2014-2015 LIVING TO SERVE: ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT
APPPLICATION GUIDANCE
Funding opportunity description
The National FFA Organization is pleased to announce the availability of funds for FFA chapters to develop service-learning
projects that impact environmental issues in their community, in the form of a competitive grant process for chapters. The
Living to Serve: Environmental Grants are provided through funding from CSX as a special project of the National FFA
Foundation.
Chapters may apply for up to $2,000 to support year-long service-learning projects focused on developing and implementing
projects that address local environmental needs. Service-learning is a method of teaching and learning that challenges
students to research, develop, and implement solutions to identified needs in their school or community as part of their
curriculum. Project topics include, but are not limited to:
• Wildlife conservation
• Land preservation
• Environmental education and stewardship
• Recycling and composting
A successful environmental project will:
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Implement a project focused on a local environmental issue during the 2014-2015 school year (Sept. ‘14 -June ‘15).
Throughout the year, share impacts and demonstrate learning gained from the project with the community.
Involve youth in the design and implementation of the service-learning project.
Provide National FFA with copies of all outputs created in connection with the program.
Submit a Mid-Year Update, Year-End Output Report, and Fiscal Year-End Report. Samples of these can be found on
the grant website. www.FFA.org/envirogrants
Participate in an online post-reflective assessment survey. The survey will be administered in the final weeks of the
project and takes approximately 15 minutes.
Additonal Important Information:
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Award announcements will be made in July 2014. By applying, the main contact agrees to be available for National
FFA staff to potentially contact them over the summer.
FFA chapters with current Living to Serve grants (2013 or 2014 FFA: Food For All, 13-14 Rural Youth Development,
and 13-14 Environmental) may not be eligible to receive additional grant funds if all reporting is not up to date by
July 7, 2014.
Grants focused on food production, through gardens for example, will not be accepted. Projects that focus on
environmental issues related to gardens, such rain collection and composting, will be accepted.
General landscaping grants will not be accepted.
Application Timeline
April 15, 2014
April/May 2014
May 30, 2014
July 14-18, 2014
Application goes live on the website at www.FFA.org/envirogrants
FFA Living to Serve Team will host technical assistance webinars. Check the website
(www.FFA.org/envirogrants) for dates and times.
All applications must be submitted electronically. No hard copies will be accepted.
Funding announcements made to all chapters who have applied.
Funding Guidelines - this is not an exhaustive or complete list. Chapters may apply for a maximum of $2,000.
Allowable Expenses
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Substitute teacher pay
Transportation to and from service sites
Copying/ Marketing costs
Educational outreach materials
Portable storage
Small Equipment Purchase - Ex: Camera, GPS, Trail Cams, tools, etc.
Non-Allowable Expenses
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Any one item over the cost of $1,000
Stipends or scholarships to students or the chapter
Indirect Costs (cost of administering the grant funds)
Acquisition, or construction of buildings or facilities
Travel to or from national convention or other national FFA trainings
T-shirts
For additional information and support regarding this grant please visit the Living to Serve website
related to the Environmental grant. www.FFA.org/envirogrants or email questions to [email protected].
2014-2015 LTS: Environmental Grant – Application Guidance
Rev. 05/14/2014
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2014-2015 Living to Serve:
Environmental Grant Application
FFA Chapter Contact Information
Note: Award announcements will be made in July 2014. By applying, the main contact agrees to be available for
National FFA staff to potentially contact them over the summer.
Chapter Name:
Chapter #:
State:
Advisor Name:
Advisor Email:
Advisor Summer Email (if different from school email):
Advisor Phone #:
Advisor Summer Phone #:
School Name:
School Street Address:
School City:
School Zip:
2014-15 School Start Date:
Principal/Administrator Name:
# Of FFA members:
Local Community or Communities to be served:
Proposed Project Title:
Chapter Type:
__Middle School __High school __Collegiate
Community Type:
__ Urban __ Suburban __ Rural
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Give an overview of how your chapter plans to meet an environmental need in your community. The abstract
should clearly summarize information from each of the application sections.
ENVIRONMENTAL NEED
Provide a short description of the environmental need in your community that you will address. Include statistics
to support the need.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Describe potentional community partners and their roles in the project.
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
Describe the educational outreach that your chapter will include as part of this project. Educational outreach
ensures that chapters are not just “giving a man a fish,” but also “teaching a man to fish.” Include the type of
outreach, topics that will be covered, the frequency of outreach and potential audience.
Example: Our chapter will host four informational sessions on recycling over the grant period. Three workshops
will be hosted for elementary students and one workshop will be held for middle school students. We will teach the
students what recycling is and how they can participate.
