Purpose of the Fund
The California Watershed Protection Fund supports projects designed to benefit the water quality of many of California’s watersheds and their ecosystems. In this Spring 2019 grants round, we are considering projects in specific watersheds and their ecosystems: Please see Eligibility Criteria (below) for a detailed list.
Due to the volume of applicants, we anticipate that this funding process will be very competitive and most grants awarded will be in the $7,500 – $25,000 range. While the Rose Foundation welcomes proposals from small grassroots conservation and environmental justice groups, please understand that all applicants must be able to demonstrate a strong track record of community-based water quality stewardship. If your organization is new or small (under $100,000 annual expenses), we urge you to consider applying to our Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund instead. For information about the Grassroots Fund, please click here.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a California Watershed Protection Fund grant, the project must meet the following criteria:
- Projects Supported must be designed to benefit the water quality of the following watersheds and their ecosystems:
- Sacramento – San Joaquin River Watershed and Bay Delta, including Morrison Creek and Suisun Bay, with projects located within the Delta or in San Joaquin County highly encouraged
- Humboldt and Arcadia Bay, and Mad River Watershed
- Southern California Bight and Los Angeles area waterbodies, including Santa Ana River, and San Gabriel River
- Russian River and its tributaries, Laguna de Santa Rosa, and local watersheds in Mendocino County
- There are very limited funds for San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz area, Lombardi Creek, and Central Coast area water bodies
- Applicant requirements: Projects with substantial community participation and/or support are encouraged. The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project, including experience in successfully conducting similar or otherwise related work in the past.
- Non-profit Status: The applicant must be a 501(c)3 organization, fiscally-sponsored by a 501(c)3, or a governmental or tribal entity.
- Environmental Justice: While this is not specifically an environmental justice fund, supporting environmental and social justice is a core organizational value that guides all of our grantmaking. Projects that advance environmental justice as well as water quality will receive preference.
- Frequency of Applying: Organizations whose proposals are rejected may re-apply after one year. Organizations that are funded may re-apply after one year if their evaluation form has been submitted and accepted.
- Duration of Support: Most grants are for a one year period; however, you do not have to ask for a one year grant. It is permitted to request a shorter or longer grant period if that is what you need.
California Watershed Protection Fund Grants are not recommended for very small organizations or first-time grant seekers.
For more information regarding Eligibility Requirements, please click here.
Application Process
To apply, applicants must complete a 2-step process using our online grant system. The first step is to submit a letter of inquiry. Any group that meets the eligibility criteria is welcome to submit a letter of inquiry. We expect to receive a large number of letters of inquiry. Because of limited funding, only a limited number of applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Step 1) Letter of Inquiry
All interested applicants must submit an online letter of inquiry as an initial step. This letter allows Rose Foundation to determine if the proposal appears to be a good fit for the California Watershed Protection Fund.
If you are new to our online grants software, you must first register with your organization’s name, tax ID number, website address, telephone numbers, email address, mailing address, contact person’s name, and position. Your email address will be your logon ID and you will set up a password.
The letter of inquiry is an introduction to the applicant and the proposed project. There will be some questions regarding the applicant’s history, and questions about the project itself. Please use this opportunity to give us an idea of who you are and what you want to do.
Step 2) Application
If invited, applicants should submit the full application. This is where the applicant should provide detailed descriptions of the project, its outcomes, strategies, organizational and project financials, etc. Applicants will also have the opportunity to attach references and publications.
Deadlines and Submittal Process
Letters of Inquiry
Submit your Letter of Inquiry to Rose Foundation’s online grant application portal at http://www.rosefdn.org/onlineapplication
The deadline for letters of inquiry is: Ferbaury 15, 2019 at 5PM PST.
Full Proposals
After review of all Letters of Inquiry, a limited number of applicants will be invited to submit Full Proposals. If a full proposal is invited, it will be due: April 19, 2019 at 5PM PST.
For More Information
Laura Fernandez, Program Officer
lfernandez@rosefdn.org or 510-658-0702 x304
Tim Little, Executive Director
tlittle@rosefdn.org or 510-658-0702 x301
Please visit Rose Foundation’s website: http://rosefdn.org/california-watershed-protection-fund
Phote Credit: Grantee Humboldt Baykeeper
Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment
