About the opportunity
The Environmental Education Initiative (EEI) by Discovery Education, in partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) and LyondellBasell (LYB), provides grant funding to support holistic STEM programs that infuse environmental science into school curricula. The program aims to engage students in place-based learning, citizen science, and environmental monitoring through investigations of local environmental issues or public land problems. Two cohorts of five Greening STEM projects will be selected from designated LyondellBasell communities. Each selected project will receive a $5,000 grant to support student-directed investigations, professional development, educator training, equipment, field trips, and related operational expenses during the 2026-2027 academic school year.
Funding and benefits
- Grant award of $5,000 per selected project.
- Support for staff and personnel costs for partner project team members.
- Coverage for directly related travel costs and student transportation.
- Funding for project-specific supplies, measurement equipment, tablets, and software.
- Support for professional development, training, sample analysis, and educational material development.
Who can apply?
- Open to all public schools serving Grades 6-12 and their community partners.
- Applicants must be located within designated LyondellBasell target communities: Houston, TX; Corpus Christi-Victoria-Matagorda, TX; Lake Charles, LA; Edison, NJ; Morris, IL; Clinton, IA; and Cincinnati, OH.
- Applications must be submitted through NEEF's online grants portal.
Required documents
- Completed online grant application via NEEF's grants portal
- Signed student, faculty, and staff release forms (required within 30 days of launching the first program activity if awarded)
- Final project report including media submissions (due in spring 2027)
When to apply
- Late August 2026: Online applications open
- October 8, 2026: Grant applications are due by 11:59 pm Pacific
- October 2026: Application review and grantee selection completed
- Fall 2026: Award announcement and funding distribution
How to apply
- Review the Request for Application guidelines and ensure your public school serves Grades 6-12 in a targeted LyondellBasell community.
- Log into NEEF's online grants portal (create an account or use an existing account tied to your EIN).
- Complete and submit the application by October 8, 2026, at 11:59 pm Pacific.
Additional information
- Grantees must complete their Greening STEM projects by spring 2027 and submit final reports.
- Projects must incorporate Greening STEM Design Principles: place-based learning, three-dimensional learning, project-based learning, and community-based learning.
- Projects must include pre-field preparation, at least one school visit by a community partner, field-based data collection, data analysis, and a presentation of findings.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Formal and informal educators working in public middle or high schools within the designated LyondellBasell communities.
- Teams looking to integrate hands-on citizen science, outdoor data collection, and local environmental monitoring into their standard curricula.
- Schools seeking seed funding to launch interdisciplinary STEM initiatives and establish long-term partnerships with community organizations.
What should you think carefully about?
- Strict geographic limitations restrict eligibility exclusively to specific cities and regions in Texas, Louisiana, New Jersey, Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio.
- Projects operate on a tight timeframe, requiring completion and reporting by the spring 2027 semester.
- Grantees must commit to mandatory evaluation processes, consultations, and participant release forms.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This grant is ideal for educators aiming to secure external funding for hands-on environmental projects, boost student engagement in STEM fields, and foster civic stewardship through local investigations without managing complex multi-year grant administration.
Our take
Public school educators in the eligible regions with a plan for student-led environmental monitoring should apply before the October 2026 deadline. Those outside the designated geographic areas or unable to complete project deliverables by spring 2027 are not eligible.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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