Search Through Water Grants in Pennsylvania in the U.S.

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a unique federal-state partnership providing social and economic support for a 13-state region stretching along the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi, including western North Carolina.

Established by the United States Congress in 1965, when Appalachia was considered "a region apart" from the rest of the nation, ARC has worked to bring Appalachia's 26 million people into America's economic mainstream.

Area Development Program

ARC’s Area Development program relies on a flexible “bottom up” approach to economic development, empowering Appalachian communities to work with their state governments to design impactful investment opportunities supporting our mission and investment priorities.

Within the scope of our Strategic Plan, ARC’s Area Development program makes investments in two general areas: critical infrastructure and business and workforce development. Critical infrastructure investments mainly include water and wastewater systems, transportation networks, broadband, and other projects anchoring regional economic development. Business and workforce investments primarily focus on entrepreneurship, worker training and education, food systems, leadership, and other human capital development.

ARC Strategic Plan

A comprehensive strategic planning process involving federal, state, and local officials and citizens resulted in, Appalachia Envisioned: A New Era of Opportunity – ARC Strategic Plan 2022-2026, which focuses investments under these five general goals:

• Building Appalachian Businesses:
  • Strengthen and diversify the region’s economy through inclusive economic development strategies and investments in entrepreneurship and business development
• Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem
  • Expand and strengthen community systems (education, healthcare, housing, childcare, and others) that help Appalachians obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance along a financially sustaining career pathway.
• Building Appalachia’s Infrastructure
  • Ensure that the residents and businesses of Appalachia have access to reliable, affordable, resilient, and energy efficient utilities and infrastructure in order to successfully live and work in the region.
• Building Regional Culture and Tourism:
  • Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by preserving and investing in the region’s local, cultural heritage, and natural assets.
• Building Community Leaders and Capacity:
  • Invest in the capacity of local leaders, organizations, and communities to address local challenges by providing technical assistance and support to access resources, engage partners, identify strategies and tactics, and conduct effective planning and project execution.

About the Foundation

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds (FPW) is a grant-making foundation that invests in local efforts to protect healthy natural streams, clean-up and restore degraded streams, and advocate for Pennsylvania’s extensive water resources.

Pennsylvania’s rivers are expansive, covering 86,000 miles. Some are pristine. Others are highly polluted.

Through our grantmaking, we assist conservation organizations in achieving their restoration goals, while ensuring enough clean water for future generations of Pennsylvania children, families and wildlife.

Our ethos is to protect the best of the best and restore the worst of the worst.

Since our inception in 1995, we have provided matching funds to leverage local, state, and federal resources. We provide private matching grant funds to both small and large groups throughout most of the Commonwealth (we currently do not service areas east of the Susquehanna River).

Convening Grants

These small grants are intended to support project collaboration, and special needs. Convening grants are not subject to LOIs, are accepted on a revolving basis, and cannot exceed $2,000.

Appalachian Regional Commission

The Appalachian Region, as defined in ARC’s authorizing legislation, is a 205,000-square-mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Each year in Pennsylvania, ARC provides funding for numerous projects in the Appalachian Region in a wide range of program areas. The projects funded in the program areas create thousands of new jobs, improve local water and sewer systems, increase school readiness, expand access to health care, assist local communities with strategic planning and provide technical and managerial assistance to emerging businesses.

Uses

The state will look favorably at projects where there are new business start-ups and job creation and at those projects that will enhance the community and economic vitality of the state. When approving a particular project, the state will also consider whether the project will improve, on a continuing rather than a temporary basis, the opportunities for employment and the average level of income or economic and social development of the area served by the project.

Funding

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awards grants and contracts from funds appropriated to the Commission annually by Congress. ARC funds are leveraged with other federal, state and local money to provide a broad array of small business assistance to the Appalachian region. The priorities for investment of ARC resources are determined essentially to accomplish five long-term strategic goals for Pennsylvania’s economy:

• GOAL 1: Economic Opportunities
  • Invest in entrepreneurial and business development strategies that strengthen Appalachia’s economy.
• GOAL 2: Ready Workforce
  • Increase the education, knowledge, skills, and health of residents to work and succeed in Appalachia.
• GOAL 3: Critical Infrastructure
  • Invest in critical infrastructure—especially broadband; transportation (including the Appalachian Development Highway System); and water/wastewater systems.
• GOAL 4: Natural and Cultural Assets
  • Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by leveraging the Region’s natural and cultural heritage assets.
• GOAL 5: Leadership and Community Capacity
  • Build the capacity and skills of current and next-generation leaders and organizations to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development.

Pennsylvania Environmental Council's Mini-Grant Programs

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and our supporting organization the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) currently administer eight mini-grant programs. Each program is unique with specific goals and objectives but all focus on one or more of the following areas of interest: land and water trails; outdoor recreation; resource protection and conservation; and community engagement.

Pennsylvania Water Trails Program Mini-Grants

PEC works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the National Park Service to facilitate the PA Water Trails Program. With 29 designated trails across the Commonwealth, the Program brings technical and financial assistance and to the diverse network.

Grants are available on a competitive basis for projects that implement the PA Water Trail Program’s eight guiding principles:

• Partnership, Stewardship, Volunteerism, Education, Conservation, Community Vitality, Diversity, and Wellness & Well-being.

Proposed projects must demonstrate that they will advance program goals such as creating recreational opportunities for all Pennsylvanians on water trails; developing trails that support sustainable use of natural resources; increasing and improving inclusive access to Pennsylvania Water Trails for all; and connecting water trails to land trails or to other culturally significant community assets.

Applicants can request up to $7,000 and project proposals must include a 1:1 match (cash, in-kind, or a combination).

Our Mission

Quest for the Best® strives for a better tomorrow by providing funds and/or services to those who are committed to strengthening the common good of mankind.

The legal professionals of Quest for the Best® provide business and transactional legal services to organizations recognized as tax exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code serving the disadvantaged and enhancing the quality of life in Pennsylvania.

We do not undertake litigation, criminal or intellectual property matters. Each request is reviewed individually, and Quest for the Best® reserves the right to determine if we will accept a matter after review of all facts provided.

Grantmaking Criteria

We consider requests for funding that meet the overall mission and goals of Quest for the Best.

These include initiatives that:

• Include plans for long-term sustainability
• Have secured co-funding
• Support specific programs, projects and equipment

Focus

We focus on the following areas: police and nurse training, education for underserved communities, funding for wildlife and environmental conservation, and humanitarianism, specifically clean water, homelessness, hunger, and support for those suffering through the opioid epidemic.

