Opportunity Overview
The Arkansas Environmental Education Association Environmental and Outdoor Education Mini Grant Program is currently open for 2026 applications. The program supports environmental and outdoor education throughout Arkansas through formal school projects and nonformal education programs, including hands on education, educator professional development, positive youth development, and community education engagement.
Funding and Deadline
AEEA states that it awards $500 mini grants each fall. Applications opened September 14, 2026 and are due October 23, 2026. The current official funding page does not publish a deadline clock time or time zone, so Atlas does not infer either. Award notifications are scheduled for December 4, 2026, with funds distributed in January 2027. Final reports are due January 31, 2028.
Eligibility and Geography
Eligible entities include Arkansas schools, government agencies, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Formal education projects may be conducted by school personnel at the PreK, elementary, secondary, or college level. Nonformal projects may be led by organizations such as nature centers, government agencies, nonprofits, and community or civic organizations.
AEEA gives preference to organizations, schools, and projects not previously funded by AEEA and to audiences that have had limited access to environmental and outdoor education.
Allowable Uses and Restrictions
Supported focus areas include environmental education, outdoor education, community education around an environmental issue of local concern, positive youth development connected to environmental or outdoor education, and educator professional development. Grant funds must be used within the calendar year of the award.
AEEA does not fund direct grants to individuals, general ongoing operating support including salaries, political campaigns or lobbying, projects serving religious purposes, food or beverages, expenses incurred before receipt of an award, or uses not specified in the approved proposal and budget.
Match and Cost Share
No mandatory applicant match or cost share requirement is stated on the current official funding page. AEEA expressly allows awarded funds to be combined with other funding sources to increase project size or impact, but the current guidance does not make outside funding a condition of eligibility.
Required Application Materials and Submission
A complete application and project budget are required. Submission through the official Google Form is preferred and does not require a Google account. Applicants may alternatively submit the application as a Google Doc or Word document using AEEA’s PDF application as a guide. Shared documents must be set so anyone with the link can view them. Nonprofit applicants must provide the organization’s tax identification number.
AEEA provides a budget template and permits applicants to use their own budget format. For the Google Sheets template, applicants are instructed to make a copy and name the file using the organization name followed by Budget. Grant questions and office hours information are available through AEEA at info@arkansasee.org.
Strategic Fit
Atlas Opportunity Score: 36/100. This is a verified, open Arkansas education opportunity with statewide school eligibility and a straightforward application process, but the $500 award size and environmental education focus substantially limit strategic relevance to Atlas healthcare work.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The controlling program is designed for environmental and outdoor education and does not present a credible role for the Nonagon N9+ device and platform, remote physical examination, telehealth, or clinical care. Atlas does not recommend forcing a device or healthcare technology fit. QC Healthcare and direct Dr. Miltie applicant fit are also not indicated.
Potential Applicant Profile
A realistic applicant is an Arkansas school, public agency, or nonprofit with a small, clearly scoped environmental or outdoor education project that can be completed with a $500 award and measured through the program’s required final reporting.
Controlling Source
Arkansas Environmental Education Association EE Funding and Mini Grant Application Page