Submit Applications for California Watershed Protection Fund

The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment is accepting proposals for the California Watershed Protection Fund.

Donor Name: Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment

State: California

County: Orange County (CA)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 02/23/2024

Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000

Grant Duration: 1 Year

Details:

The California Watershed Protection Fund is enabled by court-ordered environmental mitigation payments. Most of the mitigation payments relate to federal Clean Water Act problems and are limited to supporting projects designed to benefit the surface water quality of many of California’s watersheds and their ecosystems.

Funding Information

Maximum grant amount of $35k with most grants expected to range between $10,000 and $30,000.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a California Watershed Protection Fund grant, the applicant and project must meet the following criteria:

Geographic Focus
- projects must be designed to benefit the water quality of the following watersheds and their ecosystems:
- Los Angeles River and Dominguez Channel watersheds
- The Santa Ana River watershed including Orange County and the Inland Empire.
- Central Coast, specifically the Santa Maria and Sant Ynez River watersheds
- San Francisco Bay
- Napa River watershed (Limited funding)
- Watersheds tributary to Tomales Bay
Types of Projects Supported
- water stewardship, advocacy, outreach and education, restoration, and watershed protection. They are especially encouraging projects that involve impacted communities, benefit vulnerable populations, and are centered around principles of equity and environmental justice.
Applicant requirements
- The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project, including experience in successfully conducting similar or otherwise related work in the past.
Environmental Justice
- While this is not specifically an environmental justice fund, supporting environmental and social justice is a core organizational value that guides all of their grantmaking. Projects that advance environmental justice, as well as water quality, will receive preference.
Duration of Support
- Most grants are for a one-year period; however, you do not have to ask for a one-year grant. It is permitted to request a shorter or longer grant period if that is what you need.
Frequency of Applying
- Organizations that have been funded may only re-apply in the next cycle after their grant report has been submitted and approved. Organizations with an active grant from this Fund are not eligible to reapply.
Nonprofit status
- The applicant must be a 501(c)3 organization, fiscally-sponsored by a 501(c)3, or a governmental or tribal entity. If you work with a small organization that lacks non-profit status but has a compelling project, the Rose Foundation may be willing to act as your fiscal sponsor for this grant proposal.