National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc
The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc, doing business as NEEF, is a public charity based in Washington, DC. Chartered by Congress in 1990, NEEF is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization that works to make the environment more accessible and connected to people’s daily lives. Its programs and grants support environmental education, conservation, public-land stewardship, and health-related environmental learning.
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc gave $956K across 45 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), top state Texas. 84% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $955,511
- +10.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 45
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,234
- -1.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,172
- Total assets
- $858,500
- -63.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 84% first-time grantees (38 of 45, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (12% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
Apply through NEEF’s online grants system when a program opportunity is available. Review that program’s eligibility criteria, guidelines, and deadline; requirements vary by program.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4301 Connecticut Avenue Nw 401, Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 833-2933
Website: https://neefusa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc
Biodiversity Conservation Grant
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Driving Mobility and Accessibility on Public Lands Grant
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Greening STEM Grants
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Southern Indiana ($91K). Together the top 10 received $547K.
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 189 grants of 206 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NEEF describes its grantmaking as supporting communities across the United States. Its website reports funding in 53 states and territories since 1995. In filing-year 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Texas (12%), Minnesota (10%), Indiana (10%), Tennessee (9%), and California (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
84%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 38 of 45 grantees (84%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 7% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $294K (2019) to $959K (2023). In 2025 it made 45 grants totaling $956K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN | Community Impact Project | $91,000 |
| Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Madison, WI | Biodiversity Conservation Grant | $75,000 |
| Monarch Joint Venture Saint Paul, MN | Biodiversity Conservation Grant | $67,722 |
| Tennessee State Parks Conservancy Nashville, TN | Community Impact Project | $67,600 |
| Josephine Torres Cultural and Community Center Dallas, TX | Community Impact Project | $65,000 |
| Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains Calabasas, CA | Biodiversity Conservation Grant | $57,000 |
| Land Trust of North Alabama Huntsville, AL | Community Impact Project | $38,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Community Impact Project | $30,750 |
| Army Natural Resources Program Oahu Schofield Barracks, HI | Dod Legacy Award | $29,561 |
| Little Tallahatchie Riverway Conservancy New Albany, MS | Community Impact Project | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $858,500 | $3,382,131 | $4,720,981 | $955,511 | 45 | $19,237 |
| 2024 | $2,366,882 | $4,518,618 | $4,771,235 | $861,704 | 40 | $24,532 |
| 2023 | $2,169,788 | $3,787,260 | $4,212,715 | $958,641 | 51 | $26,759 |
| 2022 | $2,339,365 | $4,620,230 | $4,348,146 | $886,051 | 44 | $17,130 |
| 2021 | $2,573,644 | $3,751,948 | $3,923,477 | $434,338 | 26 | $65 |
| 2020 | $2,656,159 | $3,029,846 | $3,373,772 | $317,216 | 19 | $3,947 |
| 2019 | $2,672,189 | $2,931,838 | $3,390,377 | $294,023 | 23 | $12,538 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NEEF’s stated mission is to make the environment more accessible, relevant, and connected to people’s daily lives. Its purpose is to cultivate an environmentally conscious and responsible public. The organization identifies K–12 education, conservation, and health as program areas.
Its work includes hands-on, place-based STEM learning; public-land conservation and volunteerism; and programs that connect environmental knowledge with health. Grant opportunities described by NEEF include pollinator habitat work on public lands, Greening STEM education, and outdoor activities for veterans.
The 2025 grants included support for varied organizations. The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy describes its mission as supporting education, health, and access programs that preserve and enhance Tennessee’s natural areas and parks. The Land Trust of North Alabama says it works to preserve and protect the region’s scenic, historic, and ecological resources through conservation, public recreation, and environmental education. The Josephine Torres Cultural and Community Center describes its work as advancing individuals, families, and communities in West Dallas, with a focus on the La Bajada neighborhood.
Grantmaking
NEEF reports that it has awarded 1,000 grants totaling $13.7 million since 1995. For filing year 2025, its filing lists 45 grants totaling $955,511. Individual grants ranged from $5,200 to $91,000, with a median of $13,172. Separately, NEEF’s impact page reports $925,072 in grant funds awarded in 2025. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 45 grants totaling $955,511.
Among the largest grants listed for 2025 were $91,000 to the University of Southern Indiana for a Community Impact Project; $75,000 to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for a Biodiversity Conservation Grant; $67,722 to Monarch Joint Venture for a Biodiversity Conservation Grant; $67,600 to the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy for a Community Impact Project; and $65,000 to the Josephine Torres Cultural and Community Center for a Community Impact Project.