Advancing Sustainable Communities

Since 2002, we’ve been empowering local communities with sustainability solutions. Through nonprofit partnerships and sustainability grants, we’ve delivered projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.

Mission

"Choose wisely. It's a small planet." That's how it all started back in 1997, when a crew of like-minded folks in Vermont set out on a mission: to use the power of consumer choice and help change the way power is made. Over 20 years later, we’re proud to be a carbon-neutral company that continues to keep sustainability at the heart of everything we do. Join us as we help make the planet a cleaner, greener place to be.

Sustainability Grants

If you’re a U.S.-based nonprofit looking to make a positive environmental impact and you want access to a network of sustainability experts, it’s time to plant seeds of sustainability in your community.

Eligible Sustainability Initiatives

In addition to supporting rooftop solar installation projects, we've expanded our mission to support other sustainability initiatives that include but aren't limited to:

• Clean Transportation
• Education and Awareness
• Energy Efficiency
• Renewable Energy
• Resource Conservation
• Sustainable Agriculture

We’re open to new, creative ideas from nonprofit organizations interested in utilizing and promoting sustainability initiatives.

Selection Process - Impact Measurement

We measure environmental, social and financial impacts:

• Environmental impact calculations consider how the project is more impactful for the planet than the alternative.
• Examples: CO2 prevented (renewable versus traditional generation methods), miles not driven, gallons of water conserved, green space created, pounds of waste diverted.
• Social impact calculations assess how the project will elicit change in the community.
• Examples: results of an email or newsletter story about the project, number of students impacted through curriculum, attendee numbers on sustainability tours.
• Financial impact calculations assess how the project will save your organization money, and how those savings can further support your mission.
• Example: a solar array would save your organization $2,000 per year, resulting in 100 more meals distributed to the homeless or 30 more children receiving free tuition.

Award Amounts

Donation amounts depend on a number of factors, including evaluation of the environmental, social, and financial impact of the donation. Past donations have ranged from $50,000 to $400,000.

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

Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority

PENNVEST provides low-interest loans and grants for new construction or for improvements to publicly or privately-owned drinking water, storm water or sewage treatment facilities, as well as non-point source pollution prevention best management practices. PENNVEST also provides loan funding to remediate brownfields sites, as well as loan funding to individual homeowners for repair or replacement of their malfunctioning on-lot septic system or first time connection to a public sewer collection system. The Advance Funding Program provides low-interest loans to provide funding for the design and engineering needed to improve water and wastewater management systems.

Funding

In no case shall total assistance to any single project total more than $11,000,000, or $20,000,000 if a project serves more than one municipality, except that the board by a vote of at least nine members may authorize loans in excess of $20,000,000 to comprehensive projects providing or proposing consolidated service to a region encompassing all or parts of four or more municipalities. Total assistance to a storm water project shall not exceed $1,000 for each resident of the municipality or municipalities being served by the project or $10,000,000, whichever is less.

Mission

The Joseph Robert Foundation is a small Pennsylvania private foundation whose primary purposes are to provide financial support for the arts, animal welfare, and the environment. Our main geographic focus is the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., but in special cases we may provide support to organizations located outside this area.

We are interested in awarding grants to non-profit organizations addressing significant issues of interest to our Board. We are especially interested in supporting smaller, local organizations that have fewer resources and more limited objectives, although we may also help fund regional or national organizations having specific program or project objectives. Both general operating and project/program support is available.

We welcome first-time grant seekers, support applications from prior grant recipients, and reach out to find eligible organizations that share our goals and interests.

What We Fund

Arts

We believe strongly in the power of the arts to transform both individuals and communities and are committed to reinforcing the importance of the arts as a vital component of our culture. In challenging political times such as these, the role of the arts is too often overlooked, or even denigrated. We want to play our part in asserting the value of the arts by encouraging artists to take risks, explore new possibilities, and reach out to both new and familiar audiences. By nurturing creativity and innovative thinking, we can help artists make an impact on the world around them.

While we are supportive of all forms of creative expression, the interests of the Foundation are primarily in the visual arts. We will also look favorably upon interdisciplinary projects/programs with a visual arts component, or an arts program/project that would further the goals of either of the other of the Foundation’s areas of interest.

Animal Welfare

The plight and circumstances of animals, whether domestic, farm or wild, are areas of deep concern to the Foundation. We are interested in rescuing, protecting, rehabilitating, and providing homes and sanctuaries for the non-human inhabitants of this planet. We are especially interested in helping organizations that identify and provide resources for animal populations in underserved communities. We are also interested in helping with programs that train and educate wildlife rehabilitators and other animal rescue workers.

Environment and Sustainable Resources Management

With ever increasing attacks on the environment and environmental protection, it is critically important to protect and preserve our natural resources, open lands, forests, oceans, waterways, watersheds, and green spaces. The Joseph Robert Foundation is primarily interested in supporting smaller, local organizations that can have a direct impact on their communities, whether through education or through sustainability projects. We may also be interested in contributing to larger organizations that provide essential services to protect and safeguard the environment from threats of all natures.

Grant Period

The normal grant period will be one year, starting from the date the award has been granted. When appropriate, grantees may reapply for Joseph Robert Foundation funding upon the submission of a final report at the end of the funding period.

Grant Amount

Most grant awards to organizations will be under $10,000. First-time grant awards will be limited to $5,000 or less, unless there are compelling circumstances. Determination of the grant amount will be made based on organizational and/or program/project budgets, scope of proposal, organizational qualifications, and overall application quality. Grants to individuals will be limited to $2,000 or less, with sources of matching and in-kind funds considered.  

Grant Type

Organizations may apply for general operating (GO) and/or program/project funds, but larger organizations are limited to applying for program/project funding.

Individual applicants may only apply for project funds.

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.

Pennsylvania EQIP Options

• Animal Feeding Operations/Livestock & Poultry Operations
  • Provides funds to help producers implement practices to reduce environmental concerns associated with livestock and poultry operations.
  • Includes manure storage and treatment, barnyard management, erosion and sediment control, nutrient management, feed management.
• Beginning Farmer
  • Producers who have operated a farm for less than ten years may qualify as Beginning Farmers in a fund pool option which only Beginning Farmers can be considered.
• Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP)/Nutrient Management Plan (NMP)
  • Financial assistance is available for developing a CNMP or Nutrient Management Plan.
  • A CNMP is required for a producer to receive NRCS funding for an animal waste storage, treatment or handling practice.
• Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
  • Conservation grants for organizations or individuals designed to stimulate the development and adoption of conservation approaches or technologies that have been studied sufficiently to indicate a likelihood of success and to be candidates for eventual technology transfer.
• Conservation Activity Plans,
  • Including Ag Energy Management, Comprehensive Air Quality Management, Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition, Drainage Water Management, Feed Management, Fish and Wildlife Habitat, Grazing Management, Integrated Pest Management, IPM/Herbicide Resistant Weed Management, Pollinator Habitat, Prescribed Burning Plan.
• Cropland
  • Funding for conservation practices on cropland such as waterways and diversions, as well as for management practices, such as nutrient management, pest management, no-till, and cover crops.
• Forest Management
  • Funding for implementing practices in a Forest Stewardship Plan or other approved Forest Management plan.
• Forest Management Plan
  • Funding for development of a Forest Management Plan.
• Golden-Winged Warbler
  • Funding to develop or improve habitat for golden-winged warbler, a migratory at-risk species for which Pennsylvania provides important habitat, especially young forest habitat that is critical for species survival and restoration.
• Grazing
  • Funding for establishing or improving grazing systems.
• Historically Underserved Producers
  • EQIP has special funding set-asides specifically for Beginning Farmers and for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers. Farmers in these groups plus those qualifying as Limited Resource Farmers also qualify for higher payment rates.
• National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)
  • The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers financial and technical assistance to farmers and forest landowners interested in improving water quality and aquatic habitats in priority watersheds with impaired streams.
• On-Farm Energy Conservation
  • NRCS can provide funding for energy audits to assess the energy consumption from your cooling/heating system, milking/feeding equipment lighting,  pumps and machines located in the production buildings of any agricultural operation. 
  • The information is analyzed to provide recommendations for cost-effective improvements that will reduce energy consumption. 
  • Farmers with approved energy audits can apply for funding to implement energy conserving practices.
• Organic Farming
  • For operations that are either Certified Organic or are Transitioning to Organic Production.
• Seasonal High Tunnels
  • Funding for installing high tunnels and associated supporting practices.
• Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
  • EQIP has special funding set-asides specifically for Producers in groups that have historically been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice.
  • These groups are American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians, Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics.
• Stream Corridor Management
  • Funding for practices to in and along stream corridors, including stream fencing; buffers; streambank erosion control, and fish habitat.

Environmental Education Grants

Each year, Pennsylvania invests in its schools, colleges and universities, county conservation districts, nonprofit organizations and businesses to improve environmental literacy among youth and adults. Administered through DEP, the Environmental Education Grants Program provides funds to support a wide range of environmental education projects including meaningful, hands-on programs for students, teacher training workshops, and community conservation projects for adults.

Priorities

Climate Change

Education projects to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and negative impacts of climate change including floods, changes to groundwater, pests, disease, agricultural disruptions, and potential threats to human health.

Water

Education programs promoting effective ways to reduce non-point source and source water pollution to improve water quality.

Environmental Justice

Education programs designed to empower and engage residents and officials of Environmental Justice communities (as defined by the U.S. Census) in developing meaningful solutions that address local environmental issues and public health concerns.

Grant Award Amounts

The Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education Grants Program provides funding for education projects that foster an understanding of natural world functions and cultivate critical thinking and actions that promote environmental protection and sustainable resource management.

Two types of awards are available for projects addressing the Environmental Education Grants Program Priorities:

Mini Grants of up to $5,000 may be awarded for local (school, county, municipality or other defined area) environmental education projects. Mini-grants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to form project partnerships and include a project match (Cash or In-Kind). 

General Grants: General grants are being offered at two funding levels: 

• General Grants (Level I): From $5,001 up to $30,000 may be awarded for implementation of large-scale, regional or statewide environmental education projects. 
• General Grants (Level II): From $30,001 to $65,000 may be awarded for non-formal environmental education programs designed to widely engage teachers and youth at the county, state and national levels.
• Teachers and students from at least 60 Pennsylvania counties must directly participate in the project.
• Additionally, the project must demonstrate that at least 30% of program participants are members of an Environmental Justice Community .

CNX Foundation Grant

CNX has been part of our Appalachian region for over 155 years, and the pride we have for Appalachian communities is hard to put into words. So we’re putting it into action.

CNX has committed $30 million toward improving our communities and generating long-term, sustainable returns for the region, our industry, and our company. “We are on a mission to change the trajectory of our region and to improve the lives of our neighbors,” said CNX President and CEO Nick DeIuliis. “Our industry is the lifeblood of the regional economy and the foundation of our social fabric. These investments will provide returns for our local communities for years to come. This is what sustainability and ESG mean to CNX".

Mission Statement

CNX Foundation invests tangibly, impactfully, and locally to target urban and rural communities within the Appalachian Basin facing socio-economic challenges. These investments should demonstrate a return to both the targeted community and the advancement of the goals of the Foundation.

Making a Tangible, Impactful, Local Difference

CNX Foundation is committed to meeting CNX’s broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) philosophy by creating tangible, impactful, and local differences within the Appalachian basin. We do so by charting our course to ensure we are able to quantify and measure the visible results for the communities we serve as well as the programs we fund.

Understanding our philosophy starts with understanding the meaning of the tangible, impactful, and local initiatives we support:

• Tangible: We are laser-focused on making a real, measurable, and visible difference in the communities we serve.
• Impactful: We seek to identify true needs within our community so our support will have an immediate and long-lasting impact in helping specific programs within the region meet their goals.
• Local: Our efforts are rooted in supporting communities in our operational footprint so we can foster more opportunities for growth, close to home.

