Green Partners program

The application period for the 2025 round of Green Partners is open. 

About Green Partners

Hennepin County has three Green Partners programs.

Environmental Action program

Applications for the Environmental Action program for 2025 are closed.

Environmental action projects must primarily engage adults. These projects focus on motivating adults to make environmental changes at home and on-the-go, focusing on one or two environmentally friendly actions. Applicants must incorporate research-based behavior change strategies into project plans to motivate people to take specific environmental actions and incorporate environmental changes into their lifestyle. Learn more about behavior change strategies at Fostering Sustainable Behavior (PDF). Read the Green Partners Environmental Action program guidelines (PDF) and environmental action potential projects (PDF) for more information.

Youth Environmental Education program

Applications for the Youth Environmental Education program are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 17.

Youth environmental education projects engage youth in elementary and middle school in environmental education and outdoor nature experiences. Project activities engage youth in learning about the environment to develop their awareness and increase their knowledge of environmental issues and solutions. Strong projects are inquiry driven, incorporate hands-on and experiential environmental learning, provide outdoor nature experiences, and promote environmental stewardship. Read the Green Partners Youth Environmental Education program guidelines (PDF) and environmental education potential projects (PDF) for more information.

Youth Environmental Leadership program

Applications for the Youth Environmental Leadership program are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 1.

Youth environmental leadership projects encourage environmental leadership and/or exposure to green jobs for young people in high school up to age 24. Project activities should encourage an environmental stewardship mindset that lasts beyond the program. Projects may provide opportunities for youth leadership in their school or community and exposure to green jobs or investigation into the green aspects of jobs they are interested in pursuing. Read the Green Partners Youth Environmental Leadership program guidelines (PDF) and environmental leadership potential projects (PDF) for more information.

Levels of funding

• If you have received a Green Partners award before, you can apply for up to $25,000 for a one-year project or, if you meet the criteria, up to $50,000 for a two-year project.
• If you have never received a Green Partners award before, you can apply for up to $12,000 for a one-year project. 

Eligible organizations

• Schools and school districts, including community educations programs like early childhood family education
• Registered nonprofit organizations such as community groups, youth programs and congregations
• Park districts

Application process

The application period for the 2025 round of Green Partners is open.

Find the program guidelines and application materials on the Hennepin County Supplier Portal. Visit the Supplier Portal help website for information on how to register and submit an application.

• Applications for the Environmental Action program for 2025 are closed.
• Applications for the Youth Environmental Education program are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 17.
• Applications for the Youth Environmental Leadership program are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 1.

Applications must be submitted through the Hennepin County Supplier Portal, and pre-registration is required to apply. Register early as the process may take time. For assistance registering or submitting your application documents in the Hennepin County Supplier Portal, contact the Supplier Portal Help Desk at 612-543-5412 or supplierportal@hennepin.us, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Subscribe to the monthly email Environmental education news to be notified of future opportunities and updates.

Information meetings

Virtual information meetings are held each spring. These information meetings are a chance to find out more about the Green Partners program, understand the county application process, and get your questions answered.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend or watch the information meeting recording before applying.

Upcoming information meetings

Green Partners Environmental Action program

Watch the recording of the Environmental Action information meeting (YouTube) held on Monday, March 17, 2025. Download the Environmental Action information meeting slides (PDF).

Green Partners Youth Environmental Leadership and Youth Environmental Education programs

Watch the recording of the Youth Environmental Education and Youth Environmental Leadership information meeting (YouTube) held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Download the Youth Environmental Education and Youth Environmental Leadership information meeting slides (PDF).

Resources to help you complete your application

Best practices and frequently asked questions

To help organizations develop successful applications and projects, we've compiled the best practices for Green Partners projects (PDF). These were developed based on input received from past Green Partners community partners about how they define success and their advice for other project managers. Review the frequently asked questions about Green Partners programs (PDF) for answers to some of the most common questions about completing your application. 

Environmental action behavior change resources

The following resources will help with planning environmental action projects focused on encouraging environmental behaviors:

Journey map planning worksheet (PDF)
Consider your audience's journey in taking action and plan engagement at each step to support them in making change.

Barriers discussion guide (PDF)
Conduct interviews to research your audience’s barriers and motivations related to the actions you are focusing on.

Motivating behavior change checklist (PDF)
Tips and steps for planning an environmental action project.

Outcomes report document (DOCX)
Find ideas for outcomes you can track and measure to demonstrate participants have made environmentally friendly changes on the topic you are focusing on.

