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
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
Act 13 - Flood Mitigation Program (FMP)

Projects authorized by a flood protection authority, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or identified by a local government for flood mitigation are eligible for the program.

Applications will be accepted between February 1st and May 31st of each year. All applications and required supplemental information must be received by May 31st.

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Funder:
PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED)
Area of Interest:
Agriculture, Pathogens and Point Source, Stormwater
Eligible Region:
Pennsylvania
Eligible Applicants:
Municipalities, Higher Education, Watershed Organizations, For-Profit Businesses
Award Amount:
Up to $500,000. A 15% match of the total project cost is required.
05/31 of each year
Watershed Restoration and Protection Program

The overall goal of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Program (WRPP) is to restore, and maintain restored stream reaches impaired by the uncontrolled discharge of nonpoint source polluted runoff, and ultimately to remove these streams from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Impaired Waters list. Projects which involve the construction, improvement, expansion, repair, maintenance or rehabilitation of new or existing watershed protection Best Management Practices (BMPs).

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Funder:
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
Area of Interest:
Agriculture, Stormwater
Eligible Region:
Pennsylvania
Eligible Applicants:
Municipalities, Higher Education, Watershed Organizations, For-Profit Businesses
Award Amount:
Up to $300,000 for any project. A 15% match of the total project cost is required.
2/1 through 5/31 annually
Riparian Forest Buffer Program

The DCNR Riparian Forest Buffer Program provides financial assistance to identify locations in need of riparian forest buffers and to design, establish, and provide short-term maintenance for those buffers.

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Funder:
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
Area of Interest:
Abandoned Mine Drainage, Agriculture, Engagement & Stewardship, Stormwater, Watershed Land Protection
Eligible Region:
Pennsylvania
Eligible Applicants:
Landowners, Local Governments, Educational Organizations, Non-profit Organizations
Award Amount:
Minimum grant award of $50,000
08/31 of each year

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