Environmental Action Grant

The Environmental Action Grant is an annual funding initiative administered by NIPSCO (Northern Indiana Public Service Company), a NiSource company. This grant program reflects NIPSCO’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility by supporting projects that focus on environmental restoration and education within its service territory in northern Indiana. The initiative aligns with NIPSCO’s goals of fostering sustainability, protecting natural resources, and engaging communities in impactful environmental efforts. The grant program is designed to fund nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities that are executing projects or programs with direct environmental benefits. Applicants must have a clear focus on environmental restoration or education and demonstrate a meaningful and localized impact within the NIPSCO service area. Projects may include habitat restoration, environmental curriculum development, community clean-up efforts, conservation education, and similar activities that promote ecological awareness and sustainability. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and other non-governmental organizations that may not hold 501(c)(3) status but can demonstrate tax-exempt or nonprofit status as determined by the IRS. All proposed projects must take place within the geographic bounds of NIPSCO’s northern Indiana service area, and must include detailed documentation such as a project narrative, budget, intended outcomes, timeline, and an evaluation framework. Grant awards range from $500 to $5,000 per project. Each submission will be reviewed and evaluated based on criteria including quality of the proposal, strategic potential, community impact, public benefit, and overall project management. The application must be submitted through NIPSCO’s online request portal. For the 2026 cycle, applications are due by Friday, April 3, 2026. Award announcements will be made during the week of Earth Day, April 22, 2026, providing applicants with timely notification. This annual program provides organizations the opportunity to implement impactful projects that align with environmental awareness campaigns celebrated around Earth Day. It also reinforces NIPSCO’s leadership in environmental responsibility within the communities it serves. For inquiries, applicants may contact Dana Berkes via email at [email protected]. Past recipients of the grant have included diverse organizations such as Monarch Joint Venture and Blue Heron Ministries, with funded projects ranging from pollinator habitat enhancements to educational demonstration gardens, underscoring the grant’s support of a wide spectrum of conservation efforts.

Projects will be evaluated based on quality, strategic potential, community impact, public benefit, and management.