Who We Are
OUR IMPACT
Chartered by Congress to build effective public-private partnerships, NEEF is harnessing the power of collaboration to make the environment more accessible, relatable, relevant, and connected to people's daily lives.
We're Here to Make a Difference
Established by the National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) in 1990, NEEF has over three decades of experience in cultivating an environmentally conscious and responsible public.
Here is how we made a difference in 2021.
3:1
NEEF raises $3 for every dollar of NEEA funding it receives
144,245
The number of people NEEF’s programs reached in 2021
HOW NEEF MAKES AN IMPACT
Funding Communities
We mobilize public and private funding to support community-based projects and respond to critical and emerging needs in the fields of K-12 education, public land conservation, and health.
Increasing Competency
We promote environmental literacy and behavior change among groups such as public lands managers, health professionals, educators, and corporate employees, who then share this information with their own constituents and communities.
Supporting Diversity
We partner with educators, public lands groups, environmental organizations, local communities, and others who share our mission of making the environment more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
NEEF GRANTS
Restoration & Resilience Fund
NEEF established the Restoration & Resilience Fund as a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund distributed resources and mobilized volunteers to public lands sites throughout the country.
The reductions in staff, volunteers, and resources left land managers and volunteer organizations ill-equipped to keep up with increased human presence in our parks, forests, and waterways.
553
Miles of Trail Restored or Maintained
32,500
Pounds of Trash Collected
1,100,000
Square Feet of Invasive Species Removed
Organizations like ours really depend on these funds to keep going.
Amanda Kuenzi, Mountain Studies Institute, Colorado
Greening STEM
NEEF’s Greening STEM model engages students at high need schools in hands-on environmental investigations in their communities making STEM relevant and connected to students’ daily lives.
Students from Central High School take their Advanced Placement Environmental Science class outside to make the textbooks come alive.
89% of the schools served by Greening STEM grants receive federal Title I funds
Educators reported increased confidence in:
CHILDREN’S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERIES
NEEF's Children’s Environmental Health Series focused on the impact of environmental factors on children’s health and well-being. The 3-day event engaged medical and public health professionals in discussions that explored prominent issues affecting marginalized people and presented evidence-based methods for integrating best practices.
As a maternal and infant community health nurse, this information is critically important to my work and the families I serve. I would like to see more education and training in this area of practice.
NEEF & iHeart partnered to create a series of Public Service Announcements and a website dedicated to sustainability actions. The iHeartEarth campaign launched on Earth Day 2020 and has been running since.
467 Million
Number of iHeartRadio impressions in 2021
Amplify Your Impact
Meaningful, lasting change is possible when we work together. NEEF leverages its National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) appropriation to raise public and private matching funds at a ratio of 3:1, creating value and amplifying the impact of our partners.
Reaching Further
NEEF's resources help make the environment more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Nature for All: Engaging Underrepresented Communities in the Outdoors
In an effort to diversify the types of audiences engaged during the annual National Public Lands Day...
Honoring the Indigenous Heritage of Public Lands
Discover Indigenous stories in national parks, exploring the rich history behind place names. Join the journey...
Increasing Accessibility Makes the Outdoors Open for All
July 26 marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which has made a huge impact for...