Chesapeake Bay Trust Mini Grants

The Mini Grants program awards up to $5,000 for projects that address one or more of the Trust's grant making priorities. The majority of Mini Grant applications are submitted by schools for field experiences and on-the ground student service projects. However, organizations and agencies may also submit grants for small projects and public awareness initiatives. Groups working throughout Maryland's watersheds (Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Coastal Bays, and Youghiogheny River) may apply for funding through this program. Mini Grants are also available for education projects within the District of Columbia, please see below for more details. 

Important: Please note that the Trust must receive all proposals at least six weeks prior to the start of the proposed project, and cannot make exceptions to this policy nor provide reimbursement funding for already completed projects.
 

IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR 2009-2010 (Fiscal Year 2010) MINI GRANT PROGRAM

The Trust will consider Mini Grant Requests for our 2009-2010 Program (Fiscal Year 2010) until our funding allocation for this program is exhausted for the fiscal year.  Applicants for spring 2010 projects are encouraged to submit proposals as early as possible.

The Trust has refined some of our guidelines for Mini Grant applications. Changes include:

1) Schoolyard Habitat Project Requests: Requests for school yard habitat restoration projects should be on the order of $2,000 or less. For those seeking funding for field trip components and schoolyard habitat components within the same grant application: Budgets for schoolyard habitat elements should not exceed $2,000. Schools seeking to undertake restoration projects on their grounds on a scale larger than $2,000 are encouraged to contact the Trust. As always, the Trust may provide only partial funding for a request.

2) Field Trip Requests: The Trust continues to require 50% match for transportation, program fees, and substitute costs for field trips. However, schools are encouraged to exceed that level of match, if possible, by fully exploring match opportunities prior to submitting a request. In an effort to provide resources for as many Maryland students as possible to participate in meaningful watershed experiences, we hope our grantees can leverage as many matching funds and resources as possible.

3) Field Trip and Schoolyard Habitat Requests: On the front page of the revised Mini Grant application, please provide the cost per student (Total Request divided by Number of Students Engaged) in the new space provided.

Washington, D.C. Mini Grants

In partnership with the NOAA BWET mini grants program, the Trust is pleased to announce availability of Mini Grants for up to $5,000 to provide students in Washington D.C. with meaningful watershed education experiences.  Funds are available for Chesapeake Bay field experiences such as boat trips, student action projects that restore and protect the environment, schoolyard habitat projects, and Chesapeake Bay-related teacher training opportunities.  Please review the DC Request for proposal before submitting the mini grant application. Mini Grant Applications can be found on the forms page and are due 6 weeks before the activity.  For more information, please call 410.974.2941, Ext. 104.

You may submit a request to the Mini Grants program at any time during the year. The review process for the Mini Grant Program is 6 weeks.  Requests will not be considered when the application is submitted without sufficient time to review the application.

Additional Funding Sources

For Anne Arundel county groups interested in environmental projects that connect people to place, such as native plant gardens, rain gardens, bioretention, tree planting, stream buffers, and shoreline projects, consider also seeking matching funding from Unity Gardens. Unity Gardens provides grants of up to $1000 for projects that involve volunteer participation and provide an environmental and/or community benefit.  Find out more information at www.unitygardens.org.