Search Through Grants for Environmental Conservation in New York in the U.S.

Community Resiliency Training Program

The New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, in partnership with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation invites Soil and Water Conservation Districts, working in partnership with regional watershed groups/coalitions, to submit applications for funding under the Community Resiliency Training Programs opportunity. Program funds are available for Post Flood Emergency Stream Intervention, North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative, and Roadside Ditch Maintenance training events.

New York State Soil and Water Conservation Districts working in partnership with regional watershed groups or coalitions are eligible to submit applications for funding under this RFA. Regional watershed groups include any watershed-based organization with established by-laws for which Soil and Water Conservation Districts are considered members. Training may be conducted anywhere in the watershed and may be provided by any qualified member of the group/coalition.

About the Foundation

The primary mission of Fields Pond Foundation is to provide financial assistance to nature and land conservation organizations that are community-based and that serve to increase environmental awareness by involving local residents in conservation issues. 

The Foundation's emphasis stems from its founding Directors' beliefs that the conservation of special places in our environment, and providing public accessibility to those conservation areas, is a desirable end in itself; but it is also a means of building public support for future land and river conservation by increasing the direct connection between individuals and their environment, and fostering active participation in the work of conservation.

The Foundation hopes to nurture such efforts by making grants under the following priorities:

• Project grants for trailmaking and other enhancement of public access to conservation lands, rivers, coastlines and other natural resources;
• Land acquisition for conservation;
• Assistance in establishment of stewardship as a component of a land protection project; and
• Directly related education programs and publications as components of a land protection project.

The Foundation is looking for grantmaking opportunities where a modest investment of grant funds can help in a significant way to improve public access to and enjoyment of natural areas, while maintaining the health and integrity of the environment. 

Grant Size and Type

The expected range of grants is $500 to $25,000, with most falling within the range of $2,000 to $15,000.

Whenever possible we seek to expand the impact of limited funds through challenge grants, conditional grants, matching grants, and special initiatives, and by collaborating with other donors in joint funding efforts.

We welcome joint applications by two or more organizations coordinating their efforts on a single project.

TAGs are authorized pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law, Article 27, Title 13 (State Superfund Program) and Title 14 (Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP)). TAGs are citizen participation tools that are available to eligible community groups to increase public awareness and understanding of remedial activities taking place in their communities.

The purpose of a TAG is to obtain independent technical assistance in interpreting environmental and health information generated and/or evaluated under the State Superfund Program or BCP about an eligible site. An eligible site is one that the State has determined poses a significant threat to public health and the environment. Specifically, technical assistance is provided to help the TAG recipient and the community at large understand the nature and extent of contamination at the eligible site, and the development and implementation of a remedy for the remediation of the eligible site. TAG funding is limited to $50,000 per eligible site. TAG funding is provided in the form of a State Assistance Contract (SAC).

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Department) encourages community groups which are interested in becoming more involved in the decision-making process and that need assistance in understanding the technical aspects associated with the remediation of an eligible site to submit an application for a TAG.

Goal: Advance Solutions To Climate Change

The Sustainable Development program advances global stewardship that is ecologically based, economically sound, socially just, culturally appropriate, and consistent with intergenerational equity. Human activity is causing climate change, rapid loss of biodiversity, and accelerating degradation of Earth’s life support systems. With the recognition that the impact of unchecked climate change threatens all other conservation efforts, the program focuses its grantmaking on advancing solutions to climate change.

Strategies

• Building public and policymaker understanding and support for a range of actions to address the threat of climate change.
• Supporting implementation efforts to build a clean energy economy at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Supporting efforts to reduce reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources.
• Supporting targeted efforts to advance international progress on climate change.

Full Guidelines

Human activity is causing climate change and rapid loss of biodiversity, and accelerating degradation of Earth’s life support systems. These developments threaten the livelihoods, health, and security of people in all nations and cultures as well as the well-being of the greater community of life. The RBF’s sustainable development grantmaking endeavors to address these challenges by supporting development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The program supports global stewardship that is ecologically based, economically sound, socially just, culturally appropriate, and consistent with intergenerational equity. The Fund encourages government, business, and civil society to work collaboratively on climate change, to acknowledge the moral and ethical consequences of inaction, and to make it an integral part of all development planning and activity. Recognizing the global nature of many environmental problems, the Fund also promotes international cooperation in addressing these challenges.

The Sustainable Development program maintains a significant focus on the United States in light of its disproportionate impact on the global economy, politics, and the environment. The program’s work is also advanced in collaboration with the Fund’s “pivotal place” programs—Central America, China, and the Western Balkans—and with the Democratic Practice program’s Global Challenges portfolio. Pivotal Place programs support work in specific countries or regions to build the knowledge, policies, organizational capacity, and leadership needed to advance sustainable development in locally appropriate ways. The Fund’s Democratic Practice–Global Challenges portfolio supports broad participation in forging the international agreements and institutional arrangements needed to encourage investment in sustainable development. Fund staff work to ensure that global developments inform work in specific places and that locally grounded efforts generate lessons and innovations needed for global impact.

With the recognition that the impact of unchecked climate change threatens all other conservation efforts, the Sustainable Development program focuses its U.S. grantmaking on building a green economy at the federal, state, and local levels.

In addition, the program provides support for select international efforts to advance global climate negotiations.

Agricultural Land Easements

Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) help private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities such as state and local governments protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches by limiting non-agricultural uses of the land through conservation easements.

Benefits

Agricultural Land Easements protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses. Land protected by agricultural land easements provides additional public benefits, including environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat and protection of open space. Additionally, ALE easements leverage local partnerships to match NRCS funding and local partners are responsible for the long-term stewardship of the easement.

How does it work?

NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land.

For working farms, the program helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. Under the Agricultural Land Easement component, NRCS may contribute up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.

The program also protects grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland and shrubland. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.

Agricultural Land Easements are permanent or for the maximum term allowed by law.

The New York State Conservation Partnership Program is an innovative public-private partnership between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Alliance’s New York Program.

New York State Conservation Partnership Program Grants

The Land Trust Alliance (Alliance), with support from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce the twenty-second round of competitive land trust grants through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP). This successful public-private partnership is funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and administered by the Alliance, in coordination with the DEC.

