Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET)

The Nebraska Environmental Trust is a state-level funding entity established to support projects that protect and enhance Nebraska natural resources. The Trust operates under statutory authority and allocates funding through a competitive annual grant cycle. Oversight is provided by a Board and a Grants Committee, which reviews applications for eligibility and ranks them based on established criteria before final awards are approved during a public hearing process. The Trust emphasizes transparency and public benefit, requiring applicants to adhere strictly to submission guidelines and ensuring that all funded projects align with environmental priorities defined by the organization. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support environmental projects that contribute to one or more of the Trust core categories: habitat, surface and ground water, waste management, air quality, and soil management. These categories encompass a wide range of activities including conservation, restoration, research, education, and implementation of best management practices. Projects may include habitat restoration for endangered species, water conservation initiatives, recycling and waste reduction programs, air quality improvement strategies, and soil conservation efforts. Each category carries equal importance, and applicants are encouraged to demonstrate measurable environmental benefits aligned with one or more of these focus areas. Funding provided through the Nebraska Environmental Trust is flexible in amount, as there is no stated minimum or maximum award size. However, projects are expected to present realistic and well-supported budgets, and funding is typically not awarded to cover 100 percent of project costs. While matching funds are not required, the Trust strongly encourages applicants to include cash match contributions, as these are factored into the scoring process and can improve competitiveness. Eligible costs include personnel, operating expenses, supplies, contractual services, administration within defined limits, equipment, travel, and real estate, each subject to specific guidelines and restrictions. Eligibility for funding is broad and includes a range of applicants such as government agencies, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and individuals, provided the proposed project meets environmental benefit criteria and does not violate restrictions such as funding regulatory programs or private benefit activities. Projects must demonstrate public benefit, environmental acceptability, and both financial and technical feasibility. Additional eligibility considerations include compliance with endangered species protection and historic preservation requirements, as well as adherence to all relevant permitting and regulatory frameworks. The application process is conducted through an online portal and requires completion of multiple components including a cover sheet, budget, real estate information if applicable, timeline, eligibility and scoring responses, and attachments. Applicants must provide detailed narratives describing project design, implementation, outcomes, and evaluation methods. Supporting documentation such as financial statements, partner commitment letters, and required permits must be submitted by the deadline. According to the application instructions, all components must be complete at submission, and late applications are not accepted under any circumstances. The timeline for this grant program follows an annual cycle. Applications typically open around July and are due by the first Tuesday after Labor Day in September. For the 2026 cycle, the application deadline is September 8, 2026. Following submission, applications undergo eligibility review and scoring by the Grants Committee. Final funding decisions are made by the Board after a public hearing, which occurs in January of the following year. Project implementation generally begins after contract execution, typically in late winter or early spring, and may extend up to three years depending on project scope. Evaluation of applications is based on a structured scoring system that considers alignment with funding categories, level of matching funds, organizational performance history, partnerships, geographic diversity, public access, cost effectiveness, and measurable environmental and economic impacts. Projects are also assessed for long-term sustainability and the strength of evaluation plans. Applicants may be required to provide additional information during the review process, and all information submitted becomes part of the binding grant contract if awarded. Failure to provide accurate or complete information may result in disqualification or revocation of funding.

Include cost estimates; outline match funds; demonstrate environmental benefits