Search Through Financial Assistance Grants in Vermont in the U.S.

About the Trust

For over 81 years, The Agnes M. Lindsay Trust has been providing financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that help those in need. The Trust's focus areas of giving include Health and Welfare, Dental/Oral Health, Recreational/Camperships (camp scholarships), Education and Homeless Shelters, our newest initiative. Our geographic giving areas include the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Our Priorties

Health and Welfare

Impacting health and welfare organizations with grants that support capital projects for those with special needs, including the blind, deaf, learning disabled, elderly, youth and family service organizations, homeless shelters, and food banks to name a few.  

Dental Health

Expanding our reach to nonprofits that provide free dental clinics, and dental care to low income , needy populations to include children, families and the elderly through capital grants for dental equipment needs and program support.CampershipEnhancing children's lives through camp scholarships that provide a child with an opportunity for a summer camping experience/summer enrichment who would otherwise be unable to attend without this scholarship support.EducationAdvancing education through scholarship support to community colleges and preselected four-year colleges and universities to needy students from rural areas. Grants are awarded directly to the institutions who select recipients based on the Trust's criteria.  The Trust is not accepting any unsolicited requests from community colleges, 4-year colleges or universities at this time. Homeless SheltersResponding to the needs and demands placed on homeless shelters due to socioeconomic factors that impact individuals due to unemployment, addiction, behavioral disorders and other circumstances. We strive to work together to end homelessness. Capital and operating support grants are available.Food Banks/ Food PantryRecognizing the escalating need placed on food pantries and food banks due to inflation and the increased costs of food and basic necessities, we are committed to working with organizations to eliminate food insecurity and are dedicated to making a lasting impact by providing support through capital and operating grants.

It is the primary mission of the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation to provide assistance to various institutions in Vermont, but not limited to Vermont. The Foundation hopes to address the following areas of concern:

• Issues affecting the elderly, particularly those "middle-income" elderly not served by other programs
• Education, particularly as it addresses hearing and/or learning impairments, or reading disabilities
• Community preservation
• Programs or agencies engaged in the furtherance of fundamental values, such as: self-reliance, respect for tradition, the value of work, the importance of family, the innate 'goodness' and 'uniqueness' of all persons, and the satisfaction to be derived from religious or similarly uplifting beliefs.

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

Community Grants

State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger and better-educated communities.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are committed to auto and home safety programs and activities that help people manage the risks of everyday life.
• We invest in education, economic empowerment and community development projects, programs and services that help people realize their dreams.
• We help maintain the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.

Good Neighbor Citizenship company grants focus on safety, community development and education.

Focus Areas

Safety Grants

We strive to keep our customers and communities safe. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Auto safety — improving driver, passenger, vehicle or roadway safety
• Home safety — shielding homes from fires, crime or natural disasters
• Disaster preparedness and mitigation
• Disaster recovery

Community Development

We support nonprofits that invest and develop stronger neighborhoods. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Affordable housing — home construction and repair
• Commercial/small business development
• Job training
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Financial literacy
• Sustainable housing and transportation
• Food insecurity

Education

Our education funding is directed toward initiatives that support the following programs:

• Higher education
• K-12 academic performance
• K-12 STEM
• Pathways for college and career success

Background

Since 2005, the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation has been one of the most active private foundations in Vermont. We use our resources to ease hardship, help people overcome barriers to success, and drive innovative change.

We are a small, nimble organization. We spend aggressively, granting at nearly triple the rate of most other foundations nationwide. Our mandate is to spend our resources efficiently, and in partnership with the people and organizations that are doing the best work in their communities and fields.

In 2010, the Foundation was recognized for its thoughtful strategy and effective partnerships with the AFP-NNE National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Foundation of the Year Award. Foundation initiatives have been featured in national publications including EdWeek: Technology Counts and the Middle School Journal.

