Best Environmental Education Grants in Maine

501(c)(3) organizations working on environmental, education, or mental health projects in Maine can apply for Brutten Family Foundation support; awards fund specific, project-based work. Programs that expand access to the outdoors, environmental education, or ecosystem restoration, especially for underserved communities, may be strong candidates alongside other mission-aligned initiatives worldwide.

The Creag Foundation, established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington, provides funding to innovative 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations addressing social issues. Focused on smaller organizations, the foundation seeks to support those with unique approaches to improve the human condition. Eligible applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for at least one year and present a new or previously unaddressed solution to societal challenges. Applications are by invitation only, encouraging creativity and passion in charitable work.

David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation provides Maine environmental education and conservation nonprofits with US $5,000 - US $100,000 for projects that preserve and improve the environment. Qualified 501(c)(3) organizations conducting activities in Utah are the primary focus, but groups working nationally, including those with environmental programs, may be considered for support.

Maine nonprofits and community-based organizations restoring or preserving historic properties can access funding through Maine Historic Preservation Commission in Maine. Matching grants support work on sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places, which the Commission administers in the state, and may benefit environmental education efforts that use or interpret these historic resources.

Maine 501(c)(3) organizations running arts, music, or trades education projects may be eligible for $2,500 - $50,000 in project-based funding. Grants from Mattina R. Proctor Foundation help programs in Maine and Massachusetts that expand music and performance education, especially for underserved communities, and may benefit environmental education efforts that incorporate arts or media components.

Mattina R. Proctor Foundation provides Maine 501(c)(3) organizations with US $2,500 - US $50,000 for specific environmental stewardship projects. Eligible nonprofits working in Midcoast counties can fund land acquisition and protection, conservation easements, and multiple-use management that supports rural economies, which may include environmental education components tied to these initiatives.

501(c)(3) organizations in Maine and Massachusetts can apply for Mattina R. Proctor Foundation grants of US $2,500 - US $50,000 for specific healthcare projects, including diabetes research and care, dental care, and preventative healthcare for underserved populations. Maine groups offering environmental education alongside community health initiatives may be eligible if their projects directly impact local communities.

Tax-exempt organizations, schools, municipalities, and fiscally sponsored grassroots groups in Maine border communities near Coös County can apply for the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund Dash Grants, awarding US $250 - US $2,000 for short-term community and economic development projects. Environmental education efforts that benefit Coös County residents or landscapes may be eligible.

Maine schools and community centers can receive support to establish educational orchards and gardens through United Charitable’s ReTreeUS program. This funding helps create school and community orchards, provide experiential environmental education for K–12 students, and encourage youth interest in horticulture, botany, and biology in eligible sites across Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Public and private entities in Maine can seek funding to develop or improve solid waste diversion, composting, organics recovery, and recycling programs. With a mission to protect natural resources, the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection supports projects, pilots, infrastructure, and education initiatives that increase recycling, reduce wasted food, and expand sustainable waste management practices.

Individuals, groups, and organizations in Maine with environmental education, trail, or beautification projects can apply for Quadratec’s Energize The Environment grants, which award US $3,500 for a single project. Eligible U.S. applicants pursuing environmental education or stewardship initiatives may benefit, including community programs and youth engagement efforts.

Nonprofit and community-based organizations working on conservation, environmental education, and community well-being in Maine can apply for Betterment Fund grants of US $10,000 - US $35,000. The Betterment Fund supports projects in areas like land and habitat conservation, freshwater and environmental health, and community development, with a historical focus on Western Maine’s rural counties.

Maine 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on marine and coastal conservation, climate resilience, sustainable fisheries, or environmental justice can apply for operating or project support that may include environmental education components. Grants from Island Foundation help organizations in Maine, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Rhode Island protect coastal ecosystems and strengthen community-based conservation capacity.

Environmental and conservation nonprofits in Maine seeking US $25,000 - US $75,000 for multi-state or national projects can apply for the Environment Initiative Grants, which support climate, clean energy, toxics, waste, and water work across the U.S. Grants from Roy A Hunt Foundation help organizations that educate decision makers and consumers and promote systemic, private-sector environmental solutions.

Organizations and research teams working on climate change and human health projects in Maine can apply for US $2,500 - US $50,000 to pilot early-stage, cross-disciplinary ideas. Burroughs Wellcome Fund supports efforts linking biomedical, environmental, and population-focused fields, including public outreach, climate communication, and education at the climate–health intersection.

Environmental education nonprofits in Maine can look to McGraw Foundation for US $2,000 - US $10,000 to support programs such as nature-based learning and sustainability education. With a mission to back conservation and education, this Chicago-based funder supports 501(c)(3) organizations, generally for single-year operating, project, or occasional capital needs.

Solar Radiation Management Program

The Simons Foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) division invites applications for a new Solar Radiation Management program (SRM). The foundation strongly encourages applications from scientists in the global south and from investigators who may not have worked in SRM but have expertise that could bring new perspectives and skills to this field.

Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations, The Simons Foundation, Inc. reserves the right to refer an application to The Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (SFI) for consideration and funding, in which case SFI’s grant policies would apply.

Basis for Awards

The Simons Foundation has launched an international collaborative research program designed to fill fundamental scientific knowledge gaps relevant to Solar Radiation Management. SRM is an emerging collection of approaches, including stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), marine cloud brightening (MCB) and cirrus cloud thinning (CCT), designed to modify the Earth’s radiative balance and cool the planet. Although reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations is the only long-term strategy to mitigate climate change and other impacts, SRM might be able to ameliorate some of the negative impacts this century. However, SRM also may pose significant environmental and societal risks, including stratospheric warming, ozone depletion and changes in rainfall, thereby affecting water resources and agriculture. At present, not enough is known about SRM systems and their potential impacts to allow informed decision-making. This call aims to help fill key fundamental knowledge gaps in the science of SRM.

