Ohio Environmental Education Fund
OEEF Background Information
The OEEF was created by the General Assembly in 1990 to enhance Ohio citizens' awareness and understanding of environmental issues. It is administered by the Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and provides approximately $1 million annually in grants to support environmental education efforts within the state of Ohio.
The OEEF derives its monies from one-half of the civil penalties collected from violations of Ohio's air and water pollution control regulations. The OEEF funds education projects that target three audiences: (1) the general public; (2) the regulated community; and (3) pre-school through university students and teachers. General grants are available for $5,000 to $50,000, and mini grants for projects costing between $500 and $5,000.
Application guidelines spell out application requirements, current funding priorities, the application review process, and preferred characteristics for projects targeting the respective audiences. OEEF grant coordinators are also available to assist in preparing grant proposals prior to the deadline dates, and to advise applicants on the eligibility of possible projects. OEEF grant-writing workshops are also offered around the state several times yearly.
OEEF supports innovative projects that increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues, and provide the skills to make informed decisions and take responsible actions. Environmental education is based on objective and scientifically sound information, and does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action. It teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an issue through critical thinking, and it enhances their problem-solving and decision-making skills.
A list of past grant recipients illustrates the variety of projects that have been funded. Descriptions of OEEF Outstanding Project Award Winners showcase successful environmental education efforts that we encourage grant applicants to emulate.
Application Guidelines and Resources
NEW - The next application cycle is now open, with Letters of Intent to apply due to be entered within OEEF’s grant management system no later than Jan. 10, 2023, and complete applications due no later than Jan. 17, 2023, both by 5 p.m on each deadline date.
OEEF 2023 General Grant Guidelines
OEEF 2023 Mini Grant Guidelines
OEEF Grant Preferred Characteristics
- Adult/General Public Education Projects [PDF]
- K-12 Education Projects [PDF]
- Regulated Community Education Projects [PDF]
OEEF Application Review Process
Grant Administration Reference Document (GARD)
The document contains reporting guidelines for your general and mini grants. However, we encourage grantees to contact OEEF if a particular circumstance arises that may not be covered in your GARD and we will be glad to assist you.
"Resources for Grant Seekers?" and "Resources to Help You Evaluate Your Grant Program?" are links (to be updated periodically) that will provide additional information to help with your funding search and proposal preparation.
General Grants
- Sample Grant Agreement Template
- Grant Administration Reference Document(GARD) [PDF]
- OEEF Payment Request Form
Mini Grants
- Sample Mini Grant Contract [PDF]
- Grant Administration Reference Document (GARD) [PDF]
- OEEF Payment Request Form
Resources for Grant Seekers:
- Funding Sources for Environmental Education [PDF]
- Funding Sources for Environmental Restoration [PDF]
- The Foundation Center
- The Grantsmanship Center
- Federal Government Grants
- US EPA Grants
Talk to a reference librarian in your public library!
* Although Ohio EPA cannot endorse, sanction or guarantee the accuracy of information found on external Web sites, we think you might find outside resources useful. When you select a link to an external Web site, you are leaving Ohio EPA's Web site and are subject to the privacy, security and accessibility policies of the owners/sponsors of the external site.
Resources to Help You Evaluate Your Grant Program:
- W. K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook
- Centers for Disease Control Online Course on Practical Evaluation of Health Programs
Past Grant Recipients
Grant Award Summary Archives by State Fiscal Year
Mini Grants by Fiscal Year
- Mini Grant Summary 2023
- Mini Grant Summary 2022
- Mini Grant Summary 2021
- Mini Grant Summary 2020
- Mini Grant Summary 2019
- Mini Grant Summary 2018
- Mini Grant Summary 2017
- Mini Grant Summary 2016
- Mini Grant Summary 2015
- Mini Grant Summary 2014
- Mini Grant Summary 2013
- Mini Grant Summary 2012
- Mini Grant Summary 2011
- Mini Grant Summary 2010
- Mini Grant Summary 2009
- Mini Grant Summary 2008
- Mini Grant Summary 2007
- Mini Grant Summary 2006
- Mini Grant Summary 2005
- Mini Grant Summary 2004
- Mini Grant Summary 2003
- Mini Grant Summary 2002
- Mini Grant Summary 2001
- Mini Grant Summary 2000
General Grants by Fiscal Year
- General Grant Summary 2023
- General Grant Summary 2022
- General Grant Summary 2021
- General Grant Summary 2020
- General Grant Summary 2019
- General Grant Summary 2018
- General Grant Summary 2017
- General Grant Summary 2016
- General Grant Summary 2015
- General Grant Summary 2014
- General Grant Summary 2013
- General Grant Summary 2012
- General Grant Summary 2011
- General Grant Summary 2010
- General Grant Summary 2009
- General Grant Summary 2008
- General Grant Summary 2007
- General Grant Summary 2006
- General Grant Summary 2005
- General Grant Summary 2004
- General Grant Summary 2003
- General Grant Summary 2002
- General Grant Summary 2001
- General Grant Summary 2000
- General Grant Summary 1999
- General Grant Summary 1998
- General Grant Summary 1991 - 1997
Outstanding Projects
Featured Environmental Education Projects
Periodically, the OEEF contracts with the Environmental Education Council of Ohio to conduct an independent review of completed grant projects, in order to select OEEF Outstanding Project award winners. OEEF highlights these projects as examples of effective environmental education. Because of the great variety in OEEF-funded projects, EECO and the OEEF developed a set of holistic instruments for use in reviewing these completed grant projects, Rubrics Cubed: What One Grant Maker Looks for in EE Projects [PDF]. These are the instruments that we use:
For K-12 education projects:
- OEEF Rubric for K-12 curriculum [PDF]
- OEEF rubric for K-12 student activity [PDF]
- OEEF rubric for K-12 professional development [PDF]
For general public/adult education projects:
- OEEF rubric for seminar/class/workshop [PDF]
- OEEF rubric for print product [PDF]
- OEEF rubric for media product [PDF]
- OEEF rubric for public awareness campaign [PDF]
For regulated community projects:
- OEEF rubric for seminar/class/workshop [PDF]
- OEEF rubric for print product [PDF]
- OEEF rubric for media product [PDF]
OEEF also uses a tool for website evaluation for both K-12 and general public projects that contain a website component.
- OEEF Outstanding Projects Selected in 2016
- OEEF Outstanding Projects Selected in 2011- 2012 [PDF]
- OEEF Outstanding Projects Selected in 2004, 2006, and 2008
- OEEF Outstanding Projects Selected in 2000 [PDF]