Nature Works Everywhere 2016/17 School Grant Sample Application

Use this sample application to prepare your information and answers prior to starting an application online. You do not need to enter all of your information at once; you can save and return to your work later. When you are ready to begin your application -

APPLY HERE (). Note that you should use this link only once; after you have used this link to start your application, you must use the link provided below to access the saved version of your application.

Once you have started your application, to re-visit and make changes or edits before submission, use this link

Part I: Organization Information

1. Name of school or organization

2. Street address (this information will be kept confidential)

3. City

4. State

5. Zip Code

6. Main phone

7. Fax number

8. Web address

9. Tax status

  • Public Charity
  • 501(c)3
  • 501(c)4
  • 501(c)6
  • Public foundation
  • Private Foundation
  • Charitable Organization
  • Private Operating Foundation

10. Grade level of school

  • Prek-5
  • K-5
  • K-8
  • 6-8
  • K-12
  • 9-12
  • Other

11. School type

  • Public
  • Charter
  • Private
  • Other

12. Number of students - please choose the number of students enrolled at your school.

  • 0-250
  • 250-500
  • 500-1000
  • 1000+
  1. Number of students served by grant - please estimate the number of students impacted by the grant at your school. Provide only a numerical value.
  1. School Geographic Area - please describe the geographic area of your school as urban, suburban, or rural.
  1. Is your school a title I school? Yes/No
  1. What percentage of your student body participates in free or reduced lunch programs?
  1. Is your school a LEAF school? - LEAF, or Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future, is a youth engagement program from The Nature Conservancy that provides summer paid internships for high school students. If you are unsure if your school is a LEAF school, please check with your administration.
  2. Yes
  3. No
  4. Not sure

Part II: Contact Information

  1. Primary Contact - name, title, primary phone, email address
  1. Secondary Contact – name, title, primary phone, email address
  1. Principal or Assistant Principal – name, office phone, email address

Part III: Grant Management

  1. Grant funds management – Please name and describe who is responsible for the management of grant funds at your school.
  1. Payment Information – If selected for a grant, to whom should the check be made? Please note that checks cannot be made payable to individuals but must be to the school, PTA or 501c3 with a W9 form. Note: if the grant funds are going to a public school, a W-9 form is not required.

Part IV: Project Proposal

  1. How did you hear about this grant opportunity?
  1. Project type – Please select the project type that most closely describes your project. Garden enhancements, amendments, revitalizations or new builds are all acceptable projects for this grant.
  • New project
  • Enhancement or revitalization project
  1. Project Description - Please describe in detail your project. Include information on the type of project. Examples of projects that will be funded by this grant include rain gardens; native habitat/pollinator gardens; urban forestry projects including but not limited to orchard plantings, native tree plantings, and tree care and stewardship; food gardens that address challenges around access to healthy food; and other student-driven projects that address a challenge around air quality, urban heat island effect, climate change, stormwater management, etc. Please also describe your school grounds' environment, and share any past efforts to implement garden-based or conservation-based activities. Please explain whether these past efforts were successful or not; include why they were failures or successes. If you have received a Nature Works Everywhere grant in the past, please describe how the grant was used and what you intend to do with additional funding.
  1. Project Budget and Timeline - Please provide a detailed budget and timeline of activities for your project. How will grant funding be spent? What activities will take place and when?
  1. Maintenance and Sustainability - Describe how your project will be maintained and used. How will tasks will be delegated amongst teachers, administration, students, volunteers, etc. If your school has an existing “Green Team”, who is on this team, and how might they be involved with implementing this project? If this is a garden project, please describe how maintenance will be handled during summer months or when school is out of session?
  1. Describe how your project will be used to support education initiatives at your school – How will teachers be involved? How and what kind of learning will be integrated into the project for students?
  1. Please review the curriculum available at indicate how you plan to incorporate this curriculum into the project with students. All grantees will be required to use at least 3 Nature Works Everywhere lessons. Please indicate which of these lessons appeal most to you and how/when it will be incorporated into your project.
  1. Please describe any additional outdoor learning features your school has (such as raised beds, greenhouses, outdoor classrooms, etc.), if applicable.
  1. Has your school partnered with other environmental organizations in the past? If so, please describe.
  1. If your project is selected, would you be interested in including The Nature Conservancy in your work or build day with students and school staff? The Nature Conservancy may want to film the event and invite VIPs and media to attend. The space must be large enough to host at least 15 working people. If yes, please provide an anticipated date for the work day.
  1. Are you willing to attend a day and half long workshop on natural infrastructure school projects in lieu of attending/viewing webinars? If so, please give 3 date ranges in 2017 when this would be convenient for you.

Part V: Attachments

  1. If this is a garden project, please upload pictures (up to 5) of your proposed garden space - Include photographic evidence of your water source(s) and its proximity to the proposed garden.
  1. Project Lead letter of commitment - Please submit a signed letter of commitment on official letterhead from the project lead. For a sample letter of commitment, see samples provided at
  1. Principal letter of commitment - Please submit a signed letter of commitment on official letterhead from your principal or assistant principal. For a sample principal letter of commitment, see samples provided at

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