Grants & Awards

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Alliance Grants

Guided Organizational Assessment Cost-Share Grant
Deadline: none
These cost-share grants of $1,000 to $2,000 (which require the recipient land trust to contribute in the range of $250-$1500, depending on complexity,) will be awarded for professional assistance from Alliance staff or counselors for guiding an Organizational Assessment. Remember that a requirement for Accreditation is an Organizational Assessment against the full Land Trust Standards and Practices within 3 years prior to applying for Accreditation. The assessment process helps the land trust evaluates its performance, determine its conformance to Land Trust Standards and Practices' operational procedures, and identifies areas needed in program improvement to qualify for accreditation.  Contact us for more detailed information about guided Organizational Assessments and our cost-share grants and available counselors to guide the assessment process. Download the application.

Land Trust Program Improvement Grant
Deadline: none
These cost-share grants (reduced this year to no more than $2,500, until such time when the Land Trust Alliance may secure new funding resources,) will be awarded to help land trusts selected for the Mentoring Program, improve their operational proficiencies based on priority needs identified by assessments of their operational Standards and Practices. They are primarily intended to help land trusts advance to higher levels of conservation program excellence and to prepare themselves for Land Trust Accreditation. Outcomes of these grants are for enhancement of the land trust’s operations and land protection/stewardship programs to bring them in closer adherence to Land Trust Standards and Practices.  Contact us for more detailed information about our Mentoring Program and associated cost-share agreements. Download the application.

Strategic Conservation Planning in Priority Watersheds
Deadline: none
A few cost-share grants ($3,500 to $7,500) will be awarded to help land trusts develop collaborative alliances with other conservation organizations and devise conservation plans within high priority watersheds and critical freshwater ecosystems, which identify and map places of top priority for protection, and establish partnerships to implement the protection plans.  Contact us for more detailed information about availability and specific requirements and application instructions for these demonstration projects. Download the application.

Regional Grants

Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants
Deadline: none
With support from the USDA Forest Service, the Massachusetts Urban and Community Forestry Program now offers an Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grant. These are 50-50 matching grants offered to municipalities and non-profit groups in Massachusetts communities of all sizes for the purpose of building local capacity for excellent urban and community forestry at the local and regional level. This grant offering is not a new grant, but a combination of our previous grant opportunities (Mass ReLeaf, Planning and Education, and Heritage Grants). We have changed the format in an effort to streamline the grant process for applicants and better target our limited resources. View application details.

Gulf of Mexico Community-based Restoration Partnership
Deadline: September 1, 2011
The Gulf of Mexico Community-based Restoration Partnership (GCRP) invites proposals for its tenth round of citizen-driven habitat restoration projects. The partnership is seeking to fund on-the-ground projects to restore marine, estuarine, and riparian habitats to benefit living marine resources and to provide educational and social benefits by significantly involving the community. View application details.

Water Quality Grants
Notice of Intent Deadline: September 7, 2011

Application Deadline: October 19, 2011
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is seeking applications from state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations for watershed management planning projects and projects that implement previously approved watershed management plans. View application details.

L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Grant Program
Deadline: September 12th, 2011
Applications and guidelines for the L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Grant Program are available on the Maine Land Trust Network website. The purpose of the L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Grant Program is to provide strategic funding to Maine land trusts for stewardship activities. Projects that enhance public access to conserved lands, strengthen a trust's stewardship capabilities, or facilitate preserve management planning are a priority. Projects that meet one of these priority goals and also involve collaboration between land trusts and/or other organizations (e.g, other non-profits, municipal governments, schools, etc.) may be given special consideration.

Applications should be sent to Donna Bissett no later than September 12 (mailed applications must be post-marked by that date). Questions about the grant program should be directed to Warren Whitney. Both can be reached by phone at 207-729-7366.

Urban and Community Forestry Grants
Deadline: September 16, 2011
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking applications to provide funding to local units of government, nonprofit organizations, and schools engaging in community forestry on non-federal public land or land open to the public. View application details.

Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership - NOAA Community-Based Restoration Grant Program
Deadline: October 22, 2011
The Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Community-based Restoration Program (CRP) are pleased to request proposals for their matching grant program to restore marine, estuarine and riparian habitats to benefit living marine resources through community involvement. This multi-year, regional partnership between SARP and NOAA supports on-the-ground projects in the Southeast Region of the U.S. which further the goal of the Southeast Aquatic Habitat Plan (SAHP): to maintain, restore, and conserve the quantity and quality of freshwater, estuarine, and marine
habitats to support healthy, sustainable fish and aquatic communities. View application details.