Throughout its history, the Conservation Partnership Program has awarded 1,269 grants totaling more than $34 million to over 90 land trusts working across New York and has leveraged at least $34.6 million in local matching funds, helping land trusts conserve tens of thousands of acres of farmland, wildlife habitat, recreational areas and urban open spaces. 

Conservation Partnership Program Grants are available in five categories:

• Capacity & Excellence
  • Grants to develop land trust programs and build organizational capacity to increase impact and sustainability of non-profit conservation organizations.

• Conservation Catalyst
  • Grants to support collaborative projects that “catalyze” new partnerships and community-supported conservation, stewardship and outreach initiatives.

• Professional Development
  • Grants for land trusts looking to professionalize and strengthen programs and services by adding permanent staff.

• Stewardship & Resource Management
  • Grants for land trusts seeking to make a substantial capital investment in public access improvements and on the ground stewardship of conserved properties.

• Transaction
  • Grants that help cover the indirect costs associated with new conservation easements and fee-acquisition projects that result in strategic, permanent protection of environmentally significant lands in New York.

Community Environmental Education Centers Grant (NY)

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce funding for projects that will implement the support of new construction or renovation of a facility to create a Community Environmental Education Center (Center). The Center should inspire exploration, discovery, and learning about the community’s environment.

Possible uses or programming of the Center include but are not limited to: 

• Education about indoor air pollution and modeling methods to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution.
• Education about environmental justice challenges.
• Cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.
• Green jobs training and education.
• Programs, information, and exhibits that increase awareness and stewardship of the local environment.
• Models of sustainable development including LEED Green Building Certification, green infrastructure, and agriculture.
• Extreme weather shelters with innovative architecture or engineering demonstrations.
• Research and monitoring programs focusing on watershed issues, combined sewer overflow, vehicle emissions, energy generation, solid waste transfer activities and/or other environment issues.
• Community space for local community-based organizations, community events, and workshops.
• K-12 educational programming in STEAM which may include ecology, environmental harms/risks/issues, green technology, and environmental sustainability.
• College level electives in ecology, green energy technology, and environmental sustainability.
• Outdoor components such as community gardens or farms.

Funding

Minimum grant amount is $250,000.00; Maximum grant amount is $3,000,000.

Approximately $7 Million is available for Community Environmental Education Center Grants. Funding for this grant opportunity is provided from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and is available to support capital costs of new construction proposals or renovation proposals. Funding will be utilized to fund as many eligible projects as possible which may include partial funding of projects.

Disadvantaged Community Air Pollution Mitigation Grant (NY)

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce funding for projects that will implement State assistance funding through the Disadvantaged Community Air Pollution Mitigation Grant program to support Indian Nations/Tribal Organizations and not-for-profit (NFP) community-based organizations in Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) and Environmental Justice (EJ) Areas for projects that address ambient air pollution mitigation strategies. The focus should be on evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation strategies so that effective strategies can be replicated in other communities across the State. The data collected will be made publicly available.

The DEC and the Office of Environmental Justice note that ambient air pollution can compromise human health and the environment in many ways. Per the EPA, “Air pollution is associated with several human health effects including heart attacks, asthma attacks, bronchitis, hospital and emergency room visits, work and school days lost, restricted activity days, respiratory symptoms, and premature mortality.”

The Disadvantaged Community Air Pollution Mitigation Grant is being offered to support effective action to reduce air pollution and exposure within Disadvantaged and Environmental Justice Communities. Air Pollution mitigation projects are intended to further the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) in Disadvantaged Communities throughout New York. Projects should be designed to reduce or mitigate emissions or pollution in areas that have a record of poor ambient air quality. Mitigation techniques can be varied, and multiple techniques can be implemented. 

Examples of mitigation projects include but are not limited to the following:

• Pollution vacuums
• Air filtration units
• Vegetative barriers
• Phytoremediation
• Diesel engine retrofits and other advanced truck technologies
• Bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs
• Alternative multimodal transportation infrastructure, such as car shares
• Alternative fuels and vehicles
• Methane capture
• Carbon sink projects
• Local planning efforts to reduce pollution, to develop local action plans or local health intervention programs
• Technical and capacity building can be used to improve indoor air filtration or educate and train community members on how to properly operate or maintain supporting programs such as community car sharing
• Innovative projects are encouraged

Funding

Minimum grant amount is $250,000 Maximum grant amount is $500,000.

Approximately $3,000,000 is available for Disadvantaged Community Air Pollution Mitigation Opportunity Grants. Funding for this grant is provided from the state Environmental Protection Fund. Applicants may be awarded up to $500,000 each until funding has been exhausted. Funding will be utilized to fund as many eligible projects as possible which may include partial funding of projects.

Overview

The Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund (LISSF) is a competitive grant program seeking proposals to restore and protect the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. We are interested in empowering communities of all kinds (including communities typically underrepresented in environmental programs and projects) to access, improve and benefit from Long Island Sound, its waterways, and surrounding lands. Up to $400,000 is expected to be available for grants in 2025. The most competitive proposals will incorporate multiple values including sustainability, resilience, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

The LISSF aims to:

• support non-profit 501(c)(3) public charities working on issues and projects that address the strategies and Implementation Actions of the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) and support communities and organizations in advancing environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion. 

The Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative

The Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative (the Collaborative) is a group of funders with missions that include clean waters, thriving habitats, and sustainable communities in the Long Island Sound region. While most of the funders are not solely focused on this goal, we aim to build our effectiveness through collaboration. Since its inception, the Collaborative has worked together to learn about the myriad issues facing the Sound and possible solutions.

Niagara Power Project Relicensing

Over the course of the 50 year license in support of its operating license for the Niagara Power Project, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will provide more than $1 billion worth of benefits to Western New York. These benefits include monetary payments to settlement partners consisting of local municipalities, state agencies, an Indian nation, school districts, and committees supporting the development of the Niagara River Greenway. The amount also includes payments by NYPA for the construction of recreational projects and ecological enhancements related to the License. In addition to monetary benefits, 32 MW of low-cost hydropower has been allocated to several settlement partners saving the recipients as much as 75% of the cost of energy.

