Building Capacity for Environmental Literacy | NOAA SEC OED 2018 2005481

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA SEC OED 2018 2005481

The Building Capacity for Environmental Literacy opportunity is a NOAA (Department of Commerce) discretionary funding announcement that supports a single, multi-year cooperative agreement with one nonprofit organization to strengthen environmental literacy efforts tied to NOAA mission priorities. The central idea is to create a close working partnership between NOAA and a nonprofit whose mission aligns with environmental education and/or conservation, so they can jointly expand and coordinate education, outreach, and professional development that help the public and educators better understand and act on environmental science and stewardship issues.

Under this cooperative agreement, the selected nonprofit is expected to play a field-building role rather than just deliver one standalone program. NOAA is looking for an organization with demonstrated experience in environmental literacy and the operational capacity to convene meetings and workshops, manage and administer small-scale grants, and support meaningful program evaluation. Additional strengths that NOAA indicates as preferred include the ability to facilitate partnerships across organizations, create education and outreach materials, and run professional development for educators. While the exact work plan is meant to be shaped collaboratively with NOAA after selection, the overall focus is on supporting both formal education (such as K-12 or other structured learning environments) and informal education (such as community programs, museums, aquariums, media, public events, and other outreach formats).

Program content must support NOAA mission areas, specifically ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather, and climate sciences and stewardship. The activities are tied to the NOAA Education Strategic Plan 2015-2035, which frames NOAA education work around building public understanding, developing a skilled workforce, and strengthening stewardship informed by science. In practice, this means proposed efforts should clearly connect to NOAA-relevant science topics and translate them into effective learning experiences, educator training, and public engagement strategies that can be scaled or replicated through partnerships.

Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations as applicants. Other entities are not allowed to apply directly, including for-profit organizations, individuals, state and local governments, Indian tribal governments, foreign organizations or governments, and institutions of higher education. However, many of those ineligible groups may still participate as partners on a nonprofit-led project, which allows the lead organization to assemble broad coalitions (for example, working with universities, school systems, local agencies, or science centers). Federal agencies cannot receive funds under this opportunity, but they may participate as non-funded partners.

The funding is structured as a five-year cooperative agreement, reflecting NOAA involvement beyond a typical grant relationship. NOAA anticipated annual funding in the range of about $200,000 to $1,000,000 per year across the FY 2018 to FY 2023 period, with a total award cap (ceiling) of $5,000,000 over all years. NOAA expected to make one award in FY 2018, with an anticipated decision date by July 31, 2018 and a start date no earlier than August 1, 2018. The original application closing date was April 9, 2018. The opportunity is identified as NOAA SEC OED 2018 2005481, listed under CFDA 11.008, and uses the cooperative agreement funding instrument, signaling substantial NOAA engagement in shaping and executing the work over the five-year period.

Projects must be implemented within the United States and its territories. NOAA also pointed applicants to additional application-related resources hosted on its Office of Education website, and referenced NOAA education pages for context on existing efforts and partnerships. Overall, NOAA designed this award to strengthen the broader ecosystem of organizations working on environmental literacy by supporting a nonprofit that can coordinate partners, provide training and resources, administer sub-awards, and document results in ways that advance NOAA education goals at a national scale.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Building Capacity for Environmental Literacy" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.008.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-04-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for NOAA SEC OED 2018 2005481

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: