The Rose Foundation welcomes proposals from small grassroots conservation and environmental justice groups for its California Watershed Protection Fund.
Donor Name: Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment
State: California
County: Orange County (CA), Merced County (CA), and Fresno County (CA)
City: Los Angeles and Santa Ana
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/25/2023
Size of the Grant: $10,000 and $30,000
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. All applicants must be able to demonstrate a strong track record of community-based water quality stewardship.
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 area and the Southern California Bight, including and not limited to the Los Angeles River, and Dominguez Channel.
- Orange County including the Santa Ana watershed.
- Central Coast, specifically the Santa Maria and Sant Ynez River watersheds (Note: there is a special opportunity for larger multi-year grants available for the Santa Ynez watershed, please contact Mitigation Funds Director for information.)
- San Joaquin River in Merced and Fresno Counties only (very limited amount available).
- Sacramento Delta (limited amount available).
- 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.
For more information, visit RFCE.