Funding Priorities

• Food Insecurity
  • A lack of consistent access to enough food to support a healthy lifestyle leads to food insecurity, affecting many communities throughout the United States, including our Appalachian region. Factors that contribute to food insecurity are, but are not limited to, housing, wages, health, and social influence. CNX works within these communities to end food insecurity through education, awareness, and access to food pantries, soup kitchens, and more.
• Children's Health and Wellness
  • Habits are developed at a young age and it is challenging to break bad routines without the proper resources. CNX works to provide the children of Western Pennsylvania and surrounding areas in grades K-12 with health and wellness education and resources as a preventative action taken to support future generations, gain understanding, develop healthy lifestyles, and help them reach their maximum potential.
    • Youth Sports and Athletic Groups – We receive a large number of requests to sponsor youth sports and athletic programs. We value the importance of these groups to their communities and, as such, we have designated a specific portion of our annual budget to supporting these groups. In order to qualify for funding, the youth organization must exist in one of our immediate areas of operation.
• Broadband and Information Technology Access
  • Many communities are falling behind due to the lack of technological equity, leading to gaps in economic growth, household income, educational performance, healthcare access, and employment searches. Providing technological and infrastructural resources for education and employment opportunities helps enrich lives and strengthen society.
• Recidivism and Re-entry
  • Life after incarceration is often difficult and discriminatory for individuals attempting to reinvent themselves into society, causing an overwhelming prevalence of homelessness, unemployment, and poverty. CNX Foundation seeks to work with individuals and organizations that understand the challenges these individuals face and can help foster a pathway forward for those previously incarcerated.
• Domestic Abuse Awareness
  • A pattern of behavior that is physically, emotionally, or mentally harmful in any relationship is domestic abuse and is challenging to escape. With survivors at the center of the cause, efforts must be made to move into the future and prevent it through advocacy, awareness, education, and support.
• Opioid Epidemic and Societal Impact
  • Society continues to be harmed by the ever-growing opioid epidemic, causing tens of thousands to suffer and experience effects from addiction. In order to begin to combat rising levels of opioid abuse, education, awareness, and strong preventative actions must be taken by individuals of all ages.
• Career Awareness and Technical/Vocational Training
  • Trade and vocational careers have developed a negative stigma, causing a shortage of employees in vital realms of work. Career awareness paired with technical and vocational training gives the future workforce and incoming employees a better look at the options available allowing them to best meet their interests, skill sets, and society’s needs.
• Water Quality Safety and Awareness
  • Clean water is a vital resource in our local communities and beyond. Research, prevention, policy, and programs should continue to be funded and utilized in order to protect and improve water quality and provide equal access to basic living necessities to future generations.

Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) 

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) is a collaborative effort between the PA Fish & Boat Commission, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds and Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited.

The purpose of the Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) is to provide leadership, coordination, technical assistance, and funding support for the evaluation, conservation and protection of Pennsylvania's coldwater streams. 

While Pennsylvania has over 86,000 miles of streams, only 30% are considered high-quality coldwater fisheries. Of that, less than 2% are designated as highly productive waters that contain naturally reproducing wild trout. The CHP's primary focus is to foster protection and improvement of these streams and their watersheds. 

Goals of the Program

• Foster a greater public understanding of watershed characteristics and how they affect coldwater ecosystems.
• Identify special areas of concern, such as areas with exceptional water quality with high potential for impacts.
• Produce conservation plans that will lead to additional planning or implementation of projects that protect and enhance our coldwater ecosystems.
• Provide technical assistance and financial opportunities to organizations dedicated to protecting coldwater ecosystems.

Two Types of Grants

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) provides two grant opportunities which help to protect and conserve the health of Pennsylvania’s cold-water ecosystems.

The two 18-month grant opportunities are:

Planning Grants – designed to help develop a conservation plan that identifies the threats to the health of local coldwater ecosystems that have naturally reproducing trout as well as the opportunities for habitat restoration and conservation within those watersheds. The information and analysis can be used as a catalyst for more comprehensive planning or for development of watershed improvement projects. The maximum amount awarded for a planning grant is $10,000.

Implementation Grants – designed to provide funding for projects recommended in a completed conservation plan or other approved plan such as a Rivers Conservation Plan. Proposed projects must enhance, conserve, or protect the coldwater stream for which a coldwater conservation plan or similar document was originally completed. The maximum amount awarded for an implementation grant is $25,000.

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership urges watershed associations, conservancies, conservation districts, municipalities, and local chapters of Trout Unlimited to apply.

​Boating Facility Grant Program

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) created the Boating Facility Grant Program to provide grants for the planning, acquisition, development, expansion and rehabilitation of public boating facilities located on the waters of the Commonwealth. The goal of the program is to ensure Pennsylvania’s recreational boaters have the highest quality boating facilities.

Vision and Focus Areas

We commit to creating a vibrant, equitable and just Pittsburgh region that supports everyone – regardless of race, identity or circumstance – to thrive and fulfill their potential.

Under our strategic plan, we strive to strengthen our focus on community and the positive impact that can be achieved through our grantmaking. Our current areas of focus are: Basic Needs, Equity and Social Justice, Arts and Culture, Economic Mobility and Environmental Action. From time to time, we have special grant-making opportunities related to specific regions or to issues such as juvenile justice or senior care. 

The Pittsburgh Foundation is committed to helping the communities we serve become equitable and vibrant places where everyone can thrive. We align our grantmaking with resident’s dreams for themselves, their families and their communities and prioritize support in the five focus areas listed below.

Basic Needs

We seek to improve the stability of low-income people by supporting direct assistance to obtain food, housing, health care, mental health supports, child care, education and employment.

Across our basic needs grantmaking, we are committed to expanding knowledge of, improving access to, and improving coordination among local resources and human services.

• Food Access: We seek to support programs and services that assist low-income individuals and families to obtain enough food.
• Child Care: We seek to ensure equitable access to quality child care.
• Education: We strive to ensure access to high-quality in-class education as well as culturally-responsive,  out-of-school time programs.
• Mental and Physical Health: We aim to support the mental and physical health needs of residents by ensuring access to quality, affordable and culturally responsive services.
• Housing: We seek to support or fill gaps in a county-wide eviction prevention system, and help support those living in transitional housing and/or facing unexpected loss of housing.
• Employment: We seek to support youth and adults who experience significant barriers to employment.

Equity and Social Justice

We seek to support civic participation and community organizing to achieve policy changes.

Our equity and social justice grantmaking places strong emphasis on leadership by individuals who have been directly impacted by systemic injustice, as we believe that they are best positioned to propose solutions that remove barriers that impeded their ability to thrive.

• Civic Participation
  • Voter Engagement: We seek to support the ability of the nonprofit sector to engage historically underrepresented populations and communities that have documented low voter turnout.
  • Access to Information: We seek to support public media  outlets and other platforms that produce professional, regionally focused, fact-based news coverage and information.
• Community-Driven Solutions
  • Protect Basic Needs:  We seek to support grassroots organizations and resident-informed initiatives that address barriers that prevent families from being able to meet their basic needs and thrive.
  • End Mass Incarceration:  We seek to uplift and provide resources for community-led efforts to change policies and practices that result in over-policing and over-incarceration.
  • Youth Justice:  We are interested in supporting intervention and prevention activities that support youth who have any involvement with the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

Environmental Action

We seek to protect the health of our communities and the preservation of our environment.

Our environmental action grantmaking prioritizes support for projects, initiatives and collaborations that center communities in environmental decision-making and amplify the intersectional nature of working to protect the health of our communities and the preservation of our environment. We recognize that environmental issues span beyond geographic borders. While we will continue to prioritize projects serving residents of Allegheny County, we will also consider on a case-by-case basis projects that work across the southwest Pennsylvania 12-county region.

