Grant Opportunities: January 2015

Our Community Impact division has two new grant opportunities for community organizations and nonprofits. The deadline to apply is Thursday, February 12, 2015.

1. Opening the Outdoors: Connecting San Diegans to Nature

We’re inviting local community organizations and nonprofits to apply for the 2015 Opening the Outdoors grant cycle.

The goal of this year’s grant cycle is to advance community-driven efforts that develop an interconnected network of natural areas, gathering places and trails across the county so that the outdoors is easily accessible from any San Diegan’s doorstep.

Project partnerships and collaborations are encouraged.

There is approximately $450,000 in available funding to award. Applicants may request up to $50,000. Approximately $100,000 of this funding must be used for capital needs and $12,000 for campership. Proposals involving collaboration with staff time of three or more organizations may request up to $75,000 combined.

This online application has two components:

• An online section
• A 5-page written section

Review the grant guidelines here for more information.

The deadline for submitting completed applications is 12:00 p.m. (PST) on Thursday, February 12, 2015.

2. Conservation Catalyst Fund

We’re currently accepting proposals for our 2015 Conservation Catalyst Fund loans program.

With local conservation organizations and Our Greater San Diego Vision in mind, the Conservation Catalyst Fund takes a big picture approach to conserve, connect and maintain open spaces and parklands. The fund supports land acquisition and habitat management for jointly determined priority projects that leverage additional public funding, support science-driven adaptive restoration and management activities, and encourage policy initiatives that benefit the preservation of wild lands.

The fund is collaborative, strategic and pivotal, and provides zero-interest loans to achieve conservation goals. Current collaborators include Conservation Biology Institute, The Conservation Fund, Endangered Habitats League, The San Diego Zoological Society, and The Trust for Public Land.

There is approximately $60,000 in available loan funding to award. This application has two components: an online section and a 6-page written section.

Read the grant guidelines here for more information.

The deadline for submitting completed applications is 12:00 p.m. (PST) on Thursday, February 12, 2015.

Grant Seekers Office Hours

Every Thursday (1/22, 1/29 and 2/5), we will hold ‘Office Hours’ from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. to answer any questions you may have about these environment grant opportunities.

To sign up for office hours, please contact Emily Guevara at emilyg@sdfoundation.org or 619-814-1345.