New York and Vermont — LCBP 2027 Small Environmental Education and Outreach Grants (Up to $15,000; December 14)

The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), administered with NEIWPCC, is accepting 2027 Small Education and Outreach grant applications for projects improving public awareness, education and behavior related to Lake Champlain water quality and ecosystem health. Individual awards are up to $15,000. Approximately $320,000 is available across all awards; this is the program-wide allocation rather than an individual award.

Eligible applicants must be situated and work in the Lake Champlain basin. Eligible organizations include nonprofits, colleges and universities, New York Soil and Water and Vermont Natural Resource Conservation Districts, and nonfederal/nonstate local governments such as municipalities. Federal and state agencies, for-profit companies, and individuals who prepared or reviewed the solicitation are ineligible. Partner teams must designate one lead organization; prior grantees must have accepted and current deliverables.

Appropriate activities may include watershed education, community outreach, interpretive materials, public programming and participation, and communications that support the Opportunities for Action management goals. Eligible direct costs include personnel, travel, supplies, equipment, infrastructure, meetings, professional services and subcontracts. Cash or in-kind match is not required; nonfederal match can strengthen an application. Ineligible costs include land purchases, endowments, hazardous-waste cleanup, marketing, direct fundraising, lobbying, food and beverages, regulatory compliance and for-profit products. A 15% de minimis indirect rate may be used where no valid negotiated indirect rate applies, subject to RFP cost rules. Payments follow completed tasks; environmental-data projects may require approved QA plans.

Complete applications must be submitted by December 14, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. through the NEIWPCC Foundant portal; the RFP does not expressly specify the deadline time zone. One application per eligible organization is permitted. Application questions require a project summary, geographic and watershed information, workplan and deliverables, measurable outcomes, project timeline, budget in the LCBP budget calculator, justification, contact and authorized-signatory details, EIN and UEI, and applicable assurances. New applicants must register in Foundant; email proposals are not accepted. Awards are anticipated February 2027; projects begin June 2027 after a signed agreement.

Official controlling 2027 RFP and application questions: https://www.lcbp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/FINAL-Combined-2027-Education-and-Outreach-Small-RFP-and-application-questions-1.pdf. Grant opportunities: https://www.lcbp.org/about-us/grants-rfps/request-for-proposals-rfps/. Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Process/Apply?urlkey=NEIWPCC. Verified October 29, 2026.