South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

We promote and protect the health of the public and the environment.

• Grant Award Program
• Recent Grant Winners
• For Teachers
• About Champions
• Project Ideas
• Champions' Links

GRANT AWARD PROGRAM

By doing your part for the environment, you could win $2000 and a 30-second TV commercial!

• Up to 8 Champions of the Environment grants are rewarded each school year. Grant winners are selected based on the quality of their environmental projects.
• Projects must address one or more of the following: prevention or reduction of pollution in the air, water or land; waste reduction; restoration, preservation or enhancement of natural areas; water or energy efficiency. Projects must also educate the community and make a lasting difference to the environment.
• In April, top Champions winners will be invited to be recognized at the annual DHEC Earth Day Awards.

• K-12 students, their teachers, and environmental educators carrying out an environmental project in South Carolina.
• One student or a student group of any size.
• Applicants that educate K-12 students outside of a formal classroom setting (such as an environmental education center) are encouraged to partner with a school, classroom, or teacher.

• A cash award of $2000 to use for their project
• A 30-second TV commercial about the project
• Their project highlighted on the Champions’ Web site

• A smaller cash award to use for their project
  Note: no additional application is needed to be considered for a Merit or Seedling award.

• Download the Champions Grant Information Sheet (pdf) to review the details about the grant.
• You might also want to view the Champions of the Environment Grant Application Help Sheet to help you prepare your application.
• Click here to see a sample Champions of the Environment Grant Award Application.
• You will be able to electronically submit an application starting August 1, 2012. The application period will close October 15, 2012.
• If you have any questions, or have trouble accessing the Information Sheet or Grant Award Application email the Champions’ coordinator, or call 803-898-4183.
  

• Fill out the application and tell us about your environmental project. Be sure to supply all the requested information. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• If your application is submitted after the posted deadline it will not be considered.
• Applicants who are not chosen to receive a grant award are encouraged to revise their application and apply to Champions of the Environment again.

Projects seeking funding through a Champions’ grant are evaluated on the degree to which they satisfy the following criteria.

• Benefits to the environment – positive outcomes for the environment through one issue or cumulatively through multiple issues
• Sustainability / long-term environmental benefits – ability to sustain the project and/or sustain the environmental benefit or education gained through the project
• Student education – learning opportunities
• Student involvement – as appropriate for the age, skill level of the students
• Outreach – education (and involvement) of those involved with and outside the project - including students, school, parents or the community
• Realization factor – likelihood of completion
• Suitable Use of Funds – funds used on items that support the goal(s) of the project
• Consideration is also given to innovation and creativity, and partnerships

The Champions Partnership awards grants to environmental projects that are logical, well-planned and that have the potential to be implemented to meet the project goals.

The Champions of the Environment program is a competitive grant program. A limited number of projects will receive funding.

Based on the quality of the applications received, the Champions’ selection committee reserves the right to award fewer than 8 grants on an annual basis.

You must have a project to apply, but if you need an idea:

• Visit the Grant Award winner’s page to see what others have done, and
• Visit the Project Ideas page for suggestions for successful projects.
• Visit the For Teachers Page for additional tips.