2014-2015 LTS: Environmental Grant – Application Guidance
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MEASURABLE OUTCOMES & EVALUATION TOOLS
Chapters are required to have one (1) Educational Outreach Outcome and one (1) Project Outcome. Chapters may
also include up to two (2) additional outcomes for a total of four (4). Work through the items below to build your
Educational Outreach Outcome. Information in this section must match project information provided in other
narratives!
**Please note: Feel free to contact National FFA staff for additional support on measurable outcomes at
[email protected].**
Educational Outreach Outcome - Choose the educational outcome that best fits your projects outreach efforts.
• # of workshops/events/forums conducted and # of workshop attendees
• # of informational materials distributed to community (i.e. flyers, brochures etc.)
• # of participants who utilize new skills at home (i.e. composting)
Ed. Outcome Additional Information
Provide information on the target audience, educational outreach topic(s), anticipated numerical goal(s) and
evaluation tool. For example, if you have chosen # of workshops/events/presentations/forums conducted and #
of attendees, then let us know who the participants are (target audience), what topic(s) you will cover, how many
events you will host and the anticipated number of total participants (numerical goal). Example of numerical goal:
workshops 4, total participants 70. Tool: Agendas and attendance sheets will be created for each workshop.
Target Audience - Choose ALL that apply to your project.
• Elementary Students
• Middle School Students
• High School Students
• Senior Citizens
• Adults / General Community
Educational Outreach Topic(s):
Numerical Goal for E. Outreach Outcome:
Educational Outreach Evaluation Tool(s):
Project Outcome - This outcome must measure the project's impact on the greater community. Ensure that the
outcome is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound). In addition, detail how the
outcome will be measured.
Example: Project Measurable Outcome: Reduce the school district’s paper waste by 2 tons by the end of the
2014-15 school year. Project Outcome Evaluation Tool(s): Weigh and track amount of paper that is recycled
weekly.
Project Measurable Outcome:
Project Outcome Evaluation Tool(s):
Additional Outcomes (optional)
Chapter's may choose to write up to 2 additional outcomes. These outcomes must also measure the project's
impact on the greater community. Ensure that the outcomes are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
Realistic and Time bound). In addition, detail how the outcomes will be measured.
Additional Measurable Outcome (optional):
Evaluation Tool(s):
TIMELINE OF ACTIVITIES
Create a detailed timeline of activities from August 2014 through June 2015. Be sure to include activities related
to the major learning or service days, marketing, educational outreach, and meeting measurable outcomes.
2014-2015 LTS: Environmental Grant – Application Guidance
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BUDGET NARRATIVE
• Be specific and quantifiable for line items
• Ensure that items listed in your budget are discussed in your grant narratives
• No one item with a unit price over $1,000 is allowed.
o Non-Allowable Example: 1 Compost Tumbler @ $1,100
o Allowable Example: 24 medium size recycle bins @ $50 = $1,200 (total is over $1,000, but unit
cost was under $1,000)
• Maximum amount that can be requested is $2,000.
• Ensure that TOTAL amount equals a whole dollar amount. CORRECT= $2,415; INCORRECT= $2,415.89
• Funding Guidelines:
Nonexpendable Equipment Costs:
Definition: Items having a useful life of more than one year. Examples include GPS Unit, camera, etc.
Examples include small tools, camera, tiller, etc.
*Item Name, Description of Use, Quantity , Unit Cost, Total
Materials and Supplies:
Definition: Expendable materials and supplies having a useful life up to one year.
Examples include water testing kits, educational materials, plant material, etc.
*Item Name, Description of Use, Quantity , Unit Cost, Total
Marketing and Communication:
Definition: Any materials used for advertising or publicizing the project
Examples include brochures, flyers, etc.
*Item Name, Description of Use, Quantity , Unit Cost, Total
Travel:
Definition: Travel required to fulfill project outcomes.
Examples include travel to service site, presentations, etc.
*Destination, Reason for Trip, # of Miles, Cost Per Mile, Total
Miscellaneous:
Definition: Any other anticipated costs that are not included above.
Examples include equipment rental, publication costs, substitute teacher pay, etc.
*Item Name, Description of Use, Quantity , Unit Cost, Total
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If awarded, may a sponsor contact you to serve as a community partner as part of your LTS: Environmental Grant?
(Yes or No)
Provide a short (2-4 sentences) overview of your project that can be shared on our Community Walks interactive
map if awarded. *Limit 50 words
Example: Sample FFA is creating a school-wide recycling program to reduce the amount of trash entering the local
landfill. In addition, the chapter will hold workshops for each grade level on what to recycle and the importance of
recycling.
2014-2015 LTS: Environmental Grant – Application Guidance
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