Celebrating 10 Years of NIPSCO'S Environmental Action Grant
In its tenth year, NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant has donated $692,975 to date, helping 169 projects come to fruition across Northern Indiana. This year’s projects highlight Northern Indiana’s desire for pollinator projects, youth nature and conservation education, outdoor recreation and exploration and native habitat restoration. Nearly all funded projects and programs include community and youth engagement components, encouraging residents to give back and experience nature through stewardship, fellowship and partnership.
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Hi I'm Dana Berkes, Public Affairs and Economic Development Manager at NIPSCO. For the past 10 years, NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant has helped bring to life initiatives that preserve our natural resources and empower local organizations to create lasting social and environmental impact across northern Indiana. Together with the NiSource Charitable Foundation NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant has awarded nearly $700,000 in total over the last 10 years, helping fund approximately 150 projects with an emphasis on environmental education and restoration to organizations across our northern Indiana footprint. Join me as we take a look back at 10 years of the Environmental Action Grant from NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation.
Save the Dunes protects and advocates for the Indiana Dunes, Lake Michigan and the surrounding natural areas for the health and vitality of Northwest Indiana. Their pollinator Week program series engages and inspires communities on pollinator conservation.
We were really excited to learn that we had received the grant. We had been working on this vision for quite some time, so we were really excited to bring to life this Pollinator Week Program series. This project aligned really well with Save the Dunes’ mission of protecting and advocating for the Indiana Dunes and surrounding natural areas. We know that to achieve true environmental protection, it takes more than just policy changes and landscape level conservation, it requires community engagement and individual action.
Indiana University Kokomo promotes environmental stewardship by raising awareness, providing resources and fostering community involvement to create a sustainable future.
Our goal is to promote sustainable practices in the area, and we work very closely with our student body and student groups to do that. So when we applied for an environmental action grant with NIPSCO, it was primarily based on need. So one of the things that we that with this group was we were able to put on Sustainability Week of giveaways of environmental opportunities. We ended up having campus cleanup days and planting trees across campus—so everything from birds to bees to trees—we've kind of been able to do all of those things thanks to our partnership with NIPSCO. Before we had our first NIPSCO grant, there was no Student Sustainability Council, there was no dedicated student group working on this. By taking environmental classes, by getting engaged in these types of service-oriented activities they have been able to sustain their momentum through COVID into now where it’s one of our most successful student groups on campus so we're really proud of that.
Monarch Joint Venture is dedicated to conserving monarch butterflies and other pollinators. The organization was able to establish 16 acres of prairie pollinator habitat at Cedar Creek Wetland conservation area in Fremont, Indiana.
I work for the Monarch Joint Venture, and we've been a 501-C3 since 2018, and our mission is to protect monarchs and the migration by collaborating with partners to deliver habitat conservation education and science across the monarch range. So we worked in partnership through the NIPSCO Environmental Action Grant, with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. We have a habitat team that works on technical assistance and was able to provide the seed mix for the restoration project and we worked in tandem with Savannah and her property staff here at Cedar Swamp. They have dormant seeded it this year, so we're able to work together to put more pollinator habitat on the landscape and that's wild forbs, so wildflowers. Without partners like NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation, projects like this don't get off the ground. So to be able to implement that project and work with the DNR to collaborative manner to help get this project implemented and dormant seeded this year helps restore so many acres that probably wouldn't be restored without the Environmental Action Grant from NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation.
The Wetlands Initiative is an organization dedicated to designing, restoring and creating wetlands to improve water quality wildlife habitat and climate resilience. Their Little Calumet River restoration project enhanced wetland habitats, removed invasive species, reintroduced native plants and provided recreational opportunities to support Gary’s environmental health and resilience.
So our partnership with NIPSCO has been really impactful in terms of improving these natural areas. Our three Environmental Action Grants have actually led to a really strong partnership with the NIPSCO environmental programs. We help design our wetland restorations in partnership with NIPSCO because the rights of way run through these sites in a lot of cases, so we want to make sure that our wetland natural areas are being managed very similarly to the NIPSCO rights of way. And, a big next phase in our partnership when we received a NiSource Charitable Foundation Grant for $50,000 to do some engineering and community engagement work at the Chase Street Wetland in Gary. So yeah that's been really fantastic to work more hand in hand with NiSource to get to know some other members of the staff there and yeah we've been using those dollars mostly to help support community-engaged planning of some future while insights and Gary.