Maine Forest Service Presumpscot River Watershed Assistance Grants
Deadline: First-come, first-served basis until funds run out
Financial assistance is still available to private family woodland owners and land trusts to develop woodland management plans. In order to help as many landowners as possible  receive assistance, the Maine Forest Service is extending the application deadline and modifying the requirements. As long as the property is located within the greater Presumpscot River Watershed, these funds can be used to develop new woodland management plans, upgrade existing plans, and develop harvest plans. Under the cost-sharing program, eligible landowners can receive up to 50-percent reimbursement for planning costs.

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until funds run out. Application forms are available online. Updated eligibility requirements are also available, including a map.

For help with the map, eligibility or applications or any other questions, contact Andy Shultz, landowner outreach forester, Maine Forest Service, at (207) 287-8430 or e-mail andrew.h.shultz@maine.gov.

Southern Forests Network (Southeast)
The Southern Forests Network is seeking land trust partners to facilitate sustainable forest management. SFN has begun providing certification for family forestlands and small wood products facilities in the Southeast and seeks to work with any land trusts which wants to explore utilizing Forest Stewardship Council certification as a tool for ensuring sustainable management and monitoring on "working" forestlands. SFN is developing new resources for forest health monitoring and forest carbon sales; and has begun utilizing GIS to facilitate conservation planning for working forestlands. If you are interested in partnering with the Southern Forests Network, e-mail Alyx Perry or call 828-277-9008.

California Wildlands Grassroots Fund
Deadline: Always open
Applications for grants of up to $5,000 each from the California Wildlands Grassroots Fund for projects that protect and preserve ecosystems, plants, natural landscapes, wildlands, and wildlife in California. View the program details.

More than $6 Million Available in Great Lakes
Deadline: Always open
Land trusts and public agencies in the eight-state Great Lakes basin can apply to The Conservation Fund for interim funding to purchase land or conservation easements to protect coastal and freshwater sites of high ecological significance. Application forms are available from Michael Kelly, Great Lakes Office, The Conservation Fund, PO Box 734, Bay City, MI 48707, 989-892-9171, fax: 989-892-9172, kellym@conservationfund.org

Master's Degree Scholarship Opportunity
Little Traverse Conservancy – Thomas C. Bailey Scholarship at Michigan State University
Deadline: none
An endowed scholarship at Michigan State University may be of interest to graduate students interested in working in the land conservation field.  The scholarship, created in honor of the work of the Little Traverse Conservancy, is intended to attract students and practicing professionals with undergraduate backgrounds in fields such as Landscape Architecture; Horticulture; Parks, Recreation and Tourism Resources; Human Environment and Design; and Architecture.  Students from other backgrounds are encouraged to inquire about their qualifications for admission. The Master’s degree is intended to provide students with skills useful in land conservation work.   

The scholarship was established by John Campbell, longtime trustee of the Little Traverse Conservancy, and was inspired by his work with longtime LTC executive director Tom Bailey. Candidates will be screened and selected by MSU, and anyone interested as a candidate for the scholarship should contact Professor Warren Rauhe at the MSU School of Landscape Architecture, 517-432-0704, e-mail rauhe@msu.edu or spdc@msu.edu .

National Grants

2012 National Wetlands Awards Call for Nominations
Deadline: December 15, 2011
The National Wetlands Awards are presented annually to individuals who have excelled in wetlands protection, restoration and education. Through coverage in the National Wetlands Newsletter, coordinated media outreach and an awards ceremony on Capitol Hill, award winners receive national recognition and attention for their outstanding efforts. Learn more about the nomination categories, eligibility and the submission process.

National Wildlife Refuge Friends Group Grant Program
Deadlines: April 29 and September 2, 2011
The National Wildlife Refuge Friends Group Grant Program provides grants to nonprofits working to assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Refuge System by acting as effective co-stewards of the nation's important natural resources within the system. The program, which is administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, provides competitive seed grants between $1,500 and $5,000 for start-up, capacity-building, and project-specific purposes.

In addition, this year's program will also prioritize proposals to initiate or improve birding opportunities for refuge visitors. Competitive proposals will specify particular benefits to refuge birders and visitors who enjoy birds.

Eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or organizations that have applied for nonprofit 501(c)(3) status, including refuge Friends organizations, cooperative and interpretive associations, Audubon chapters, and other citizen support organizations interested in assisting a National Wildlife Refuge or group of refuges and the Refuge System as a whole.

Visit the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation website for details and application.

ARRA Stimulus Opportunities for Coastal Habitat Enhancement, Restoration and Improvement and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Programs
Deadline: various
The following are two new programs being administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  The maximum grant amount for each program is $25,000.
Recovery Act - Coastal
Recovery Act - Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

Norcross Wildlife Foundation Loan Fund for Land Protection
Deadline: Always open
In an effort to facilitate the land conservation work of grassroots organizations across the country, The Norcross Wildlife Foundation is offering a rare source of financial support. Loans are available for the purpose of acquiring interests in land that contains priority wildlife habitat. View more information.