Greenway Ecological Standing Committee

The Greenway Ecological Standing Committee (GESC) is funded since the issuance of the new FERC license via an annual NYPA contribution to a Greenway Ecological Fund of $1 million until 2057 (i.e., until the end of the new license). It is responsible for the review of ecological projects that are proposed by stakeholders for funding through the Greenway Ecological Fund (GEF), with two submittal and review cycles each year. In order to be considered for GEF funding, all projects must receive a determination of “consistency” with the Niagara River Greenway Plan from the Niagara River Greenway Commission (i.e., Commission review for consistency occurs prior to submittal to the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee.

Funding will be for projects that create and support ecological enhancements within the Niagara Greenway. Projects should support at least one of the following: land acquisition and conservation; habitat research; aquatic and terrestrial land restoration for habitat and species benefits and/or ecosystem services; ecological stewardship activities and education.

Proposals must provide written documentation of consistency with the Niagara River Greenway Plan, as determined by the Niagara River Greenway Commission any time prior to submission to the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee for funding. Other factors to be addressed include engineering and maintenance feasibility, operation, biological effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.

The Greenway Ecological Standing Committee includes the New York Power Authority, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tuscarora Nation, the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Niagara Relicensing Environmental Coalition. The Committee has one million dollars per year through 2057 available from the Greenway Ecological Fund.

The John Ben Snow Foundation is a private foundation that focuses funding for tax-exempt organizations primarily serving Central New York defined as Onondaga County and its four surrounding counties of Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, and Oswego. The Board and Program Staff seek to collaboratively create proposals within specific Grant Programs while responding to the changing needs of targeted populations. We especially seek to close the opportunity gap for individuals who are under-resourced. 

Dating back to the inception of the Foundation in 1948, the primary and overarching grant making priority has been and continues to be programs that focus on education.

• Education: Primary and secondary education, literacy, and vocational training are essential ingredients to improving life outcomes. To reduce barriers that limit equitable opportunities and expand equal access to quality education. Supporting early childhood education, academic tutoring, literacy, college access, internships, scholarships, fellowships, and journalism focused on underrepresented populations and first generation students

Secondarily, the Foundation considers proposals within the areas of Arts and Culture, Community Initiatives, and Youth Programs. The Board’s objective is to extend the primary educational focus by providing funding support within these additional program areas.

• Arts and Culture: Engagement in the arts creates a stronger and more vibrant community and culture.To foster arts education and appreciation. Through educational curriculum, instruction, and engagement of young adults via visiting artists or performances
• Community Initiatives: A resilient social infrastructure is essential to a healthy local community. To directly enhance the lives of residents within our core geographic regions by expanding services that bridge the poverty gap. Investing in community centers, safe and affordable housing, human services delivered by shelters and food pantries, and veterans services.
• Youth Programs: Encouraging young adults to dream and equipping them to succeed can change the trajectory of their lives. To empower young adults in their personal development and to equip them in their professional aspirations. Developing sustained relationships that offer one-on-one mentoring, character education, skills training, and violence prevention.

As a third priority, the Foundation does consider proposals in the areas of Disabilities and Universal Access, Environmental, and Historic Preservation. As these are not core focus areas, funding is often limited. Priority will be given to proposals with an educational focus.

• Disabilities and Universal Access: A person with a physical, mental, or emotional disability should have equal access to opportunity within the community. To support services for individuals with a disability as well as provide universal access to facilities for these individuals. Supporting programs for people with disabilities as well as required facility renovations to enable universal access.
• Environmental: Stewardship of the local environment is a fundamental responsibility. To support environmental education and conservation initiatives. Through educational instruction and materials (e.g., curriculum, brochures, signs) coupled with protection of strategic parcels of land and water.
• Historic Preservation: Preservation of our history is important in order to educate the broader population on past events to inform current events. To preserve historical accounts and artifacts to benefit future generations. Through educational instruction and materials (e.g., curriculum, brochures, signs) coupled with protection of sites, structures, objects, and events.

There are no minimums or maximum grant amounts; however, most grants range from $5,000 to $10,000.

About The Memorial Trust

In 1975, two years after his death, The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust was established in New York. The four original trustees were a member of the Snow family, a lawyer, a publishing associate and a corporate trustee, the Irving Trust Company, now BNY Mellow N.A.. The current Trustees continue this legacy being well aware of the donor and his beliefs, values and ideals. The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust strategically focuses funding within specific geographic regions of the United States across a range of program areas. They meet once a year, usually in June.

The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust

The Memorial Trust strategically focuses funding within specific geographic regions of the United States across a range of program areas (prioritized below and visually depicted here) while responding to the ever-changing needs of various segments of the population, especially to the needs of youth and people who are disadvantaged economically, emotionally, or physically.

Dating back to the inception of the Trust in 1973, the primary and overarching grant making priority has been and continues to be programs that focus on education.

• Education: Targets funds to organizations that provide educational opportunities or academic assistance to individuals who demonstrate an intellectual aptitude and a financial need. Examples include scholarships, fellowships, academic tutoring or counseling, literacy, and journalism.

Secondarily, the Trust considers proposals within the areas of Arts and Culture, Community Initiatives, and Youth Programs. The Board’s objective is to extend the primary educational focus by providing funding support within these additional program areas.

• Community Initiatives: Provides funding for programs or services that directly improve the quality of life within the geographic focus areas that we serve. Examples include support for libraries, food pantries and shelters, and neighborhood revitalization. Generally, the Trust does not seek proposals for health care initiatives or animal welfare programs.
• Arts and Culture: Offers grants that promote arts education and appreciation, particularly for young adults, via the development of educational curriculum and professional instruction including visiting artists and performance support for targeted populations.
• Youth Initiatives: Offers grants that provide character education or enrichment opportunities via mentoring or after-school programming

As a third priority, the Trust does consider proposals in the areas of Disabilities and Universal Access, Environmental, and Historic Preservation. As these are not core focus areas, funding is often limited. Priority will be given to proposals with an educational focus.

• Disabilities and Universal Access: Offers grants to organizations in complying with ADA requirements within their facilities (e.g. elevator, handrails, automatic doors, and ramps) or offering services targeted for individuals with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
• Environmental: Provides funds for organizations that strive to protect strategic parcels of land and bodies of water as well as programs that educate the general public on key environmental issues such as conservation and water management.
• Historic Preservation: Provides funding for organizations that preserve historical artifacts (e.g. sites, structures, objects) and accounts (e.g. events), and educate the greater community on their significance. Examples include museums, historical societies and educational programming.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.