NEEF’s website describes grant awards ranging from $1,000 to $150,000 and says it awards between 55 and 200 grants annually, depending on available funding and program focus. Its grant page says applications are submitted through an online system, with deadlines and eligibility criteria varying by program. NEEF does not accept unsolicited requests. Organizations applying through a fiscal agent should identify the agent and provide the requested financial documents for that agent.
The Biodiversity Conservation Grant description calls for shovel-ready pollinator habitat projects on public lands covering at least 150 acres, with community outreach and engagement. NEEF’s 2026 Veterans and Nature page states that the submission period has passed. The Greening STEM opportunity described with PPG Foundation identified a Spring 2025 cohort in Cleveland, Greensboro, and Huntsville; that cycle is past.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jennifer Love as board chair from March 2025 and Kevin Butt as board chair through March 2025. Stephen Sikra is listed as board vice chair, and Marc Washington as board treasurer. The other listed board members are Kim Moore Bailey, Sally Cole, Arturo Garcia-Costas, Arielle King, Katie Hogge, and Lori McFarling.
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc is led by Sara Espinoza, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 5 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sara Espinoza
President & CEO
Vice President & Programs → President, CEO & From, 2023
President, CEO & From → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$146K (2019) → $237K (2025)
Kevin Butt
Board Chair
Board Vice Chair → Board Vice President, 2020
Board Vice President → Board Chair, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Love
Board Chair
Board Member → Board Vice Chair, 2022
Board Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Skalmusky
Vice President, Marketing & Comms
Vice President, Marketing & Communications → Vice President, Marketing & Content, 2023
Vice President, Marketing & Content → Vice President, Marketing & Comms, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$103K (2019) → $128K (2025)
Deborah Lucci
Vice President & Development
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$109K (2021) → $135K (2025)
Jada Lewis
Vice President & Programs
Vice President, Programs & From → Vice President & Programs, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$127K (2025)
Morgan Vacanti
Vice President, Finance & Administrator
Vice President, Finance, Administrator & From → Vice President, Finance & Administrator, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$100K (2024) → $140K (2025)
Katie Hogge
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori McFarling
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Sikra
Board Vice Chair
Board Member → Board Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arturo Garcia-Costas
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Omar Mitchell
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sally Cole
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arielle King
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chandra Taylor-Sawyer
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Whyte
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Moore Bailey
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc Washington
Board Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Patrick Deavy (2022–2024) — Vice President & Organizational Development
- Former: Steve Sikra (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Victoria Collins-Hughes (2023–2024) — Vice President, Hr & Culture
- Former: Katharine Emerson (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Meri-Margaret Doudes (2019–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Nancy Smith (2019–2023) — Vice President, Finance & Administrator
- Former: Todd Greenwood (2019–2023) — Board Treasurer
- Former: Jeniffer Harper-Taylor (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Bullard (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Arturo Garica-Costas (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Carlos Alcazar (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Megan Reilly Cayten (2019–2021) — Board Chair
- Former: Don Mattingly (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Shannon Schuyler (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Wonya Lucas (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: George Basile (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Harper-Taylor (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Kaite Hogge (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Garcia (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $237K, to Sara Espinoza (President and CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc
How much does National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc give each year?
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc gave $956K across 45 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $862K across 40 grants.
What is National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $13,172, and its average grant was $21,234, across 45 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc that year got $22K on average.
Where does National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc give grants?
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's top state is Texas, with 12% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Minnesota (10%) and Indiana (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (2 grants), Saint Paul, MN (2 grants), Huntsville, AL (2 grants) and Lancaster, PA (2 grants).
Does National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 45 grants with a stated purpose on National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Dod Legacy Award" (17 grants), "Community Impact Project" (7 grants) and "PPG Greening STEM Grant" (5 grants).
Who are National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of Southern Indiana ($91,000), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ($75,000) and Monarch Joint Venture ($67,722), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc?
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc reported $859K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.4M.
What does National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc fund?
NEEF’s stated mission is to make the environment more accessible, relevant, and connected to people’s daily lives. Its purpose is to cultivate an environmentally conscious and responsible public. The organization identifies K–12 education, conservation, and health as program areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc?
Apply through NEEF’s online grants system when a program opportunity is available. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's EIN?
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1557043. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 22, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 7, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/national-environmental-education-and-training-foundation-inc-morg_a490ab9776af4b21a32792fc5b5a54cc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541557043_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/national-environmental-education-and-training-foundation-inc-morg_a490ab9776af4b21a32792fc5b5a54cc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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