A key element of the Foundation’s investment strategy is our commitment to using our dollars to address today’s challenges. Instead of setting funds aside as a permanent endowment, the Tarrant Foundation intends to fully expend its resources and sunset its grantmaking by the year 2040.

Tarrant Foundation Strategies

The Tarrant Foundation awards between 50 – 70 competitive grants annually. Because we believe we can have the most impact by concentrating these funds in Vermont, applications are accepted only from Vermont organizations.

While we acknowledge the many pressing needs facing Vermont, and the many effective interventions targeting those needs, our grantmaking is primarily focused on the following populations and strategies:

Youth: Resilience and Aspiration

Our primary interest here is programs that support school-age youth to develop the dispositions, skills and resources they will need to move productively into adulthood. Our focus includes: achievement gap, job readiness, mentoring, out-of-school time, financial literacy, emergency & transitional housing, and community–based addiction recovery. 

Working-Age Adults: Employment and Financial Independence 

We support strategies that promote and facilitate the journey to economic independence, and that ultimately reduce reliance on public assistance. Our focus includes: job training/retention, financial literacy, homelessness prevention, and community-based addiction recovery.

Seniors: Comfort and Dignity in Aging

We believe in ensuring that seniors’ most basic needs are met, and in community-based supports that promote wellbeing and fight the premature limitation of independence. Our focus includes: independent living, nutrition, and activity & enrichment.

Communities: Local Resources and Investments

Some small grants are available to complement Vermont communities’ own investments in important local resources and services. Here we look for programs with evidence of strong local financial and/or volunteer support.

What We Look For

We partner with organizations that have a deep understanding of the community needs they seek to address, and a demonstrated track record of effective strategies and interventions.

As we evaluate proposals, we also look for:

• Strong leadership
• An entrepreneurial mindset
• Efficiency
• A focus on action and outcomes
• A balanced blend of funding sources to create greater long term stability
• Organizations that are committed to maximizing the impact of our investment

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

Vermont’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary program designed to reduce sediment runoff and improve water quality by removing land from agricultural production and establishing vegetative buffers. State and federal funds are used to compensate landowners for the loss of productive agricultural land through upfront incentive payments and annual rental payments based on the total acreage dedicated to vegetated filter strips, forested buffers, or grassed waterways.

Financial Assistance

• Federal cost-share and incentive payments are available to cover 90% of the implementation costs associated with fencing, alternative water systems, stream crossings, and vegetative buffer establishment. In most instances the costs may be 100% covered with help from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
• The payments from CREP come from two sources, a lump sum payment once the state and federal contracts are signed, and annual payments for the next 15 years. The payments are based on the quality of soils within the buffer area and the type of agricultural use the land has had within the last decade. Contracts can either be 15 or 30 years, during which the buffers must be maintained by the contracted individual.  

Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)

The Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices.

NRCS administers the conservation provisions while Agricultural Marketing Service and Risk Management Agency implement the production diversification and marketing provisions.

How It Works

Producers may construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming.

Program At A Glance

• AMA provides financial assistance up to 75 percent of the cost of installing conservation practices.
• Total AMA payments shall not exceed $50,000 per participant for any fiscal year.
• Participants are not subject to Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985.
• Participants are subject to Adjusted Gross Income provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985.
• AMA offers an additional higher cost-share for historically underserved producers.

Conservation Stewardship Program

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps you build on your existing conservation efforts while strengthening your operation.

Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, we can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals. We can help you identify natural resource problems in your operation and provide technical and financial assistance to solve those problems or attain higher stewardship levels in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.

How It Works

If you are already taking steps to improve the condition of the land, chances are, CSP can help you find new ways to meet your goals.

NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines and enhances existing efforts, using new conservation practices or activities, based on management objectives for your operation. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that expands on the benefits of cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations.

For example, if you have been planting a cover crop, you may decide to try an enhancement for a multi species cover crop or implement a deep-rooted cover crop to break up soil compaction and further improve the health of your soil.

