Deadline: 21 February 2018
Nominations are open for UL Innovative Education Award that is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to invest up to US $250,000 annually in environmental and STEM education, sustainable communities, and youth empowerment.
UL offers recognition awards to increase the impact of existing innovative non-profit programs that use the Environment as a pathway to STEM Learning (E->STEM).
Through the UL Innovative Education Award, UL invests in the critical work of non-profit organizations across the US and Canada that are leading the way to inspire a passion for STEM education in young people through a focus on designing solutions to environmental problems.
Priorities
The award focuses on programs that use the environment as a pathway to STEM learning. The UL Innovative Education Award values all parts of E-STEM, but there are several important priorities that reflect the vision of the award.
- E-Stem: Studying and helping the environment and the world around us is a proven strategy to engage students in learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
- Environment: While programs must address the environment, environment in the context of the UL Innovative Education Award is defined broadly, including urban, suburban, and rural areas, as well as built spaces (such as buildings, workplaces, schools, campuses, etc.).
- Engineering: UL is a safety science company that specializes in testing and innovating solutions for broad use throughout the world. All parts of STEM inquiry are important to us.
- Innovation: The award prioritizes innovation on two levels: youth engagement and environmental solutions.
- Replicability & Scalability: There is no single score for program replicability or scalability.
- Audience Reach: There is no requirement for the number of youth impacted by the program, though the number of students reached is a strong consideration.
Operating Budget
Applicants can choose to participate as an organization or as a program. Operating budgets for applying organizations or programs are capped at $3 million USD.
Applying as an organization, the not-for-profit must have an operational budget of no greater than $3 million USD. However, a not-for-profit with a larger operating budget can still participate if applying as a program. In this instance, the participating program must have an operating budget of no greater than $3 million USD, although the operating organization might have a greater budget overall.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants can represent either a whole organization or one program within a larger organization.
- Any represented organizations must be a US 501(c)(3) not-for-profit or registered with either the Canada Revenue agency or a Canadian provincial revenue agency as a non-profit organization.
- Must be based in the US or Canada. Programs based in territories of the US or Canada are eligible to apply.
- University programs are eligible to apply, as long as they meet all of the above criteria, including being operated under a US 501(c)(3) not-for-profit or an entity registered with the Canada Revenue agency as a non-profit organization.
- Restrictions:
- K-12 schools and other institutions that provide formal education are not eligible to apply. However, not-for-profits/not-for-profit programs serving schools remain eligible.
- B-Corporations (Public Benefit Corporations) are not eligible to apply.
How to Apply
Applicants can download the Word version of the application form via given website.
Eligible Countries: United States & Canada
For more information, please visit UL Innovative Education Award.