Multiply these examples 150 across northern Indiana, and you have a collective impact allowing communities to engage with nature and the environment. Pollinator garden, shoreline stabilization, or canoe launch—this grant has funded all of these, and they anchor community connections through environmental stewardship.
2025 Recipients
For 2025, NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant will fund 26 diverse environmental restoration and education projects across the territory.
- Monarch Joint Venture, Monarch Pollinator Projects across Northern Indiana, $25,000
- Reynolds Creek Gamebird Habitat in Porter County
- Pisgah Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Kosciusko County
- Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area in Newton County
- Hammond Right-of-Ways in Lake County from Wolf Lake to Roxana Marsh - Blue Heron Ministries, Demonstration Beds at Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site, $1,125
- Boy Scouts of America Anthony Wayne Area Council, Montessori Environmental Stewardship Curriculum in Pleasant Lake, $5,000
- Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy, Borton Wetlands Habitat Restoration, $5,000
- Delta Institute, Urban Forestry and Community Engagement in Hammond, $5,000
- Field Station Cooperative, Nature Pre-school at Indiana Dunes National Park, $1,000
- Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana Michiana, Pollinator Project at Camp McMillen, $5,000
- Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center, High School Outdoor Career Pathways, $5,000
- Indiana University Foundation, The Pollinator Orchard at IU Kokomo, $5,000
- International Friendship Gardens, Environmental Survey, $5,000
- LaGrange County Department of Parks and Recreation, Nature Day Camps, $3,000
- LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District, Kankakee River Days, $5,000
- Legacy Foundation, Stewart Mattix Prairie Restoration, $5,000
- Little River Wetlands, Native Habitat Restoration, $5,000
- MLK Montessori School, STEAM Summer Camp, $2,000
- Michigan City Parks Department, 2025 Trail Creek Week, $5,000
- Mongo Community Development Association, Pollinator Garden Expansion, $1,250
- Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse, We Are Our Nature’s Keepers, $5,000
- Niches Land Trust, Summer Adventure Camp, $5,000
- Northwest Indiana Paddling Association, River Clearing East Branch Little Calumet River, $5,000
- Oak Farm Montessori School, Forest Path Improvement Project, $4,200
- PFW Foundation, Conservation Conversation, $5,000
- Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Access and Programming at Oases Botanic Gardens in Gary, $5,000
Total Grants: $115,275
Past Recipients
2024
For 2024, NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant will fund 21 diverse environmental restoration and education projects across the territory.
The 2024 NIPSCO Environmental Action Grant winners include:
- The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, Festival de la Monarcha, East Chicago, $4,000
- Saint Mary’s College, Campus Canopy Project’s Living Exhibition, $5,000
- LaPorte County Park Foundation, Habitat Restoration Project, $5,000
- Indiana Audubon Society, Chasing Melody, Lake and Jasper Counties, $5,000
- Blue Heron Ministries, Lupine Meadow Expansion at Headacres Farm, Steuben County, $5,000
- Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center, Nat’s Nature Club, $5,000
- ACRES Land Trust, Lee Family Perfect Lake Nature Preserve Habitat Restoration, Steuben County, $5,000
- The Outlet Youth Center, youth programming, Fulton County, $2,000
- The Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse, summer youth environmental education, City of Gary, $5,000
- Indiana Land Protection Alliance, Safety and Woods Worker Training Course, $5,000
- Sisters of the Holy Cross, Pollinator and Monarch Waystation Habitat Establishment, $5,000
- Town of Chesterton, Coffee Creek Park Pond Improvements, $1,500
- DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District, Invasive Species Education and Removal, $5,000
- East Chicago Sanitary District-Stormwater Dept., Rain off McShane, rain barrel project, $3,200
- Monarch Joint Venture, Cedar Swamp Pollinator Project, Steuben County, $5,000
- Little River Wetlands, Native Habitat Restoration, Allen County, $5,000
- Noble County Public Library, Rainscaping education, $1,500
- Speaks for the Trees and More, summer nature camp, Allen County, $500
- St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative, Flow the St. Joe, $1,000
- NICHES Land Trust, Sustainability Outreach, $3,500
- Augsburg Lutheran Church, Pollinator habitat, Porter, $500
2023
For 2023, NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant will fund 15 diverse environmental restoration and education projects across the territory.
