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Hennepin County > Work with Hennepin County > Green Partners grants

Green Partners grants

Engage, educate, act and collaborate for the environment

Hennepin County provides funding and support to organizations to actively educate, engage and motivate residents to become environmental stewards and make positive behavior changes.

Through the Green Partners grant program, Hennepin County supports organizations doing projects that help residents take action to prevent waste, separate organic waste and recycle, reduce household hazardous waste, combat climate change, care for trees, protect birds, bats, and pollinators, and improve air and water quality.

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Environment and Energy

environment@hennepin.us

Phone: 612-348-3777

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Green Partners grant information

The application period for the 2023 round of Green Partners grants is closed.

About the grants

Hennepin County awards three types of Green Partners grants.

Environmental action grants

These grants are for projects that focus on motivating adults to do more to protect the environment by focusing on one or two environmentally friendly actions using behavior change strategies. Read the environmental action grant guidelines (PDF) and projects of interest (PDF) for more information.

Youth environmental education grants

These grants are for projects that engage youth in learning about the environment and becoming environmental stewards using youth environmental education best practices. Read the youth environmental education grant guidelines (PDF) and projects of interest (PDF) for more information.

Youth green jobs grants

These grants are for projects that invest in green jobs education and training programs for youth, especially those geared toward youth that face disparities. Hennepin County is interested in youth green jobs programming that supports youth in moving along effective pathways to achieve employment in green jobs. Youth green jobs grant projects will engage young people in activities, training, and paid opportunities to gain experience and receive support to secure green jobs. Read the youth green jobs grant guidelines (PDF) and youth support ideas (PDF) for more information.

Levels of funding

Environmental action and youth environmental education grants

  • If you have received an environmental education grant 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.
  • If you have never received an environmental education grant before, you can apply for up to $12,000 for a one-year project.

Youth green jobs grants

  • You can apply for up to $30,000 for a one-year project.

Eligible organizations

  • Registered nonprofit organizations such as community groups, youth programs and congregations
  • Park districts
  • Private and public schools and school districts, including community educations programs like early childhood family education 

Applying for a grant

The application period for the 2023 round of Green Partners grants is closed.

Application materials are available on the Hennepin County Supplier Portal. Application materials must be submitted through the Hennepin County Supplier Portal, and pre-registration is required to apply. Register early as the process may take time. Information on how to register and apply is found on the Supplier Portal help website.

For assistance registering or submitting your application documents in the Hennepin County Supplier Portal, 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.

Subscribe to the monthly email Environmental education news to be notified of any updates.

Information meetings

Virtual information meetings are held each spring to provide information about the grants and answer questions. Virtual information meetings are a chance to find out more about the grant program, hear about and share project ideas, understand the county application process, and get questions answered.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an information meeting or contact the Green Partners grant program manager for feedback on project ideas before applying.

Recorded virtual information meetings 

Watch the recording of the Green Partners youth grants information meeting (YouTube) held on April 13, 2023.

Watch the recording of the Green Partners environmental action grants information meeting (YouTube) held on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

Resources to help you complete your application

Best practices

To help organizations develop successful proposals and projects, we've compiled the best practices for grant projects (PDF). These were developed based on input received from past Green Partners grantees about how they define success and their advice for other project managers.

Sample applications

  • Sample environmental action application (PDF) and sample action budget (PDF)
  • Sample youth environmental education application (PDF) and sample youth budget (PDF)

Motivating behavior change resources

The following resources will help with planning environmental action grants focused on environmentally sustainable behaviors:

Journey map planning worksheet (PDF)
This worksheet will help you consider your audience's journey to taking action and planning outreach to support them in making change.

Barriers discussion guide (PDF)
Grantees are required to conduct some audience interviews to research their barriers and motivations related to the actions you are focusing on.

Motivating behavior change checklist (PDF)
This checklist provides tips and steps for planning an environmental action projects.

Outcomes report document (DOCX)
Find ideas for outcomes grantees can measure to demonstrate participants have made changes.

Insurance requirements

Hennepin County requires organizations to have insurance in order to conduct Green Partners environmental education projects. See the insurance requirements (PDF) to learn what is required.

Information for current grantees

The following is important information and documents for current Green Partners environmental education grantees.

Reporting documents for projects ending August 2024

Environmental action projects

  • Barriers discussion guide report (DOCX): due December 1, 2023
  • Environmental action outcomes report (DOCX): due September 30, 2024
  • Environmental action final report (DOCX): due September 30, 2024

Youth environmental education projects

  • Youth survey report (DOCX): due September 30, 2024
  • Youth final report (DOCX): due September 30, 2024

Youth green jobs grants

  • Green jobs grants reporting documents coming soon.

