GRANTS
Lignite Education Field Trip Grant Opportunity
The Lignite Energy Council established the Lignite Energy Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, to raise funds to support education and scholarship programs for students and teachers in the Upper Midwest who are served by coal-based electricity.
The LEC Foundation provides funds for educational programs and activities which educate about the coal industry, processes, and economic impact; promote industry-related career opportunities; and aim to facilitate opportunities to actively engage students with the industry.
The Lignite Energy Foundation is offering grants to teachers who have attended the Lignite Energy Council Teacher’s Seminar. The purpose is to provide financial assistance to offset the transportation costs and other associated costs related to an educational visit to a lignite-related facility such as a coal mine, power plant, gasification site, or other similar facility. Grants of up to $500 will be awarded as funding is available, with a maximum of $3,000 awarded per academic year. Grant awards will be prioritized for schools who do not otherwise have funding for students to visit lignite-related facilities, or who are limited in overall field trip opportunities for students.
Grant Guidelines:
In order to apply for the grant teachers must submit the location they will tour, the anticipated timeframe for the visit, and how the tour will tie into their classroom instruction as it relates to the energy industry in North Dakota.
If the cost of a tour will be above $500, applications may be considered if funding is available. Applicants requesting above $500 must provide a detailed breakdown of anticipated costs to justify increased funding. Funding may be used to cover trip-related costs such as transportation, fees, resource materials, and supplies.
If a teacher receives a grant and the trip is canceled or postponed for unforseen circumstances such as weather or school closures, the teacher may contact the Foundation and request to roll the funding over into an additional year.
The LEC does not provide assistance in coordinating the tour, making bus arrangements, or providing any other resources other than financial support.
Grant applications will be accepted until October 1, 2024. Grants will be announced by November 1, 2024. Grant funds must be spent by the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Only complete applications will be considered for funding.
Applicants must include:
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Amount requested and how the funding will be used
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Proposed date or timeframe for the tour
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Proposed tour site
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Number of students anticipated to attend
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Brief overview of how the tour will tie into classroom instruction regarding lignite coal or the energy industry in North Dakota
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How the awarding of this funding will impact the ability of the tour to proceed
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Name of teacher and year attended the Lignite Education Seminar
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School name and location
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Next Steps:
The Lignite Education Foundation reserves the right to approve or reject requests and/or ask for further clarification of the visit by the requesting group.
The Lignite Education Foundation will review grant applications and make awards by November 1, 2024. If awarded, the grant amount will be awarded in full. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by November 15.
Within 30 days of the tour completion a final report from the awardee must be sent to the Lignite Education Foundation. The applicant must include a summary of the event along with photos and/or video that the Foundation may use to promote future rounds of funding. The report should include a summary detailing the dates of the tour, the number of students attending, and the usage of the funds.
If the trip is canceled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances and is not able to be re-scheduled within the same school year, the awardee may request that the funding be extended into the following school year. If at the end of the subsequent year the funding has not been used, it must be returned to the Lignite Education Foundation.
For questions or more information contact:
Retha Mattern
Lignite Education Foundation Secretary/Treasurer
701-355-2192