• Equitable Access to Land, Water, and Air: To promote equitable access to land, air and water, we seek to support community-centered conservation and stewardship of natural resources.
• Learning and Action: We seek to address the harms of chronic pollution and mitigate future impacts, translate research into action to protect the health of communities and their environments and support resident voice in environmental decision-making in their communities.

Arts and Culture

We seek to strengthen small-to-mid-sized arts organizations and support individual artists by fostering a diverse, healthy and just arts ecosystem. 

• Small-to-Mid-Sized Arts Organizations: Small and Mid-Size Arts Organizations face disparities in their ability to access resources.
• Support for Careers and Lives of Individual Artists: Through this funding to individual artists, the Foundation hopes that the Pittsburgh region will be exposed to the breadth of human experience and the unparalleled talent the region has to offer.

Economic Mobility

We seek to reduce the wealth gap in Allegheny County.

• Access to Post-Secondary Education: We seek to support programs that enable students to earn college credit while in high school; admissions navigation support and academic and financial counseling; re-engagement strategies for students who have stopped attending school; and supports for non-traditional students.
• Career Advancement: We are interested in supporting organizations that offer technology training with career potential. 
• Entrepreneurship: We are interested in efforts to increase entrepreneurship.
• Homeownership: In 2025, applications for the Homeownership focus area will be by invitation only.

Types of Grants

Recognizing that nonprofits need flexible support that allows them to adapt to changing community needs, we offer applicants the opportunity to apply for two types of grant support:

• Project/Program Support:  Funds are used to develop and/or implement a specific set of programmatic activities. These grants are usually time-bound and aimed at achieving specific goals and milestones.
• General Operating Support: Funds can be used at the discretion of the organization to cover any costs necessary to carry out its mission. This means that the grant award can be used to cover day-to-day activities or ongoing expenses such as administrative salaries, rent and office supplies, etc., as well as for program costs, software and hardware purchases, and professional development

Our Priorities

We will prioritize funding for organizations that reflect one or more of the following:

• Primarily serve communities disproportionately impacted by poverty.
• Have a demonstrated commitment to addressing the historical and present-day impact of social injustices on the specific communities it serves.
• Have an established history in the communities in which it works.
• Are representative of the communities it serves, including but not limited to, leadership and staff who have lived experience in the community issues that it addresses.
• Meaningfully integrate the experience and perspectives of the communities that it serves in the design, implementation, evaluation and/or decision-making process for its strategies and/or programs.

Funding

Generally, grants will be awarded for no more than two years due to limited availability of funds. One-year grants generally range from $10,000 to $75,000. Two-year grants will generally not exceed $150,000.

In limited situations, proposals that align with one or more of our grantmaking focus areas and with grantmaking priorities, and that clearly demonstrate the need and potential impact, may be considered for a larger grant. Organization leaders should have a conversation with a program officer before submitting a request for more than $150,000.

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.

About the Foundation

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds (FPW) is a grant-making foundation that invests in local efforts to protect healthy natural streams, clean-up and restore degraded streams, and advocate for Pennsylvania’s extensive water resources.

Pennsylvania’s rivers are expansive, covering 86,000 miles. Some are pristine. Others are highly polluted.

Through our grantmaking, we assist conservation organizations in achieving their restoration goals, while ensuring enough clean water for future generations of Pennsylvania children, families and wildlife.

Our ethos is to protect the best of the best and restore the worst of the worst.

Since our inception in 1995, we have provided matching funds to leverage local, state, and federal resources. We provide private matching grant funds to both small and large groups throughout most of the Commonwealth (we currently do not service areas east of the Susquehanna River).

The American Water Charitable Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) private foundation, supported by the shareholders of American Water. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees, composed of officers and leaders of American Water or its subsidiaries, review Foundation programs, guidelines, and distribution of funds.

Applications will be accepted in the following states served by American Water, in addition to its Military Service locations: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The Water and Environment Grant Program will be awarded to help fund innovative, community-based projects that:

• improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies
• promote water conservation
• improve equitable access to water-based recreation in underserved communities 

Motorized Trails Grants

Pennsylvania Recreational Trails (PRT) motorized projects. PRT motorized projects include the development, rehabilitation or maintenance of designated routes on land for all types of motorized recreation activities. Funding for projects in this category comes from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and DCNR is the designated state agency to administer this federal program in Pennsylvania. ONLY motorized trail projects applying for PRT funding should be submitted in this category. Match requirements are established at a minimum of 20%.

Project Types for Motorized Trails

Development, Rehabilitation, or Maintenance

Trail Development Projects involve new construction, rehabilitation and/or maintenance of existing land and water motorized trails and motorized trail-related facilities for recreational activities.

Educational Programs

Educational Program Projects involve the development and operation of educational programs that promote safety and environmental protection as those objective related to the use of recreational motorized trails.

Motorized Trail Projects

Motorized trail projects include projects related to trails or trail facilities intended for uses such as:

• Snowmobiling
• Four-wheel driving
• All-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding
• Off-highway motorcycle riding

Passion Grants

Thanks to visionary donors over time, Passion Grants support a broad range of impact areas including human services, the environment, human rights & inclusion, the arts, early child development, and projects in Eastern Lancaster County.

The John J. Snyder Fund is a distinct type of passion grant that supports the preservation of historical buildings. This fund has a separate application form and evaluation criteria

Passion Grant Funds

Human Services

• Grant range $10,000 - $32,000
• For home health or custodial care for people impacted by illness or disability.

• Grant range $10,000 – $27,200
• Dollars from this fund now supplement grants offered by the Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition through its Homelessness Services Joint Funding program. 

Eastern Lancaster County

• Grant range $10,000 - $29,000
• For community projects based in Eastern Lancaster County. Specifically Eastern Lancaster County (ELANCO), Pequea Valley, and Conestoga Valley School Districts

Environment

• Grant range $10,000 – $32,400
• Supports environmental protection, conservation, and education.

Human Rights/Inclusion

• $15,000 available, grant range $7,500 – $15,000
• Supports programs that fight hate and bigotry while promoting social justice.

Visual Arts

:

• $15,000 available, grant range $10,000 - $36,400
• Provides support to visual arts programs in Lancaster County, with a preference given for those that serve underrepresented or underserved groups in our community.

Performing Arts

:

• Grant range $10,000 - $36,400
• Supports performing arts programs in the Lancaster County community, with a preference given for those that serve underrepresented or underserved groups in our community.

Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Children

• Grant range $10,000 – $25,000
• Supports early childhood development from birth to age five.

Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Program

Act 13 of 2012 establishes the Marcellus Legacy Fund and allocates funds to the Commonwealth Financing Authority (the “Authority”) for abandoned mine drainage, abatement, and treatment with the Abandoned Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Program (AMDATP). Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) is one of the largest sources of stream impairment in Pennsylvania. Billions of gallons of AMD impair over 5,500 miles of streams within the Commonwealth.

Uses

Projects which involve the reclamation of Abandoned Mine Well(s), construction of a new AMD site, remediation and repair of existing AMD project sites, operation and maintenance maintaining current AMD remediation sites, establishment of trust fund to ensure ongoing maintenance is achieved, and monitoring of water quality to track or continue to trace non-point source load reductions resulting from AMD remediation projects.

Funding

Grants shall be awarded to eligible applicants for projects that do not exceed $1,000,000. The grant requires a least a 15% match of the total project cost.

PA Fair Fund: Capital Improvement Matching Grants

Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair Act of 1986, funds are made available to agricultural fairs, agricultural youth organizations and statewide organizations with an agricultural mission through the Pennsylvania Fair Fund.

Capital Improvement Matching Grants assist agricultural fairs with resources to build new and maintain existing physical structures on their fairgrounds. 

Guidelines & Uses

Grants may be used for expenses associated with brick and mortar improvements to fairgrounds:

• Construction of new buildings
• Renovation and repair of existing buildings
• Installation and improvement of utilities
• Installation and improvement of fencing
• Installation and improvement of roadways and pathways
• Installation and improvement of stormwater management
• Installation and improvement of public address systems
• Purchase of land

The Clean Water Fund

Lancaster Clean Water Fund serves as a catalyst for increased collaboration to efficiently achieve clean and clear water in Lancaster County by 2040. It provides a unique opportunity to work with landowners, leaders, and communities across the county on education, restoration, and protection projects to improve water quality. Across Lancaster County, clean water is a priority. With the majority of Lancaster County streams and much of our groundwater unhealthy, our community is a priority area for reducing specific pollutants (nutrient and sediment) by 2025 in accordance with Lancaster’s Countywide Action Plan (CAP).

This grant is created and managed with the Lancaster Clean Water Partners to achieve clean and clear local waterways by 2040. 

Community Conservation Grant

The Community Conservation Grant supports education, outreach, and regional engagement projects that improve Lancaster’s water quality through collaboration and creativity. This grant does not fund implementation projects. Projects can range from educational campaigns to art installations to water quality monitoring equipment.

Grant Specifics

• Some project categories include, but are not limited to:
• Art installations that educate the public about water pollution and opportunities
• Water quality monitoring (must include an educational component too)
• Community-led implementation of conservation practices
• Watershed educational campaigns or student projects that involve the community
• Public/private collaboration to encourage students or adults to consider conservation and water-related careers.Projects can range from educational campaigns to art installations to water quality monitoring equipment.
• Match is not required.
• Use the Collaborative Watershed Mapping Tool when applicable to assist with answering application questions.
• Awarded funds will be released to grantees after signing a Grantee Partner Agreement.
• Grantees will be responsible for submitting one report at the end of the grant period which includes a financial report. 

Description

The Lancaster Clean Water Fund serves as a catalyst for increased collaboration to efficiently achieve clean and clear water in Lancaster County by 2040. It provides a unique opportunity to work with landowners, leaders, and communities across the county on education, restoration, and protection projects to improve water quality. Across Lancaster County, clean water is a priority. With the majority of Lancaster County streams and much of our groundwater unhealthy, our community is a priority area for reducing specific pollutants (nutrient and sediment) by 2025 in accordance with Lancaster’s Countywide Action Plan (CAP). 

This grant is created and managed with the Lancaster Clean Water Partners to achieve clean and clear local waterways by 2040. We work with trusted experts in the field to make this grant possible, including Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Economic Development Company of Lancaster County, Lancaster Conservancy, Lancaster County Conservation District, Lancaster Farmland Trust, Local municipalities, and Penn State’s Agriculture and Environment Center.

Small Implementation Grant

The Clean Water Implementation Small Grant supports collaborative, watershed-scale restoration projects that encourages diverse audiences to improve Lancaster’s water quality at a rapid pace.

Grant Specifics

• Projects can range from agricultural conservation and stormwater practices to riparian buffer plantings to removal of impervious surfaces.
• Match is not required.
• Up to 8% of awarded funds can cover administrative costs.
• If a buffer will be planted as part of the project, a maintenance plan is required. Funds are available for the establishment care of those buffers.
• Funds can be used for design and engineering.
• Use the Collaborative Watershed Mapping Tool when applicable to assist with answering application questions.
• Awarded funds will be released to grantees after signing a Grantee Partner Agreement.
• Grantees will be responsible for submitting one report at the end of the grant period which includes a financial report. 

There is an often quoted parable that tells of two people fishing downstream who are startled to see a person floating down the river, struggling for life. Working together, the fisher folk pull the person to safety but shortly after they notice another person crying for help. Again, they pull the person to safety. Other community members hear what is happening and rush to help. As the fisher folk tire, volunteers take their place, and the community works together all day and all night to safely pull more and more people from the river. The next morning the community members have a new idea—we need to go upstream and find out why so many people are falling in the water. Upon walking upstream, the community members find that people are drawn to the edge of a cliff to look at the river and its beauty. Unfortunately, there is no safe way to do this and many of them fall. The community members return and report the number of people who have fallen into the river due to the lack of a protective barrier on the cliff. In response, the community builds a wall behind which people may safely view the water. Some still fall, but there are far fewer.

Funding Priorities

• The Greater Harrisburg Community Foundation (GHCF) UPstream grant opportunity seeks to improve our area communities by supporting existing or new “upstream” systems, interventions, programs, or projects that attempt to create positive social change by addressing a problem at its source rather than managing its “downstream” symptoms.
• This grant opportunity is open to singular or collective nonprofit organizations whose proposals will serve the GHCF service area of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, and/or Perry Counties and the Dillsburg Area of Northern York County.
• GHCF UPstream is available to organizations of all sizes, budgets, and reaches.
• The number of grant awards will be dependent upon the quantity of qualified applicants and funds sought.

