Georgia Outdoor Learning Demonstration (GOLD) Grant

The Georgia Outdoor Learning Demonstration (GOLD) Grant is offered by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), in partnership with the nonprofit Environmental Education Alliance, Inc. (EEA), which administers the grants on GaDOE's behalf. The program originated as a recommendation of the bipartisan Georgia Senate Study Committee on Outdoor Learning in December 2022. Its purpose is to engage Georgia PK-12 public school students in more frequent, high-quality outdoor learning experiences and to launch, revitalize, or expand outdoor learning opportunities for children throughout the state. The program emphasizes increased frequency, improved quality, and equitable access to outdoor learning based on academic, health, and problem-solving benefits identified through research. The Georgia General Assembly appropriated $100,000 for the GOLD Grant program, with 90 percent allocated for grants to recipients. Individual awards range from $500 to $5,000, and a minimum of 18 grants will be awarded. Grant-funded activities must involve or advance outdoor learning for Georgia public school students and must fall within one or more of four allowable categories: professional learning that increases teacher capacity for outdoor learning; schoolyard improvements that enhance outdoor learning spaces and investigation stations; student supplies and equipment for outdoor observations, investigations, and projects; and field trips related to nature engagement or environmental projects and investigations, whether off-campus or conducted in-school. No cost-share or matching requirement is stated in the RFA. Eligible applicants include public schools, multiple public schools applying in partnership, school districts, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working in collaboration with one or more public schools, and public agencies working with one or more public schools. Georgia public school students must be the primary beneficiaries of funded activities. Previous GOLD grantees must wait one school year before reapplying. Applicants that previously applied unsuccessfully may apply again the following year, although they are advised either to participate in a meeting concerning review of the prior application or to propose a new project. Applications are submitted through the designated GOLD Grant application form. A complete submission consists of the Grant Application Form, the Budget Template uploaded or linked within the application, and the Signature Form uploaded or linked within the application. The Signature Form must be signed by the Superintendent, Chief Executive Officer, or designee and by the grant contact person. Supplemental or revised proposal formats, attachments, or information outside the required application materials will not be accepted. The budget requirements include a summary budget, an itemized budget identifying descriptions, quantities, individual costs, and subtotals, and a budget narrative explaining and justifying expenses. Applicants must also identify project goals and specify how success will be measured. Applications are reviewed through a process coordinated by the Environmental Education Alliance using trained, GaDOE-approved reviewers who sign conflict-of-interest statements. Eligible applications are scored for completeness, responsiveness to the RFA, merit, indicators of need, and special considerations including satisfactory completion of previous grants. Scoring addresses need, project summary and details, project scale, student beneficiaries, learning goals connected to the Georgia Standards of Excellence, impact, educator experience or interest, environmental education continuum, partners, recognition of outdoor learning assets, identification of challenges, success metrics, sustainability, project longevity, best practices or innovation, and the budget. In the second review stage, applications are ranked within each State Board of Education district, with the top-ranked qualified applicant in each district recommended for funding to support geographic distribution. Additional applicants are then selected according to statewide rank until available funds are exhausted. The application opened July 15, 2026 and closes September 25, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Virtual grant-writing webinars and question-and-answer sessions are scheduled for August 19 and September 8, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., with recordings to be posted on the EEA website. State Board of Education approval of award allocations is scheduled for December 9, 2026, followed by Grant Award Notifications in December 2026. Grantees may not obligate funds before receiving the official Grant Award Notification. Funds become available after the notification and required budget approval, and funded projects must be completed with all funds expended by June 30, 2027. A progress report is due April 30, 2027, and the grant close-out and final report are due July 30, 2027. The program contact is Karan Wood, Executive Director of the Environmental Education Alliance, at kwood@eealliance.org. GaDOE's listed program representative is Keith Crandall, Science Program Manager, at kcrandall@doe.k12.ga.us.

Address every scored rubric component directly; demonstrate clear purpose and project details; connect learning goals to Georgia Standards of Excellence; define tangible measurable success metrics; show educator and community support; identify available outdoor learning assets and realistic challenges; emphasize sustainability and project longevity; make the budget cost effective and high value; account for geographic distribution and documented indicators of need.