Budget reports for all projects

  • Budget report (XLSX): due August 31, 2024

Reporting documents for projects ending August 2023

Environmental action projects

  • Barriers discussion guide report (DOCX): due December 1, 2022
  • Environmental action outcomes report (DOCX): due September 30, 2023
  • Environmental action final report (DOCX): due September 30, 2023

Youth environmental education projects

  • Youth survey report (DOCX): due September 30, 2023
  • Youth final report (DOCX): due September 30, 2023

Budget reports for all projects

  • Budget report (XLSX): due August 31, 2023 

Green Partners grant reporting webinar recording

  • 30-minute video recording (YouTube) of grant reporting webinar held August 2, 2021

Presentations and documents from orientation

Video recording of orientation (2023)

Watch the video recording (YouTube).

Presentation slides from orientation

  • Green Partners grant orientation presentation (PDF, 13MB)
  • Green Partners: Telling your project story (PDF, 146MB)
  • Motivating action (PDF)

Additional resources

  • Recognizing Hennepin County (PDF)
  • Journey map planning worksheet (PDF): Worksheet to help consider your audience's journey to taking action and planning outreach to support them in making change
  • Motivating behavior change checklist (PDF): Tips and steps for planning an environmental action projects
  • Best practices for grant projects (PDF): developed based on input received from past Green Partners grantees about how they define success and their advice for other project managers.
  • Project work plan template (DOCX)
  • Behavior change and youth best practices cheat sheet (PDF)
  • Creative survey ideas (PDF)
  • Green options for event giveaways (PDF)
  • Lead by example checklist (PDF)
Recently awarded grants

Green Partners grants awarded in 2023

In August 2023, the county awarded 28 Green Partners environmental education grants totaling $707,550 to community organizations to engage their audiences in learning about and taking action to protect the environment. Together, these projects will engage more than 9,500 people, including more than 7,500 youth, offer green job employment and training to more than 50 youth, and reach more than 220,000 people with environmental messages.

The program prioritizes environmental education and engagement with audiences that experience disparities.

The program includes three types of grants. Nine organizations will work primarily with adult audiences to motivate environmental actions, 14 organizations will work primarily with youth on learning about the environment and becoming environmental stewards, and five organizations will offer green jobs education, training, and employment.

Since the program was established in 2012, the county has awarded 231 grants totaling more than $2.8 million.

Environmental action grants

Center for Community Services

Educate, Replace and Reuse 

$10,000 to engage 150 low-income seniors, Chinese and Vietnamese residents in reducing the use of single-use plastic bags and disposable cups while promoting the use of reusable water bottles through educational workshops, marketing, and distribution of reusable water bottles and shopping bags. 

Clean Water Fund

Healthy Homes: reducing hazardous waste and plastic 

$22,500 to engage 240 participants in reducing and eliminating the use of toxic chemicals at home and reducing the use of single-use plastics. 

Community Power

Community-owned Affordable Solar and Efficiency

$25,000 over two years to engage 500 low to moderate income renters, homeowners, tenants of affordable housing in accessing energy efficiency programs, including joining a cooperatively-owned community solar garden in their community and receiving support to take the next step on weatherization and energy efficiency including direct installs of LED light-bulbs and low-flow faucets and shower heads.

Minnesota Swahili Christian Congregation

Project Reduce-Reuse-Recycle 

$12,000 to engage 150 church congregants in practicing and learning about waste prevention, using reusable water bottles on-the-go, and using reusable supplies during community meals. 

Mississippi Park Connection

BIPOC in the Outdoors 

$50,000 over two years to engage 150 Black, Indigenous, and people of color from across Hennepin County in connecting with the Mississippi River through outdoor experiences and education about its cultural and environmental significance. This project centers the experiences of BIPOC community members and their relationship to nature, land, and each other. 

Resilient Cities and Communities

Hiawatha Watershed Adopt a Drain and Neighborhood Clean Ups 

$25,000 to engage 250 residents of south Minneapolis in taking action in their neighborhood to protect water by cleaning out storm drains and cleaning up litter along Lake Hiawatha’s shoreline. 

Somali America Women Action Center

Dambiil Challenge 

$20,500 to engage 250 East African residents from Minneapolis and Edina in reducing waste by sewing and using a Dambiil (fabric tote bag) instead of plastic bags, reducing waste, composting, and learning about climate change. 

Tangletown Neighborhood Association

Managing Electronic, Appliance, and Tech Waste Responsibly 

$14,650 to engage 350 residents of Tangletown Neighborhood and Hennepin County in repairing and prolonging the life of power tools, appliances, and technology devices and learning about tool share, waste reduction, and proper recycling practices for appliances and electronics. 