GHCF UPstream welcomes creative and strategic solutions that seek to address the source of systemic issues within the communities you serve. Applicants may seek support for ANY “upstream” project, program, or intervention that best meets the needs of the population to be served. Examples of upstream projects include, but are not limited to: access to quality education, access to a safe and healthy environment; life skills training; materials that increase accessibility or improve an individual’s self-sufficiency; availability of reliable and safe transportation that improves an individual or group’s ability to grow, learn, or address a key need; animal spay/neuter clinics; early health screenings; job training and placement; support of basic needs that work to support an individual or group’s ability to grow, learn, or address a key need. The principal focus of GHCF UPstream is the support of any grant application that best presents upstream solutions to any area of community need. In addition, GHCF is empowered by a range of special funds which serve to collectively strengthen our area communities through shared themes and also welcomes upstream applications that address:

• Education: Early childhood education; education & development programs for children & youth; educational programs serving adults
• Environment & Parks: Environmental stewardship; horticulture & the arts; health & environment; park beautification & improvement
• Health & Wellness: Health & human services; programs and projects focusing upon: cancer awareness and/or research, dental care for those in need, HIV & AIDS, individuals with debilitating or terminal illness, Individuals with intellectual disabilities, prevention of head and/or spinal cord injury, purchasing of devices that improve accessibility
• Homelessness & Hunger: Programs & projects addressing homelessness & hunger
• Mental Health: Counseling for children with terminally ill family members; guidance, counseling, or programming that includes guidance and/or counseling for youths; programs and projects that address mental health
• Seniors: Programs & projects serving older adults
• Communities of Focus: Programs and projects that benefit residents of Millersburg, a borough of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Disaster relief & human services that serve the communities of Lebanon City, PA and Cressona, PA. Projects to enhance Camp Hill Borough parks provided by youth organizations such as Scout programs or other youth organizations; programs & projects that focus upon or nurture access to early childhood education within Camp Hill.
• Please note: each community of focus is supported by special funds and parameters established by caring community members and is specific to the respective community.

Attention Prospective Arts Applicants! – The Greater Harrisburg Community Foundation recognizes the artistic, cultural, and economic value of the arts and is pleased to offer funding opportunities for the arts through The Arts for All Partnership, a collaboration between the Greater Harrisburg Community Foundation and the Cultural Enrichment Fund. This unique collaborative funding initiative aims to improve the efficiency of arts grant funding and increase the overall impact of grant funding for arts programming in our communities. Prospective grant applicants whose project is centered upon the arts and access to the arts, will be best served by seeking funding support through The Arts for All Partnership rather than GHCF Upstream.

ABOUT ROOTED IN JUSTICE

“Rooted in Justice” is a funding program designed to help amplify youth voices and actions in the environmental and food justice movements.  Rooted in Justice supports community-based organizations and groups that manage established, youth-led, urban greening programs within a justice framework as a core part of their work, with two-year grants of $25,000/year.  

Rooted in Justice recognizes the importance and undeniable right of every young person to have the ability to develop their own relationship with the environment, be it through growing food, spending time with nature, creating community green spaces, or becoming environmental stewards. Rooted in Justice also honors the power and possibilities that arise when young people collectively work to be change-makers in their communities.

Rooted in Justice supports organizations, groups, collectives, and programs that work with young people between the ages of 12 to 20 in youth-led programming for communities or cultures which have historically or currently experience:

• A lack of access to land or nature;
• Agricultural oppression and/or neglect;
• Food apartheid; and/or
• Other forms of injustice based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics and disability.

Rooted in Justice awards a small number of grants each year with applications due in the fall and decisions made the following spring. Final grant decisions are recommended to the Cedar Tree board via a participatory grantmaking process with outside reviewers who have experience in youth-led urban greening, as well as food or climate justice programming. So far the program has awarded multi-year grants to 21 organizations and one-time grants to 10 additional organizations since 2021. 

Definitions

Rooted in Justice grants support organizations or programs that include all four of the elements described below: social justice, youth-led, urban greening, and cohort-based youth work. We articulate our understanding of those terms below in an effort to provide a guide for prospective organizations to use in determining whether their program is a good fit. However as we continue our work towards questioning and dismantling some of our preconceived notions, we recognize that these are not finite definitions and encourage prospective applicants who still feel their work may be a good fit to describe in their proposals why this is the case.  

Social Justice-Based Programs

Programs dedicated to creating equitable outcomes for communities directly affected by different aspects of injustice by:

• Sharing and redistributing power and resources;
• Amplifying voices and leadership;
• Tackling root problems through ongoing engagement and collaboration to find solutions, organize against oppression of all kinds and create mechanisms for change; and
• Developing a critical analysis with youth and community members.

Youth-Led

The development of youth leadership skills is a core part of programs funded by Rooted in Justice. Young people have the opportunity to play a role in the planning and decision-making for their program and may help shape the internal workings of the organization. Examples of youth-led programs include programs where participants: 

• Managing a portion of their programming budget;
• Co-facilitating program activities, meetings and gatherings;
• Shape their own programming and/or organizational strategic planning;
• Have regular and end-of-program opportunities to provide program feedback and evaluation; and
• Have opportunities for personal and/or professional growth within the program and organization.

Urban Greening

For the purpose of this grant we define “urban greening” as any activity that creates a mutually beneficial relationship between city dwellers and their environments. Programs that are a strong fit for Rooted in Justice will have many opportunities for youth to be outdoors.  Project settings can include, but are not limited to: 

• Urban and aquaponic farms
• Greenhouses and rooftop gardens
• Community gardens, green spaces, and rain gardens
• Composting sites
• Land conservation efforts
• Urban forests
• River or other water restoration  

Cohort-Based Youth Works

Rooted in Justice looks to fund organizations that build community with cohorts of youth through intentional, recurring programming. This grant is intended to support programs that offer youth significant learning and leadership opportunities as a group and as individuals. Priority will be given to organizations that have program infrastructure that supports a cohort of youth over time.  Drop-in programming, one-time conferences, or individual internships are not a good fit for Rooted in Justice.  

Youth Budgeting

As part of grant proposal, all Rooted in Justice grantees must share a plan to allocate a portion of the grant funds for youth participants to manage. What do we mean by this? We ask applicants to specifically set aside some amount of grant funds for youth to allocate to priorities of their choosing.  For example, youth participants can use their allocated funding to:

• Fund an entrepreneurial endeavor;
• Design the brand or swag for their group;
• Hire a speaker or outside expert to teach a new skill;
• Purchase supplies for a community-based art project;
• Host a celebration for their families, friends and neighbors;
• Pay for transportation to programming, special events, or conferences; and/or
• Any other youth-led activity the group may find beneficial.

Use of Funds

Rooted in Justice funding must be used for project support of existing youth led, urban greening, social justice work and associated general operating expenses. Operating expenses can include anything from program costs like staff salaries and youth stipends to organizational sustainability needs like major equipment purchases and leadership/staff training. If your organization’s entire mission is youth led, urban greening, social justice work, the Rooted in Justice grant can be general support. 