Youth project resources

The resources on the environmental education resources page will will help with planning Youth Environmental Education and Youth Environmental Leadership projects.

Insurance requirements

Hennepin County requires organizations to have insurance in order to conduct Green Partners projects. See the insurance requirements (PDF) to learn what is required.

The following is important information and documents for current Green Partners. 

Reporting documents

Environmental action projects (projects working primarily with adults)

• Environmental action annual report (DOCX): due September 30

Youth environmental education projects

• Youth environmental education annual report (DOCX): due September 30

Youth green jobs projects

• Youth green jobs final report (DOCX): due September 30

Budget reports for all projects

• Budget report (XLSX): due September 30 

Presentations and documents from orientation

Webinar: Green Partners orientation, September 10, 2024

• Watch the recording of the 2024 orientation (YouTube) - Reporting guidelines start at the 18 minute mark 
• 2024 Green Partners orientation presentation (PDF)

Webinar: Green events, December 2, 2024

• Tips and resources for food waste reduction and green events presentation (PDF)
• Preventing wasted food presentation (PDF)
• Watch the recording of the green events webinar (YouTube)

Webinar: Resource assessment and green purchasing, February 10, 2025

• Resource use assessment and green purchasing presentation (PDF)
• Vendor assessment form example (DOCX)
• Green purchasing whiteboard report out (PDF)
• Watch the recording of the resource use assessment and green purchasing webinar (YouTube)

Additional resources

• Recognizing Hennepin County (PDF)
• Youth environmental education survey guide (DOCX)
• Barriers discussion guide (PDF)
• Environmental action outcomes tracking guide (PDF)
• Journey map planning worksheet (PDF): Worksheet to help consider your audience's journey to taking action and planning outreach to support them in making change
• Motivating behavior change checklist (PDF): Tips and steps for planning an environmental action projects
• Best practices for Green Partners projects (PDF): developed based on input received from past Green Partners about how they define success and their advice for other project managers.
• Project work plan template (DOCX)
• Behavior change and youth best practices cheat sheet (PDF)
• Creative survey ideas (PDF)
• Green options for event giveaways (PDF)
• Lead by example checklist (PDF)

Green Partners contracts awarded in 2024

In August 2024, the county awarded contracts to 27 Green Partners environmental education projects totaling $777,900 to community organizations to engage their audiences in learning about and taking action to protect the environment. Together, these projects will engage more than 9,400 people, including more than 8,100 youth, offer green job employment and training to more than 70 youth, and reach more than 116,000 people with environmental messages.

The program prioritizes environmental education and engagement with audiences that experience disparities.

The program includes three types of projects. 6 organizations will work primarily with adult audiences to motivate environmental actions, 17 organizations will work primarily with youth on learning about the environment and becoming environmental stewards, and 4 organizations will offer green jobs education, training, and employment.

Since the program was established in 2012, the county has awarded 259 contracts totaling more than $3.5 million.

Environmental action projects

Joint Action for Diversity and Engagement (JADE)

Sustainability in Cultural events

$12,000 to educate volunteer leaders to engage 200 people and vendors in recycling, organics recycling, and waste prevention to reduce trash at communal events in the Asian community.

Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota

AAPI Green Team

$39,900 over two years to engage 150 Lao and Hmong young adults and adults in recycling and waste reduction through outreach at community events and by educating their friends and family.

Lyndale Neighborhood Association

Preventing Waste in Lyndale

$12,000 to engage 250 participants in education and activities to reduce waste by educating on where to buy used items and reducing the stigma around purchasing used items by going with others to shop in a group. Participants will increase their use of sustainable transportation by knowing how to repair simple bike problems.

Northeast Minneapolis Tool Library

Overcoming Barriers to Repair

$12,200 to engage more than 450 participants in learning a variety of repair-focused trade skills that will reduce household waste through repair at home and in their community.

Off the Blue Couch

It’s time to start Anew

$25,000 to engage 150 residents in recycling, give away free recycling and organics starter kits to residents in Minneapolis, engage residents to recycle their waste and properly dispose of household hazardous waste, host community clean-ups to pick-up litter and clean out storm drains, and encourage residents to have conversations about climate change.

Resilient Cities and Communities

Corcoran Phillips Home Weatherization Outreach

$50,000 over two years to engage, incentivize, and support 150 households in Corcoran and Phillips in signing up for Home Energy Squad visits to find opportunities for home insulation, air sealing, home electrification, recommended actions they can take at home, available financial incentives and qualified contractors. 