CSP offers annual payments for implementing these practices on your land and operating and maintaining existing conservation efforts. Want to take it a step further? CSP also offers bundles where you can select a suite of enhancements and receive a higher payment rate.

Benefits

CSP is for working lands and is the largest conservation program in the United States. Thousands of people voluntarily enroll in the program because it helps them enhance natural resources and improve their business operation.

CSP participants are seeing real results.  Some of these benefits include:

• Enhanced resiliency to weather and market volatility
• Decreased need for agricultural inputs
• Improved wildlife habitat conditions

CSP Contracts

The program represents a genuine commitment to conservation – CSP contracts are for five years, with the opportunity to compete for a contract renewal if you successfully fulfill the initial contract and agree to achieve additional conservation objectives. An NRCS conservation planner will work closely with you, throughout the entire contract process.

Contract payments are based on two components:

• Payments to maintain the existing level of conservation, based on the land uses included in the contract and an NRCS assessment of existing stewardship at the time of enrollment, and
• Payments to implement additional conservation activities.

NRCS may provide a minimum annual payment of $1,500 in any year the Chief determines the total contract payment amount is below a base level.

Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program in Vermont

What does this program do?

This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.

How may the funds be used?

Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of:

• Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution
• Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal
• Solid waste collection, disposal and closure
• Storm water collection, transmission and disposal

In some cases, funding may also be available for related activities such as:

• Legal and engineering fees
• Land acquisition, water and land rights, permits and equipment
• Start-up operations and maintenance
• Interest incurred during construction
• Purchase of facilities to improve service or prevent loss of service
• Other costs determined to be necessary for completion of the project
• See 7 CFR Part 1780.7 and 1780.9 for a complete list

Centene Charitable Foundation

Successful corporate citizenship happens when companies invest in the local organizations that know their communities best. The Centene Foundation works with our local partners on initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person and community development.

Vision

Centene’s purpose is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. The Centene Foundation is an essential part of how we pursue this purpose. We achieve measurable impact for the communities we serve through partnerships and philanthropy efforts that invest in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling barriers to health.

Areas of Focus

Reflecting Centene’s commitment to the needs of those who rely on government-sponsored health care and to addressing social determinants of health and health equity, preference will be given to initiatives in three distinct areas of focus.

• Healthcare Access
• Social Services
• Education

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

About the Allison Keller Education Technology Program

Realizing the gains that many people with autism have achieved using the iPad, the Allison Keller Education Technology Program was created in honor of Flutie Foundation Board Member Kevin Lane Keller's daughter Allison. The goal of the program is to help fill the financial and technological gap for schools and organizations that assist individuals with autism. Since 2012, the Flutie Foundation has granted over $820,000 to 177 schools and organizations for programs specifically serving individuals with autism that have an established technology program in place or have expressed an interest in starting a program using the iPad or other technology tools.

Applications will be considered for any technology tools and/or training that improve learning outcomes or performance. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Tablets & Accessories
• Apps
• Smartboards
• Laptops
• Technology Training
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational activities & access to STEM studies

The Flutie Foundation is seeking innovative partners who are using technology to address real needs facing the autism community. One program per public school district is eligible to be awarded an Allison Keller Education Technology grant annually. Think outside the box!

Guidelines

The Hilles Fund prioritizes grants to programs that serve those with the greatest needs in Philadelphia and the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia counties. 

Grants from the Hilles Fund support both proven approaches and also new approaches and can include direct services as well as systems change activities. We seek to support organizations for whom our modest grants of between $4,000 and $10,000 will have an impact.

The Hilles Fund makes grants to organizations that provide children, youth, and women with pathways to economic independence. Examples of strategies we fund are those that:

• Facilitate the development of children and youth (Ages 3-24 years) through:
  • High quality learning opportunities both in and out of school time
  • High quality early education, school readiness support, and literacy programs
  • Youth leadership development
• Social services for women in the areas of health care access, education, legal assistance, housing, employment, workforce development, and financial services.