Our Mission

To conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

Connectivity, Climate, Communities Fund

To make the highest possible impact on the climate and biodiversity crises, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is committed to advancing solutions and supporting partners throughout the Appalachians to connect and conserve vital wildlife habitat, build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and generate new job and recreation opportunities for communities.

Approximately one-third of the U.S. population lives in or within 100 miles of the Appalachians, including an estimated 36 million people that rely on the region for sources of drinking water. The landscape contains the world's largest remaining expanses of temperate broadleaf mixed forest and provides habitat to a wide diversity of plants of animals, many of which are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered. Conserving this landscape is critical for nature and for the people that live and work there.

However as climate change drives ecosystem instability, plants and animals are shifting their ranges northward, and people are having to find ways to adapt to complex and intertwined challenges. TNC and many others have been working to conserve vital Appalachian habitats for decades. Now we must ramp up our efforts and coordinate with partners across the Appalachians for maximum impact.

To succeed in these efforts, TNC’s Connectivity, Climate, Communities Fund offers two grant programs for conservation and community organizations, municipalities, Federally Recognized Tribal Nations, and local and state agencies in the Appalachians who are working to protect and conserve this region:

• The Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program
• The New York Climate Resilience Grant Program

New York Climate Resilience Grant Program

The Nature Conservancy is pleased to announce a fifth round of funding available in New York through our Climate Resilience Grant Program. The program supports conservation and climate adaptation projects, including land protection, led by local organizations, with the goal of increasing resilience to climate change for people and nature. Program grants will help local organizations with fee and easement acquisitions of lands that connect with important floodplains and shorelines that mitigate flooding and erosion. The grants will also provide funding for organizational capacity building, planning and strategy development.

Resilient Floodplains and Shorelines

Natural infrastructure, like floodplains, streams, wetlands, tidal marshes, beaches, dunes and bluffs, help mitigate flooding and erosion. We refer to these features as resilient floodplains and shorelines. They also benefit people and nature by filtering water, recharging groundwater, offering recreational opportunities, providing habitat and enhancing human wellbeing. 

New York is experiencing more intense rainfall, erosion and sea level rise.  To ensure our communities are resilient to climate change impacts like flooding and erosion, we must plan for future conditions, engage with people affected by flooding, and collaborate with nature to keep people safe and allow nature to adapt. By conserving undeveloped lands along rivers, streams and coasts, we mitigate flooding, preserve migration pathways and habitats, maintain water quality, facilitate the movement of sediment, and protect drinking water and aquifers.

The Climate Resilience Grant Program offers grants for projects and initiatives that support conservation and resiliency planning, build organizational capacity and help develop climate focused strategies. The program also supports land acquisition projects that:

• Maintain natural buffers between people and flooding or erosion, particularly in areas where natural lands are threatened by development,
• help lessen harmful impacts to communities from floods,
• and make floodplain and shoreline habitats more resilient.

Equitable Conservation and Community Benefits

Conservation organizations are increasingly acknowledging the importance of incorporating social equity in their missions, partnerships, and projects and evolving how they work to have better outcomes for people and nature.

TNC defines community benefits as the positive outcomes that directly result from or are included within conservation projects as experienced by local communities and people. This is particularly important for historically marginalized communities, communities with limited access to nature, communities experiencing heightened impacts of climate change due to systemic underinvestment and poor infrastructure, and Indigenous communities. 

Climate Resilience Grant Program funding will support projects that demonstrate meaningful community engagement, work with those historically excluded from conservation, and lead to a fairer distribution of benefits for people and communities.

Some examples of community benefits include improved and greater access to nature, protection of drinking water sources, recreational and resource-based economic opportunities, flood mitigation, engagement in cross-cultural initiatives, or protection of lands that will meet community-defined conservation needs. We encourage projects with meaningful community benefits that are integrated with the land protection goals.

Project Types

The Climate Resilience Grant Program invites applications for two types of projects:

• Projects that strengthen an organization’s planning, capacity or strategy initiatives that will ultimately lead to actions that will help make species, habitats and communities more resilient to climate change. 
• Projects that result in the permanent fee or easement acquisition of lands that contain or intersect with floodplains; coastal sediment sources and natural, protective infrastructure like beaches and dunes; or tidal marshes and marsh migration corridors. These Resilient Floodplains and Shorelines features are shown on the program’s online map viewer.

Project Evaluation

Planning, capacity and strategy projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Planning:
  • The project develops or updates an existing plan to advance climate resilience and landscape connectivity and/or climate adaptation initiatives in your work.
• Capacity:
  • The project increases your capacity for engaging in land protection projects, conservation planning, climate-focused strategy development and community engagement (e.g., staff professional development, skills enrichment, technology access or skills, grant or financial resources).
• Strategy:
  • The project advances strategies to incorporate or expand equitable climate resilience and connectivity or climate adaptation principles into your work.
    • This may include expanding, innovating or developing new kinds of work for your organization related to climate resilient land protection and equitable conservation, as well as funding for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice training, support for community engagement, development of communication or media campaigns, or convening non-traditional or historically excluded partners.

Resilient Floodplains and Shorelines land acquisition projects will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Size:
  • Total acres of Resilient Floodplains and Shorelines features within the project area (the context of the property to its surroundings will be considered).
• Connectivity:
  • The property adjoins or is near other protected lands or waters and/or is part of a floodplain complex (see online map viewer)
• Timeline:
  • The anticipated closing is before deadline on website.
• Collaboration: 
  • Evidence of engagement with other organizations, community groups or local governments.
• Community:
  • Project elements that directly engage or help people, especially vulnerable or marginalized groups.

All projects will also be evaluated for:

• Clarity of project goal(s) and how the project increases organizational capacity to achieve climate resilience and connectivity and/or climate adaptation outcomes
• Degree of collaboration with or support from other conservation organizations, community groups, local governments or Tribal Nations
• Feasibility of project and reasonable costs.

Funding

The total amount of funding available is $500,000. Applicants may apply for up to $50,000 for a project. Grant awards may be less than the amount requested. Projects must be completed within twelve months of the start of the grant term.