Funding

Two Year Grant

• Rooted in Justice Grant awards are two-year grants of $25,000 per year.
• After the initial two year grant, grantees may be eligible for a third year of funding at the same or lower level through a simple renewal process.
• In the 2025-2026 grant cycle, the Cedar Tree Foundation expects to support 4 organizations with multi-year grant awards.

Funding for Professional Development

• Each Rooted in Justice grantee organization also has access to an additional $6,000 to support professional development opportunities identified by each organization.  Half of these funds must be used to directly support the professional development of youth. 
• Rooted in Justice grantees can request reimbursement from this professional development fund to attend conferences, hire consultants, purchase equipment or software that increases organizational capacity, or participate in any activities that strengthen youth programming or justice practice of program providers in support of their youth development programming. The funds set aside for youth professional development can be used for youth exchanges or youth participation in conferences and other professional development opportunities directly for youth.  

Community Professional Development Calls

• Cedar Tree works with grantee partners to assess their professional development interests and facilitates on-line gatherings of staff or youth for skill shares, trainings, and networking opportunities.
• These network calls will likely happen 2-3 times per year. 

Overview

Pennsylvania has two coastal areas: 112 miles of coastline along the Delaware Estuary and 77 miles of coastline along Lake Erie:

• Delaware Estuary – Lies within Bucks, Philadelphia and Delaware counties. The coastal zone also contains islands, marshes and shorelands of tributary streams that are tidally influenced. The combined facilities of the Delaware Estuary comprise the largest freshwater port in the world. 
• Lake Erie – Located within Erie County and includes the shorelines of major tributaries. The coastal zone also extends to the middle of the lake, to the boundary with Canada and inland an average of 1.4 miles. The Lake also contains Presque Isle Bay and is one of the state ports for international shipping. 

In order to safeguard these resources from future adverse impacts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), developed a unified approach to act as trustee to conserve and maintain the natural resources of Pennsylvania’s coastal regions known as the Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP). The CZMP was finalized and approved in September 1980, under the authority of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. DEP’s Compacts and Commissions Office manages the Coastal Resources Management (CRM) Program in the two defined coastal areas within Pennsylvania.

As a result of the adopted CZMP, annual grants are provided to DEP by the Office for Coastal Management (OCM), NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Grant awards are used to implement the CRM Program and provide a grant-in-aid program if sufficient funds permit. Monies are dispersed to fund projects within the coastal zone and coastal non-point pollution boundaries, such as planning, design, engineering, education, outreach, construction, acquisition and research as authorized by Section 306A of the CZMA, as amended. 

Coastal Zone Focus Areas 

Program policies were developed to further the goals and objectives of the CRM Program: 

Primary Focus Areas 

• Coastal Hazard Areas: Includes Lake Erie bluff recession, shoreline erosion, wave action and coastal flooding, including flooding from projected sea level rise and storm surge.
• Fisheries Management: Involves activities supporting ecologically and economically important fisheries and their habitats.
• Wetlands: Involves the protection, enhancement, and creation of coastal wetlands to maintain benefits for wildlife habitat, flood control, water quality, water flow stabilization and environmental diversity (biodiversity).
• Public access for recreation: : Includes efforts to meet the public need for boating, fishing, birding, walking, picnicking, sightseeing and other recreational pursuits associated with waterfronts.
• Historic sites and structures: Preservation, restoration and enhancement of coastally significant historic sites and structures within the coastal zones.
• Port activities: Development and enhancement of coastal port infrastructure.
• Energy facilities siting: Proper siting of energy-producing facilities to protect fragile coastal ecosystems.
• Intergovernmental coordination: Includes intergovernmental efforts to protect Pennsylvania’s coastal resources, especially the quality of air and water.
• Public involvement: Increase awareness, provide information and create opportunities for public participation in a variety of coastal issues.
• Ocean resources/biodiversity:  Includes efforts directed toward the research, study, and/or management of non-native (invasive) aquatic or terrestrial plant and/or animal species.

Activities that protect coastal waters from nonpoint source pollution resulting from marinas and recreational boating, urban activities, hydro-modifications, agriculture and other nonpoint sources are eligible for funding.

Project Eligibility

CZ grants may be applied to a wide variety of studies, plans, designs, research, acquisition and construction projects pertaining to one or more of the established program policies, which guide the competitive selection process.

Examples of some typical project proposals are as follows: 

• Efforts to educate the public regarding issues of environmental protection, non-point source water pollution, protection of coastal resources or efforts to promote such action to the public. 
• Preparation or revision of local comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, sub-division regulations and special ordinances containing provisions in support of CRM Program policies. 
• Plans, studies or other projects to improve port facilities and infrastructure, future use of coastal ports or providing public access for recreational use of docks, piers and wharves. 
• Improving resource management and environmental protection programs at the state or local level, including disseminating information or providing technical assistance to coastal communities and the public. 
• Plans, studies or projects that enhance economic development within the coastal zone, including activities to help economically revitalize under-used coastal and/or port facilities.
• Studies for interpretation and enhancement of coastal features and habitats and restoration and preservation of historic coastal sites and structures. 
• Land acquisition of coastal properties, including real estate appraisals, to improve or provide for public recreational access or open-space preservation.
• Preparation of designs, engineering plans and specifications for coastal recreational sites owned or legally controlled by a ‘government’ applicant. 
• Low-cost (defined by NOAA as no more than a total project cost of $400,000) construction projects for recreational access facilities or for rehabilitating significant historic buildings and structures located within the designated coastal zones. *Note: rehabilitation work on buildings and structures should be supported by a structural feasibility study, architectural assessment, engineering plans or similar planning products included as part of the application. If awarded, grantee must wait for NEPA approval from NOAA and notification from DEP. 

A $75,000 grant limit is generally imposed on any single project. Applicants with proposals requesting more than $75,000 in grant funding should discuss funding alternatives with CRMP staff before submitting an application.

Project Requirements

• Be environmentally sound and consistent with current state, regional, county and local ordinances and plans. 
• Obtain applicable federal, state and local permits and/or approvals for all construction projects before any construction may commence.
• Obtain concurrence of any municipal government whose approval is required for project implementation, via letter of support or resolution, if the applicant is a non-governmental agency.
• Benefit the public at large and may not be for the purpose of private gain, benefit or profits.
• Be made available and useful to all members of the general public; therefore cannot be for exclusive use of any particular group of persons.
• Be accessible to persons in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
• Be constructed on public property and open to the public.