In addition to direct service programs, the Hilles Fund supports advocacy efforts consistent with its priority areas (children, youth women).

Priority is given to organizations with operating budgets under $2 million.

How and Why Giving Back to Communities is Important to O’Reilly

From O’Reilly Auto Parts’ inception, O’Reilly co-founder C.H. “Chub” O’Reilly instilled the culture of maintaining high standards for every endeavor, including the area of building civic pride. With Chub’s good example to guide them, all four of his children adopted a business and family philosophy of “giving back” to the community as the Company grew and prospered. Supporting a large number of charitable organizations in all communities in which we operate has long been a focal point for O’Reilly Auto Parts. In order to make an even greater impact, the O’Reilly Automotive Foundation was established in 2020.

O’Reilly Automotive Foundation, Inc.

Impact

The O’Reilly Automotive Foundation complements O’Reilly Auto Parts’ role as the Friendliest Parts Store in Town. The Foundation serves as an additional conduit to connect with, support, and strengthen the communities in which O’Reilly Auto Parts’ team members and customers live and work. The Foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of the O’Reilly family as dependable community partners, seeking to support critical services in times of need to build stronger communities.

Mission

The O’Reilly Automotive Foundation strives to have a lasting, positive impact in the communities where O’Reilly Auto Parts’ team members and customers live and work by supporting organizations and programs which address issues critical to improving the quality of life for underserved and underrepresented individuals and families. In particular, the Foundation will concentrate its giving in support of organizations and programs addressing economic stability and mobility, workforce development, health and social services, and disaster relief.

Economic Stability and Mobility

Advocating for and endowing programs which provide assistance with issues including hunger, homelessness, and poverty for the economic betterment of the communities in which we operate.

Workforce Development

Promoting programs which aid in workforce readiness, technical training, and literacy, including children’s literacy, to ensure the continuance of an educated society and a capable, innovative workforce.

Health and Social Services

Championing and prioritizing matters of health, including mental and behavioral health, access to basic needs such as medical and dental care for underprivileged communities, and providing funding for organizations focused on childhood development and children’s advocacy as well as care and support for victims of domestic violence.

Disaster Relief

Providing funding and visibility to organizations specializing in providing relief from natural disasters and state of emergency, including providing temporary shelter, food, water, and hygiene or sanitation products to those affected and aiding in cleanup efforts.

Application Requirements

We will consider three principal types of grants:

Project Support Grants support specific projects or programs aligned with our mission. These requests may include some funds earmarked for the overhead costs associated with running a project.

General Operating Support Grants provide limited general operating support for the core operations or organizations whose missions and activities are aligned with our mission. These grants will often help the grantee build organizational, programmatic, and fundraising capacity. Operating support is not intended to help organizations in fiscal crisis. Applicants must have a current strategic or business plan that clearly outlines the organization’s goals and presents a plan for achieving results. Operating support grants must not exceed 15% of an organization’s total agency budget.

Capital Support Grants provide limited support for capital campaigns to fund the acquisition and construction of facilities, existing property renovation, or the purchase of major equipment. The program has a comprehensive approach to funding capital initiatives, which also includes funding for increased program capacity. A feasibility study may be required for capital initiatives to be considered.

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, human services and other causes.

The Lawrence Foundation was established in mid-2000. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographical restrictions on our grants. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or other similar organizations are eligible for grants from The Lawrence Foundation.  

Grant Amount and Types

Grants typically range between $5,000 - $10,000. In some limited cases we may make larger grants, but that is typically after we have gotten to know your organization over a period of time. We also generally don’t make multi-year grants, although we may fund the same organization on a year by year basis over a period of years.

General operating or program/project grant requests within our areas of interests are accepted. In general, regardless of whether a grant request is for general operating or program/project expenses, all of our grants will be issued as unrestricted grants.