Youth environmental education projects

Appetite for Change Inc.

Youth Training and Opportunities Program

$25,000 to teach 150 youth about topics related to urban agriculture, including organic farming, aquaponics, conventional farming, vertical farming, and urban farming.

Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches

LakeStreet Youth Labs

$12,000 to engage 150 youth in pursuing environmental-science based career paths, increasing student awareness of critical environmental topics, and providing youth with hands-on, environmental STEAM-based learning experiences by exploring plant life cycles, food systems, and restorative growing practices through hands-on activities which will be incorporated into existing programming.

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre

Puppets Show Up for the Earth

$50,000 over two years to engage 750 youth in learning about water conservation and pollinator preservation through puppet shows, activities, and study guides created by two high school youth apprentice artist-researchers and experienced artists who will guide and support the youth apprentices.

Metro Blooms

Youth and Environmental Justice

$50,000 over 2 years to engage 305 youth in Sustainable Land Care training to learn green infrastructure practices, stormwater and hydrology, Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water, soil and soil filtration, plant morphology and identification, inspections and record keeping, and other relevant topics.

Midwest Food Connection

Youth Food Waste Reduction Project

$24,000 to engage 750 4-8th graders in climate-friendly practices of food consumption, including learning how the food they don’t consume, and the leftover packaging, affect the environment, and what actions they can take to improve climate outcomes.

Minneapolis Nature Preschool

School-wide Forest Stewardship

$19,600 to engage 700 elementary and middle school students in observing, learning about, and stewarding the school forest consistently throughout all seasons through the framework of science class.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Nature from the Inside Out at Kroening Nature Center

$50,000 over two years to engage 625 youth in high quality experiential environmental education for students during the school day throughout the school year and expand their existing program to include 2nd graders at Jenny Lind, Cityview and Bethune Elementary Schools.

Minnesota African Women’s Association

Engaging Pan-African Youth in Environmental Action

$50,000 over two years to engage 150 African youth participants in intensive educational curriculum, youth leadership development activities, and taking action on environmental behaviors related to recycling, reducing waste, removing toxics in the home, and promoting organics composting in restaurants.

Minnesota Swahili Christian Congregation

Project Reuse-Reduce-Recycle

$20,000 to will engage 50 youth and members of their congregation in learning about and promoting environmental behaviors related to waste.

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

Mississippi Summer Exploration

$12,000 to engage 200 youth in learning about the cultural, environmental, and industrial factors that have shaped the Mississippi River that we see today and encouraging youth to view the river as a recreational space by fostering a love of nature.

Pollinate Minnesota

Expansive Pollinator Education

$25,000 to engage more than 1300 students in discoverable experiences with live bees and host 20 teachers workshops to increase confidence in teaching with pollinators, teaching outdoors, and infusing STEAM into their curriculum.

Regents of the University of Minnesota

4-H Environmental Learning and Capacity Building

$50,000 over two years to engage 150 youth in environmental education and continue to develop the capacity of program partners to carry out the 4-H Environmental Club (“E-Club”) model in the areas of climate change and food systems, plastic pollution, and environmental advocacy and awareness.

Reuse Minnesota Inc.

Reuse for the future: Youth reuse education

$25,000 to engage 450 youth in reuse education and practice by bringing Club Mend to schools, offering opportunities for students to learn new skills, and build on what they learn over the year, and provide more opportunities for youth through camp-based programming.

Spark-Y

Green Campus Expansion: Youth Environmental Education at PYC Arts

$22,800 to engage 200 youth in green campus initiatives and establish a sustainable, long-term environmental education program within the school curriculum by creating weekly programming that integrates environmental education seamlessly into the school's educational framework and the green campus infrastructure.

Wilderness Inquiry Inc.

Connecting Minneapolis Youth to Nature-Based Education and Exploration

$19,400 to engage 150 underserved and underrepresented Minneapolis students at Escuela Bilingue Green Central and youth from the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in culturally inclusive outdoor education and recreation experiences.

YMCA of the North

Camp Ihduhapi Environmental Education Curriculum Update and Scholarships

$50,000 over two years to engage at least 1,700 youth at Camp Ihduhapi for school-year environmental programming by providing more support to schools, with a focus on schools with students who face disparities and update environmental education curriculum to align with state science standards.

Youth Farm

Youth Farm Northside

$12,000 to engage more than 290 young people in north Minneapolis in food justice work - supporting and participating in local food systems; gaining knowledge about a diverse range of topics from food and plant sciences to climate resilient urban agriculture to community organizing; and increasing food access and security in their own communities and beyond.

