Funding Ideas

A grant is a financial award given by an organization—such as a foundation, corporation, or government agency—to fund a specific project or purpose. The best part? Unlike a loan, a grant never has to be paid back. Typically, you need to complete an application process to show how your goals align with the funder's mission and complete any reporting required by the funding organization. Note that this is not an exhaustive list and other grants may exist elsewhere. 

• Kids to Parks School Grants Program- Up to $1,000 for an in-park field trip for Title I, Pre-K-12 classrooms in any U.S. state or territory.
• Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program (SSAE)- Congress allocates over $1 billion annually to states for Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Reach out to your district/local education agency to inquire about utilizing this funding for your program.
• Quadratec Cares Energize the Environment- Offering two $3,500 grants per year—one each in the spring and fall—to an individual or group in any US state or territory currently pursuing a program or initiative designed to benefit our environment.

California Specific Grants

• Philanthropic Ventures- Funds up to $1,000 for field trips via an Environmental Science Resource Grant to TK-12 grade teachers working in low-income public schools from Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties. Each school is eligible for up to five grants per year, one per individual teacher.    
• Save the Redwoods League- Redwood Connect Grant awards range between $2,000-$6,000 for educational programs in a redwood forest. They can be used for one-day, multi-day, or overnight trips.    
• The Kemper Foundation's Read Conmigo Grant Program- Up to $3,000 will be awarded annually to K-5 bilingual/dual language (Spanish-English) teachers in CA. Eligible counties include Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.    

D.C. Area Specific Grants 

• Bridge the Gap Fund- Live It Learn It's “Bridge the Gap Fund” provides up to $5,000 for experiential, project-based, and field-based learning opportunities for Pre-K-12th grade educators across D.C. public and charter schools.    

Northwest Specific Grants

• Gray Family Foundation- Funds to support programs and educators that inspire and promote outdoor, environmental, land-based, and/or climate education through hands-on experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Grants are awarded to schools, districts, colleges, tribal entities, government agencies or 501(c)3 non-profit organizations serving Oregon.    

Crowdfunding leverages the power of community to fund your program by collecting small donations from a large number of people, typically through an online platform. Instead of relying on a single source of funding, you share your project or trip goals online and invite parents, alumni, and the broader community to chip in whatever they can. Every $5 or $10 donation adds up quickly to help you reach your goal.

• GoFundMe
• Zeffy
• Raise Craze

Some restaurants offer fundraising nights where a portion of proceeds go to the organization of your choice. Below are some examples. Check with businesses in your local area to see if they offer this opportunity. Advantages for this type of fundraising include community engagement, ease of organizing, support for local businesses, and a low-cost way for individuals to contribute.

• The Habit
• Panda Express
• Chipotle
• Mod Pizza
• Chick-fil-A
• Panera
• Jersey Mike’s
• Red Robin
• BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
• For additional options, both GroupRaise and Force4Good allow you to search businesses in your local area that offer fundraising nights.

Product sales allow students to actively earn their way to NatureBridge by offering supporters something useful in return. Whether you sell traditional treats, eco-friendly goods, or everyday essentials (like laundry detergent, first aid kits, or trash bags), this tried-and-true method provides your community with a tangible token of appreciation for investing in outdoor education.

• See's Candy
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
• Entertainment Coupon Book
• Equal Exchange
• Amazon Associates 
• Raise Right

Bringing your fundraising efforts directly into the school building is a fantastic way to build excitement for your upcoming NatureBridge trip. In-school events turn fundraising into a shared celebration. These events require minimal outside coordination, keep the focus local, and give students a hands-on role in organizing and promoting their own adventure. They allow the entire student body, staff, and families to rally behind your outdoor education goals while having a blast in the process. 

• Movie nights- Organize a movie night for the school. You can charge a small admission fee and sell "theater" snacks as well. Usually hosted on a Friday or Saturday night, movies can be watched indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather.  
• Community meals- Charge an entry fee for a pancake breakfast, potluck lunch, spaghetti dinner, or chili cook-off.
• Recycling drives- Recycle shoes, clothing, or other materials. Textile recycling companies often provide monetary compensation based on the weight or volume of items collected.
• Bake sales
• "A-thons"- Hike-a-thons, walk-a-thons, jog-a-thons, etc. or other activity-based fundraisers are a great way to get the community involved in a fun way. Whatever the activity you choose, these types of fundraisers tend to be popular and effective for many schools.
• Car washes