Calling to Serve

Since its inception in 2016, the Robinson Foundation has sought to demonstrate God’s love through sharing the gifts we have received. We understand the often unspoken hardships and struggles that people in and outside of our community face everyday. As such, our contributions are focused on relieving these hardships for the betterment of our world.

As a family-operated foundation, we pray that our small efforts will not only create immediate change in the lives of our neighbors, but will help set those lives on a course for success in the future. We are thankful for each and every day we have on this earth to use what God has granted us to make a difference.

Areas of Interest

• Animal Welfare
• Children & Families
• Disaster Relief
• Education
• Medical Assistance
• Nature & Wildlife Conservation
• Poverty Relief
• Religious & Spiritual Endeavors
• Veterans' Issues

Grant Considerations

We take many different aspects of applications into account when making grant issuing decisions, however these are some of the high-level questions we ask ourselves during the process:

• How does the organization serve their key audience goals?
• Is the organization fiscally responsible?
• Will a grant have a tangible, meaningful impact?
• Will we see direct results from this grant?
• Does the organization have other financial contributors?

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

The federal Forest Legacy (16 U.S.C. Sec. 2103c) program was part of the 1990 Federal Farm Bill. The program acknowledges that most forested lands in the United States are held in private ownership and that those landowners are facing growing financial pressure to convert those lands to uses that would remove them from the forested land base. Much of this pressure arises from the demand for residential and commercial development.

The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is a federal grant program to protect forestlands from conversion to non-forest uses. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation working in conjunction with the USDA Forest Service is the State Lead Agency for Vermont's Forest Legacy Program.

The FLP provides funding to further conservation of important forestland properties. The program is entirely voluntary. Landowners who wish to participate may either sell the property as fee simple title (all rights), or only a portion of the property rights and retain ownership of the land. The use of conservation easements allows the land to remain in private ownership and ensures that important public values such as wildlife habitat, natural areas, forest resources, and outdoor recreation opportunities are protected.

Vermont has participated in the program since it began in 1992. A number of Forest Legacy projects have been completed in Vermont with many more in varying stages of completion. One notable achievement of Vermont's program has been the effort to protect the area between the northerly and southerly units of the Green Mountain National Forest. The effort is called the Mt. Holly Wildlife Corridor, which nearly connects the protected land.

How Forest Legacy Works

In order for states to be eligible for Forest Legacy funds they must develop an Assessment of Need (AON) which identifies recommended Forest Legacy Areas within the state, develops criteria for identifying recommended Forest Legacy Areas, establishes goals for the State's FLP, and outlines the public involvement process. Vermont's AON was approved on February 11, 1994 and it identified the following goals:

• To protect large contiguous and productive forest blocks
• To protect habitats for wildlife dependent on large contiguous forest blocks
• To protect threatened and endangered species habitat
• To protect State fragile areas and undeveloped shoreline
• To protect significant wetlands
• To protect important recreation corridors

The Forest Legacy Program provides for up to 75 percent of the costs of a conservation easement or fee-simple acquisition, including the costs of appraisals, surveys, closing costs, title work and insurance, and other associated costs. The remaining 25 percent must be matched by either the landowner or an assisting entity, such as a non-profit organization or non-federal governmental entity.

Non-profit partners are active in the Vermont FLP with national, State-wide, and local lands trusts aware of the FLP and serving as project proponents. Project proponents seek landowners who are interested in the FLP, serve as an intermediary during negotiations, provide for public awareness of land protection efforts and may provide cost share in the form of funding acquisition activities.

Background

The State of Vermont received a $16 million grant from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) in 2015. In 2020, this grant was extended for five years with an additional $10 million in assistance to farmers and forest landowners. This program provides financial and technical assistance for the development and implementation of water quality improvement throughout Vermont. Funds are available for agricultural and forestry best management practices, for wetland restoration, and for agricultural, wetland, and forestry easements.

