Mini-Grant Awards:

INCREASING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

Every year, COEEA provides up to three educational organizations and/or community-based groups with $500 to $1,500 funding for local projects or enhancements to existing projects that increase environmental literacy among Connecticut residents, across a broad and diverse audience of youth and/or adult learners.

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ADVANCING DEIJ in ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Starting in 2020, COEEA added up to two additional mini-grant opportunity of up to $2,500 to fund actions that advance diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice (DEIJ) in environmental initiatives, including but not limited to recruitment and outreach of more diverse program audiences, stipends for interns with more diverse backgrounds, or projects addressing one or more dimensions of environmental injustice.

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The open mini-grant cycle period is for the 2024-2025 calendar year for projects completed by August 31, 2025.

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ELIGIBILITY & QUESTIONS
All current COEEA members (individuals or organizations) are eligible to apply, except Mini-Grant recipients from the last three cycles (cycles 2020, 2012 and 2023-2024).  If you are not a COEEA member yet, join us today!

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If you have any questions, please contact the COEEA Mini-Grants Action Team at minigrants@coeea.org  

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SUBMISSION PROCESS

1. Please review our updated Rubric for COEEA Mini-Grants Selection Process.

2. Download or Make a Copy of the 2024 COEEA Mini-Grant Application document.

3. Rename it as [Your Organization] – 2024 COEEA Mini-Grant Application

4. Email the completed application as an attachment to minigrants@coeea.org

   • Identify your name/organization and Mini-Grant category in the subject line

   • Attach any letters of support or other evidence 

 

As part of our updated Mini-Grants process, we included a new section in the application document regarding applicants' self-evaluation about their DEIJ actions& initiatives. Use the Meyer Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Spectrum Tool to reflect on where you think your organization or group is on its DEI journey and to identify potential areas for future work. The tool describes organizational components at different points along the DEI continuum for twelve different dimensions of DEI work. COEEA acknowledges that DEI advancement is a complex process and every organization’s DEI journey is unique. The tool focuses on five points along the DEI continuum – “Not Yet Started,” “Ready to Start,” “Launched,” “Well on the Way,” and “Exemplary/ Leading” – but few organizations’ DEI experiences fit neatly into these stages. The descriptions of each point in the process are intended to serve as guideposts rather than fixed stages. 

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• Applications are due by 5:00pm on Friday, July 26, 2024

  • Late applications will not be considered

• Each individual or organization may only submit one application per cycle

• Awarded projects should be completed by August 31, 2025

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SELECTION PROCESS 

Mini-Grant evaluation will be guided by the above-mentioned rubric and based on the merit and potential impacts of the proposed project in alignment with COEEA’s vision:

• COEEA acknowledges all the ways in which we differ, are similar, and are unique. These differences for groups and communities include race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability and learning styles. COEEA recognizes that the perspectives, experiences, and beliefs of marginalized individuals and communities should be centered in every Environmental Education initiative to ensure all audiences feel and experience a sense of belonging. COEEA's revised Mini-Grant initiative aims to allocate funds accordingly and prioritizes funding proposals that intentionally allocate funds to undertake multiple barriers for access to their programs, so that diverse projects across CT have access to resources.

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• COEEA also recognizes that different Environmental Education organizations are at different steps in their journey to become a more diverse, inclusive, equitable, just, and anti-racist organization. COEEA prioritizes funding proposals from organizations that have already started and advanced their DEIJ initiatives internally, in comparison to proposals seeking funds for such advancements. COEEA believes that organizational leadership that is authentic and intentional about advancing their DEIJ initiatives internally would prioritize their own DEIJ training and advancements and would submit a proposal that is the result of their internal work. COEEA trusts that applicants will use the self-assessment tool in an honest and purposeful way and report their assessment with integrity in their application.

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• COEEA recognizes that large- and medium-size organizations may have access to additional funding resources, while smaller organizations may struggle to secure such funds. Similarly, collaborations with grassroots, community-based, small organizations may restrict the pool of funds available for each partner, in comparison with initiatives supported by large partners. COEEA acknowledges that an equitable funding process should prioritize smaller organizations and grassroots, community-based collaborations.

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• COEEA recognizes that high-quality educational programs tailored to the specific needs and demands of the community served are more effective and result in more long-lasting impacts than "top-down" programs planned to fit general audiences. It is crucial to learn from the community, either directly or through local, community-based partnerships. COEEA acknowledges that impactful, long-lasting community-based environmental education programs can best thrive by leveraging community-based assets and learning from them.

 

The COEEA Mini-Grants Action Team will review proposals at the close of  the application period. Applicants will be notified by August, 2024, whether their proposals have been recommended for full, partial, or no funding. In the latter case, we understand that such an outcome can be disappointing or frustrating. The COEEA Mini-Grants Action Team will  provide additional clarity or information on the evaluation for any applicant, including the team’s assessment of the strengths of the proposal and opportunities for growth that would most closely align with COEEA’s vision. Recipients will be announced on COEEA’s listserv, website, and social media.

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TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Upon the decision of grantees, COEEA will commit to:

1. Submit a check in the total or partial funds requested to an appropriate address provided by the grantee;

2. Waive registration fees to the grantee's representative to attend the 2025 COEEA Annual Conference;

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Selected grantees are committed to:

1. Use the funds for projects conducted between September 2024 and August 2025, in accordance to the submitted proposal;

2. Submit a short narrative about how the funds will have been used at the completion of the project, no later than September 2025, to the COEEA Mini-Grants Action Team;

3. Send a representative of their team to attend the 2025 COEEA Annual Conference;

4. Acknowledge the financial support from COEEA to the proposed project, including but not limited to annual reports, press releases, advertising of events, printed media, website, relevant social media posts;