Funding Opportunities Tom Leigh, Director of Programs and Partnerships MML Annual Conference, June 30th, 2015

Where does the money come from?

Grant Programs Overview Outreach / Restoration / Engagement  Outreach & Restoration Grant  Outdoor Health  Living Shorelines Grant  Non-Tidal Wetland  Green Street, Green Jobs, Green Towns  Pioneer  Watershed Assistance Grant / WIP  Mini-grants – Community Engagement & Restoration Education (K-12)  Mini-grants  Environmental Education County Specific  Prince George’s County Rain Check Rebate  Prince George’s County Stormwater Stewardship  Montgomery County Watershed Restoration and Outreach (incl. Gaithersburg)  Anne Arundel County Watershed Restoration  Anne Arundel County Forestry (Mini and Standard)  Charles County Forestry and Stormwater Chesapeake Conservation Corps – youth job training program Capacity Building Initiative – 3yr support to increase capacity of local orgs.

Outreach & Restoration Grant Program Deadline:Once a year, December 2015 Funding Levels: Awareness Track: Up to $15,000 Behavior Change Track: Up to $50,000 Restoration Track: Up to $25,000 Restoration & Outreach: Up to $75,000 Eligible Applicants: Non-profits, public agencies, watershed organizations, schools, etc.

Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Grant Program Deadline: Once a year, March 2016 Funding Level: Up to $250,000 Planning, Design, & Implementation

Watershed Assistance Grant Program* Deadline: Once a year September, 2015 Funding Level: Up to $75,000 for Planning & Design Also referred to as the Local Milestone Program to support County WIP initiatives

County Specific Programs Anne Arundel County Forestry (full scale and mini scale) Deadline: Large = March 2016; Mini = rolling Funding Level: Up to $200,000 * * Implement cost-effective reforestation and greening projects in the County to increase tree canopy and/or implement demonstration-scale buffer projects. Charles County Forestry Deadline: RollingFunding Level: Up to $20,000 * Goal is to implement reforestation projects that increase tree canopy, create forest habitat, and improve water quality in local watersheds and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.

County Specific Programs Prince George’s County Stormwater & Rain Check Rebate Deadline: July 15, 2015 Funding Level: Up to $200,000 Montgomery County Stormwater (incl. Gaithersburg) Deadline: December, 2015 Funding Level: Up to $50,000 Anne Arundel County Stormwater Deadline: December 2015Funding Level: Up to $200,000 Charles County Stormwater Deadline: December 2015Funding Level: TBD Baltimore City Stormwater Deadline: December 2015Funding Level: TBD

Chesapeake Conservation Corps

Lifecycle of a Grant Advertisement – 3 months Grant application – online with firm deadline Review by Technical Committee Awards announced 2 months after deadline No reimbursement funding Signed award letter and contingencies trigger the award check (large grants phased, but most up front) Final Report

Tips and Hints for Success! Contact Trust staff early ( understand the review criteria) Contact Trust staff early ( understand the review criteria) Check deadlines & eligibility criteria Check deadlines & eligibility criteria * Apply early for rolling programs Follow the on-line instructions closely Follow the on-line instructions closely TMI is OK TMI is OK * Especially for budget items Letters of Support are important (custom are best) Letters of Support are important (custom are best) * Helpful to establish non-traditional partners Describe outcomes not just outputs Describe outcomes not just outputs Be sure budgets and narrative are supportive (justify) Be sure budgets and narrative are supportive (justify)

List out your tasks List out your tasks List out the costs related to each task List out the costs related to each task Consider match Consider match Consider in-kind Consider in-kind Justify, justify, justify Justify, justify, justify Developing a Budget

Consider the Reviewers Reviewers are: Experts in their respective fields Experts in their respective fields A.k.a.: Informed strangers A.k.a.: Informed strangers Make their job easier: Well organized, clearly written application Well organized, clearly written application Avoid things that irritate reviewers: Not following instructions: i.e. exceeding the page limits, putting information in the wrong section, spelling, grammar, and math errors, etc. Avoid things that irritate reviewers: Not following instructions: i.e. exceeding the page limits, putting information in the wrong section, spelling, grammar, and math errors, etc.

Questions?