Planning, capacity and strategy grant recipients will receive an initial payment followed by two additional payments tied to interim and final reporting requirements.

Land acquisition project awards are disbursed up front, except for any portion of the grant allocated for stewardship and legal defense, which will be provided after closing.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.

Our Mission

To conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

Connectivity, Climate, Communities Fund

To make the highest possible impact on the climate and biodiversity crises, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is committed to advancing solutions and supporting partners throughout the Appalachians to connect and conserve vital wildlife habitat, build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and generate new job and recreation opportunities for communities.

Approximately one-third of the U.S. population lives in or within 100 miles of the Appalachians, including an estimated 36 million people that rely on the region for sources of drinking water. The landscape contains the world's largest remaining expanses of temperate broadleaf mixed forest and provides habitat to a wide diversity of plants of animals, many of which are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered. Conserving this landscape is critical for nature and for the people that live and work there.

However as climate change drives ecosystem instability, plants and animals are shifting their ranges northward, and people are having to find ways to adapt to complex and intertwined challenges. TNC and many others have been working to conserve vital Appalachian habitats for decades. Now we must ramp up our efforts and coordinate with partners across the Appalachians for maximum impact.

To succeed in these efforts, TNC’s Connectivity, Climate, Communities Fund offers two grant programs for conservation and community organizations, municipalities, Federally Recognized Tribal Nations, and local and state agencies in the Appalachians who are working to protect and conserve this region:

• The Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program
• The New York Climate Resilience Grant Program

Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program

The Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program provides grants of up to $100,000 for fee and easement acquisition projects throughout the Appalachians.

Equitable Conservation and Community Benefits

Conservation organizations are increasingly acknowledging the importance of incorporating social equity in their missions, partnerships, and projects and evolving how they work to have better outcomes for people and nature.

TNC defines community benefits as the positive outcomes that directly result from or are included within conservation projects as experienced by local communities and people. This is particularly important for historically marginalized communities, communities with limited access to nature, communities experiencing heightened impacts of climate change due to systemic underinvestment and poor infrastructure, and Indigenous communities. 

RCA program funding will support projects that demonstrate meaningful community engagement, work with those historically excluded from conservation, and lead to a fairer distribution of benefits for people and communities.

Some examples of community benefits include improved and greater access to nature, protection of drinking water sources, recreational and resource-based economic opportunities, flood mitigation, engagement in cross-cultural initiatives, or protection of lands that will meet community-defined conservation needs. We encourage projects with meaningful community benefits that are integrated with the land protection goals.

Project Evaluation

Projects will be evaluated  according to their capacity to deliver land protection outcomes aligned with the program goals, including:

• Location:
  • the project is located within TNC’s Appalachians Program boundary and is in or near a mapped focal area.  Projects outside of focal areas will also be considered.
• Resilience:
  • the percentage of the total project area that is part of the Resilient and Connected Network.
• Connectivity:
  • adjacency to protected lands or other attributes that will lead to landscape connectivity over time (e.g., the project is a necessary acquisition for advancing a local or regional plan that aims to protect a critical conservation corridor).
• Collaboration:
  • evidence of engagement with other organizations, community groups, or local governments (including, but not limited to, shared funding).
• Community:
  • project elements that directly engage and or benefit people, especially vulnerable or marginalized communities.
• Timeline:
  • the project will close within 12 months from the start of the grant agreement term.
• Feasibility:
  • likelihood that the project will close and the costs seem reasonable.

Program goal

To mitigate climate change, make communities more resilient to climate change, protect public health from the hazards of toxic chemicals and pollutants, and preserve biological diversity.

Grants are made to

Promote more environmentally sustainable, resilient, and just communities that mitigate climate change by:

• Promoting energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy for buildings.
• Shifting to electric or low-emission vehicles and greater use of mass transit.
• Promoting a smarter, more resilient grid and distributed (on-site) generation.
• Reducing emissions from existing fossil fuel-powered facilities and extraction activities.
• Establishing regional programs, performance standards, and regulations that help reduce emissions.

Make communities, especially the most disadvantaged, more resilient to a changing climate by:

• Creating infrastructure that reduces stormwater runoff and absorbs storm surges.
• Protecting shoreline communities by conserving or enhancing natural barriers.
• Encouraging more sustainable building design and land use through policy reforms.
• Better planning and preparation for weather-related emergencies, especially for low-income and other vulnerable residents.

Protect public health from the hazards of toxic pollutants by:

• Supporting targeted scientific research that can be used to develop policy.
• Promoting safer chemical and heavy metal policies and practices, especially for infants, children, and other vulnerable people.
• Eliminating toxic chemicals from products through market campaigns focused on retailers and manufacturers.
• Enhancing protections for low-income communities near polluting facilities.
• Minimizing the hazards of new and expanded fossil fuel extraction on nearby communities.

Preserve biological diversity through habitat conservation by:

• Establishing, enhancing, and monitoring wildlife migration corridors; and
• Supporting functional connectivity between fragmented habitat that enables species to move and live safely

We encourage initiatives that cut across these program areas, especially those focused on smart growth, sustainable agriculture and regional food systems, and sustainable production.

Community Partnerships

Con Edison supports organizations and causes that champion a clean and equitable energy future for all New Yorkers.

Priority will be given to organizations with programs/projects centered-in historically marginalized and disadvantaged communities.

Focus Areas

Con Edison proudly funds organizations that share our vision to combat the effects of climate change, advance social justice, and create green jobs. Our philanthropic initiatives power the vitality of our communities in New York City and Westchester to advocate for equity and support the gaps that exist in state-designated disadvantaged communities.

Con Edison feels an urgency to confront the threat that climate change poses to our communities and help New Yorkers adapt to a changing world.

Our efforts focus on:

Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship

We will accelerate access to clean energy by prioritizing place-based investments, resilient infrastructure, and environmental stewardship.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: Projects focused on addressing the accelerated risks of climate change and promote nature-based solutions. Special attention will be given to initiatives that address extreme weather events, sea level rise, biodiversity loss, and the restoration or conservation of natural habitats and ecosystems.

Environmental Stewardship: Initiatives that focus on equitable land use and greenway enhancement—specifically green corridors, pocket parks, community gardens, and local farms.

• Program support may include stewardship of public lands, promotion of environmental education, coalition building focused on climate and energy policy, and leadership development for climate and environmental advocates.

