Mini-Grant Awards:

INCREASING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

Every year, COEEA provides up to two educational organizations and/or community-based groups with $500 to $1,500 funding for local projects or enhancements to existing projects that increase environmental literacy among Connecticut residents, across a broad and diverse audience of youth and/or adult learners.

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ADVANCING DEIJ in ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Starting in 2020, COEEA added up to two additional mini-grant opportunity of up to $2,500 to fund actions that advance diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice (DEIJ) in environmental initiatives, including but not limited to DEIJ staff training, recruitment and outreach of more diverse program audiences, stipends for interns with more diverse backgrounds, or projects addressing one or more dimensions of environmental injustice.

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The mini-grant cycle period is for the 2023-2024 calendar year - for projects completed between August 01, 2023 and July 31, 2024.

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ELIGIBILITY & QUESTIONS
All 2022-2023 COEEA members (individuals or organizations) are eligible to apply, except Mini-Grant recipients from the last two years (cycles 2020 and 2021).  If you have any questions, please contact the COEEA Mini-Grants Action Team at minigrants@coeea.org  

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SUBMISSION PROCESS

1. Please review our updated Rubric for COEEA Mini-Grants Selection Process.

2. Download or Make a Copy of the 2023 COEEA Mini-Grant Application document 

3. Rename it as [Your Organization] – 2023 COEEA Mini-Grant Application

4. Email the completed application as an attachment to minigrants@coeea.org

   1. Identify your name/organization and Mini-Grant category in the subject line

   2. Attach any letters of support or other evidence 

 

As part of our updated Mini-Grants process, we included a new section in the application document regarding applicants' self-evaluation about their DEIJ actions& initiatives. Please use the Cultural Responsiveness Self-Evaluation Tool to reflect on and identify where you think your organization/group falls along the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion spectrum. You and/or your organization may benefit by this instructional webinar on how to use this self-evaluation tool.  For each characteristic, indicate in the table below whether your organization/group is Absent, Emerging, or Highly Effective. Please also indicate whether you think each characteristic is either a Relative Asset/Strength or Potential Area for Improvement (credit: OSU Outdoor School).

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• Applications are due by 5:00pm on June 19, 2023 

  • Late applications will not be considered

• Each individual or organization may only submit one application per cycle

• If awarded, projects should be completed between August 01, 2023 and July 31, 2024

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SELECTION PROCESS 

The COEEA Mini-Grants Action Team will review and evaluate each application and announce the recipients by August, 2023.

 

Mini-grant evaluation will be based on the merit and potential impacts of the proposed project, including local relevance, meaningful/experiential learning, environmental stewardship, and alignment with COEEA’s vision.

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Please review our updated Rubric for COEEA Mini-Grants Selection Process.

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Once the selection process is completed, applicants will be communicated whether their applications have been recommended for full, partial or no funding. In the latter case, we understand that such outcome can be frustrating, and an alternative way that the COEEA Mini-Grants Action Team can further support our members is by providing feedback on the evaluation of their specific  application. If the applicant wants more information, particularly on what was the team's assessment of the strengths of the proposal and the parts the team felt deserved more development, the COEEA Mini-Grants Action Team is committed to follow up discussions with any interested applicant.

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TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Upon the decision of grantees, COEEA will commit to:

1. Submit a check in the total or partial funds requested to an appropriate address provided by the grantee;

2. Waive registration fees to the grantee's representative attending the 2024 COEEA Annual Conference;

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Selected grantees are committed to:

1. Use the funds for projects conducted between August 2023 and July 2024, in accordance to the submitted proposal;

2. Submit a short narrative about how the funds will have been used at the completion of the project, no later than October 2024, to the COEEA Mini-Grants Action Team;

3. Send a representative of their team to attend the 2024 COEEA Annual Conference;

4. Acknowledge the financial support from COEEA to the proposed project, including but not limited to annual reports, press releases, advertising of events, printed media, website, relevant social media posts;