- The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, Festival de la Monarcha, East Chicago, $4,000
- Art Barn School of Art, Inc., Monarch Maker Gardens/Educational Arts Programming, $5,000
- LC Nature Park, Habitat Restoration Project, Allen County, $5,000
- Elkhart Environmental Center, Envirofest, $2,500
- The Wetlands Initiative, Volunteer Stewardship Events/Collaborative Habitat Restoration, West Branch of the Little Calumet River, $4,375
- Trees Indiana, Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom, Fort Wayne, $2,000
- LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District, Kankakee River Days Canoemobile Program, $5,000
- Limberlost and Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Sites, Invasive Species Cleanup, $2,250
- Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, Woodland Vernal Pond Dock, $4500
- Anthony Wayne Area Council/Boy Scouts of America, Scout Camp Ecological Restoration Project, $2,400
- Mongo Community Development Association, Mongo Town Park Pollinator Garden, $2975
- Highland Community Foundation, Erie Lacklawanna Bike Trail Wetland Restoration, $5,000
- The Vine Learning Center, Prairie Restoration and Outdoor Classroom Engagement Areas, Steuben County, $5,000
- Indiana University Kokomo, Sustainability Week, $5,000
- Marshall County Park and Recreation Department, Invasive Species Control in Mill Pond and Memorial Forest, $5,000
2022
The 2022, NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant recipients include:
- The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, East Chicago Monarch Festival, $5,000
- Lakeshore Public Media, Share Shifting Sands documentary, $5,000
- The Watershed Foundation, Deeds Creek Dam Removal and Habitat Restoration Project, $5,000
- Art Barn School of Art, Inc., Monarch Habitat Revitalization, $5,000
- Christ Lutheran Church, Southern Bioswale Native Garden for Butterflies, Pollinators and Birds, $1,500
- LC Nature Park, Prairie & Wetland Seeding Project, $5,000
- Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana, It’s Your Planet-Love It!, $2,200
- Elkhart Environmental Center, Envirofest, $5,000
- Izaak Walton League’s Porter County Chapter, Gene Clifford Bluebird Trail, $5,000
- Humane Indiana, Environmental and Wildlife Education Center, $5,000
- Dunes Learning Center, Buds for Butterflies and Bees in the Indiana Dunes, $5,000
- Jasper County Economic Development Organization, Take A Hike programming, $1,200
- United Way of Miami County, Recycled Plarn Sleeping Mats, $5,000
- Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest, Native Plant & Monarch Waystation Garden Restoration, $4850
- Coolspring Citizen’s Association, Coolspring Elementary Tree Planting and Education, $850
- The Wetlands Initiative, Collaborative Habitat Restoration and Community Engagement, $5,000
- DeKalb County Soil & Water Conservation District, Community Pollinator Habitat Development, $3,500
2021
The 2021 NIPSCO Environmental Action Grant winners include:
- Beverly Shores Environmental Restoration Group, Teaching, learning and digging in the Dunes, $2,000
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana, Conservation Buddies, $5,000
- Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy, Wetland restoration, $4,000
- Friends of the Fulton County Parks and Recreation Dept., Richland Restoration Nature Park, $5,000
- Indiana Audubon, 2021 Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, $3,000
- Jasper County Soil and Water Conservation District, Soil testing and waterway improvement, $1,700
- Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council, Rain Barrel Brigade, $3,000
- Michiana Area Council of Governments, Crossway Trails Month, $2,900
- Miller Garden Club, Rain garden restoration, $4,100
- The Montessori School at WPC, Forest school gear, $3,500
- Northview Elementary School in Valparaiso, Girl Scout garden, $1,500
- Oak Farm Montessori School, Prairie and oak woodland restoration project, $4,000
- Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, Pollinator Week, $5,000
- The Student Conservation Association, Calumet Tree Conservation Corps, $5,000
- Town of Hebron Parks and Recreation Dept., Trail and property improvements, $5000
- The Watershed Foundation, Smithsonian Water/Ways exhibit Wellfield Botanic Gardens, Wellfield wetland conservation, $5,000
- The Wetlands Initiative, Habitat restoration and community engagement on Little Calumet River, $5,000
2020
The 2020 NIPSCO Environmental Action Grant winners include:
- Clear Lake Township Conservancy, Cyrus Brouse Clean Stream Project
- Dunes Learning Center, Virtual Citizen Science
- EACS Educational Foundation/Paul Harding High School, Nature Trail
- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Teens for Nature – Conservation Crew
- Friends of Indiana Dunes, Pollinator Gardens
- Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest, Woodland Restoration Project
- Izaak Walton Porter County Chapter, Bat Watch 2020
- LaGrange County Community Foundation/Friends of LaGrange County Parks, Student water quality monitoring
