2026 Greening STEM Grant | $5,000 Grants for Schools in the United States

Schools and community partners in selected LyondellBasell communities in the United States can apply for the 2026–2027 Greening STEM Grant, an environmental education funding opportunity designed to support student-centered STEM projects focused on local environmental issues.

The initiative is offered through the Environmental Education Initiative (EEI) by Discovery Education, in partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) and LyondellBasell (LYB).

During the 2026–2027 school year, the initiative will select two cohorts of five Greening STEM projects, with each selected project receiving a $5,000 grant.

The programme is designed to engage students in environmental science, encourage informed decision-making about healthy environments, and promote civic engagement through authentic STEM learning experiences.

About the Greening STEM Grant

The $5,000 grants will support holistic STEM programmes that incorporate environmental science and related resources into school curricula.

Projects should focus on student-directed investigations involving relevant research questions, local environmental issues, or challenges affecting local public lands.

Funding can help educators develop STEM programming that gives students opportunities to participate in place-based learning and environmental monitoring.

The initiative seeks to provide students with authentic STEM learning experiences in which the environment serves as a context for engagement and learning.

What the Grant Supports

The Greening STEM Grant supports projects that use STEM-focused content, instructional strategies, training approaches, collaboration and dissemination technologies to strengthen learning both inside and outside the classroom.

The programme particularly encourages projects that:

• Introduce middle school students to citizen science or environmental monitoring activities.
• Build the capacity of formal and informal educators to provide high-quality STEM programming aligned with state education standards.
• Help schools develop a culture that uses the environment to improve student learning and achievement.
• Engage young people in environmental monitoring and the collection of environmental data.
• Give students opportunities to work with data relating to issues such as air, soil or water quality.
• Develop Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas and Crosscutting Concepts.
• Build partnerships between schools and community-based organizations.
• Encourage authentic problem-solving, collaboration and student leadership.
• Increase student interest in STEM subjects and careers.

Grant Amount

Each selected project will receive:

$5,000

The programme anticipates $25,000 in total funding for the fall 2026 grant cycle, supporting five $5,000 grants. Grantees are expected to complete their Greening STEM projects by spring 2027.

Funding may support eligible project expenses including:

• Staff and personnel costs for partner project teams
• Direct travel costs for project team members
• Transportation for students and youth participants
• Training and educational materials
• Project-specific supplies and materials
• Measurement equipment
• Tablets and software
• Data-quality measures and evaluations
• Professional development for educators and partner staff
• On-site project costs
• Postage and shipping
• Laboratory analysis of air, soil or water samples
• Data analysis
• Training related to programme planning, citizen science and environmental monitoring

The source states that no more than 10% of the project budget should support training.

Eligibility

The grant competition is open to public schools serving Grades 6–12 and their community partners located in the following targeted communities:

• Houston, Texas
• Corpus Christi–Victoria–Matagorda, Texas
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
• Edison, New Jersey
• Morris, Illinois
• Clinton, Iowa
• Cincinnati, Ohio

Applicants must submit their applications through the NEEF online grants system.

Greening STEM Project Design Principles

Projects should incorporate the Greening STEM Design Principles, which are based on an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to STEM education.

The model places students and their interests at the centre of learning while using natural environments and real-world challenges to encourage exploration, problem-solving and environmental stewardship.

Projects should include four key elements:

1. Place-Based Learning

Students should explore a topic, issue or problem through direct experience and collaboration. Community partners and educators can help connect students with relevant opportunities and resources.

2. Three-Dimensional Learning

Students explore an anchoring phenomenon, question existing assumptions, apply STEM practices and connect disciplinary knowledge with real-world events.

3. Project-Based Learning

Students should engage with challenging project work over an extended period while using appropriate tools, techniques and technology. They should also have opportunities to share their findings with audiences beyond the classroom.

4. Community-Based Learning

Students examine environmental issues within their local cultural and community context. Projects should consider local perspectives and how proposed solutions may affect the communities involved.

Project Expectations

Applicants are expected to describe a citizen science or environmental monitoring project and explain the STEM skills students will develop through participation.

The project should include:

• A series of STEM learning activities.
• Pre-field activities that prepare students for field experiences.
• At least one pre-field activity involving a virtual or in-person visit to the participating school by a community partner representative.
• One or more field visits where students participate in data collection as part of citizen science or environmental monitoring.
• At least two post-field activities.
• A post-field activity involving data analysis.
• A presentation of project findings.

Application Timeline

The application timeline for the 2026–2027 grant cycle is:

• Late August 2026: Online applications open
• October 8, 2026: Grant applications due by 11:59 PM Pacific
• October 2026: Application review and grantee selection
• Fall 2026: Award announcement and distribution of funding
• Spring 2027: Grant performance period concludes
• Spring 2027: Final reports due

Application Deadline

October 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through the NEEF online grants portal. Applicants who have previously applied for a NEEF grant should use their existing account, while first-time applicants will need to create an account.

Applicants should develop their proposal around the Greening STEM model and clearly demonstrate how students will participate in environmental investigation, field-based learning, data collection, analysis and presentation.

Applicants can also consult NEEF’s Grant FAQ resources for additional guidance. Questions about the funding opportunity can be directed to Megan Willig at MWillig@NEEFUsa.org. Technical questions can be sent to grants@neefusa.org, using “EEI LYB Greening STEM Grant” as the email subject.

Grant Expectations

Selected grantees are encouraged to work with NEEF’s K-12 Education team during project design and implementation. They are also required to participate in the programme evaluation process, which may involve interviews, observations and other forms of data collection and analysis.

Grantees will also need to submit signed release forms for students, faculty and staff participating in funded programmes. These forms are due within 30 days of launching the first programme activity.

Conclusion

The 2026 Greening STEM Grant provides public schools and community partners in selected LyondellBasell communities with an opportunity to develop hands-on STEM projects connecting students with environmental science and real-world environmental challenges.

With $5,000 available per selected project, the programme can support activities involving environmental monitoring, citizen science, field experiences, data collection, analysis and community-based learning.

Eligible schools and community partners should prepare projects that place students at the centre of the learning process and demonstrate strong connections between STEM education, local environmental issues and community engagement.

Discover more opportunities on the OFY Webpage.