Social Justice

We are applying our resources to help organizations and social movements that address systemic social justice issues—through skill building, action, and advocacy.

Human Rights and Democracy: Fund social justice organizations that are providing the building blocks to address discrimination, bias, and opportunity inequities for marginalized and disadvantaged communities.

Economic Empowerment and Opportunity: Fund social justice organizations whose goals are to reduce the racial, ethnic, and gender wealth gap and expanding access to resources for nonprofits that serve disadvantaged populations.

Community Resilience Fund social justice organizations and projects that support initiatives to ensure that marginalized and disadvantaged communities have the capacity, leadership, and agency to address environmental, social, and political change.

• This focus includes support for climate justice implementation programs focused on areas such as emergency preparedness, extreme weather, and similar areas of impact.

Program support may include funding to assist with skill building, leadership development, capacity building, civic engagement, and community organizing and outreach.

Clean Energy and Technology Careers

We will foster a new generation of workers by supporting access to education, skills training, economic supports, and hiring and/or career advancement opportunities they will need for well-paying jobs in emerging and in-demand clean energy, technology, and environmental science careers.

Skills Training: Training programs that equip new and existing workers with the skills and credentials needed for sustainable, well-paying careers, in high-demand clean energy and technology fields—with prioritization for individuals from disadvantaged communities.

Career Exploration & Pathways: Programs, workshops, and initiatives that build awareness of career paths and further educational and career goals in clean energy and technology fields for young adults (grade 9 and above) and adults.

Energy Ecosystems: Foster innovations, partnerships, movements, and coalitions that bring together business, training providers, and community organizations to develop clean energy and workforce strategies to help workers access quality careers and address specific challenges.

Program support may include skills-based training, barrier reduction and retention services, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, paid internships, career coaching, curriculum development, and coalition and network-building.

NYSCA/GHHN Grants

The NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program is made possible with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports projects from Long Island and New York City. This statewide program now offers three opportunities for collecting institutions in New York State.

• Conservation Treatment
• Preservation Supplies
• Site Assessment 

Organizations may apply to all three opportunities in the same year. 

Preservation Supplies

The NYSCA/GHHN Preservation Supplies Grant is an opportunity under the NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN) that provides funds to purchase collection management supplies for museums, historical, and cultural organizations in New York State. Additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports projects from Long Island and New York City.

What We Fund

Applicants who have consulted with an appropriate professional (i.e., completed a MAP, CAP, NEA’s Small Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions, C2CNYS Circuit Rider, GHHN’s Collections Needs Assessment Program, etc.) or by knowledgeable staff may request funds to purchase collection management supplies and shipping. If an organization has limited experience in rehousing collections, they should work with a Site Assessment consultant to provide guidance in selecting appropriate supply materials.

Applicants may request funds up to $650 for general collections management needs. No match is required. Supplies may include, but are not limited to: storage boxes, acid-free tissue paper, artifact trays, dividers, UV filtering film, Tyvek sheeting, cotton tying tape, item ID tags, HEPA vacuums, dehumidifiers, polyester batting, Ethafoam, environmental monitors, etc. If you have questions about specific collection care supply items, please call us! 

Funding

• Maximum Award: $650
• Funding to purchase collections management supplies

NYSCA/GHHN Grants

The NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program is made possible with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports projects from Long Island and New York City. This statewide program now offers three opportunities for collecting institutions in New York State.

• Conservation Treatment
• Preservation Supplies
• Site Assessment 

Organizations may apply to all three opportunities in the same year. 

Site Assessment

The NYSCA/GHHN Site Assessment Grant is an opportunity under the NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program, a partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN), that will provide support for half-day museum site assessments for museums, historical, and cultural organizations in New York State. Additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports projects from Long Island and New York City.

What We Fund

The grant will support professional services for a Site Assessment consultant who will come to their organization for a half-day site visit focusing on a collections-related topic. For your convenience, GHHN maintains a continually updated list of area consultants – you may find the list on our website. Inclusion on this list does not constitute GHHN’s endorsement of a consultant. You are free to choose a consultant from this list or your own consultant. We strongly suggest that you reach out to your selected consultant prior to applying. All applications must include a current consultant resume. We will not process your application unless a consultant resume has been received.

Scope of Consultancy: The consultant will discuss various areas of stewardship with the site including their specific collections issues, suggest and prioritize basic steps to improve care of their collections. These can include but are not limited to: storage solutions, policies and procedures, environmental controls, disaster preparedness planning, pest management and consultations on specific material types (3D objects only). Consultants must provide a written report with recommendations to be submitted to the site within 3 weeks of the visit.

Consultant support will not exceed $1,000 which includes the site assessment report and round-trip travel. Only travel within New York State borders will be supported. Any consultation fee above $1,000 is the responsibility of the applicant. No match is required.

Funding

• Maximum Award: $1,000
• For a half-day site visit by a collections consultant to discuss specific areas of stewardship, including identifying collections issues and prioritizing basic steps to improve the care of your collections, followed by a written report

Park & Trail Partnership Grants

The Park and Trail Partnership Grants is a $2 million capacity-building matching grants program funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The program is designed to:

• Enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.
• Increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, and volunteer and fundraising capabilities of not-for-profit organizations that promote, maintain, and support New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.
• Promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails, greenways and public lands.

Stewardship and Public Access Grants

Stewardship and Public Access Grants may be used to assist organizations with the stewardship, interpretation, promotion, education, and public access of a New York State Park, trail, historic site or DEC public land, or a partnership involving more than one such organization, which significantly enhances the organization’s visibility and capacity.

Examples of projects include, but are not limited to:

• Public access or engagement improvements, such as interpretive kiosks, exhibits, signage, new trails with signage, and other activities that enhance public enjoyment and access to the public resource.
• Community and constituency-building initiatives and programs that promote outreach and public education and recreation resulting in greater public support and broader public involvement, especially from new and presently underserved audiences, and those which enhance age-friendly recreational opportunities.
• Shared consultant services between more than one eligible organization.
• Development and implementation of a community outreach plan to enhance community access to and enjoyment of the public resource and awareness of the organization’s role in its preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and/or promotion.
• Development and implementation of public resource marketing plans, especially if undertaken in partnership with local tourism promotion efforts.

