Deadline: 8-Mar-21
The Office of Sustainability is offering funding assistance to government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions (e.g., schools, school/college districts, state university systems, etc.) through the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot – Compost) Grants Program.
The 4Rs Grants Program’s objective is to divert waste from being sent to the landfill by financially supporting eligible entities create and implement projects in San Mateo County that focus on the 4Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot.
Funding Information
The program offers two tiers of funding:
- Mini Grant: The Mini Grant (for funding requests from $2,000 to $5,000) is available to support and fund small projects that will educate and increase awareness around the 4Rs – including reducing waste, increasing recycling, increasing or implementing composting, and increasing reuse. The Mini Grant is designed to serve a variety of potential applicants who need access to small amounts of funding for a limited time and for a specific purpose.
- Mega Grant: The Mega Grant (for funding requests up to $25,000) is available for qualified entities to help initiate or expand innovative programs that promote reuse, waste reduction, recycling, and composting or education about these environmental issues throughout San Mateo County (county-wide focus).
Examples of Grant Projects
- Classroom workshops, trainings, or activities by nonprofits.
- Community members collecting food scraps to compost using buckets provided by Fresh Approach.
- School garden start-up funding, which includes funding for garden structures such as sheds and garden beds constructed with salvaged lumber.
- Fixit Clinics or other reuse/repair projects.
- Food waste reduction and reuse programs.
- Materials associated with expanding/implementing a campus/facility-wide recycling, reuse or waste reduction program.
- Environmental educational field trips to waste or recycling facilities, museums, etc.
- Books, materials and equipment, which will be utilized by teachers and students over the years.
Eligibility Criteria
- An application may be submitted by a government agency, a public or non-profit educational institution (e.g., school, school/college district, state university system, etc.), or a non-profit organization that is located in San Mateo County and/or that serves communities in San Mateo County.
For more information, visit https://www.smcsustainability.org/waste-reduction/4rs-grants-program/