- NICHES Land Trust, Woodland Restoration Project
- Northwest Indiana Paddling Association, East Branch of the Little Calumet River Water Trail Extension Phase II
- Ryan Park Elementary, Nature Trail Improvement and Educational Enhancement
- Shirley Heinze Land Trust, environmental education programming
- TEkVenture Incorporated, outdoor wildflower meadow play area
- IU Kokomo, Camp Persimmon environmental sustainability day camp
- Windsong Pictures, youth environmental project videos
2019
- ACRES Land Trust, Trine University restoration partnership
- Highland Community Foundation, community tree canopy project
- Lake Station Community Schools, pollinator garden
- Little River Wetlands Project, urban turtle education and conservation efforts
- Michiana Area Council of Governments, Partners for Clean Air/Bicycle Parking Project
- Michigan City Parks Department, Trail Creek Week
- NICHES Land Trust, environmental steward docent training
- Porter County Chapter of Izaak Walton League of America, E-STEAM in the Field
- Porter County Conservation Trust, Eagle Scout project
- Sisters of the Holy Cross, Urban reforestation and pollinator support
- St. Joseph County Parks Foundation, playscape native plantings
- The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, East Chicago Monarch outreach and habitat support
- Town of Chesterton, Coffee Creek Park riparian restoration project
- Town of Churubusco/Smith-Green Community Schools, rain garden
- IU Kokomo, Camp Persimmon environmental sustainability day camp
2018
- Boys & Girls Club of White County, community environmental education programming
- Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana, Spaceship Earth education programming
- City of La Porte Park and Recreation Department, erosion control project
- Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy, ecosystem education programming
- Highland Community Foundation, community tree canopy project
- Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center, scholarships for the Stewards of Tomorrow
- Little River Wetlands, urban turtle education and conservation efforts
- Michiana Area Council of Governments, Partners for Clean Air
- Michigan City Area Schools, high school environmental restoration team
- Porter County Parks Foundation, Sunset Hill Farm County Park Pond restoration phase IV
- Shirley Heinze Land Trust, educational guidebook project
- St. Joseph County Parks Foundation, nature education and literacy trail
- Tippecanoe Environmental Lake & Watershed Foundation, Winona Lake Limitless Park restoration project
- Trees Indiana, Woodland trails urban forest education
- Wildcat Guardians, Waterworks Dam Portage trail
2017
- Acres Land Trust, restoration at James P. Covell Nature Preserve
- Causes for International Change, native plant and accessible garden
- Fort Wayne Zoological Society, Spy Run Creek River Watch
- Friends of Potato Creek State Park for invasive plant mapping and removal
- Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center, Promoting civic engagement through civic science for middle school students
- La Porte County Soil & Water Conservation District, Trail Creek Week
- Little River Wetlands, Monarch Festival 2017
- Logan’s Landing Association, 2017 Downtown Green & Clean Day
- NICHES Land Trust, Gish restoration project
- Porter County Convention, Recreation & Visitor Commission, Native American Ethnobotany Trail
- Porter County Parks Foundation, Sunset Hill Farm County Park Pond restoration phase III
- Pulaski County Soil & Water Conservation District, Tippecanoe River State Park stream bank restoration
- Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, Trail Creek watershed restoration & community engagement project
- The Child Care Consortium, Rain garden & outdoor environmental education
- Trees Indiana, Woodland Trails urban forest education
2016
- Friends of Robinson Lake in Hobart for shoreline stabilization
- Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center in Chesterton for environmental education
- La Porte County Conservation Trust for restoration at McCloskey Wetlands
- La Porte County Soil and Water Conservation District for Michigan City’s Trail Creek Week
- Martin T. Krueger Middle School in Michigan City for prairie restoration
- Martin Luther King Montessori School in Fort Wayne for an outdoor classroom
- NICHES Land Trust in Carroll County for Moyer Gould Woods Habitat restoration
- Northwest Indiana Paddling Association in Valparaiso for Little Calumet River East Branch Stream restoration
- Porter County Parks Foundation for Sunset Hill Farm County Park pond restoration
- Save the Dunes Conservation Fund in Michigan City for 2016 Dunes Blowout: A Festival of Performance and Ecology
- Shirley Heinze Land Trust in Valparaiso for Meadowbrook native seed garden
- Trees Indiana in Fort Wayne for Nature Explore education
- Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation in Syracuse for habitat restoration
- Wildcat Guardians in Kokomo for public access site on Wildcat Creek