Examples of projects that are considered construction or rehabilitation are:

• Building rehabilitation.
• Any change to historic structure: adding or removing anything, painting, remodeling or reconstructing.
• Improvements, such as interpretive kiosks, exhibits, signage, new trails with signage, trailwork and other activities that enhance public enjoyment and access to the park, trail, site, or public land.
• Activities whose costs are part of a larger construction project.
• Activities that involve any ground disturbance or shovel in the ground.
• Activities that require engineering plans and specifications.
• Activities that require State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) review.

Grants up to $150,000. A 10 percent match of the total project budget is required, up to 50 percent of which may be in-kind. Fifty percent of award is disbursed at contract signing; remainder disbursed after submission of satisfactory six-month progress report.

Park & Trail Partnership Grants

The program is administered jointly by Parks & Trails New York and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and is designed to:

• Enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.
• Increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, and volunteer and fundraising capabilities of not-for-profit organizations that promote, maintain, and support New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.
• Promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails, greenways and public lands.

Professional Development Grants

Professional Development Grants support the hiring of permanent staff in order to advance Friends organizations to a higher and sustainable level of professionalism, fiscal and administrative stability, and community outreach that in the future they will be able to sustain on their own. Professional Development Grants may be used to support:

• First Staff Hire: hiring the organization’s first permanent employee, full- or part-time.
• Additional Staff: hiring an additional full- or part-time permanent staff member to fill a critical administrative, outreach or development need, or other key function.
• Upgrade to Full-time Staff: increasing a part-time executive director, or other key staff position to full time.
• Shared Staff: hiring a staff person to be shared by two or more eligible organizations.
• Professional Development Grants are meant to support permanent increases in staffing capacity. If an organization is interested in hiring temporary contractors or staff to support the organization’s work, this request would fall under a Capacity and Organizational Effectiveness Grant or a Stewardship and Public Access grant.

Grants up to $100,000 encompassing a period of two years; a 20 percent cash match is required. Fifty percent of award is disbursed at contract signing; remainder disbursed after submission of satisfactory one-year progress report.

Environmental Protection Fund Grant Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage (EPF)

Title 9 NYCRR (sections 439.1 – 443.4) implements the Environmental Protection Fund Act of 1993 (Title 9 of Article 54 of the Environmental Conservation Law), which created OPRHP's program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage Grants. The Environmental Protection Fund Grant Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage (EPF) is a matching grant program for the acquisition, planning and development, and improvement of parks, historic properties, and heritage areas located within the physical boundaries of the State of New York. Funds may be awarded to municipalities or not-for-profits with an ownership interest.

The EPF legislation requires the public benefit from the investment of state funds. All properties acquired or developed with grant funds will receive long-term protections (samples below). The method and term of the protection is dependent upon the type of applicant and project undertaken.One application covers all three program areas (Parks, Historic Preservation, Heritage Areas)

Eligible Activities/Program Benefit and Long Term Protection Requirements

Funding under the EPF Parks, Preservation and Heritage Grants program is available for the activities and programs described below. An application will be evaluated in all categories for which it qualifies. Applicants should be alert to the requirements for each category for which they wish the application to be considered.

To ensure the public benefit from the investment of State funds, properties acquired or developed with grant funds will receive long term protections, either through parkland alienation law, conservation easements, or public access or preservation covenants recorded against the deeds. 

Historic Preservation Program

The Historic Preservation program is to improve, protect, preserve, rehabilitate, restore or acquire properties listed on the State or National Registers of Historic Places and for structural assessments and/or planning for such projects. Properties not currently listed, but scheduled for nomination review at the State Board for Historic Preservation meeting on the specified days are eligible to apply. Questions about or proposals for listing on the State or National Register should be directed to the OPRHP National Register Unit at (518) 268-2213 or contact the National Register representative for your county. All work must conform to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. To ensure the public benefit from the investment of state funds, preservation covenants or conservation easements will be conveyed to the State (OPRHP) for all historic property grants.

Funding Priorities

Each year the Commissioner establishes program priorities for which projects will receive additional points.

Rating Criteria

The Priority Evaluation Form is based on the following rating criteria:

• the extent to which the project site has suffered from physical deterioration, decay, vandalism, neglect or disinvestment or may be threatened with closure, demolition or inappropriate development, and the degree to which the project addresses the property's need;
• the relationship of the project to a local, regional and/or statewide planning document or other assessment of need;
• the extent to which the project protects, enhances or interprets natural, cultural or historic resources;
• the ability of the project sponsor to initiate and complete the project on a timely basis, at a reasonable cost, and operate or maintain the completed project;
• the historic significance of the property in the National, State or local context, and the extent to which the project protects or enhances its significant features;
• the degree to which the project will increase public stewardship or awareness of historic resources;
• annual programmatic and funding priorities.

Among the rating criteria, the Commissioner may award any of the following factors up to a maximum of ten points. All applications will be reviewed for the relevance of these to the project scope:

• the geographic distribution of other fundable projects in any given application cycle;
• consideration may be given to projects in areas that have or have not received funding in recent cycles or where funding is not commensurate with the population of the area. This will be based on the proximity to other funded sites and the diversity of projects being funded on a regional and local basis, as well as the service area of the developed or planned facilities.
• the extent to which the project will maximize the use and accessibility of a facility;
• consideration may be given to projects where funding will allow underutilized facilities to be accessed or to develop underutilized resources for public use. This will be based on the resources offered by the facility, the use of those resources and whether the proposed project will help the facility expand and enhance its public use.
• special engineering, environmental and historic preservation concerns or benefits;
• consideration may be given to develop particularly significant resources and facilities or to develop innovative approaches to preserve valuable resources. This will be based on the type of resource being developed or rehabilitated; its rarity on a local, regional, statewide and national basis; the ability of an innovative technology to address an emergency or mitigate future problems; how well a technology can be "exported" for use on other properties and resources; and how/if the project will allow public access that would not otherwise be available.
• the past performance, if any, of the project sponsor on previous projects;
• Consideration may be given to how timely an applicant completed previous projects, including its reporting requirements; how successful it was in outreach, especially to minority- and woman-owned businesses; the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of the property; and its cooperation in allowing OPRHP to complete inspections and other follow-up actions.

