Grants

Upcoming grant & award deadlines from PA Environment Digest: http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=45853&SubjectID=

Grant Program Funder Area of Interest Eligible Regionsort descending Eligible Applicants Award Amount Date Due
2023 OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

The Outreach and Technical Assistance Grant program is a partnership between NACD and NRCS. Our mutual goal is to achieve equitable outcomes for producers and communities while addressing conservation issues on private lands.

Effective and equitable outreach, conservation education, technical assistance, and land stewardship have never been more important. Through historic federal investments such as the Inflation Reduction Act, NRCS will invest over $20 billion in working land conservation over five years. Conservation districts, their respective state/territory associations and agencies, Resource Conservation & Development Councils, and tribal organizations help provide the outreach, education, mentoring, and technical assistance that helps farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards make informed decisions on their land to enhance its sustainability.

Total anticipated amount to be awarded is $15M. There is a 20% match (cash or in-kind) requirement.

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Funder:
National Association of Conservation Districts and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
Area of Interest:
Agriculture
Eligible Region:
nationwide
Eligible Applicants:
Conservation districts,Conservation Districts’ respective state agencies, Resource Conservation & Development Councils, Tribal government (federally recognized & state designated)
Award Amount:
varies 		August 6, 2023
National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

NPS-RTCA welcomes applications from community groups, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, national parks, and local, state and federal agencies. NPS-RTCA does not provide financial assistance or monetary grants. As a collaborative partner, we provide professional services to help you achieve your conservation and outdoor recreation project vision.

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Funder:
National Park Service
Area of Interest:
Engagement & Stewardship, Watershed Land Protection
Eligible Region:
nationwide
Eligible Applicants:
ommunity groups, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, national parks, and local, state and federal agencies
Award Amount:
n/a 		March 1, 2024
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Partnership Grants

Partnership Grants are reserved for agricultural service providers--extension staff, nonprofits, consultants, state departments of agriculture, and others working in the agricultural community--who want to conduct research to improve production practices, marketing approaches, or farmer, farmworker or community well-being; education and training programs to increase knowledge and improve decision-making about sustainable practices; on-farm or in-market demonstrations of new techniques; and developing new farm management and community development approaches that support sustainable agriculture outcomes.

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Funder:
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
Area of Interest:
Agriculture
Eligible Region:
Northeast states, including Pennsylvania
Eligible Applicants:
Academia, Non-profit Organizations, For-profit Businesses, Government Agencies
Award Amount:
Up to $15,000 		to return in 2024
Northern Conservation Initiative

The Strategic Business Plan (SBP) adopted by the Chester County Commissioners (Commissioners) establishes goals for land preservation, water quality, public safety, public health (mental and physical), quality of life, and economic development. The Commissioners have authorized the Department of Parks + Preservation to solicit land preservation proposals from eligible municipalities and private nonprofit organizations in northern Chester County that advance the SBP and complement conservation work in the northern part of the county by offering “Northern Conservation Initiative” grants on a trial basis. The County will focus these funds on projects that preserve the most land with the greatest economy and efficiency. Examples of high priority projects include (but are not limited to) preserving water quality, conserving flood prone areas, providing public recreation opportunities, implementing local and regional policy plans, or otherwise implementing the SBP. For more information about this program, please contact Judy Thomas at jthomas@chesco.org.

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Funder:
Chester County
Area of Interest:
Watershed Land Protection
Eligible Region:
northern Chester municipalities (map on program site)
Eligible Applicants:
Local governments and nonprofit conservation organizations that (1) are certified by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (LTAC) at the time of application, or if they are not LTAC certified, (2) are registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Award Amount:
varies 		LOI due 11/1/2022
UAC Grant Initiative

Only conservation districts as defined by state statute are eligible to apply for these grants. If NACD is able to continue this program, the next round of funding will open in Fall of 2023.

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Funder:
NACD
Area of Interest:
Agriculture, Engagement & Stewardship, Pathogens and Point Source, Stormwater
Eligible Region:
PA
Eligible Applicants:
Conservation Districts 		Check back Fall 2023
Pennsylvania Environmental Council's Mini Grant Programs

PEC provides grant awards ranging from $500 to $10,000 through five programs. Each program has specific goals including topics such as land and water trails, outdoor recreation, resource protection and conservation, and related topics. PEC mini grant funding is awarded to projects that advance the goals of the programs . Eligible applicants include municipalities and nonprofit organizations. 

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Funder:
PA Environmental Council
Area of Interest:
Engagement & Stewardship, Recreation
Eligible Region:
PA
Eligible Applicants:
municipalities and nonprofit organizations
Award Amount:
$500 - 10,000 		Rolling
Wild Resources Conservation Grant

Overseen by PA DCNR, the Wild Resource Conservation Grant program safeguards Pennsylvania’s non-game animals, native plants and their habitat. Grants are awarded in three areas: species surveys, conservation and management.

