REAP-CEP Grant

REAP Conservation Education Program
The Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Act of 1989 established as one of its key provisions the Conservation Education Program (CEP) Board. In 2025 the Board officially became a Committee. Annually, the CEP Committee is responsible for allocating $350,000 in grants for conservation education. This publication is intended to assist you in developing grants for the CEP Committee’s consideration.
The five members of the CEP Committee, as required by law, are appointed, one each, from the state departments of education and natural resources, the Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards, Iowa Association of Naturalists, and Iowa Conservation Education Coalition. Each representative has an alternate that will fill in for the committee member, if a committee member has a conflict of interest with one of the grant applications.  The Department of Natural Resources provides staff to carry out the duties of the committee. The REAP Act recognizes that environmental education is one of the long-term integrated efforts that is needed to conserve and protect Iowa’s natural resources. It states the duties of the Department are to:“…revise and produce conservation education materials and specify stipends to Iowa educators who participate in innovative conservation education programs approved by the department.”
The REAP CEP committee can choose to spend all or some of the grant monies every year. Only projects meriting funding will be awarded grants.
IAN’s grant priorities have been to favor grants that are:
  1. regional or statewide in nature
  2.  cooperative efforts among entities, organizations and agencies, and
  3. long-term programs that evaluate the effectiveness of their programs.
IAN supports quality teacher training statewide, including creation of materials and training on Iowa-based natural resources. IAN also is interested in research projects, and supports environmental efforts for grades 6-12 and adult education. REAP-CEP committee members are happy to visit with you about your ideas. The committee always is looking for new, innovative projects to fund.
Grant applications are reviewed annually. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CSD time on February 20 to be eligible for funding.
Check out https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/REAP/REAP-Funding-at-Work/Conservation-Education for the most up-to-date information about submitting grant proposals to REAP CEP.