The Richfield Foundation (Altlawns of Richfield and Bloomington)

Creating Habitat with Sustainable Landscaping 

$50,000 over two years engage 200 homeowners and renters in Richfield, Bloomington, and surrounding cities in adding container gardens and replacing existing lawns with native plants to support wildlife, protect water, improve air quality, and reduce the heat island effect.

Youth environmental education grants 

Appetite for Change

Urban Agriculture 

$11,700 to engage 150 youth in environmental experiences through urban agriculture programming. Youth will cultivate knowledge and respect for the land, water, and healthy food organic by engaging and learning about aquaponics, conventional farming, vertical farming, and urban farming at their garden sites and Deep Winter Greenhouse. 

Bancroft Neighborhood Association

Beloved Community Minneapolis

$50,000 over two years to engage 100 youth in hands-on, neighborhood-based projects that connect them with neighbors and the natural environment and contribute to community wellness and vibrancy. Through the Beloved Community Minneapolis project, youth spend most of their time outdoors on green projects, including growing and providing neighbors with locally-grown food in areas where fresh food is not easily available, bee keeping, learning to extend the growing season and how to cook the food they grow, and hosting community meals to share what they have grown and learned.  

MIGIZI Communications

Indigenous Pathways – Green Tech Institute 

$50,000 over two years to engage 120 high school youth learning about Indigenous practices and green tech through activities such as wild ricing, Sugar Bush science and sugaring practices, field testing and analysis of water and air quality, environmental forensics, and education on topics of environmental pollution, treaty rights and food sovereignty, and environmental justice.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Nature from the Inside Out 

$25,000 to support a partnership between the park district, Jenny Lind, Cityview, and Bethune Elementary Schools in north Minneapolis to create an innovative curriculum that will engage 300 to 600 youth in experiential outdoor, nature-based environmental education that meets Minnesota state education standards. 

Northside Residents Redevelopment Council

NRRC Youth Green Team 

$23,700 to engage 150 youth in sustainable practices at their Demonstration Site for Healthy Urban Living in north Minneapolis. Youth will learn about urban farming, sustainable food systems, pollinators, native plants, composting, and water conservation. 

Pollinate Minnesota

Expansive Pollinator Education and Pollinate Minnesota and Minneapolis Public Schools 

$20,000 to engage more than 900 students and 25 teachers in pollinator education and outdoor activities. Youth learn about honeybees and wild bees and gather data and serve as community scientists Teachers will be supported through teacher workshops and programming to gain confidence in teaching outdoors and infuse STEAM into their curriculum.

Regents of the University of Minnesota (Hennepin County 4-H)

Environmental Educator Capacity Building 

$25,000 to engage 150 youth in learning about topics such as sustainable polymers, climate change, trees, and water through summer day camp programming and E-Clubs at Brooklyn Center, Anderson Middle, Hiawatha Academy, Sanford Middle, and Hall STEM Academy schools and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The project will also support and build educator capacity and motivation to deliver environmental education.

Reuse Minnesota

Youth curriculum: Reuse for the future 

$23,500 to engage 100 students from Roosevelt High, Edison High, and Longfellow Alternative High schools in hands-on learning about reuse such as repair, resale, and rental in ways students can incorporate into their daily lives. Students will learn mending skills at the school thrift store and explore reuse as a possible career in the future. 

Riverside Plaza Tenants and Community

RPTA Green Partners Education

$12,000 to engage 150 youth in learning about sustainable landscaping, water protection, waste, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation. Youth will participate in field trips and spend time outdoors improving the environment. 

Spark-Y

Spark-Y Urban Ag as Youth Environmental Education at PYC Arts 

$22,900 to engage 200 students from PYC Arts and Tech Alternative High School in learning about environmental sustainability issues. Students will co-design, build, and maintenance of aquaponics and outdoor gardening systems.

The Highpoint Center for Printmaking

Creative Clean Water Stewards Project 

$37,400 over two years to engage 200 students from Burroughs Community School, Nellie Stone Johnson Community School, Whittier International Elementary School, and Ella Baker Global Studies and Humanities School in the study of rain gardens, clean water initiatives, recycling, preventing waste, pollinators, and protecting local bodies of water through outdoor education sessions, hands-on printmaking activities, poetry writing, and art exhibitions. 

We All Need Food and Water

Green Puppets - Red Light, Green Light 

$10,000 to educate 750 to 2,500 youth and their families on environmental topics through puppet shows on pollinators, water, air, and other environmental topics. Families will engage in environmental actions through kid-friendly, hands-on activities after each show. 

