The Nature of Learning Grant Program

Request for Proposal

Who should apply for The Nature of Learning start-up grants? Schools or non-profit organizations, including "Friends" groups, Cooperative and Interpretive Associations, Audubon Chapters, etc., are eligible to apply for funding. By becoming part of The Nature of Learning program, your community will be eligible for financial and technical assistance to help achieve the following:

Build educational value on refuges so that visits, exposure and enthusiasm on public lands expand and continue;
Introduce a process to enhance critical thinking skills and better prepare students as future community leaders;
Create long-lasting relationships among teachers, local businesses, community leaders and refuge personnel; and
Develop and nurture a strong sense of stewardship and civic pride using the refuge and community as outdoor classrooms.

To learn more about The Nature of Learning program, please visit http://www.fws.gov/refuges/education/natureoflearning/index.html.

Grant Guidelines:

Programs must involve a partnership among a local school(s), community group (e.g., Refuge Support Group), and National Wildlife Refuge. Letters of support are strongly encouraged and a letter from the refuge manager must be included with the on-line application.

Programs must be designed to meet all of the key elements of The Nature of Learning framework (i.e., partnerships, integrated learning, professional development, etc.) over time. Moreover, programs must promote an understanding of local conservation issues, improve scientific literacy, and conform to appropriate academic standards of learning.
Projects must be completed within 18 months.
Grant funding will be disbursed at the beginning of each phase of the project with 10% of the funds held back for dispersal upon receipt of The Nature of Learning program final accomplishment report.
Programs are expected to include an outdoor classroom experience for students and teachers at a National Wildlife Refuge and must also include a community stewardship project.
Existing conservation education programs are eligible for funding and technical assistance so long as there is a commitment to meet all of the elements of The Nature of Learning framework (see FWS website for additional information on key elements).
Preference will be given to start-up programs that can demonstrate a commitment to sustaining the program over time.
Matching contributions are not required; however strong preference will be given to applications that leverage the grant award with contributions from project partners.
First year start-up grants are available for up to $10,000.
Second year follow-up grants, up to $5,000, are available to support continued implementation of The Nature of Learning program.
To receive a follow-up The Nature of Learning program grant, you must reapply and will need to provide an accomplishment report with your application. The accomplishment report must detail the outcomes and achievements of The Nature of Learning start-up grant.

What information should be included in my proposal?

Nature of Learning Easygrants Application, www.nfwf.org/grantapplication. Once you complete the Easygrants registration, you will use your e-mail address as your Login ID. All e-mails sent by the system will be sent to this e-mail address.
Nature of Learning Full Proposal Narrative
Refuge Manager Signature Page
Financial Documents

Financial documents:

Non-profit IRS determination letter or a letter from the IRS stating they have received your application;
Most recent fiscal year audited financial statement, if an audit is not available please submit a balance sheet from the most recent fiscal year; and
Most recent IRS Form 990, if a 990 is not available please submit a balance sheet from the most recent fiscal year. View the Nature of Learning - Sample Balance Sheet.

*If your organization has not had an audit or has not been required to file a Form 990, please make a note of this and attach it with your financial materials. The Form 990 and financial statements should reflect the same fiscal year.

How to apply:

Applicants must complete the on-line Easygrants application form at www.nfwf.org/grantapplication. Applications must be submitted on-line and received by Monday, June 15th, 2009. Projects will be evaluated to the extent by which the above guidelines are met. Applicants will be notified of their awards by Friday, October 16, 2009. Please do not contact the Foundation before this date in regards to the status of your application.

For additional information on The Nature of Learning program, please contact Deborah Moore at deborah_moore@fws.gov. For questions regarded grant applications, please contact Teal Edelen at teal.edelen@nfwf.org.

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