Grants & Awards

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Alliance Grants

2009 Conservation Partnership Program Grants
For more information on the Conservation Partnership Program and the 2009 grants please contact Ethan Winter, New York Conservation Manager or Katrina Howey, Northeast Program Coordinator at (518) 587-0774.

Maine Land Trust Excellence Program
The Maine Land Trust Excellence Program will provide grants for services of up to $18,000 to 20 qualified land trusts in Maine, to support preparation for accreditation. Applications for the final round of grants will be available in the spring of 2010, with decisions to be made in the late summer.  For more information about the program, including a full description, applications and related materials, and contact information please visit the Maine Land Trust Excellence Program website hosted by the Maine Land Trust Network http://mltn.org/resources/mep.html.

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 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 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 application >>

Regional Grants

GOCO Spring 2010 Grant Cycle
The State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund is pleased to announce its next round of competitive grant cycles. The Board will be accepting applications for Conservation Excellence, Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation (LPOR), Mini, Open Space and Planning grants.
Please visit www.goco.org for details on deadline dates and the schedule of LPOR Grant Writing Workshops.  If you have questions about GOCO's programs, please contact the following:

• Conservation Excellence and Open Space - Kathleen Staks
• LPOR and Mini - Jackie Miller or Aimee Wesley
• Planning - Wally Piccone

LMF Farmland Grants Available
Deadline: April 30, 2010
A number of 2008 LMF Farmland Finalists withdrew earlier this year due to lower than expected appraisal values.  On November 10, 2009, at the Department of Agriculture's request, the Land for Maine's Future (LMF) Board voted to reallocate $1.29 Million in a special Round for Farmland Projects.  Following up on the Board's action, LMF Director Tim Glidden has set the LMF deadline to be Friday, April 30, 2010.  The LMF Board will make preliminary allocations to successful applicants at its July 13, 2010 meeting.  At the LMF Board's request, the Department of Agriculture pledged it will sponsor Farmland Proposals that have 1. submitted pre-proposals to the Department by February 16, 2010; 2. completed an USPAP-compliant appraisal of the easement by April 30; and 3. signed an MOU between land trust and landowners regarding all transaction costs.  The LMF Board intends that this Round focus on those projects that are "shovel ready."  For more information contact Stephanie Gilbert, Farmland Protection Specialist with the Maine Department of Agriculture, (207) 287-7520.

Bowdoin College Common Good Grants
Deadline: February 5, 2010
Grants of up to $2500 will be allocated by a student committee to non-profits within a 20 mile radius of Bowdoin College to support existing programs as well as new initiatives.  Grant details, applications and instructions are available on their website.  For more information, please contact Sean Morris or Jackie Zaborski.  Accompanying free, optional grant writing workshops will be held at the Bowdoin College campus on December 4, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Contact Shawn Gerwig to sign up.

Saving New England Wildlife Grants
Deadline: December 11, 2009
The Open Space Institute is pleased to announce a second Request for Proposals for capital grants through Saving New England’s Wildlife.  This multi-million dollar initiative, established with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, provides grants for the purchase of land and permanent conservation easements.  During Saving New England’s Wildlife’s first round of funding, 15 grants were awarded to projects such as Highland Farm in York, Maine.  Program information and grant criteria are available here. Please note that grant applications are due to OSI by December 11, 2009.  For more information, feel free to contact Jennifer Melville at jmelville@osiny.org.

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, contact Alyx Perry at 828-277-9008 or through www.southernforestsnetwork.org.

Northeast Utilities Offers Grants for Grassroots Environmental Projects (CT, MA, NH)
Deadline: October 15 and April 15
Provides grants through its Environmental Community Grant Program to fund local community and grassroots environmental projects that are frequently overlooked by large grant programs. The program provides grants of between $250 and $1,000 each to projects in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.  Program details >>

Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council Seeks Proposals for Youth Investment Programs (CA)
Deadline: Various
In 2008 the Stewardship Council will grant between a total of $2 million and $2.5 million in funding to improve the lives of underserved youth in northern and central California by providing greater access to outdoor experiences -- from urban parks in the city to watersheds in the wilderness. In 2008, there are four different grant rounds -- three rounds focused on outdoor and environmental education programs and one on building parks and playgrounds.

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. 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

Shell Marine Habitat Program - Gulf of Mexico (AL, FL, LA, MS, TX)
Deadline: Proprosals due April 1 and September 1, Final proposals due June 1 and November 1
Grants from $50,000 to $200,000 each will support projects that protect and restore wetland habitats in and around the Gulf of Mexico. Priority will be given to projects that offer volunteer opportunities or education programs and to those that focus on preserving marine species native to the U.S. Southeast.  Program details >>

National Grants

National Wetlands Awards
Deadline: Nominations due December 15, 2009
The National Wetlands Awards Program honors individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of our nation’s wetlands. Awards are given in six categories: Education and Outreach; Science Research; Conservation and Restoration; Landowner Stewardship; State, Tribal and Local Program Development; and Wetland Community Leader.  Learn more about the program, now in its 20^th year and sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute.

2009 Biodiversity Grants
The Living Lands project provides funding for biodiversity grants that encourage local land trusts to increase their capacity to engage in biodiversity conservation. Program details >>

ARRA Stimulus Opportunities for Coastal Habitat Enhancement, Restoration and Improvement and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Programs
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. More information >>