RFP: Evaluation of EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grants Program
Deadline extended to May 21, 2021
Timeline in RFP updated on May 13, 2021 - please note updated timeline
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is seeking an external evaluator to assess the implementation and outcomes of the international EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grants program, which provides small grants and professional development to a select number of NAAEE’s EE 30 Under 30 alumni. Our Request for Proposals (RFP) outlines the background of EE 30 Under 30 and the Changemaker Grants opportunity, the program’s draft intended outcomes, expected deliverables from the evaluator, and proposal instructions.
Background
For nearly five decades, NAAEE has been a leader in promoting excellence in environmental education throughout North America and around the world. In 2016, NAAEE launched the EE 30 Under 30 program to recognize exceptional environmental education leaders under the age of 30. EE 30 Under 30 celebrates the unique and passionate leadership of talented young leaders around the world and gives them opportunities to increase their impact through networking with an alumni community of former recipients, recognition, professional development, and funding. Since 2016, the program has recognized 150 leaders from 34 countries who are harnessing the power of education to create a more sustainable future.
In 2019 we launched a funding opportunity open only to EE 30 Under 30 alumni, the EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grants Program, which aims to further build the capacity of our EE 30 Under 30 to lead through environmental education. The program provides small grants for alumni to implement one-year sustainability education projects in their communities focusing on resilient communities, low carbon economies, and healthy ecosystems. In addition to financial support, grantees receive professional development training to build their confidence and skills in implementing and evaluating effective environmental education programs. Grantees also receive peer support through a virtual learning community, where grantees are encouraged to share their experiences and lessons learned with each other throughout the project cycle.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, our first-year cohort of Changemaker Grantees successfully adapted their projects in a variety of innovative ways and are completing their projects this spring. An external evaluation for the first year of the program is expected to be completed in August 2021. Year two of the Changemaker Grants program has been built upon successes and lessons learned during year one (as identified so far), and the second cohort of 12 grantees has been selected and notified for projects to begin in April 2021.