The Rockfall Foundation is seeking applications for its Environmental Grant Program.
Donor Name: Rockfall Foundation
State: Connecticut
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/11/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The goal of the program is to preserve and enhance the environment in the Lower Connecticut River Valley and to increase public knowledge of and respect for its natural resources. Projects that demonstrate new and imaginative ways to achieve this are encouraged.
Funding Priorities
Eligible programs/projects/initiatives must relate to one or more of the following priorities:
- Preservation – work to protect ecosystems, species, and other irreplaceable elements of the region’s natural heritage.
- Conservation – work to minimize our use of finite natural resources and our negative impacts on ecosystems and communities.
- Restoration – work to re-establish the healthy functions of an ecosystem or parts of ecosystems.
- Education – work to foster a stronger awareness and understanding of environmental and sustainability issues
The Foundation Funds
Types of programs, projects and initiatives that are funded include the following:
- Environmental education
- Responsible environmental planning
- Preservation of the Connecticut River Watershed
- Innovative solutions to waste stream management and pollution
- Open space acquisition
- Environmental justice
- Or anything consistent with the priorities listed
Environmental education is broadly defined and not limited to school curricula; environmental education programs can target any age from preschool through adults. Activities that engage young people, provide hands-on experiences, offer internships, or creative approaches to learning are encouraged.
Funding Information
Grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible projects are those that support the environment through preservation, conservation, restoration or education.
- Organizations certified as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, towns, and schools are eligible to apply. Prospective applicants who do not meet this eligibility requirement may partner with an eligible entity as a co-applicant in order to comply.
- Organizations or projects must be based in one of the focus towns: Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, or Westbrook. Proposals that focus on the Connecticut River corridor or Long Island Sound will be considered as long as there is a demonstrated impact in at least one of the focus towns.
Applications are rated on the following criteria:
- Innovation
- Engagement of youth leaders
- Environmental justice/disadvantaged populations
- Previous Rockfall support or existing project with proven progress
- Likelihood of proposal reaching fruition and its target audience
- Clear alignment and benefit to a priority area
- Potential for broader application beyond the proposed activity
- Likelihood of continuation without further Rockfall funding
- A budget that is clear and reasonable
- Clarity and confirmation of matching funds sources
- Implications beyond the immediate purview of the proposal
Requirements
- Experienced supervision for the proposed project should be demonstrated in the application.
- Projects should be for a period no greater than 12 months and begin no later than July 1, 2027 (may include a planning phase).
- All grants require a match of in-kind items, cash, or professional Grant requests require at least a 25% match of the amount requested. Organizations experiencing hardship and having difficulty meeting the match may contact us prior to application submission to discuss their circumstances.
- Funding must be applied to the item/activity described in the Substitutions are not permitted unless prior approval has been obtained.
- If the applicant is a recipient of a past grant, grantee must be in compliance with the terms of the prior grant
- Grantees must submit a final report including the project’s outcomes, ending budget, project photos, and copies of any associated publications and/or maps.
- Grantees must prepare and supervise a tabletop exhibit about the project at The Rockfall Foundation Annual Meeting, Grants, and Awards Celebration in fall 2027.
- Grantees must facilitate a site visit to observe the project in action.
- Grantees must recognize The Rockfall Foundation’s grant publicly. Methods of public acknowledgement include, but are not limited to: newsletters, website, press releases, physical signs, printed program materials, annual report, social media, and verbally at events.
For more information, visit The Rockfall Foundation.