Unique opportunities through RCPP include the following:

• Many practices are covered at a 100% payment rate, based on the NRCS Practice List.
• If you meet certain practice requirements (e.g. implementing a cover crop early) you may be eligible for an additional incentive payment.
• RCPP practices are not included in the $450,000 NRCS Farm Bill cap. You have a maximum of $450,000 in RCPP as well.
• RCPP applications are in a separate funding pool, greatly increasing your chance of funding with less competition.

Program Initiatives

• Land Management Activities
  • Agricultural and forestry practices that directly relate to water quality improvement can be funded under RCPP. 
  • The list of practices that have been submitted to NRCS and are expected to be approved for funding at 100% of cost is available on the NRCS website.
  • Some examples include grazing practices, cover crops, reduced tillage, stream crossing, forest trails and landings, and tree/shrub establishment.
• Easements
  • Easements in the RCPP program can be at three levels:
    • highly restrictive (payment is up to 100% of the appraised value),
    • moderately restrictive (up to 75% of appraised value), and
    • minimally restrictive (up to 50% of appraised value.)
  • The landowner selects the level of restriction based on their desired future use of the property.
  • Additionally, any water quality related restoration work done on the land prior to the easement is funded at 100% of cost.
• Agricultural and Forestry Easements
  • Agricultural and forestry easements have greater flexibility than traditional NRCS ACEP-ALE (Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Ag Land Easement) and can include more forestry protection.
• Wetland Easements
  • Wetland easements are prioritized based on size, recognizing the need for protection on smaller wetlands (priority is given to projects between 10-50 acres.)
  • Only passive restoration (e.g. tree and shrub plantings) is allowed.
  • Any active restoration projects should consider the ACEP-WRE (Wetland Restoration Easement) program.

EQIP

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands.

EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns, such as:

• Improved water and air quality;
• Conserved ground and surface water;
• Increased soil health;
• Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation;
• Improved or created wildlife habitat; and
• Mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility.

How It Works

NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them. Financial assistance for practices may be available through EQIP.  Some producers may also qualify for advance payment.

Benefits

Some of these benefits include:

• Reduced contamination from agricultural sources, such as animal feeding operations.
• Efficient use of nutrients, reducing input costs and reduction in nonpoint source pollution.
• Improved soil health, which mitigates against increasing weather volatility, improves drought resiliency and can positively affect climate change.
• Implementation of climate-smart practices that improve carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building resilient landscapes.

Vermont Initiatives

• Vermont Organic Farming
  • Assistance begins with the development of a conservation plan based on a needs assessment and each farmer’s unique goals.
  • The plan includes conservation practices, systems or activities, and the resource concerns identified in the assessment.
  • Common conservation practices, systems or activities planned include:
    • Improving irrigation efficiency;
    • Developing a Conservation Activity Plan for Transition that can be part of the OSP;
    • Establishing buffer zones;
    • Creating pollinator habitat;
    • Improving soil health and controlling erosion;
    • Developing a grazing plan and supportive livestock practices;
    • Enhancing cropping rotations;
    • Nutrient and pest management activities;
    • Managing cover crops; and
    • Installing a high tunnel system.
  • Additional information about the Organic Initiative
    • Financial assistance is limited to no more than $140,000 total over the 2018 Farm Bill years, 2019 through 2023.
    • Producers must meet all other eligibility requirements associated with EQIP
    • ​Participants who are not certified or exempt from certification, agree to develop and work towards implementing an Organic System Plan to meet National Organic Program organic certification through USDA
  • Although EQIP supports a wide variety of conservation practices, your local NRCS field office staff will work with you to develop an organic plan that includes practices that fits your resource needs as part of the Organic Initiative. Organic and transitioning farmers and ranchers may also apply for assistance through general EQIP or other conservation initiatives.
• Community Scale Ag
  • High Tunnel Initiative
    • A High Tunnel System, is an increasingly popular conservation practice for farmers, and is available with financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). 
    • With high tunnel systems, no summer is too short or winter too cold because high tunnels:
      • Extend the growing season
      • Improve plant quality and soil quality
      • Reduce nutrient and pesticide transportation
      • Improve air quality through reduced transportation inputs
      • Reduce energy use by providing consumers with a local source of fresh produce

EQIP offers grant opportunities through Conservation Innovation Grants, which awards competitive grants that stimulate the development and adoption of innovative approaches and technologies for conservation on agricultural lands.

