Deadline: 17-May-21
The Santa Barbara Foundation is seeking applications for its Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails Grant Program to support conservation, environment, and public trails projects across Santa Barbara County, with a preference given to those on the South Coast of Santa Barbara County from Point Conception to the Ventura County line and the Santa Ynez Valley.
In recent years, the Santa Barbara Foundation’s investments in the environment have included development of a countywide Food Action Plan and Network, Conservation Blueprint, funding to preserve places such as the Point Sal Reserve and North Campus Open Space, and capacity building for nonprofit organizations.
With their funding partners, the Foundation is offering grants to increase environmental sustainability, land conservation, habitat restoration, public trails, and ecosystem health.
Focus Areas
Funding can be used for operating expenses, or new or existing projects that meet demonstrated need. In summary, funded organizations will:
- carry out projects to address conservation, environment and public trails.
- be well-managed, financially viable, and operate effective projects.
- have developed short-term and long-term strategies for addressing identified organizational needs.
Priorities
- Priority will be given to organizations that are engaged in one or more of the following:
- Preserving and ensuring equitable access to the region’s natural resources and trail systems;
- Community-based restoration projects in wetlands and streams, coastal areas, grasslands, woodlands and other natural areas;
- Early stage investigation such as appraisal fees, environmental due diligence, and title research, or closing costs for land conservation efforts;
- Piloting or expanding projects that demonstrate best practices in conservation;
- A preference to organizations whose focus is on the South Coast of Santa Barbara County from Point Conception to the Ventura County line and the Santa Ynez Valley.
- The strongest projects will:
- Create or expand partnerships, networks and collaborations for greater efficiencies, better delivery of programs, or fresh approaches to solve problems or address needs, gaps, or opportunities.
- Incorporate a community involvement, awareness or education element.
- Align with or be a part of a larger plan or strategy such as Santa Barbara County’s Conservation Blueprint, Food Action Plan, Santa Barbara Area Coastal Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment (SBA CEVA), Coastal Trail Alignment Study, etc.
Funding Information
- The maximum award for Conservation, Environment and Public Trails grants is $25,000.
Grant Limitations
Grants in the Conservation, Environment and Public Trails Grant program areas are not intended for:
- Direct purchase of land or easements that have raised less than 90% of funds required
- Direct support to government agencies or private landowners (grantees must be a 501(c)(3) organization and serve as the primary project lead agency; public or private entities may be part of a collaboration)
- Endowment
- Advocacy and lobbying activities
Eligibility Criteria
- Grants are available to organizations providing programming in Santa Barbara County
- Organizations must be certified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or use a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) tax status. Applications that do not contain a valid EIN (tax ID) number will not be considered.
For more information, visit https://www.sbfoundation.org/nonprofits/grant-opportunities/