How much funding does AES & REpowering Schools 2026 Seed Grant Program provide?

AES & REpowering Schools 2026 Seed Grant Program provides $20,000 total ($5,000 per team, up to 4 teams) in funding.

When is the deadline for AES & REpowering Schools 2026 Seed Grant Program?

The funder has not published the next deadline; based on past cycles it is expected around October.

Who is eligible for AES & REpowering Schools 2026 Seed Grant Program?

Eligible applicants: Applicants: College student teams and their faculty advisors from accredited institutions in the United States; Team Composition: Minimum 2 college students per team.

How often is AES & REpowering Schools 2026 Seed Grant Program offered?

AES & REpowering Schools 2026 Seed Grant Program runs on an annual cycle. The next deadline is expected October 30, 2026.

AES & REpowering Schools 2026 Seed Grant Program

Wind for Schools LLC DBA Repowering Schools

Foundation Annual Grants for Startups Grants for Science Research Grants for Education

Funding Amount

$20,000 total ($5,000 per team, up to 4 teams)

Deadline

Expected ~October

Based on past cycles

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle: Annual
Current deadline: October 30, 2026
Tracked since: April 2026

Deadlines typically fall in: October

Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Eligible organizations

Applicants: College student teams and their faculty advisors from accredited institutions in the United States
Team Composition: Minimum 2 college students per team

Other requirements

Academic Background: Encouraged to include diverse disciplines (engineering, policy, environmental science, communications)
Faculty Advisor: Required to oversee and support the project

Overview

Program Name: Empowering College Student Teams to Advance Stakeholder Engagement and Renewable Energy Policy

Purpose: Support college student teams in conducting meaningful research and projects related to stakeholder engagement and renewable energy policy

Geographic Scope: United States (accredited institutions)

Funding Details

Total Funding: $20,000
Award per Team: $5,000 to $10,000
Number of Awards: Between 4 and 8 teams
Project Duration: One academic semester (Fall 2026)

Focus Areas

Suggested research topics include, but are not limited to:

Stakeholder Engagement: Strategies for involving community members, local governments, and other key parties in renewable energy projects
Solar Agrivoltaics/Dual-Use: Exploring the integration of solar energy systems with agricultural activities
Energy Justice: Ensuring equitable access to renewable energy resources and addressing disparities
Community Opposition & Sentiment: Investigating causes of community resistance and fostering positive relationships
Stakeholder Mapping: Analyzing different groups impacted by renewable energy projects
Advocacy for Government Support: Developing strategies to increase policy backing and public funding

Eligibility

Applicants: College student teams and their faculty advisors from accredited institutions in the United States
Team Composition: Minimum 2 college students per team
Academic Background: Encouraged to include diverse disciplines (engineering, policy, environmental science, communications)
Faculty Advisor: Required to oversee and support the project

Grant Criteria

Project Proposal: Must clearly outline research question, objectives, methodology, anticipated outcomes, and relevance to focus areas
Stakeholder Engagement: Proposals must describe how project will engage stakeholders
Community Impact: Preference for projects demonstrating potential for positive and lasting impact on local communities with plans for sharing findings
Feasibility: Project must be achievable within one semester with realistic timeline and budget
Reporting: Recipients required to submit final report summarizing outcomes, challenges, and recommendations

Contact Information

Address: 1401 Technology Drive Suite 120/MSC 4905, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

How to Apply

Application Process & Timeline

Application Opens: April 15, 2026

Application Deadline: May 8, 2026

Award Notification: June 2026

Project Implementation: Fall 2026 semester (or as specified in award notification)

How to Apply

Complete the online application (available at top of page starting April 15, 2026)
Include project proposal with:
- Research question
- Objectives
- Methodology
- Anticipated outcomes
- Relevance to one or more focus areas
- Description of stakeholder engagement plan
- Community impact plan
- Realistic timeline and budget
Provide team member information and faculty advisor details
Submit final report after project completion summarizing outcomes, challenges, and recommendations

Support Resources

REpowering Schools and AES offer a two-part Virtual Learning Series to help prospective applicants build stronger proposals, focused on stakeholder and community engagement with insights from industry professionals.

Apply with Grantable Learn more

What Wind for Schools LLC DBA Repowering Schools actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025: 10
Total given: $68K
Median grant: $6,000
Range: $6,000–$10K

By dollars: California 24%, Texas 15%, Arizona 9%. Top recipient cities: Houston, TX; Redwood City, CA; Tempe, AZ.
0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
70% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.