Wilderness Inquiry

Canoemobile: Connecting Minneapolis Youth to Nature-based Education and Exploration 

$5,000 to engage 200 Elementary and Middle school age youth from Minneapolis Public Schools in age-appropriate environmental education lessons in water quality and exploration of local flora and fauna with interdisciplinary themes including STEM, cultural and geographic history, and language arts through activities such as canoeing, water quality lessons, and nature hikes. For 80% of participants, Canoemobile is their first organized outdoor experience. 

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of the North

Camp Ihduhapi Farm and Garden Program 

$12,000 to engage 4,000 pre-school, elementary, and middle school youth in exploring and studying nature and learning about sustainable and environmentally responsible farming, water protection, local ecosystems, renewable energy, tree care, and more at Camp Ihduhapi. 

Youth green jobs grants

EMERGE Community Development

Youth Internships in Solar Installation and Urban Farming

$30,000 to engage up to 12 youth and hire eight youth from north Minneapolis who face disparities in engaging in green jobs training in solar installation and practice in urban farming. 

Environmental Initiative

Northside Safety NET

$30,000 to engage up to 50 youth and hire 15 to 18 youth from north Minneapolis who face disparities in learning about green jobs, environmental justice, environmental policy, and green jobs in renewable energy, urban agriculture, stormwater management, forestry, and maintenance of green infrastructure.

Metro Blooms

Environmental Justice and Social Justice Youth Employees

$30,000 to engage up to 50 youth and hire four youth from Minneapolis who face disparities in learning about green jobs and completing Sustainable Landcare Training. 

Pillsbury United Communities

Ladders to Leadership Green Jobs 

$29,700 to hire five youth from Minneapolis who face disparities in learning about green jobs and receiving training in urban farming, food systems, and waste management. 

Urban Strategies

Green Garden Bakery 

$30,000 to engage up to 30 youth and hire 18 youth from Heritage Park in north Minneapolis who face disparities in learning about green jobs and receiving training for urban farming and business-related sustainability practices.

 

Green Partners grants awarded in 2022

In July 2022, the county awarded 26 Green Partners environmental education grants totaling $470,100. Five 2-year grants were awarded to the following groups whose work will continue in 2023:

Youth environmental education grants 

Minnesota African Women’s Association

$40,000 over two years to engage 150 Pan African youth ages 14 to 18 in intensive curriculum and environmental action programming around recycling, reducing waste, and removing toxic household products from the home. Youth will also learn leadership, advocacy, and critical thinking skills related to motivating behavior change and teaching others to take action.

Nawayee Center School

$40,000 over two years to engage 150 Native American youth in grades 7 through 12 in the Phillips Neighborhood of south Minneapolis in learning about soil, agriculture, and Indigenous plants by working in the school garden and community gardens around Hennepin County. 

Environmental action grants 

Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota

$40,000 over two years engage 150 Southeast Asian community members from Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Center to begin recycling at home and on the go and use reusable bags for grocery trips through outreach by their Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Green Team.

MN Renewable Now

$40,000 over two years to engage 150 residents in north Minneapolis in reducing their carbon footprint by making it easy and convenient to sign-up for and participate in energy audits and renewable energy programs and learn about green energy job opportunities.

Off the Blue Couch

$40,000 over two years to engage 150 Black, Indigenous, and people of color from north Minneapolis in recycling by making it easier to participate by setting up at-home waste stations, helping families sign up for organics recycling, and educating on climate change and waste.

Grantee stories

Tree Trek and videos for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities

Western Hennepin County is home to remnants of the Big Woods ecosystem and a special forest community ecologists call maple-basswood forest. It’s also where Voyageur Environmental Center sits, owned and operated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. Normally, Voyageur is a nature destination for Boys and Girls Club kids, ages 8 to 14, many of whom are from at-risk communities.

Voyageur, a 2020 and 2021 Green Partners grant recipient, had hoped to spend last year expanding its environmental education with STEAM programming at schools and during in-person experiences at Voyageur. But like all in-person learning in 2020, plans had to evolve.

When COVID-19 hit, Hennepin County and Voyageur staff became inspired to create self-guided learning opportunities for Boys and Girls Club youth and the public. County staff partnered with Voyageur and the University of Minnesota to create the Tree Trek nature trail, with posts highlighting feature facts and offering QR codes to access even more info online. View a close-up of one of the sign posts (PDF).

Videos about Voyageur's ecology were also developed.

Seasonal tree changes in the big woods (2:19)

Threats to Minnesota Big Woods (2:45)

Watersheds (2:51)

Birds of the Big Woods (4:14)

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