Many MWEEs can be built around local sites (i.e. school grounds or nearby parks and streams) and/or existing resources (i.e. planned field trips or events, or materials and equipment in classrooms or storage facilities), so they may not require additional funding. For those MWEEs that incorporate new off-campus trips, specialized supplies, or other resources not currently available, additional funding may be required. Long-term project funding also needs to be considered. MWEEs take time and effort to develop, so building something sustainable makes sense.
The school and local community can be great sources for funding. Field trip fees can sometimes be supported by the school PTA or other partners. Many PTAs have budgets for special projects and often support hands-on field experiences. They may also be able to help out with funding of supplies or equipment. Even if the PTA does not have funding to support the MWEE, parents can have excellent ideas about how to reach out to the broader community. When looking to the broader community, neighborhood organizations, local nonprofits, and local businesses will often donate supplies, equipment, or time, and may offer easy-to-manage small grants with very little paperwork.
For larger or ongoing projects, teachers and principals are encouraged to look to school district budgets. Many school districts support the installation of schoolyard projects, support system-wide field trips for students, or otherwise provide ongoing, reliable funding for components of the MWEE. And if a school happens to be planning construction, staff can sometimes work with facilities staff to incorporate green elements, including outdoor classrooms and other schoolyard projects that can be used by students for authentic research (i.e. a stormwater retention pond can be a great wildlife habitat if planned appropriately).
Image: Action projects like painting storm drains can occur on or around school grounds so that transportation funding is not needed.
In addition to school and district funding, there are many opportunities to secure funding from external sources, including grants from federal and state government, businesses and corporations, and private foundations. Some school districts have grant coordinators to assist in these efforts. Students may even be able to assist with grant writing as part of their MWEE to further develop their 21st century skills.
While grants are wonderful to kick-start a project, they are not meant to provide long-term support. In fact, many grant makers ask for a sustainability plan as part of their application process. The information from the previous section on Building Awareness can also be used to put together a communications plan that generate excitement and momentum that can lead to longer-term support for the MWEE.
Image: Students build a bioswale on school grounds with the support from the facilities department.