Best Fisheries Grants in Vermont

The Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Research Projects, funded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program, aim to enhance water quality and ecological health in the Lake Champlain Basin. These grants support research initiatives aligned with the Opportunities for Action management plan, facilitating community-driven stewardship. Projects may include implementation studies or pilot programs to assess the efficacy of conservation efforts. The program emphasizes collaboration among diverse stakeholders to ensure sustainable management of the basin's natural resources.

The Steven Berkeley Marine Conservation Fellowship, established by the American Fisheries Society in 2007, honors a dedicated fisheries scientist. This $15,000 award supports graduate students engaged in thesis research on marine conservation topics. Applicants must be enrolled in a North American university's M.S. or Ph.D. program and be AFS members in good standing. The fellowship encourages innovative research addressing various conservation issues, not limited to fisheries.

Fisheries and related organizations in Vermont seeking to implement electronic monitoring, reporting, or data system modernization may be eligible for this national program, with awards of US $200,000 - US $500,000. Focused on fisheries data technologies, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation supports projects in U.S. state and federal fisheries, including commercial, recreational, and for-hire sectors.

Watershed and conservation organizations restoring trout and salmon habitat can receive matching funds for physical stream and fisheries improvements across North America, including Vermont. Grants from Trout and Salmon Foundation help fisheries projects that enhance reproduction, growth, and survival, with awards up to US $5,000 per project and preference for on-the-ground restoration work.

Focused on fisheries and aquatic connectivity, nonprofits and other partners in Vermont can seek National Fish Passage Program support for projects like dam removals, culvert replacements, and fishway installations. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, awards range from US $500 - US $2,000,000 for science-based habitat restoration nationwide.

Nonprofits and agencies planning on-the-ground fish habitat enhancement projects in reservoirs can apply for up to US $100,000 to address large-scale habitat issues and improve fisheries. With a mission to strengthen reservoir ecosystems, Friends of Reservoirs provides Vermont fisheries projects and other U.S. efforts with support for best management practices and strong conservation partnerships.

U.S. Civil Society Microgrants

We seek to support projects that engage Pulitzer Center journalism to amplify the voices of affected communities, foster public debate, and drive meaningful audience engagement with our focus areas.

Audience engagement has been at the core of the Pulitzer Center’s work since its founding in 2006. In addition to grants and fellowships that facilitate breakthrough journalism, we support initiatives that connect the reporting to the audiences that need it the most. Our goal is pursuing real-world impact: engaging and mobilizing communities, increasing understanding and connection, and influencing decisions locally and globally. 

This microgrant aims to support civil society organizations and groups in the United States to utilize Pulitzer Center-supported reporting as part of projects that contribute to a more informed and empowered community.

 For this grant cycle, we are seeking grant proposals for civic engagement projects to be completed by early December 2026 that focus on one of the following issues:

• Climate and the environment, with a focus on U.S fisheries and fishing communities or climate and labor
• Information and Artificial Intelligence
• Global health, with specific focus on mental well-being or connections to the Global South

The objective is to use Pulitzer Center-supported journalism as the inspiration for the projects supported by this civil society microgrant. By leveraging this reporting, we expect to build projects that amplify the voices of affected communities, foster public debate, and drive meaningful audience engagement that will lead to impactful conversations in communities in the U.S. and beyond.

Grants range from US$2,000 to US$4,000. Project proposals can support existing activities or support the launch of new activities.