The Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program (UCF) provides cost-share grants to Rhode Island local governments, public educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.
Donor Name: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
State: Rhode Island
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/15/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Funding for the program is provided by USDA Forest Service as authorized by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. Urban and community forestry is broadly defined as the comprehensive management of trees, forests, and related natural resources in populated areas for the physiological, sociological, economic, and aesthetic benefits trees provide society.
Goals
As part of the 2020 Rhode Island Forest Action Plan the following goals were established as the focus of the UCF Program. Grant projects should be developed address at least one of these goals.
- Promote active and sustainable management to conserve trees and forests where people live, work and play.
- Protect trees and forests from threats through planning and response (invasive, catastrophic, climate, etc.).
- Enhance the public benefits from trees and forests through improved management practices.
Grants are awarded for a range of urban forestry projects. These projects must be reflective of the needs of the community and should demonstrate the community’s commitment to urban forestry. There are 3 focused categories and applications must identify which category best describes the proposal.
- Urban & Community Forestry Program Development or Improvement
- Education and Outreach
- Municipal Urban Tree Planting.
Funding Information
- Requests for assistance should range between $2,000 and $10,000.
- The Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program funds must be matched 50/50 with non-federal funds for example. a $2,000 grant requires a $2,000 minimum match requirement, for an overall project cost of $4,000.
Eligibility Criteria
Grant funds may be awarded to any unit of local or state government, public educational institutions, IRS approved non-profit 501(c)(3) and other tax-exempt organizations. First-time municipal applicants and municipalities seeking Tree City USA status will be given priority for funding.
For more information, visit DEM.