Background

Watersheds United Vermont (WUV) is administering funding under Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Clean Water Workforce Capacity Development (CWWCD) Block Grant to support and invest in the capacity of our clean water partners in Vermont, both current and potential, in an equitable and inclusive way to address unmet capacity needs and ensure a strong partnership network that continues to efficiently deliver high quality and high priority clean water projects.

This grant is meant to build capacity in under-resourced entities to increase their ability to engage in more clean water projects, engage in more complex clean water projects, or propel others to do clean water projects.

Objectives

The goal of this program is to fund capacity activities that contribute to at least one of the following three broad objectives categories:

• The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP)  seeks to fund activities that help clean water workforce organizations catalyze  community engagement, relationship building, and enhanced representation.
  • This may include:
    • activities that increase the organization’s presence in the community or grow the community's awareness or knowledge of the organization,
    • activities that  grow community commitment and interest in  the organization's clean water efforts, 
    • activities that inspire the clean water efforts of  others, activities that help an organization sustain relationships over time, and
    • activities that diversify and build audience inclusion or that increase a community’s representation within organizational decision-making.
  • Examples:
    • Develop and implement a strategic and responsive communications plan 
    • Hire a communications professional or a “community liaison” to reach new audiences
    • Implement education campaigns or materials development (including websites, mobile apps, recorded webinar series, guidebooks, fact sheets, and resource libraries on content such as water quality conservation benefits and  practices, research trials, regulatory requirements, grant opportunities, innovative practices and initiatives)
    • Host or perform outreach at in-person or virtual workshops, events, and trainings 
    • Design and deliver enhanced volunteer recruitment and training to grow the size and skillset of an organization's volunteer network. This might include volunteer recruitment efforts and tools, training opportunities, more  volunteer days, or hiring a volunteer coordinator. 
    • Foster stronger personal relationships with landowners through one-on-one technical assistance
    • Support board stipends to incentivize participation on boards from community members who would not otherwise be able to join, with an aim of making the board more representative of the community the organization  serves.
    • Invest in customer management database tools to better track and record prior landowner conversations and relationships.
• CWIP seeks to fund activities that help clean water workforce organizations transition  administrative, financial, and fundraising roles and processes towards sustainable and  streamlined solutions.
  • This may include:
    • activities that shift administrative, financial  and fundraising responsibilities away from programmatic staff,
    • activities that increase an organization's administrative, financial and fundraising competencies, or
    • activities that help organizations streamline administrative, financial and fundraising work.
  • Examples:
    • Hire or contract with development or financial management/bookkeeping professionals who are knowledgeable in nonprofit and governmental budgeting, fundraising, and accounting.
    • Hire or contract with human resource or administrative professionals.
    • Contract with a legal or human resource expert to vet personnel and other policies
    • Attend external trainings for staff, volunteers, or board members in topics including payroll planning, project and organizational budgeting and nonprofit and governmental accounting, and calculating/negotiating indirect and  billable rates.
    • Perform a financial audit
    • Document Standard Operating Procedures for certain administrative or financial processes
    • Update sales platforms or accounting software
    • Support programmatic personnel expenses during gaps in project work to provide longer term stability in personnel planning
• CWIP seeks to fund activities that support professional development and a workforce  pipeline for careers in clean water project management.
  • This may include:
    • activities that focus on recruitment and on-boarding of a  diverse “next generation” workforce,
    • activities that support professional development and training in clean water project topics, and
    • activities that strengthen peer-peer and co learning networks.
  • Examples:
    • Attend trainings in a range of clean water project topics for staff to grow skills or knowledge in clean water project  implementation. 
    • Support personnel hours for new programmatic staff unable to charge time to existing project-based grants or while shadowing seasoned staff on tag-along or mentorship days. 
    • Develop formal onboarding procedures and training materials, or human resource systems that encourage  professional development growth plans. 
    • Develop Clean Water Project Management Standard Operating Procedures or best practices and considerations to  train new staff in. 
    • Perform staff recruitment in new and diverse venues.
    • Host a collaborative project demonstration day for peers

