California ReLeaf is now seeking proposals for its second cycle of the Treecovery grant program! If you have a project idea to green your neighborhood, engage communities provide workforce development opportunities, and expand the capacity of local community groups, they want to hear about it.
Donor Name: California ReLeaf
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 02/07/2022
Size of the Grant: $10,000 – $90,000
Details:
Cycle 2 of the Treecovery Grant Program is funded by a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), which received money in the 2019‐20 State Budget from the California Climate Investments Program to support projects that combat climate change.
This program provides greenhouse gas reduction benefits by supporting nonprofit and community‐based organizations with funding for tree planting projects that meet the critical need of reducing Greenhouse Gasses (GHGs) while simultaneously addressing other statutory and regulatory requirements developed by CAL FIRE, the California Air Resources Board, the State Legislature, and other state agencies.
Award Range
$10,000 – $90,000.
Eligible Projects
Projects that contain a significant shade-tree planting component that also augment, expand, or better manage healthy urban forests are eligible for funding. All the following conditions must be met for a proposed project to be eligible for a grant.
- Project must significantly reduce GHGs, and accurately quantify projected reductions over a 40-year period. Only GHG reductions from trees will be calculated, so carefully plan the project to include a significant large-tree planting component. California ReLeaf will provide technical assistance for this part of the grant and will be responsible for calculating the actual GHG quantities.
- Project must provide multiple co-benefits (i.e., improved air or water quality, workforce development movement towards a just recovery) for communities being served.
- All plantings and their location must be accurately recorded.
- The planted trees must be publicly accessible. California ReLeaf will entertain residential tree plantings and publicly visible tree plantings on a cases-by-case basis.
- Planting sites must be at least 24 square feet in area, and no less than 3 feet wide on any side. Larger is preferred.
- The types of all tree species, their exact location, and their proximity to built structures must be provided. The project should strive to reduce at least 100 metric tons of greenhouse gasses per $10,000 in funding request, which can be done using large-canopied trees.
- Tree species selected are classified as very low, low, or moderate water use species in the WUCOLS IV Classification or are justified for the planting site(s) selected.
- Tree-planting component of the project must be completed by April 30, 2023.
- Project shall include an educational component.
- There must be a commitment for active participation from community members and volunteers in the neighborhood where work is being completed. Community members must be involved in both the planning and implementation of projects.
- Project must demonstrate a nexus between important community needs and the project benefits. Emphasis should be placed on how the project promotes community recovery.
- Applicant must comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
- Applicant must have entered into an agreement with the landowners to allow for access to the land for a minimum of three (3) years after project completion for the designated entity(ies) providing maintenance on all plantings. Maintenance includes, but is not limited to watering, structural pruning, mulching, fertilizing, or controlling plant pests and diseases.
- The applicant has complied in all respects with all applicable local and county ordinances. This includes all state, local and regional COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time of award and through the grant duration.
- The project must display a sign with the logos and names of all organizations participating in the project, including CAL FIRE and California ReLeaf. The sign must also cite the California Climate Investments Program as the funding source. California ReLeaf will provide a templatebto all successful grantees for signage and appropriate logos.
Eligible Geography
The total funds available in this grant cycle ($600,000) shall be distributed as follows:
- 60% of the funds will be awarded to proposals in which the majority of the project (60%) is located in a publicly accessible area within a disadvantaged community (DAC).
- 20% of the funds will be awarded to proposals in which the majority of the project (60%) is located in a publicly accessible area within a Low-Income Community.
- 20% of the funds will be available statewide for plantings in publicly accessible areas.
- Incorporated nonprofit organizations and unincorporated community-based groups (with a fiscal sponsor) located in California.
- Nonprofit organizations, incorporated and qualified under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3), and unincorporated groups (e.g., neighborhood associations, tree advisory boards) are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants that are not incorporated as nonprofit organizations must have an incorporated nonprofit organization or a public agency to act as the fiscal sponsor for the project. Public entities may serve as a fiscal sponsor for a project but may not apply for funds directly.
For more information, visit Treecovery Cycle 2.
