Deadline: 1-Jun-21
The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County is seeking applications for the Land Conservation Fund Grants Program to preserve and protect important conservation and recreation areas throughout Delaware County or those owned by Delaware County organizations.
The Land Conservation Fund grant program was created to meet the mission of The Community Foundation to exercise leadership in directing resources to enhance the quality of life for residents of Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana.
Grants from this program are restricted to assist non-profit organizations in Delaware County in either purchasing of land for conservation/preservation of natural areas (Conservation Track) and/or the development of active recreational areas through a conservation/preservation lens (Recreation Track). The lands supported through this grant program must be accessible to the general public and located in Delaware County or owned by a nonprofit organization based in Delaware County.
- Natural areas are broadly defined as land composed of a wide range of natural communities that supports a rich diversity of animal and plant species typically threatened by urbanization or agricultural expansion. Human use is limited to the experience of the natural communities of the land.
- Recreational areas through a conservation/preservation lens are broadly defined as land designed, constructed, designated, or used for public outdoor human recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, walking, jogging, biking, etc. For more information about eligible activities, contact the Program Officer.
- All lands supported by the Land Conservation Fund grant program must be open to the general public. Natural areas and agricultural land must be perpetually protected with a conservation easement.
- The use of a consultant may be available for organizations pursuing funding from the Land Conservation Fund. Interested organizations should contact the Program Officer.
The Foundation operates without discrimination as to age, race, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or that perceived as a disability in the consideration of grant requests. Likewise, the Foundation does not knowingly support programs that negatively discriminate based on the aforementioned factors.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Community Foundation accepts applications quarterly which are reviewed by a volunteer advisory committee that make recommendations to the Board of Directors for final approval.
- Grants are awarded from the Land Conservation Fund of The Community Foundation. Grants are generally awarded to 501c3 organizations and may also be awarded to units of government or schools.
- Requests are awarded in a range of amounts. Grant funds may be used for the cost of land acquisition and/or project soft costs (ie, closing costs, appraisals, etc.), for the demolition of deteriorating, unsafe structures, or the construction of a public access point such as a parking lot to enhance the safe public use of the land. Additionally, funds may support equipment or structures integral to a recreational area. Grant funds cannot be used for stewardship or staff.
- Grant funds cannot be used for the purchase of sporting or recreational equipment or structures such as standard playground equipment, goal posts, bases, courts, etc. In most cases, funds cannot be used for the removal or remediation of hazardous substances. If a suspected hazard has been remediated, the applicant must show remediation to Indiana Department of Environmental Management recreation standards/limits or provide a letter of comfort with the application if a hazard is or was present at the time of acquisition.
For more information, visit https://www.cfmdin.org/land-conservation-fund-grants