Environmental Education and Stewardship Grants



2020 Environmental Education and Stewardship Grants Program

The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation will award up to $1.5 million through a competitive Environmental Education and Stewardship grants program. Eligible organizations include nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and public and private K-12 schools in communities served by Dominion Energy companies (see Geographic Eligibility below). The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation considers grant requests up to $25,000 that focus on specific, short-term projects that promise measurable results to improve the environment, and K-12 requests up to $5,000. The projects should support one or more of the following priorities:

  • Educating K-12 students and the public about environmental stewardship
  • Protecting and preserving natural habitats
  • Improving open spaces and making nature accessible

Application Cycle - Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, the deadline has been extended.

  • Sept. 11 - Application period closes at 5 p.m.
  • December - Notification to all applicants
  • January/February 2021 - Public announcements and check presentations

Project Description

The project description should include:

  • Specific plan of action including project activities, locations and targeted audiences (K-12 applicants include grade levels)
  • Anticipated outcomes that address identified community need
  • Effective evaluation methods
  • Plans to sustain the program and share results with Dominion Energy and the community



Geographic Eligibility

The Environmental Education and Stewardship grants are being offered in and near communities served by Dominion Energy companies, including:

  • Colorado: Garfield, Moffat and Rio Blanco
  • Connecticut: Bozrah, Colchester, East Haddam, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Preston, Salem, Sprague, Stonington, Voluntown and Waterford
  • Idaho: Franklin
  • Maryland: Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s
  • New York: Send us an email (1-2 paragraphs) about your organization, potential project and localities served, and Dominion Energy will provide invitation code if appropriate
  • North Carolina: The counties of Alamance, Alexander, Beaufort, Bertie, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Camden, Caswell, Chatham, Chowan, Cleveland, Currituck, Dare, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Granville, Halifax, Haywood, Henderson, Hertford, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrell, Vance, Wake, Warren and Washington, and the cities of Roanoke Rapids and Weldon
  • Ohio: Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Guernsey, Jefferson, Hardin, Harrison, Holmes, Knox, Lake, Mahoning, Medina, Mercer, Monroe, Noble, Paulding, Portage, Putnam, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Van Wert, Washington and Wayne
  • Pennsylvania: Send us an email (1-2 paragraphs) about your organization, potential project and localities served, and Dominion Energy will provide invitation code if appropriate
  • South Carolina: All localities are invited to apply
  • Utah: All counties with the exception of Kane and Wayne
  • Virginia: All localities are invited to apply
  • West Virginia: All localities are invited to apply
  • Wyoming: Carbon, Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater and Uinta
  • Other areas in the Dominion Energy footprint: Geographic restrictions apply. Please send an email with two paragraphs about your organization and proposed project, along with localities served.

 

Budget Items and Restrictions

The maximum grant award is $25,000 for nonprofit organizations in areas where Dominion Energy has significant assets or customer base. If the project narrative and budget do not adequately support the requested funding amount, lesser amounts may be awarded. The maximum grant for K-12 schools is $5,000.

Budget items may include but are not limited to: supplies and materials, equipment specifically related to the proposed project and staff training.



Funding Restrictions

The Environmental Education and Stewardship Grants program will not cover:

  • Support for capital and/or land acquisition
  • Long-term research projects
  • General operating grants
  • Overhead, indirect costs or endowments


Proposal Evaluation

A panel of Dominion Energy representatives that includes members of Dominion Energy’s local Community Investment Boards, Foundation staff and Environmental Services staff, serving as subject matter experts, will review the applications. The review panel will consider whether the proposal:

  • Focuses on specific, short term project(s) that promise measurable results to improve the environment and/or provide meaningful educational opportunities
  • Represents innovative and promising ideas to meet stated objectives
  • Demonstrates careful planning and strong likelihood of success, including plans to sustain the project
  • Includes plans to evaluate and share results on effectiveness of the program

 

Expectation of Grant Recipients

Grant recipients will be asked to:

  • Meet with Dominion Energy representatives to review their proposal, discuss project parameters and receive the grant check
  • Complete a detailed final report one year after receipt of grant

 

Recent Awards

View recently awards of the Environmental Education and Stewardship grants.



Have Grant Questions? Contact Dominion Energy's Charitable Foundation