Sonoma Water educator grant program applications open now

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The application period for a small grant program designed for educators is now open at the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water). Teachers in Sonoma and Mendocino counties and the City of Novato may apply for “A Call to Action” grants from Sonoma Water’s Water and Energy Education Program in partnership with Sonoma Clean Power. The program is designed to fund solution-focused projects related to water or climate change at their schools or in their neighborhoods.

“Grant funds like these can deliver results that show students how smaller projects can have a collective impact in reducing carbon emissions and saving water,” said Chair David Rabbitt of the Sonoma Water Board of Directors.

A Call to Action grants are available to teachers in public, private or home school settings in grades TK-12, as well as to student-led clubs with a teacher advisor. Applicants may request up to $1,000 for their project through the grant program. Checks will be made payable to the school or an Associated Student Body account at the school. No checks will be made payable to individuals. The program aims to support projects across the service areas of Sonoma Water and Sonoma Clean Power.

Examples of previously funded projects include rain barrel installations at Healdsburg Elementary School, planting a drought-tolerant native plant pollinator-friendly garden at Brooks Elementary in Windsor and creating a school-wide composting and recycling program at Piner Olivet Charter School.

Each year the teachers and students are invited to present their projects during a Student Showcase event that takes place in May. The grant program has been offering grants since 2021 and has funded more than 36 projects for a total of $29,000.

The deadline for applications for A Call to Action is Oct. 16. If all grant funds are not allocated, there will be a second round of funding for applications received until Jan. 15, 2025. For more information, visit sonomawater.org/ACallToAction.

The Water and Energy Education Program at Sonoma Water helps students and educators learn about the vital role of water and energy in Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin counties. As a publicly funded program, Sonoma Water provides free classroom visits, field trips, contests, grants, teacher workshops, school supplies and more to schools in our service area. During the last school year, Sonoma Water’s education team instructed 16,457 students in the classroom and provided field trips to 4,251 students. Sonoma Water increases environmental awareness and stewardship through scientific inquiry and hands-on, experiential education.

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