Gray Family Foundation Environmental Education
Forecasted
Gray Family Foundation Environmental Education supports Oregon educators and programs offering hands-on outdoor learning to build K–8 youths' environmental understanding and problem-solving skills.
Funder: Oregon Community Foundation
Due Dates: January 1, 2027 (anticipated initial conversations) | January 23, 2027 (anticipated review) | April 3, 2027 (anticipated review) | July 10, 2027 (anticipated review)
Funding Amounts: 2026 pool: $100,000; stated awards of $5,000–$20,000, with an alternative allocation including two larger grants
Summary: Gray Family Foundation supports experiential environmental education that connects Oregon youth with outdoor learning.
Key Information: Applicants must receive Senior Program Officer approval before submitting an application.
Description
Gray Family Foundation’s Environmental Education program supports programs and educators that directly engage K–8 youth in experiential outdoor learning. Listed by Oregon Community Foundation, the program promotes environmental education in formal and informal K–12 environments, with applicant guidance focused on K–8 programming that uses the outdoors as an educational tool.
Supported approaches include hands-on learning outside the classroom, youth stewardship of natural and built environments, and integration of outdoor, environmental, climate, and land-based education across subjects. The foundation seeks high-quality, structured programming developed with communities, including opportunities that reflect the experiences, perspectives, and knowledge of diverse populations across Oregon. Its goals include strengthening youth collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, and career preparedness while helping educators use environmental systems as a context for learning.