The eligibility of applicants is dependent on the funding source. WRCP funding sources include both Wild Resource Conservation Fund (WRCF) and Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF), with most the funds available through this solicitation from ESF. Therefore, applicants are strongly advised to seek a sponsoring organization that is eligible for ESF funding.

The following applicant eligibility applies:

  • Counties, municipalities, educational institutions, and tax-exempt 501(3) (c) organizations registered with the Bureau of Charitable Organizations are eligible to receive grants from ESF for projects intended to protect and conserve biological diversity.
  • Conservation Districts and municipal authorities are also eligible for some types of projects funded by ESF.
  • Individuals, state government agencies and for-profit businesses, in addition to the categories above, are eligible for WRCF funds but not ESF funds.
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Funder:
PA DCNR
Area of Interest:
Engagement & Stewardship, Watershed Land Protection
Eligible Region:
PA
Eligible Applicants:
varies by funding source
Award Amount:
$30,000 (average) 		July 8, 2022
Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP)

The purpose of the Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) is to provide leadership, coordination, technical assistance, and funding support for the evaluation, conservation, and protection of Pennsylvania’s coldwater streams.

Goals of the program include:

  • Foster a greater public understanding of watershed characteristics and how they affect coldwater ecosystems;
  • Identify special areas of concern, such as areas with exceptional water quality with high potential for impacts;
  • Produce conservation plans that will lead to additional planning or implementation of projects that protect and enhance our coldwater ecosystems; and
  • Provide technical assistance and financial opportunities to organizations dedicated to protecting coldwater ecosystems.
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Funder:
Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds
Area of Interest:
Abandoned Mine Drainage, Agriculture, Engagement & Stewardship, Pathogens and Point Source, Stormwater
Eligible Region:
PA coldwater streams and their watersheds
Eligible Applicants:
watershed associations, conservancies, conservation districts, municipalities, and local chapters of Trout Unlimited
Award Amount:
Up to $7,500 (planning) or $15,000 (implementation) 		03/10/2023
PA Water Trail Mini-Grants

Applications will be accepted for projects that implement the PA Water Trail Program’s eight guiding principles:

  • Partnership
  • Stewardship
  • Volunteerism
  • Education
  • Conservation Community Vitality
  • Diversity
  • Wellness and Well-being

Proposed projects must advance program goals such as creating recreational opportunities for all Pennsylvanians on Water Trails; developing trails that support sustainable use of natural resources; increasing and improving physical and psychological access to Water Trails; and connecting water trails to land trails or to other culturally significant community assets.

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Funder:
Pennsylvania Environmental Council/PA DCNR
Area of Interest:
Engagement & Stewardship
Eligible Region:
PA designated water trails
Eligible Applicants:
Registered non-profit organizations and public entities (county, municipality, or municipal agency)
Award Amount:
up to $5,000 		May 27, 2022
2023 Urgent Issue on Water Trail Mini-Grant

This pilot project is an approach to providing funding for urgent, unforeseen situations on designated water trails that impede or impair access, create unsafe conditions/ safety concerns for paddlers or others who want to access the water trail, affect safe ingress/egress from the water trail, etc.

Such situations could include, but are not limited to,

  • Storm-induced scouring, flooding, debris impoundments that severely impact navigation.
  • Fallen trees or other large obstructions caused by a storm or other event that will prohibit or severely impact an imminent sojourn, paddle fest, race, etc. 
  • A situation where there is a major in-water litter/trash issue immediately prior to a planned community event, paddle, race, etc.
  • A situation in which an access improvement/ enhancement project was funded and is almost complete, but an unforeseen event or situation threatens to prevent the project from being completed without a small infusion of extra funding.
  • The destruction of a safety or wayfinding sign at an access point, if the sign was critical to orienting paddlers or providing critical information about a river hazard, portage, dam, 

In short, the situation must be caused by an “unanticipated” event, or one that could not be reasonably planned for. A known ongoing situation that was simply not addressed in time would not qualify. This funding should be viewed as a “last resort.” 

If the applicant is not the Water Trail Manager, applicant must contact the Water Trail Manager before applying to this funding. Additional, all applicants must contact one of the Water Trail Program Partners at PEC, DCNR or PFBC prior to applying.

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Funder:
Pennsylvania Environmental Council/PA DCNR
Area of Interest:
Engagement & Stewardship
Eligible Region:
PA Water Trails
Eligible Applicants:
Eligible applicants include registered non-profit organizations and public entities (such as a county, municipality, or municipal agency).
Award Amount:
up to $2,000 		rolling up to 12/31/2024

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