Grants

The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) offers grants on a competitive basis for single and multi-day paddling events on Pennsylvania Rivers. Events must incorporate significant educational programming, and be open to all participants (i.e., private trips are not eligible). 

Established in 2005, the annual Environmental Grant Program offers funding for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore, and/or protect the watersheds, surface water, and groundwater supplies in our local communities. Project activities should address a watershed or source water protection need in the local community within American Water service areas.

This annual grant program has donated more than $650,000 to fund more than 135 projects to protect and improve the environment across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 2022, 13 Environmental Grant recipients, listed below, received a share of grant funds totaling nearly $75,000 for their community-based projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds.

The Appalachian Region Independent Power Producers Association (ARIPPA) is partnering with the Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Coalitions for Abandoned Mine Reclamation to offer competitive awards to watershed and conservancy organizations facilitating abandoned mine drainage (AMD) and/or abandoned mine land (AML) remediation projects in Pennsylvania.

Awards are granted under the guidance and administration of EPCAMR and WPCAMR. The amount distributed by ARIPPA in 2023 will be $6,000. However, the total grant award could potentially increase depending on contributions from other donors.

Funding may be used for, but not limited to, the following:

-- Operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation of AMD treatment systems

-- Stream monitoring equipment purchases

-- Analyses and watershed plans

-- Vegetation management and erosion control

-- Educational purposes to promote AMD/AML reclamation

-- Supplies for trash cleanups

-- Drone purchase and training to use as a tool to promote AMD/AML reclamation

The ARIPPA AMD/AML Reclamation Grants are designed to help environmental organizations and conservation districts continue their efforts toward improving our environment.

The Albany Township Tomorrow Fund was created in honor of Pauline Levan Hamm and Gloria Longenberger Hamm and their lifelong efforts to support and improve the Albany Township community. The Fund provides grants to support community-minded organizations and initiatives that benefit the general population of Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The fund awards grants each year using the following considerations:

• Grant funding is to be for the general benefit of the Albany Township community and not for programs/activities restricted to members or beneficiaries of a single organization.
• Grants may not be made for the benefit of pre-identified individual residents.
• Grants benefiting youth education and advancement will be given priority.
• Activity-based programs will be preferred over facility/material support.
• Community enhancement/improvement programs will be preferred over support of existing programs/activities.
• Funding shall be used only for secular purposes. While religious organizations may be eligible for grants, the grant funding shall be used for the benefit of the general community, and not to advance religion-focused organizational goals.
• The activities funded by a grant must be completed and a grant report submitted within one year from the date of award notification.