Virginia Program is focused on water quality, Chesapeake Bay, land conservation and use, environmental education and awareness, climate adaptation, and other emerging issues.
Donor Name: Virginia Environmental Endowment
State: Virginia
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/15/2023
Details:
Current grant-making priorities in the Virginia Program are focused on improvement of local rivers and protection of water quality, restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, innovative land conservation and sustainable land use practices, environmental literacy and public awareness, and emerging issues of concern.
- Water Issues
- Improve local rivers and protect water quality throughout Virginia: With a focus on tangible improvements to water quality, pollution reduction and pollution prevention, preference will be given to projects and policies that promote implementation of best practices for advancing agricultural stewardship, address local and regional stormwater infrastructure needs and achieve on-the-ground improvements that contribute to healthy watersheds.
- Restoration of the Chesapeake Bay: With a focus on implementation of Virginia’s Watershed Implementation Plan to meet the Bay’s total maximum daily load (TMDL) interim and final goals by 2017 and 2025, respectively, preference will be given to innovative and creative strategies designed to reduce implementation costs and pollution and accelerate progress, when possible. Improved fisheries management, restoration of keystone fisheries and expanded recreational access are also an interest.
- Land Conservation and Use
- Enhance land conservation and sustainable land use: Special emphasis is placed on strategies, policies and projects focused on conserving large landscapes, restoring and protecting riparian buffers and headwater streams, establishing conservation practices on land previously placed under protective easement, and establishing local land trusts in areas where a gap exists. A nexus with water quality protection is important. The Endowment does not provide grant funds for land purchases.
- Environmental Education and Public Awareness
- Advance environmental literacy and public awareness: Preference will be given to outcomes-based proposals that incorporate best practices related to student learning and teacher/principal training, including regional standards and Next Generation Science Standards, and those that offer meaningful experiential learning opportunities which connect students and families to nature. Regarding public awareness, projects that tie environmental stewardship to jobs and those that use innovative, collaborative, and creative approaches such as media messaging to reach non-traditional environmental supporters are also encouraged.
- Climate Adaptation and Emerging Issues
- The Virginia Environmental Endowment is interested in using its strategic investments to make a difference on emerging issues, such as climate adaptation for coastal communities and projects that advance water supply planning and implementation, and efforts to mitigate invasive species.
Eligibility Criteria
- VEE makes grants to nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organizations and institutions and governmental agencies.
- VEE encourages requests for specific projects that promise measurable results to improve the environment.
- In addition, VEE is interested in knowing how, if at all, your proposal might positively impact traditionally under-served areas, low income and socially vulnerable communities; engage people of color; and/or improve the environmental quality of life for these communities and individuals.
- Grant funds are not provided for general support, overhead, indirect costs, capital projects, land purchases, building construction or renovation, endowments, lawsuits, or to individuals.
- Projects are required to have matching funds in amounts equal to or in excess of the grant request. Challenge grants may be offered to provide leverage in fundraising.
- Grants must align with the mission and priorities of VEE.
- VEE does not reimburse project costs that are incurred before the authorization date of any grant that the Board awards. Grants are typically awarded in October and April.
- Each year VEE receives requests far in excess of available funds. In fairness to others, applicants are asked not to apply to the Virginia program more than once a year.
- Proposals previously denied by VEE should not be resubmitted without prior authorization from the Endowment.
For more information, visit Virginia Environmental Endowment.