Priority areas for this call include:

• Environmentally benign materials discovery for SAI and CCT.
• Laboratory physicochemical characterization of SAI and CCT materials and their interactions with light, clouds, atmospheric trace gases and with themselves or ambient aerosols, with the aim to improve microphysical inputs to existing climate models.
• Approaches to minimize cirrus cloud formation, including from aircraft emissions.
• Assessments of near-field (<100 km) atmospheric turbulence and its impact on SAI and CCT interventions, primarily through modeling.
• Integration of improved representations of aerosols and turbulence into global-scale modeling, and characterization of global and regional impacts of novel materials for SAI and CCT.

Areas not within the scope of this program include social science research and in-situ field experiments involving aerosol release.

Proposals can be from individual investigators or small teams; the latter are not required to be from the same institution but must be organized via a main institution and subcontract institution(s). 

Proposals will be judged on scientific quality, potential for impact, potential for collaboration, extent of training graduate students and postdocs, and broadening participation domestically and globally.

As a part of the program obligations, awardees will be invited and expected to attend an annual meeting held at and paid directly by the Simons Foundation.

Funding

Proposal budgets should not exceed $500,000 per year, including indirect costs (limited to 20 percent modified total direct costs), for a period of three years. 

Nonprofits, public agencies, and private landowners in Maine can fund development, maintenance, and acquisition of recreational trails and related facilities, including accessibility and water trails. With a mission tied to outdoor recreation, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry provides environmental and trail groups with US $5,000 - US $120,000 on a reimbursement, matching basis.

State agencies, local governments, educational institutions, and private nonprofits in Maine can seek matching grants of US $10,000 - US $30,000 for historic preservation surveys, planning, education, and development projects. With a mission to protect Maine’s cultural resources, Maine Historic Preservation Commission supports Certified Local Government projects for National Register-listed properties.

Maine municipal governments with Certified Local Government (CLG) status, and nonprofits applying through them, can access funding for historic preservation projects in Maine, including surveys, public education, planning, and development work. Grants from Maine Historic Preservation Commission range from US $5,000 - US $50,000 for eligible National Register-listed buildings and sites in designated CLG communities.

Ignite Philanthropy

Through intentional listening and co-creation, Ignite Philanthropy supports the philanthropic and non-profit sectors. Our mission is simple: Maximize the power of giving. Ignite Philanthropy connects people, ideas, and capital to fuel community solutions. 

Our four core values have been developed by our team with intentionality around equity and community and how these connect to each value and the work we do each day. We believe in the merit of diverse teams and perspectives, striving to empower every voice in the creation of solutions.

Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation Grant

The Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation was created in 1997 by Cincinnati native and Boston resident, Nellie Leaman Taft, who died on December 17, 2012. Ms. Taft was an accomplished artist and committed patron of fine arts who is remembered as an independent, progressive-minded woman of great spirit and mirth, an avid gardener, and a worldwide traveler. She also was the descendant of two United States presidents, a loving friend and family member.

The Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation supports Arts Education and Environmental Education programs serving geographic areas important to Ms. Taft and to her family:

• Greater Cincinnati, OH
• Los Angeles County, CA
• Boston, MA (inside the Route 495 beltway)
• Mid-Coast Maine (defined as the towns of Bath, Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick, Camden, Cushing, Damariscotta, Lincolnville, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Searsport, Thomaston, Topsham, and Union)

Maine 501(c)(3) nonprofits, fiscally sponsored projects, and governmental units can seek funding to deliver science-based environmental education and nature learning for Maine youth, especially in rural areas. Grants from Onion Foundation help expand high-quality outdoor programs and overnight nature-learning trips that deepen young people’s connection to Maine’s natural systems and landscapes.

Maine environmental and conservation organizations can apply for John Sage Foundation grants, with awards ranging from US $500 - US $50,000 for projects that promote harmony between people and the natural environment. Funding may support environmental education, land and habitat conservation, community gardens, nature preserves, museums, and related environmental education initiatives in Maine.

Organizations running conservation projects with volunteers in Maine can receive up to US $10,000 to support environmental education, energy efficiency, flood resilience, and community health initiatives in Franklin, Oxford, and Somerset counties. Volunteer Maine provides funding for service-based projects that engage at least two individuals as interns, volunteers, fellows, or Corps members.

Environmental education and conservation-focused 501(c)(3) organizations in Maine and beyond can seek US $10,000 - US $30,000 to advance biodiversity protection, advocacy, and related education. Grants from Weeden Foundation help groups working on environmental education, habitat and wildlife conservation, sustainable consumption, and population initiatives, with some programs emphasizing specific regions such as Alaska, Montana, Northern California, and Chilean Patagonia.

Environmental education and conservation organizations in Maine and Northern New England can seek funding for land conservation, environmental education, and climate change projects. Focused on these areas, the Adelard and Valeda Roy Foundation prioritizes programs serving immigrants and refugees, Indigenous communities, low-income youth, and the elderly, with grants ranging from US $2,500 - US $10,000.

Nonprofit organizations in Maine offering environmental education, stewardship, land and water conservation, or related research can seek up to US $20,000 for operating or project support. Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust also considers initiatives that improve outdoor equity, climate resilience, and ecosystem health, including programs benefiting youth, BIPOC, and underserved communities.