Each capacity activity must lead to one of the following 3 impacts types:

• Our organization is able to perform more clean water work
• Our organization is able to perform more complex clean water work
• Our organization is more effective at propelling the clean water efforts of others

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education
• entrepreneurship
• enrichment of community
• environment

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities

Purpose

Financial assistance is available for new or innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to state waters, improve water quality of state waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce costs to farmers when they apply manure.

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) offers grants that support forest, farm, and food businesses. Grants also go to producer associations, business assistance provider organizations, and more. The state's annual budget process decides the amount of funds available each year. The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) meets each summer to decide which grants to offer for the coming year based on available funds and needs across Vermont.

In Fiscal Year 2025, a total of $1 million is available for grants. Applications will open throughout the fall and winter, with awards announced throughout the winter and spring. These awards should be for projects that you will start working on in spring 2025. 

Unlike in past years, there will be no match requirement for these grants. Because funds are limited and these grants are very competitive, you should apply for the minimum amount needed for a project. Find details for each grant online at workinglands.vermont.gov. 

Service Provider & Producer Association Grant

The Service Provider & Producer Association Grant is now one grant! In the past, there were two separate grants.

• Grant amounts:
  • $10,000-$25,000 for pilot projects (a new initiative or one begun in the last 1-2 years) OR projects that serve a specific region of VT
  • $25,000-75,000 for projects that operate statewide
• No matching funds are required for this grant.
• 15 month grant period (March 2025-June 2026)

About the Vermont Community Foundation

We are a collective of more than 1,000 funds and foundations, created by Vermonters to fulfill their charitable aspirations.

Our Mission

Better Together: Inspiring giving and bringing together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont. 

Nonprofit Capacity Building

The Nonprofit Capacity Building grant program supports consultant fees for nonprofit organizational capacity building work.

To do great work, nonprofits and municipalities need clear plans for strategic and financial sustainability. High-level planning takes time and resources, which can be a challenge for many nonprofits on limited or restricted budgets. The Nonprofit Capacity Building grant program supports proposals for planning work that helps build your organization’s capacity.

Grants will be no more than $5,000 each and will support the cost of consultants for the activities described below. These grants are meant to supplement other funding, as we understand that this amount is typically not enough to cover the full cost of providing these services. In the project budget, please show the additional revenue sources to be used for this work, both pending and secured. We welcome the use of these funds as challenge grants to secure the additional funds.

This grant program is for organizations with yearly operating budgets under $1 million. We prioritize applications from organizations with yearly operating budgets under $250,000.

What We Fund

The program will fund activities to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of nonprofit organizations. Here are some examples of what the program will fund:

• Strategic planning initiatives to clarify mission, goals, and performance measures
• Financial sustainability planning, including diversification of revenue streams, and enhanced fundraising and development skills, plans, or activities
• Merger planning
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion policy development and implementation
• Board and leadership training intended to provide a focused learning opportunity that builds organizational capacity
• New for applicants as of February 2025: Organizations may apply if additional financial support is needed in adjusting to challenges caused by changes in federal funding or policies. Grant funding may be used for consultant-led planning for items such as: exploring new staffing models, reevaluating program offerings, and/or revisiting financial sustainability and/or revenue planning.

For projects other than those listed, include details on how this work will support your organization’s ability to execute your mission, why it is important at this time, and clear evidence of Board support.

Please note that grant funds can only be used to cover consultant fees.

Grant Size

Grants of up to $5,000 are typically awarded from this fund.