National Environmental Education and Training Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Environmental Education and Stewardship Division, is soliciting applications for the National Environmental Education and Training Program (NEETP) under funding opportunity EPA-OA-NEETP-26. This program is authorized by Section 5 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-619). Its primary objective is to deliver environmental education (EE) training and long-term support to both formal and non-formal education professionals throughout the United States. The program aims to build national capacity by equipping educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively teach environmental topics and promote stewardship among diverse audiences. It supports the design, development, and implementation of environmental education and training programs and materials that enhance public understanding of environmental issues and promote responsible environmental behavior. This funding opportunity reflects EPA’s priorities under Executive Order 14313, "Establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission," by emphasizing environmental stewardship, outdoor education, environmental risk issue investigation, and AI-enhanced environmental education. It supports training initiatives such as in-service and pre-service educator development, faculty training, and the integration of environmental education into state educator certification programs. Allowable activities may include professional learning opportunities like workshops, courses, and seminars; the development of high-quality educational resources and online tools; and infrastructure support for state and national environmental education initiatives. Outcomes include increased capacity for environmental education delivery, strengthened educator networks, and enhanced public access to relevant instructional materials. Funding for this opportunity totals approximately $4,740,000, to be awarded to one recipient. The grant will be structured as a cooperative agreement with the EPA, indicating substantial involvement from agency staff during the project period. Funding will be distributed over a two-year term in annual increments of up to $2,370,000, subject to federal appropriations and satisfactory project performance. A minimum non-federal cost share of 25% of the total project cost is required. Applicants must provide documentation in the SF-424 and SF-424A forms and in the Detailed Budget and Narrative to demonstrate how this requirement will be met, whether through cash or in-kind contributions. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a consortium of such entities. Applications from for-profit organizations, individuals, or nonprofits engaged in lobbying under Section 501(c)(4) are ineligible. Additionally, the project’s activities must occur within the United States or its territories. Applications that do not meet these eligibility thresholds, including those exceeding the funding cap or failing to demonstrate cost share compliance, will not be considered. EPA encourages consortia applications to maximize impact and build broader capacity across education sectors. Applications are due no later than April 27, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time via Grants.gov. Late submissions will be deemed ineligible unless a documented technical issue with Grants.gov is substantiated prior to the deadline. Required submission components include the federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, EPA Forms 5700-54 and 4700-4), a Work Plan (not exceeding 20 pages), and a set of attachments comprising a detailed budget, project timeline, logic model, programmatic capability narrative, and partnership letters of commitment (if applicable). Applications must adhere strictly to formatting and content guidelines as specified in the NOFO. EPA will evaluate proposals using a 100-point scale based on the quality of the work plan, outputs and outcomes, budget narrative, and project implementation strategy. Additional considerations include the applicant’s capacity to deliver the program, clarity of goals and target audiences, use of partnerships, and integration of the stated funding priorities. Successful applicants will be notified in July 2026, with formal award announcements anticipated in September 2026. Projects are expected to begin no earlier than November 1, 2026, and span up to two years. There is no stated recurrence interval, and the opportunity may not be reissued annually.

Align project activities with EPA’s environmental education priorities; strengthen logic models and evaluation plans; demonstrate cost share clearly; ensure outputs are quantifiable; prioritize inclusive educator engagement.