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 2023.
3:1
NEEF raises $3 for every dollar of NEEA funding it receives
67,102
The number of people NEEF’s programs reached in 2023
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
K-12 Education
Greening STEM projects enable youth to participate in meaningful environmental investigations in local nature, applying STEM concepts in real-world applications.
Supported by public and private donors, Greening STEM integrates grant funding with implementation support and training, empowering educators to lead projects that increase young people's understanding of STEM and environmental awareness.
In 2023, NEEF's Greening STEM projects provided visually impaired students with accessible STEM tools, promoted creativity and environmental awareness through digital storytelling, and guided youth towards careers in fields such as wildlife conservation.
It was fun seeing (Park scientists) do what I want to do in the future...It was very inspirational.
Student from Cuyahoga Valley Greening STEM project
This project in Cuyahoga Valley was supported by the National Park Service and allowed students to plant native trees, study reducing tree mortality, and assess reforestation's impact on watershed health, culminating in a community event where they presented findings, shared photos, and analyzed data.
Greening STEM Success Stories
How One NEEF Grant Kickstarted an Idaho Student’s STEM Career
Abella Cathey's journey from One Stone School to Boise State University showcases the power of hands-on...
Quad Cities Students Capture Creativity Through Greening STEM Project
What role do the arts play in STEM learning? Thanks to a partnership between NEEF and Arconic Foundation...
Increasing Accessibility in STEM Learning for Visually Impaired Students
Dive into WaterViz: Accessible STEM for visually impaired students. NEEF and USDA-funded project offers a...
NEEF leverages nationwide community partnerships and equips educators with resources to create STEM learning experiences that connect with the local environment and community. Many projects provide students who lack access to outdoor experiential learning with a unique opportunity to engage deeply with STEM.
Student Outcomes
Participation in Greening STEM affects students confidence, enthusiasm, and critical thinking about science by increasing:
- Enthusiasm & Interest - Interest in participating in similar activities or additional classes.
- Confidence - Self-assurance in thinking and learning about, understanding, and practicing STEM.
- Real-World Applications - Awareness of the relevance of STEM to the real world and opportunities to apply collaborative problem-solving in real-world scenarios.
- Motivation to Pursue Science - Opportunities to develop and apply persistence and resilience, and the awareness of STEM careers and relevant educational pathways.
- Science Thinking - Understanding connections between project activities and school subjects, and opportunities to develop and apply critical and systems thinking.
Conservation Impact
NEEF's Conservation work deepens public connection to the outdoors, encouraging participation in events like National Public Lands Day (NPLD) and fostering biodiversity and resilience in these spaces. By supporting inclusivity and accessibility on public lands, we build a more welcoming environment that strengthens engagement and stewardship.
This grant’s goal of engaging community members in pollinator habitat creation allowed us to rework our approach to community engagement and better share stories of how green spaces that benefit pollinators also benefit people.
Trail Access Project Conquers New Terrain with NEEF Grant
Thanks to a grant from NEEF, the Trail Access Project has expanded its Adaptive Hiking Program to help people...
How Olmsted Parks Conservancy Protects Biodiversity by Tackling Invasive Species
NEEF grantee Olmsted Parks Conservancy is installing a pollinator meadow in Chickasaw Park to improve...
National Public Lands Day Department of Defense Awards
For over 25 years, NEEF has partnered with the Department of Defense (DoD) on its Legacy Program to provide...
2023 Biodiversity Conservation Grantees Nurture Pollinators and Empower Communities
With major support from Toyota Motor North America, NEEF is providing $200,000 in grant funding toward the...
By the numbers
See how NEEF’s grants and National Public Lands Day efforts contributed to the improvement of our public lands nationwide this year.
National Public Lands Day
On Saturday, September 23, 2023, volunteers in 46 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, joined their friends, families, and neighbors in helping to restore and improve America’s public lands as part National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands.
This year marked the 30th annual NPLD and organizers made the most of it. Over 40,000 volunteers participated in almost 600 events across the country, featuring some of America’s most memorable and unique locations.
40,000+
Volunteers
600+
Events
Thank you to the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who have given back to public lands over the past 30 years by maintaining trails, cleaning up trash, planting trees, and more.
Sara Espinoza, president and CEO of NEEF
NEEF & iHeart partnered to create a series of Public Service Announcements and a website dedicated to sustainability actions. Now in its second year, the iHeart Earth public engagement campaign, has an estimated media value of $2.4 million.
305 Million
Number of iHeartRadio impressions in 2023
NEEF Health Impact
Environmental Health Series
NEEF partnered with the USDA Forest Service for the Cultivating Health Equity in a Changing Climate webinar series. The events discussed the complex dynamics of climate justice, systemic racism, and their profound implications for health.
- Climate Justice and Health: Panelists, including Dr. Lisa Patel, Executive Director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, shared practical strategies to take action, build relationships, and make meaningful contributions toward addressing these critical challenges within their communities.
- Climate Change and Mental Health: Special guest speaker Deputy US Surgeon General, Rear Admiral (RADM) Denise Hinton and panelists examined the mental health impacts of climate change and the role of healthcare professionals, educators, and community leaders in addressing climate emotions with youth populations.
The webinar series explored climate justice, systemic racism's impact on health, mental health effects of climate change, and how healthcare professionals, educators, and community leaders address climate emotions with youth, featuring Dr. Lisa Patel and Deputy US Surgeon General Rear Admiral Denise Hinton (pictured above).
Pediatric Asthma Initiative
NEEF and Hip Hop Public Health's (HHPH) EMPOWER project fuses health, music, and culture to deliver asthma management insights through original songs and videos.
Featuring rising stars Devin Cheff and Heaven White, under multi-platinum producer Q. Worthy, EMPOWER provides free, impactful and culturally relevant resources via HHPH's Learning Studio for healthcare providers and educators.
Pediatric Asthma Course Outcomes
NEEF's online course, Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma, reaches health professionals through the CDC and the National Association of School Nurses.
[I will] incorporate what I’ve learned today into my daily practice as a school nurse.
Online Course Participant
After completing the course, 99% of learners could describe best practice mitigation interventions for children with indoor allergens and a history of environmental triggers.
I will educate staff, students, and guardians on how environmental factors contribute to how well asthma is managed.
Online Course Participant
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.
NPLD Champion Protects Endangered Species at Military Installations with Help from Volunteers
Involving volunteers in conservation biology creates a ripple effect, boosting engagement, expanding outreach...
The Future of Environmental Education: Celebrating NEEF’s National Park Service AmeriCorps VISTA Members
Learn how AmeriCorps VISTA program members are working on Greening STEM projects at national parks across the...
Trail Access Project Conquers New Terrain with NEEF Grant
Thanks to a grant from NEEF, the Trail Access Project has expanded its Adaptive Hiking Program to help people...