This program is open to applications for the 2025 round. Applications close at 5 pm on 11 November 2025.
Purpose
The Environmental Education program aims to:
- drive change in people's behaviour and practices to improve on-ground environmental outcomes and
- build people’s skills to deliver environmental outcomes.
The program funds projects that:
- work with their target audience to co-design and pilot engagement strategies
- create effective strategic partnerships that strengthen project outcomes
- measure and demonstrate the impact of their project activities.
Who can apply?
The following not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply for funding:
- incorporated associations, community organisations, and non-profit organisations
- non-commercial cooperatives
- state government agencies and statutory committees
- councils
- universities
- regional organisations of councils
- NSW local Aboriginal land councils
- registered NSW Aboriginal Corporations
- other local government-controlled organisations
- companies limited by guarantee.
Funding available
The total annual allocation for the program is $1,000,000.
| Funding tier | Funding amount per project | Project timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | up to $60,000 | 2–3 years |
| 2 | from $60,001 to $250,000 | 3–5 years |
For more information on the funding tiers and the types of activities and outcomes expected for each, please refer to the program guidelines below.
Priority themes
Applications to the 2025 round are required to address at least one of the following funding priorities of the NSW Environmental Trust Strategic Plan 2024 to 2029 which focuses on the most critical environmental and cultural issues across the state. The plan is informed by extensive research and stakeholder consultation.
The strategic priorities are:
- prioritise healthy Country and recognise and value Aboriginal peoples, their traditional knowledge and practices, and connection to Country
- restore ecosystems and biodiversity
- strengthen environmental management.
The program is currently open to applications. Please read the guidelines and supporting documents below:
- Environmental Education grants program guidelines 2025
- How to develop your project 2025
- Register for an online workshop to help applicants
The following documents are available to assist applicants in preparing their application:
To apply visit the grants management system.
All aspects of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (including expenditure) will be managed through the online Grants Management System. Instructions for using the Grants Management System are available through either:
- the Grants Management System itself if you have registered
- by contacting the program Grant Administrator by email: [email protected].
More information on planning and reporting can be found on the Trust's planning and reporting page.
The successful 2023–24 projects have now been announced. In the 2023–24 round we:
- received 24 applications to Tier 1
- received 42 applications to Tier 2
- awarded funding to 4 Tier 1 projects totalling $239,775
- awarded funding to 3 Tier 2 projects totalling $740,763.
The Trust has all its contestable grants programs independently evaluated to assess their effectiveness.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – Institute for Public Policy and Governance and Institute for Sustainable Futures recently evaluated the Trust’s Environmental education program. The evaluation examined how the program was delivered, and the projects it funded, from 2010–16.
UTS completed its work in April 2018 and then presented its final report (PDF 3.6MB). The Trust considered and accepted the report in October 2018.
The evaluation concluded that the program was well run and filled a critical niche in the environmental education space; however, it also recommended changes to:
- program design, operating and policy context
- program governance and customer experience.
These recommendations are progressively being incorporated into the program by the Environmental Trust.
The Trust developed an administrative response (PDF 356KB) to address these issues.