The application period for the 2026 round of Green Partners opens February 11, 2026. Visit the Supplier Portal for guidelines, due dates, and application materials.
About Green Partners
Hennepin County has three Green Partners programs.
Since the program was established in 2012, the county has awarded 310 grants totaling more than $4.8 million.
The county released a request for proposals in March 2025. In this round, 62 applications were received. A total of 25 grants were recommended for funding in 2025, 10 Youth Environmental Education grants, 10 Youth Environmental Leadership grants, and 5 Environmental Action grants.
Youth Environmental Leadership program
Youth environmental leadership projects encourage environmental leadership and/or exposure to green jobs for young people in high school up to age 24. Project activities should encourage an environmental stewardship mindset that lasts beyond the program. Projects may provide opportunities for youth leadership in their school or community and exposure to green jobs or investigation into the green aspects of jobs they are interested in pursuing.
Youth Environmental Education program
Youth environmental education projects engage youth in elementary and middle school in environmental education and outdoor nature experiences. Project activities engage youth in learning about the environment to develop their awareness and increase their knowledge of environmental issues and solutions. Strong projects are inquiry driven, incorporate hands-on and experiential environmental learning, provide outdoor nature experiences, and promote environmental stewardship.
Environmental Action program
Environmental action projects must primarily engage adults. These projects focus on motivating adults to make environmental changes at home and on-the-go, focusing on one or two environmentally friendly actions. Proposers must incorporate research-based behavior change strategies into project plans to motivate people to take specific environmental actions and incorporate environmental changes into their lifestyle. Learn more about behavior change strategies at Motivating behavior change checklist (PDF, 2MB) and Fostering sustainable behavior (PDF, 5MB).
Levels of funding
- If you have never received a Green Partners award before, you can apply for up to $12,000 for a one-year project.
- If you have received a Green Partners award before, you can apply for up to $25,000 for a one-year project or, if you meet the criteria, up to $50,000 for a two-year project.
Eligible organizations
- Schools, including community educations programs like early childhood family education
- Registered nonprofit organizations such as community groups, youth organizations and congregations
- Park districts (Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Three Rivers Park District)
Application process
The application period for the 2026 round of Green Partners opens February 11, 2026. Visit the Supplier Portal for guidelines, due dates, and application materials.
Register in the Supplier Portal
You need to be registered to submit an application. There has been an upgrade to the Supplier Portal, so you may need to register or re-register. For detailed instructions on how to register and submit an application, including video tutorials and more, visit the Supplier Portal information page.
Access the RFP and apply
- Visit the Supplier Portal
- Under Contracting opportunities, view the program guidelines, due dates, and application materials by selecting the Green Partners RFP you wish to apply for (Youth Environmental Leadership, Youth Environmental Education, or Environmental Action)
Submit materials through the Hennepin County Supplier Portal.
For assistance registering or submitting your application documents, contact the Supplier Portal Help Desk at 612-543-5412 or supplierportal@hennepin.us, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Information meetings
Virtual information meetings are held each year. These information meetings are a chance to find out more about the Green Partners program, understand the county application process, and get your questions answered.
Meetings will not be recorded.
Youth Environmental Leadership and Youth Environmental Education programs
A virtual meeting will be held Wednesday, February 18 at 10 a.m. Register to attend the Zoom meeting.
Environmental Action program
A virtual meeting will be held Thursday, February 19 at 2 p.m. Register to attend the Zoom meeting.
Overview of Green Partners RFPs
A virtual meeting will be held Thursday, February 26 at 1 p.m. Register to attend the Zoom meeting.
Resources to help you complete your application
Best practices and frequently asked questions
To help organizations develop successful applications and projects, we've compiled the best practices for Green Partners projects (PDF, 1MB). These were developed based on input received from past Green Partners community partners about how they define success and their advice for other project managers.
Environmental action behavior change resources
The following resources will help with planning environmental action projects focused on changing environmental behaviors:
Journey map planning worksheet (PDF, 1MB)
Consider your audience's journey and plan engagement at each step to support them in making change.
Barriers discussion guide (PDF, 1MB)
Conduct interviews to research your audience’s barriers and motivations related to the actions you are focusing on.
Motivating behavior change checklist (PDF, 2MB)
Tips and steps for planning an environmental action project.
Environmental action outcomes tracking guide (PDF, 1MB)
Find ideas for outcomes you can track and measure to demonstrate participants have made environmentally friendly changes on the topic you are focusing on.
Youth project resources
The resources on the environmental education resources page will help with planning Youth Environmental Education and Youth Environmental Leadership projects.
Insurance requirements
Hennepin County requires organizations to have insurance in order to conduct Green Partners projects. See the insurance requirements (PDF, 1MB) to learn what is required.