Youth green jobs projects

East Side Neighborhood Services

Youth Green Jobs Pathways: Education, Employment, and Green Workforce Training

$20,000 to collaborate with Spark-Y to deliver a hands-on Career and Technical Education program focused on green jobs and sustainability for 30 youth at Menlo Park Academy.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Creating Future Leaders in Outdoor and Environmental Leadership

$30,000 to provide green jobs programming for 50 youth will be provided through a partnership between North Hennepin Community College, five school districts, and outdoor organizations to increase outdoor and environmental education, leadership, internship and career exploration and opportunities for underrepresented college and high school students.

Minnesota Renewable Now

Green Career Forum

$30,000 to engage 20 youth in learning about opportunities in green careers through training, mentorship, peer networking, and exposure to professionals working in local green careers.

Restoration Incorporated Ministries

Living the Green Life Project

$30,000 to engage 15 black, Indigenous, and youth of color in solar jobs training, soft skills training, and mentoring for justice involved youth, in partnership with solar companies that will provide support.

Green Partners contracts awarded in 2023

In August 2023, the county awarded contracts to 28 Green Partners projects. A majority of the projects have wrapped up as of August 31, 2024. The following six projects will continue through August 31, 2025.

Environmental action projects

Community Power

Community-owned Affordable Solar and Efficiency

$25,000 over two years to engage 500 low to moderate income renters, homeowners, tenants of affordable housing in accessing energy efficiency programs, including joining a cooperatively-owned community solar garden in their community and receiving support to take the next step on weatherization and energy efficiency including direct installs of LED light-bulbs and low-flow faucets and shower heads. 

Mississippi Park Connection

BIPOC in the Outdoors 

$50,000 over two years to engage 150 Black, Indigenous, and people of color from across Hennepin County in connecting with the Mississippi River through outdoor experiences and education about its cultural and environmental significance. This project centers the experiences of BIPOC community members and their relationship to nature, land, and each other.  

The Richfield Foundation (Altlawns of Richfield and Bloomington)

Creating Habitat with Sustainable Landscaping 

$50,000 over two years engage 200 homeowners and renters in Richfield, Bloomington, and surrounding cities in adding container gardens and replacing existing lawns with native plants to support wildlife, protect water, improve air quality, and reduce the heat island effect.

Youth environmental education projects

Bancroft Neighborhood Association

Beloved Community Minneapolis

$50,000 over two years to engage 100 youth in hands-on, neighborhood-based projects that connect them with neighbors and the natural environment and contribute to community wellness and vibrancy. Through the Beloved Community Minneapolis project, youth spend most of their time outdoors on green projects, including growing and providing neighbors with locally-grown food in areas where fresh food is not easily available, bee keeping, learning to extend the growing season and how to cook the food they grow, and hosting community meals to share what they have grown and learned.  

MIGIZI Communications

Indigenous Pathways – Green Tech Institute 

$50,000 over two years to engage 120 high school youth learning about Indigenous practices and green tech through activities such as wild ricing, Sugar Bush science and sugaring practices, field testing and analysis of water and air quality, environmental forensics, and education on topics of environmental pollution, treaty rights and food sovereignty, and environmental justice. 

The Highpoint Center for Printmaking

Creative Clean Water Stewards Project 

$37,400 over two years to engage 200 students from Burroughs Community School, Nellie Stone Johnson Community School, Whittier International Elementary School, and Ella Baker Global Studies and Humanities School in the study of rain gardens, clean water initiatives, recycling, preventing waste, pollinators, and protecting local bodies of water through outdoor education sessions, hands-on printmaking activities, poetry writing, and art exhibitions.

Expansive pollinator education from Pollinate Minnesota at Minneapolis Public Schools

Pollinate Minnesota taught classes with live bees to a total of 35 classrooms from fall 2023 through summer 2024. Classes were held at Dowling, Loring, Lucy Laney, and Webster elementary schools, South High, Hmong Academy, Camden High, and Minneapolis Public School’s True Food Farm. 

They also developed grade-specific curriculum and hosted two teacher workshops. An additional 31 teachers learned curriculum to bring back to their classrooms.

