Deadline: 15-Aug-20
The Rose Foundation has announced a call for proposals for the California Wildlands Grassroots Fund to support the heroic efforts of activists to preserve California’s wildlands.
California is blessed with tremendous natural beauty, biological diversity and economic opportunity. Yet, the remaining wildland heritage is in jeopardy from poorly managed growth and development. Californians have long recognized the importance of preserving the spectacular and precious wildlands.
Cal Wildlands supports conservationists advocating for the permanent protection, including restoration and stewardship, of intact wildlands on both public and private lands to help preserve California’s wilderness and native biological diversity. Cal Wildlands defines “wildlands” as natural habitats, privately or publicly owned, that are (or have the potential to be) permanently preserved through legislation or deed restrictions, and are on a scale necessary to support significant native plant and animal life. Though many of grantees’ projects are in rural areas, they may also support projects near urban or suburban settings, provided they feature connectivity to larger protected areas and/or are located along critical wildlife corridors.
Efforts to advance wildlands and open space protection through county general plans and other local planning mechanisms may be eligible for funding. Cal Wildlands also supports policy advocacy, litigation and regulatory watchdogging at the local, state and federal levels if the project objective is to protect wildlands.
Funding Priorities
- Requests for discrete, project-specific support in which both the site and strategy are concrete and specific, e.g., saving the River Styx from hydroelectric development by getting stakeholders and community members to a hearing in Sacramento.
- Geographic or issue areas that have not received significant financial support in the past, including rural communities and other regions without easy access to financial and political support.
- Community-based advocacy and organizing efforts in which the campaign/project is steered by affected community members and interest groups.
- Effort is predominantly driven and staffed by volunteers.
- Project will establish or combat a critical precedent that will influence other wildlands protection efforts.
- Innovative strategies.
- Project outreach and organizing target non-traditional stakeholders and interest groups
Funding Information
- Typical grants range between $2,500-$6,000.
- Maximum grant is $7,500.
- If your organization’s actual annual income and expenses are $30,000 or less, they strongly encourage you to request a grant of $5000 or less.
- If your organization’s actual annual income and expenses are between $50,000-$150,000, you may request up to $7,500.
- Organizations seeking the maximum grant size of $7,500 must be able to articulate a clear project and budget that justifies the full grant.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply to the California Wildlands Grassroots Fund, you must be able to answer YES to the following eligibility requirements/questions:
- Are you and your organization based in California? If you think your organization meets the intent of this requirement even though you or your organization’s mailing address are located outside California, please explain why your organization qualifies for funding. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Were your organization’s actual annual expenses $150,000 or less last year? Was your actual annual income $150,000 or less last year?
- Does your organization have a 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service, or is it a sponsored project of a 501(c)(3) organization?
- If you are an individual, are you affiliated with a 501(c)(3) organization?
- Is your funding request $7,500 or less?
- If you have received a grant from Cal Wildlands in the past, has it been 12 months since you last applied?
- If you have received a grant from Cal Wildlands in the past, have you reported on your previous grant?
If you answer NO to any of these questions, you will not qualify for a grant from the California Wildlands Grassroots Fund.
For more information, visit https://rosefdn.org/calwildlands