Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee
The Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee is a volunteer group of citizens, professionals and government representatives whose primary role is to educate and inform people about the benefits of urban forests, and to enhance the public's appreciation for those forests. To help achieve our task, we promote and coordinate the Maryland Community PLANT Awards and administer Grants to schools and communities in Maryland that promote tree projects, including education, planting and care.

Chesapeake Bay Trust
60 West Street, Suite 200A
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-974-2941
The Chesapeake Bay Trust offers grants schools for projects that contribute to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The Trust favors action-oriented activities. Requests for $2,000 and under may be submitted at any time, preferably at least 4-6 weeks before the activity. Requests over $2,000 must be received before 5 p.m. on the quarterly deadline dates.

Aquatic Resources Education Grants Program /Maryland DNR
580 Taylor Ave. E-2, Annapolis MD 21401
410-260-8710
Provides reimbursement grants for Maryland public and non-public school educators to design projects which equip their students to make educated choices concerning aquatic resources. Grants of $1,000 per school and up to $4000 per school district are available to conduct aquatics related projects.

Education & Environment Focused Grants for K-12 Schools
This is a guide developed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation featuring information on many regional and national grants as well as tips on writing a successful grant.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Listing of National & Regional Funding Sources

National Funding Sources

DonorsChoose.Org
DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund. Proposals range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Big Book Bonanza" ($320), to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search such proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project(s) they find most compelling. In completing a project, donors receive student thank-you notes, classroom photos, and a teacher Impact Letter.

Education & Environment Focused Grants for K-12 Schools
This is a guide developed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation featuring information on many regional and national grants as well as tips on writing a successful grant.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Listing of National & Regional Funding Sources

Toshiba America Foundation
The mission of Toshiba America Foundation is to promote quality science and mathematics education in U.S. schools. Grants are made for programs and activities that improve teaching and learning in science and mathematics, grades K-12. The Foundation focuses its grant making on inquiry-based projects designed by individual teachers, and small teams of teachers, for use in their own classrooms.  Click above for more information.

National Geographic Education Foundation Grants
The mission of the National Geographic Society's Education Foundation is to prepare children to embrace a diverse world, succeed in a global economy, and steward the planet's resources. Teacher grants to support innovative geography education projects are given directly to educators to facilitate their work in promoting geographic literacy in the classroom, school, district, and community. Project proposals should involve students in the research and study of a particular geographic issue/problem and create a public awareness campaign for sharing their knowledge with a wider audience. Teacher grant applications are accepted from any current teacher or administrator in an accredited K-12 school within the United States and Canada. Projects that have outreach to urban areas are particularly encouraged. The application deadline is September 2.

National Wildlife Federation
1-800-822-9919
50 grants of $250 each are available for creating schoolyard habitats. Each year, applications will be available online beginning October 1st and are due by January 15th.

Home Depot
1-800-430-3376
Offers grants to projects benefiting the environment, and to those working with at-risk youth.

Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Fund
414-272-5805
Offers small grants to schools and other educational organizations that work towards creating natural landscapes using native plants.

Lowe's Toolbox for Education
Lowe's recognizes the importance of parent involvement in education. To empower parents and further encourage their involvement in their children's schools, we have established the Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant program to fund school improvement projects initiated by parents.  Launched in partnership with PTO Today, a leading organization serving parent-teacher groups, Toolbox for Education will provide grants of up to $5,000 for public school improvement projects initiated by parents. Up to 1,000 grants nationwide will be awarded during the 2005-2006 school year.  Click above to apply online or visit for more information.

National Gardening Association
NGA supports programs across the country that actively engages kids in the garden. To be eligible for the following grants, your school or organization must plan to garden with at least 15 kids between the ages of 3 and 18.

National Tree Trust
Community Tree Planting Program
1-800-846-8733
Schools can apply to receive free tree seedlings through NTT's Community Tree Planting Program.

National 4-H Council
7100 Connecticut Ave.
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301-961-2800
Community Tree Planting Grants for community tree planting and restoration projects.

Outdoor Classroom Grant Program
The Outdoor Classroom Grant Program provides outdoor, hands-on science education to students in grades K-12 and assists schools in enhancing their core curriculum in all subjects. Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor classroom grant program to provide schools with additional resources to improve their science curriculum by engaging students in hands-on experiences outside the traditional classroom. All K-12 public schools in the United States are welcome to apply.

This school year, the program will award grants up to $2,000 to at least 100 schools. In some cases, grants for up to $20,000 may be awarded to schools or school districts with major outdoor classroom projects. The grants can be used to build a new outdoor classroom or to enhance a current outdoor classroom at the school. This program only considers outdoor classroom proposals. Please submit all other grant proposals for community improvement projects and K-12 public school initiatives to the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation at www.lowes.com/community. After representatives from Lowe's, International Paper and National Geographic evaluate your grant application, you will receive International Paper's Life of the Forest Classroom Kit. The free kit, which contains 10 full-color posters, 10 teaching guides and 20 booklets, can be used in your classroom at your discretion.

Toshiba America Foundation
212-569-0600
Provides grants to K-12 teachers to improve science and science-related education.

Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Teachers
c/o National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington VA 22201
Available to K-12 science teachers. Application available on line.

Wal-Mart Foundation
Encourages community action by supporting environmental efforts and education



> Return to Maryland Green Schools Home
> Return to MAEOE Home