In total, the program provided education about pollinators and discoverable experiences with live bees to over 1,300 students. By the end of the program, students were able to: 

• Describe honeybee biology, wild bee biology, the essential role of bees in healthy ecosystems and food systems, and pollinator decline
• Experience demonstrations with live bees
• Gather data critical to understanding pollinator decline
• Feel empowered to advocate for pollinator protection
• Connect directly to current timely advocacy issues for pollinator protection

Connect with us and read stories from grantees

Subscribe to Environmental education news to receive monthly updates including Green Partners highlights and events. Read past editions of Environmental education news here:

December 2024

• Altlawns of Richfield-Bloomington engages the community in learning about nature

November 2024

• Expansive pollinator education from Pollinate Minnesota at Minneapolis Public Schools
• Minnesota African Women’s Association engages community members in recycling and advocacy

October 2024

• MIGIZI makes strides with green technology
• Tangletown Neighborhood Association successfully reduces e-waste

September 2024

August 2024

• MIGIZI Green Tech interns race in the Solar Boat Regatta

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

• Earth Day festivities with Green Partners grantees
• Doors Open and Free Ink Day at the Highpoint Center for Printmaking
• Youth-led community gardening event with Project Sweetie Pie, Spark-Y, Environmental Initiative, and other partners

April 2024

• Green Partners environmental education grant application open
• Beloved Community youth tend honeybees in south Minneapolis
• ReUse Minnesota engages youth in reuse at Minneapolis high schools 

March 2024

• Apply for a Green Partners environmental education grant
• University of Minnesota’s 4-H program receives community leadership award
• Youth supported through green jobs grant featured in Metro Blooms community coffee chat
• MIGIZI and Altlawns host winter seed sowing event

February 2024

• Apply for a youth activities grant

January 2024

• Tangletown Neighborhood Association hosts successful Fix-It Clinic

December 2023

• Lao Center of Minnesota provides assistance with applying for the Minnesota Energy Assistance Program
• Mississippi Park Connection celebrates a successful fourth year of BIPOC in the Outdoors program
• ReUse Minnesota launches Club Mend, a mending club for youth
• Tangletown Neighborhood Association helps residents repair electronics and small appliances

November 2023

• MIGIZI's Green Tech interns: Preserving ecosystems and exploring habitats
• Metro Blooms wraps up a year of youth-led community learning and celebrations and embarks on more green job training for youth

October 2023

• MN Renewable Now engages residents to switch to clean energy in north Minneapolis
• Tangletown Neighborhood Association’s events series about managing waste from electronics and appliances responsibly
• Buzz Fest (with Altlawns Richfield-Bloomington)

September 2023

• Grants awarded for environmental education, action, and green jobs projects

August 2023

• Minnesota African Women's Association volunteers remove invasive buckthorn
• ReuseMN teaches students the importance of reuse

July 2023

• Altlawns repurposes food storage barrels into rain barrels at community workshop

June 2023

• Longfellow Community Council builds Leopold benches for community gardens

May 2023

• Hennepin County staff celebrate Earth Day with Green Partners (Resilient Cities and Communities, Project Sweetie Pie, Longfellow Community Council, and Somali American Women’s Action Center)

April 2023

• Resilient Cities and Communities spring cleanup day
• Attend the Community Environmental Justice Expo (with Project Sweetie Pie)
• Altlawns Richfield-Bloomington potting winter sown seedlings workshop
• Hennepin County 4-H Sustainable Polymers curriculum

March 2023

• Longfellow Community Council reclaims the outdoors

February 2023

• Altlawns Richfield-Bloomington winter seed sowing workshop
• Beloved community youth supply drive with Organic Oneness
• Youth Climate Justice Summit at the State Capitol with Climate Generation
• Michael Chaney of Project Sweetie Pie receives Climate Justice Leadership award

January 2023

• MN Renewable Now engages residents in north Minneapolis in renewable energy program
• Minneapolis Nature Preschool engages in their school forest

Tree Trek and videos for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities

Western Hennepin County is home to remnants of the Big Woods ecosystem and a special forest community ecologists call maple-basswood forest. It’s also where Voyageur Environmental Center sits, owned and operated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. Normally, Voyageur is a nature destination for Boys and Girls Club kids, ages 8 to 14, many of whom are from at-risk communities.

Hennepin County and Voyageur staff created self-guided learning opportunities for youth and the public. County staff partnered with Voyageur and the University of Minnesota to create the Tree Trek nature trail, with posts highlighting feature facts and offering QR codes to access even more info online. View a close-up of one of the sign posts (PDF).

Videos about Voyageur's ecology were also developed.

Seasonal tree changes in the big woods (2:19)

Threats to Minnesota Big Woods (2:45)

Watersheds (2:51)

Birds of the Big Woods (4:14)