Urban forestry start-up grants support small projects focused on initial steps in community tree care and management. A long-term goal for applicants should be development of a sustained community tree management program.
Donor Name: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
State: Wisconsin
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/03/2022
Size of the Grant: $5,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Urban Forestry Grant Program is designed to fund projects that improve a community’s capacity to manage its trees (e.g., management plans, ordinances, staff training, tree board development, inventories, and public education). Projects that help conserve, protect, expand, or improve the urban forest resource (e.g., planting, hazard tree removal, pest control) will also be prioritized. The grants are intended to support new projects. The grants are not intended to subsidize current, ongoing operations or replace existing funds.
Funding Information
- Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 and require a 50–50 match (total project cost range is $2,000 to $10,000). The project sponsor must initially fund 100% of project costs with cash, in-kind contributions and/or donations. Upon completion, the project sponsor requests reimbursement for 50% of eligible costs (501[c][3] non-profit organizations may request an advance when a grant is awarded). Only one start-up grant may be awarded to an applicant per year.
- Projects begin Jan. 1 and must be completed within one calendar year.
Who may Apply
Cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations who meet two or more of the following conditions:
- Starting, or recently started, a community-wide tree care program.
- Resuming tree care and management activities that were once a regular community-wide program that ended.
- Community tree care (planting, pruning, removal) by staff or contractors is infrequently performed.
- Involvement and support for community trees and their care by boards/committees, elected officials, organizations and/or residents is low to non-existent.
- There are no trained staff, contractors or volunteers authorized to handle, advice or oversee community tree care and management.
A maximum of three urban forestry start-up grants may be awarded to an applicant within the lifetime of the start-up grant program. To be eligible for a third start-up grant, an applicant must either: a) have an existing tree inventory; or b) use the grant process to complete one.
Eligible Project and Costs
- Projects must relate to community tree management, maintenance or education within Wisconsin cities, villages or other areas of concentrated development.
- Projects by 501(c)(3) organizations must focus on their community’s trees.
- Projects may consist of no more than three of the following eight components:
- Tree planting;
- Tree pruning;
- Tree removal;
- Tree inventory;
- Insect and disease treatment;
- Staff training;
- Urban forestry management plan; and
- Information/education/outreach (may include forming a tree board, writing a tree ordinance, staff and/or volunteer training, or improving awareness of the importance of community trees and their management).
- Eligible costs are those necessary for completing the project and incurred during the project period. Costs must be documented, reasonable and consistent with the project scope. Examples include:
For more information, visit Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