 Local Stewardship Planning

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is pleased to announce funding for projects that will implement priorities of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda - to provide benefits of a vital estuary ecosystem: clean water; resilient communities; the sustainability of Estuary fish, wildlife, and habitats; conservation of natural scenery; and enhanced access, river education, and recreational opportunities. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) anticipates approximately $750,000 in available funding for Local Stewardship Planning projects for plans, feasibility studies, assessments, inventories, design and permitting, and the development of regionally-applicable guidance documents or handbooks to help communities improve infrastructure and protect water resources and habitat. Funding for this grant opportunity is provided by the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. Projects must implement objectives of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda.

Funding

The minimum grant amount is $10,500. The maximum grant amount is $75,000. 

Hudson River Estuary Program

Since 1999, DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program has offered grants to municipalities and non-profits located within the Estuary Watershed Boundaries (PDF) to help communities improve water quality, adapt to climate change, enhance environmental education, and advance stewardship of habitat and natural resources. This funding helps partners implement priorities outlines in the Hudson River Estuary Grants Program implements priorities outlined in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025. To date, the program has awarded 664 grants totaling more than $30,548,053 with funding from New York State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

Local Stewardship Planning (NY)

This RFA is designed to help local organizations and communities advance four categories of projects and programs through planning, feasibility studies, and/or design:

• Creating climate vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans, and strategies for communities in the Hudson River estuary watershed
• Planning for Hudson River access site improvements
• Planning for conservation of natural resources
• Watershed-Based Stewardship, studies, Planning, restoration, and management 

Funding

Approximately $700,000 is available for Local Stewardship Planning. The minimum award amount is $10,500 and the maximum award amount is $75,000.

$1 million in new competitive grant funding is now available through two separate Requests for Applications (RFAs): Local Stewardship Planning and River Education. This funding will help communities in the Hudson River estuary watershed improve climate resilience, advance stewardship of natural resources, and enhance environmental education. These grants are funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and administered by DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program.

Office of Environmental Justice

The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) offers competitive grants to support and empower communities as they develop and implement solutions that significantly address environmental issues, harms, and health hazards, build community consensus, set priorities, and improve public outreach and education.

Community Impact Grants

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce funding for projects that will implement state assistance funding through the Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant program to not-for-profit corporation (NFP) community-based organizations for projects that address exposure of communities to multiple environmental harms and risks (“projects”).

Green Resiliency Grant

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) will offer grants for certain projects that improve water quality and mitigate the effects of extreme weather through the Green Resiliency Grant (GRG) program. This grant funding is made available, in part, through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (Bond Act).

GRG grants are awarded on a competitive basis to transformative projects that enhance the resilience of stormwater infrastructure across New York State (NYS). Eligible projects must utilize green infrastructure (GI) stormwater management practices (SMPs) and/or nature-based solutions to manage combined and/or sanitary sewer overflows and/or mitigate risks associated with extreme weather events. Projects must not begin construction before notification of award and must commence construction before posted deadline.

Disadvantaged communities will receive no less than 35 percent of the benefit from this funding.

Eligible Projects

Funding

GRG may fund up to 90 percent of eligible project costs with grants ranging from a minimum of $1 million to a maximum of $10 million per project. GRG projects must be capable of capturing, treating, or increasing the time of concentration for a minimum of 2,500 cubic feet of stormwater per 90th-percentile rainfall event within a clearly defined drainage area that contributes to a specific water quality or quantity concern. Projects must demonstrate a concentrated impact on a singular drainage system. Proposals combining multiple, unconnected drainage areas should be submitted as separate applications.

Funding will be provided to projects to the extent that funds are available based on the evaluation criteria, including the specific proposed practices, water quality impacts of the project, and financial need of the municipality. EFC, in its sole discretion, may fund all or a portion of an eligible project and will determine the percentage amount available for any project. A local match for the balance of the estimated project cost is required.

Park & Trail Partnership Grants

The Park and Trail Partnership Grants is a $2 million capacity-building matching grants program funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The program is designed to:

• Enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.
• Increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, and volunteer and fundraising capabilities of not-for-profit organizations that promote, maintain, and support New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.
• Promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails, greenways and public lands.

Capacity and Organizational Effectiveness Grants

Capacity and Organizational Effectiveness Grants strengthen the capacity and expertise of organizations that support New York State parks, trails, historic sites, and public lands, or a partnership involving more than one such organization, in order to aid them in fulfilling their mission and to improve their reach, effectiveness, and impact.

Examples of projects include, but are not limited to:

• Development of a multi-year strategic plan or major fundraising/capital or marketing campaign plan.
• Board/staff training and development, including facilitated retreats.
• Website and email newsletter design and development, graphic design, and printing and distribution of digital or print brochures, newsletters and other promotional materials.
• Efforts to expand the organization’s membership and broaden the diversity of support for the organization.
• Software to improve fundraising/development/donor relations, bookkeeping, or recordkeeping. Grant funds may cover initial software purchase or licensing, not license renewal.
• Development and implementation of activities that will provide a future ongoing revenue source.
• Development and implementation of a volunteer program.
• Development of partnerships to promote new or strengthen existing collaboration with more than one organization and/or local government to increase public support for and/or participation in the planning, development, promotion or stewardship of the public resource.
• Hiring of temporary contractors, staff or interns to support the organization’s capacity-building work.
• Hiring of a consultant or implementing a training program to enhance staff, board, and/or programmatic diversity within the organization
• Shared consultant services between more than one eligible organization.

One-year grants up to $100,000; a 10 percent match of the total project budget is required, up to 50 percent of which may be in-kind. Fifty percent of award is disbursed at contract signing; remainder disbursed after submission of satisfactory six-month progress report.

Park & Trail Partnership Grants

The Park and Trail Partnership Grants is a $2 million capacity-building matching grants program funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The program is designed to:

• Enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.
• Increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, and volunteer and fundraising capabilities of not-for-profit organizations that promote, maintain, and support New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.
• Promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails, greenways and public lands.

Step-Up Grants

Step-up Grants assist organizations with the administrative and legal fees needed to secure 501(c)(3) status, along with the costs associated with completing a consultant-facilitated organizational assessment and resulting plan(s).

Grants up to $20,000; a $500 match is required. Cash or in-kind. Award disbursed at contract signing.