Public Lands Program Capacity Building Grants
- Ten (10) small grants of $1,000
- Deadline: December 1, 2009
- Download application (.doc)
- Have a question? Read the frequently asked questions (FAQ).
- View the grant winners
Communities across America are rediscovering the benefits of service and volunteerism. Many are focusing that spirit on their local public lands. This presents a tremendous benefit for communities. However it also creates a challenge to the public lands stewards who are not always equipped to deal with a large volunteer effort. Fortunately, there is a wealth of nonprofits committed to working alongside these stewards, helping them keep their lands clean, their volunteers engaged and the public informed.
These nonprofit support groups, known as “Friends Groups,” can be invaluable to the public lands they serve. While dedicated and passionate, they are often underfunded and understaffed. NEEF wants to unleash their potential and help strengthen these organizations to enable them to do more to connect their communities to the land. The National Environmental Education Foundation’s Public Lands Program (PLP) Capacity Building Grants are intended to do just that.
PLP is a new program, borne out of 16 years of experience working with public lands through National Public Lands Day (NPLD). Each year on NPLD, thousands of volunteers come out to care for our nation’s public lands. Often it is a Friends Group organizing the event for a specific site. The Public Lands Program will provide online training resources, networking opportunities between public lands managers and Friends Groups, and small grants to increase the capacity of Friends Groups to recruit volunteers and involve local communities.
The Public Lands Program Capacity Building Grants are designed to provide funding to strengthen the organizational effectiveness of community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits whose mission is focused on serving a public lands site in the United States. Capacity Building can take many forms, including, but not limited to, strategic planning, marketing, volunteer development, leadership capacity (board or executive), improved fundraising, assessments or staff training.
Ten (10) small grants of $1,000 each will be awarded to community-based Friends Groups who meet the grant eligibility requirements and make the best case for how the funds will build their capacity to better serve their local public lands.
Applications are due on December 1, 2009.
If you are a nonprofit serving a public lands site and need help going to your next level of effectiveness, we hope you will apply!
Other Public Lands Program Grants
Public Lands Program Roanoke Watershed Grants
- Three (3) small grants of $2,000 - $4,000
- Deadline: March 1, 2009
- Download application (.doc)
- More information
Public Lands Program Capacity Building Grants
- Ten (10) small grants of $1,000
- Deadline: December 1, 2009
