The Gray Family Foundation’s Outdoor School Grant Program seeks to increase the capacity of schools and outdoor school providers to deliver high quality outdoor school experiences to all Oregon 5th or 6th grade students.
Donor Name: Gray Family Foundation
State: Oregon
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/09/2024
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Despite the availability of these funds, Gray FF recognizes that not all schools and communities are prepared or eligible to directly apply for programmatic funding from OSU Extension Outdoor School. Because of their investments, they anticipate:

more districts and ESD’s will apply for outdoor school programmatic funding from OSU Extension in future years,
improved access to outdoor school programs for 5th and 6th students throughout the state,
systematic integration of environmental education in the K-12 system will increase,
outdoor school providers will be more prepared to effectively engage and support the diverse populations of Oregon,
the outdoor school experience will increasingly reflect the diverse perspectives, knowledge and relationships all people in Oregon bring as stewards of their natural and built environments.

In 2024, Gray Family Foundation is accepting three types of funding requests in support of outdoor school. Please note that Gray Family Foundation funding to support outdoor school programming is limited and they anticipate that 2024 will be the last year they will offer outdoor school program funding. They continue to encourage providers, schools, districts to engage with and leverage the funds and grants available via Measure 99 through OSU Extension Service Outdoor School. If you are a private/independent school please review the guidance below around exploring accessing Measure 99 funds before submitting a request:

Planning grants for schools or districts. These grants will support the planning required to launch or revise an outdoor school program in geographic regions or amongst communities currently with limited or no outdoor school opportunities. Schools, districts or ESDs can submit a request for a planning grant to support launching an outdoor school program with the intention of applying for programmatic funding from OSU Extension Service Outdoor School in the future.
Planning grants for outdoor school program providers. Current or prospective outdoor school program providers may request funds to plan how to better serve all 5th and 6th grade Oregon students. Specifically, Gray FF seeks to increase the capacity of program providers to deliver high quality, culturally responsive programming to better serve all Oregon communities.
Program grants to schools or student groups currently ineligible to apply for OSU Extension Service Outdoor School funding. Gray FF acknowledges that there are limitations of how OSU Extension Service funds may be distributed which may exclude private, charter and home school students from eligibility. In the past several years there have be solutions developed in collaboration with ESDs and public schools that allow independent and charter schools to access Measure 99 funds. Gray FF will still accept requests for programmatic grants to help these students participate in the outdoor school experience but encourages schools to first explore alternative options with their local ESD or public school system.

Eligibility Criteria 
The Foundation will consider proposals submitted by schools, districts, colleges, government agencies or 501(c)3 non-profit organizations serving Oregon. Any sponsored program provider activities should align with the applying organization’s mission.
For more information, visit GFF.