/organizations serving youth/educators in Oregon**

For 2024 we are maintaining adjustments to our previous guidelines and scope of proposals that we are noting below:

  1. Any organization or program supporting outdoor, environmental, and/or climate education reaching and/or benefiting K-8 youth in Oregon in school, out-of-school time, or other similar settings is eligible to apply.
  2. Aligned organizations and programs can apply for general operating support; if an organization has a broader mission and programming, then organizations should apply for general program funding that is aligned with the Gray FF mission (i.e. their youth education program) and can use those funds to support any aspect of that program, as well as coinciding administrative/infrastructure costs.
  3. Organizations providing programming focused on families (with youth in the K-8 range) and organizations focused on or integrating climate education opportunities for K-8 youth and educators are still eligible to apply.
  4. This year we are adding the option for multiple organizations to apply together under a regional collaborative application. More details are included in our RFP.

Request Guidelines:

We are interested in reviewing proposals for a range of funding levels that best serve the specific needs of your organization, program, or region. We will award funds to the strongest eligible requests regardless of proposal type and encourage organizations to apply for the type of funding that will best serve youth and their community.  A few notes on overall requests:

  • All requests should be between $5,000-$35,000 per organization, per year for up to three years. For a collaboration of up to four organizations the maximum request is $100,000, per year, for up to three years. Please note that if you have not received funding from Gray Family Foundation in the past you are only eligible to apply for one year of funding. If you are a collaboration new to Gray Family Foundation funding, then you also are only eligible to apply for one year.
  • Requests should support programming directly benefiting K-8 youth in Oregon or offer professional development to educators that will directly benefit K-8 youth in Oregon.
  • If you are a requesting funding over multiple years, please include a budget covering your anticipated costs over multiple years. If approved, the second and/or third year of renewal funding will be pending annual approval by our Board of Directors and based on site visit/renewal conversations with your Program Officer.
  • This year we are also encouraging organizations to consider including staff leadership development, wellness, and rest as potential elements of your budget requests. Similar to our support for budgets that include coinciding administrative or overhead costs, Gray Family Foundation is supportive of budgets that reflect support for staff retention, health, and wellness through dedicated resources to competitive staff salaries and other benefits.

Please note that for our  2024 cycle, we have a limited amount of funds available. Please first contact staff (Nell Tessman, ntessman@grayff.org) to determine alignment of project/program/organization request with available funds. She will provide you with application guidance if your request meets our guidelines.

You can download our 2024 RFP here. To learn more about our Environmental Education Grant Program or check eligibility of your project or program: