Many people struggle to figure out how they can obtain the capital required to start and/or scale a business. This guide may not offer all of the answers, but it does provide helpful insights into a wide variety of financing options available to aspiring entrepreneurs as well as existing small business owners.
Read More
EPA supports several programs designed to encourage environmental stewardship through collaboration at the community and regional levels. During the first half of 2006, EPA will be accepting applications to solicitations for five such programs. These programs focus on sustainability, toxics reduction, environmental health, environmental justice, and tribal science. They emphasize science and community-based collaboration to differing degrees.
Read More
A guide to funding mechanisms for campus sustainability initiatives projects for students and administrators. It was released in November 2008.
Read More
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Brownfields Job Training Program to help ensure that the residents of
communities most affected by brownfields would share in the benefits of their cleanup and
reuse. The Job Training Program transforms lives by empowering unemployed and underemployed, predominantly low-income and
minority residents of Brownfields communities. The Program does this by providing funding and technical assistance for environmental cleanup
and health and safety training to organizations currently training residents of brownfieldsimpacted
communities who are seeking new
skills and greater earning potential. The Program helps clean up brownfields, spurs sustainable economic development, and creates a pool of skilled workers capable of
meeting the environmental cleanup and green jobs industries’ demand for workers.
Read More
Competitive grants programs that provide research funds to scientists, agricultural educators, farmers and ranchers and students are available from a variety of government agencies and non-profit organizations. Find funding opportunities, grant-writing tips and related technical support here.
Read More
The NLE currently posts 2048 CRS Reports on environmental and related topics. The Congressional Research Service (CRS), part of the Library of Congress, prepares its reports for the U.S. Congress. CRS products undergo review for accuracy and objectivity and contain nontechnical information that can be very useful to people interested in environmental policy. CRS does not itself provide these documents to the general public. Although CRS documents are prepared specifically for Congress and not widely distributed, their distribution is not protected by law or copyright. NCSE is committed to expanding, maintaining and updating its database of reports, making them available and searchable for the public.
Read More
Organizations can learn a lot from and about their staff using evaluation data collection strategies such as surveys, interviews
and record reviews. As shown below, information about staff and their actions, perceptions and feedback can be used to inform
organizational practices. Remember, organizations that regularly use evaluative thinking ask questions of substance (including
questions about their staff), determine what data are needed to address the questions and how those data could be obtained,
systematically collect and analyze data (including staff feedback), share the results and develop strategies to act on findings.
Read More
As stated previously, choosing data collection strategies (e.g., surveys, observations, record reviews) depends upon the purpose
of the evaluation, the evaluation questions, the time frame, and the available resources. Evaluation assistance can be
obtained from independent technical assistance or evaluation consultants, evaluation or other technical assistance
consulting firms, and sometimes universities with graduate programs that include training or projects in program
evaluation. Before you hire any consultant or organization be sure to find out whether they have: experience with program
evaluation, especially with non-profit organizations; basic knowledge of the substantive area being evaluated; good
references (from sources you trust); and a personal style that fits with your organization’s working style. Think long and
hard about the purpose of the evaluation project you are considering. This bulletin will help you understand: differences between
research and evaluation, what evaluation should cost, and what you should think about before you initiate it.
Read More
For investors interested in energy efficiency in either conventional or green construction, meaningful answers to a few questions will go a long way towards ensuring a sustainable investment.
Read More
A primary source for tools is the document, A Guidebook of Financial Tools, produced by the Environmental Financial Advisory Board and the Environmental Finance Center Network.
Read More