To see the 2024 Youth Grant Winners click HERE.

Ozark Society Youth Grant

The Ozark Society (OS) is soliciting proposals for Youth Engagement grants from local organizations working with students in environmental and conservation efforts.  Grants will be awarded to organizations who encourage young people (K-12) to engage in environmental awareness and conservation.  The Ozark Society wants to see projects that start with the community and start with the young people. Funds will generally range between $500 and $3000 depending on the scope and needs of the project. Funds may be combined with other sources of funds to increase the size / impact of the project. To apply, groups must be affiliated with a 501c3 nonprofit or school. Past projects awarded grants by the OS Grant Committee engaged young people in hands-on conservation activities and environmental engagement involving service learning and community projects. In the past 5 years, we have funded 33 projects, distributed $50,782 and impacted 7,500 children from kindergarten to 12th grade.

 Grant Requirements:

  • All grant projects should align with the Ozark Society’s mission: Our principal purpose is the preservation of wild and scenic rivers, wilderness, and unique natural areas. A greater understanding of our mission can be gained by researching the Ozark Society at www.ozarksociety.net
  • All grant projects should engage youth (people under 18 years of age).
  • Applicants should be associated with a 501c3 organization or an accredited K-12 school (Checks will not be made out to individuals.)
  • Projects should take place in a region where the Ozark Society is active. See the list of active chapters here. This includes much of Western and Central Arkansas, Southern Missouri, as well as some border regions of Oklahoma and Louisiana. For more clarification, email: osfoundationgrants@gmail.com

Preferences will go to:

  • New projects that have not previously received funding from the Ozark Society
  • Projects that include hands-on learning, conservation activities, service projects, and/or tangible outcomes. OS wants to see active engagement, not passive learning
  • Small nonprofits with under 25 full-time employees or an annual budget of less than $500,000
  • Organizations with a mission that is based in the region in which the Ozark Society is active.
  • Projects that take place within the region that the Ozark Society serves, including the Ozark, Ouachita, River Valley, and Bayou regions as well as the nearby watersheds.
  • Organizations that are NOT fully funded by county, state, or federal governments
  • Projects that engage students in lasting conservation efforts that will have long term outcomes
  • Projects that serve marginalized communities, low income families, communities of color, and diverse ethnic groups

Who OS will NOT fund:

  • Direct grants to individuals
  • Political campaigns, events, or lobbying activities
  • Projects serving religious purposes
  • Any use not specified in the grant proposal and budget
  • Projects that take place outside the scope of the Ozark Society’s region
  • International organizations based outside the United States
  • Organizations that are fully funded by county, state, or federal tax dollars
  • Funds may not be used for administrative operating expenses, including but not limited to postage, billing, computer software or systems, rentals, paper goods, food/beverages, social functions, or gas/mileage.
  • Administrative costs, such as paying staff, is limited.
  • Funding was not awarded to projects in which students merely listened to lectures or were just taken outdoors.
  • Funding typically does not get granted to vegetable garden projects without a greater conservation effort.

 Grant Timeline:

  • Applications open Friday November 1st 2024
  • Deadline for applications is midnight on Friday January 31st 2025
  • Awards will be announced and funds will be distributed in April 2025
  • Final grant reports will be due by Tuesday March 31st 2026

Application Requirements:

  • Application must be filled out and submitted by the deadline.
  • Applications should be submitted through Google Forms (you do not need a Google account to fill out the form)
  • Questions can be emailed to the head of the OS student engagement committee at: osfoundationgrants@gmail.com

Reporting:

  • Projects can take place anytime between summer 2025 and March 2026.
  • Within 60 days of the completion of the project, the grant report should be submitted for review and approval.
  • Reports will be due Tuesday, March 31st 2026 and should include:
    • An impact report that describes the scope of the project
    • A description of how the objectives of the grant were achieved
    • A budget report detailing how the funds were used
    • Did you face any challenges in connection with this project? If so, how did you address these challenges?
    • Description of how the Ozark Society was recognized
    • At least one photograph of the project in action
    • At least one example of students’ work or engagement

*     Note that photographs, videos, and testimony greatly help our cause! Please remember to get permission to photograph students and then document the project!  If the grant requirements were not met and the report does not show that the funds were used as the grant outlines, the Ozark Society may ask for a partial or full reimbursement of the grant funds.

Links to Apply:

Click HERE to view the budget example. When uploading the budget, name your budget in the following format: “Name of YOUR Organization”-Budget-2025

Click HERE TO APPLY for the grant through Google Forms (you do not need a Google account to apply)

If you received funding last year, please submit your grant report HERE.

Tip: it is best to write the grant in a document that can be saved and then copy and paste into the form.