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CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST

Chesapeake Bay Trust

Contact information:
60 West Street, Suite 405
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: (410) 974-2941
Fax: (410) 269-0387

Website: http://www.cbtrust.org/site/c.miJPKXPCJnH/b.5368633/k.BDEA/Home.htm

Type of foundation: The Trust is supported by purchases of the Treasure the Chesapeake license plates, the Chesapeake Bay Fund tax check-off option on the Maryland State income tax form, donations from individuals, and partnerships with government agencies and corporations.

Types of grants: Project

Description: The Chesapeake Bay Trust is the only nonprofit, grant-making organization dedicated to sparking on-the-ground change for the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in Maryland. The Trust achieves its goal by making grants for environmental education, demonstration-based restoration and community engagement activities. The Trust runs 10 different grant programs, of which the most applicable to public media are:

  • Outreach and Community Engagement Grant Program: The Trust provides support for projects designed to increase public understanding of watershed challenges, build ownership of local watersheds, engage more individuals and organizations in stewardship practices and projects, and expand the base of citizen support necessary to advance the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The program supports projects in one of two tracks: 1) Behavior Change —projects that aim to change citizen behaviors in an effort to improve citizen stewardship of the bay watershed and its resources; and 2) Awareness — projects that aim to measurably increase citizen awareness and knowledge of issues and challenges in restoration of the bay watershed and its resources. Behavior Change grants range up to $35,000 and Awareness grants range up to $15,000.
  • Environmental Education: The Trust awards a small number of grants to expand and enhance Bay environmental education programs for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students in Maryland. Grants range up to $50,000.
  • Mini-Grants: The Trust awards grants of up to $5,000 to support activities at schools and non-profit organizations that help promote awareness of and participation in the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

Sample grants:

  • $23,749 to Pickering Environmental Center for environmental education.
  • $15,500 to J.C. Parks Elementary School for environmental education. $13,563 to Parks & People Foundation for outreach and community awareness.
  • $13,000 to MPT (Maryland Public Television) Foundation for outreach and community awareness.
  • $11,370 to Trout Unlimited for outreach and community awareness.
  • $10,000 to Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States for outreach and community awareness.
  • $6,400 to Assateage Coastal Trust for outreach and community awareness.

Fit for public broadcasting: The Trust is clearly interested in informing and engaging communities around key environmental issues. Public media are well positioned to drive awareness of issues through on-air and online content. The Trust is interested in projects that expand the audience for key environmental issues and also that involve underrepresented groups. Public media outlets may be candidates for Environmental Education grants, especially if they produce content designed for use with children and youth. The Trust puts high priority on engaging the community; public media outlets may be able to demonstrate capacity for innovative engagement with diverse populations. The Trust also prioritizes projects that engage multiple community partners as a way of leveraging impact.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations; faith-based organizations; community associations; service, youth, and civic groups; municipal, county, regional, state, and federal public agencies; soil/water conservation districts and resource conservation and development councils; forestry boards and tributary teams; and public and independent higher educational institutions. Projects must be focused on Maryland.

Deadline: The various grant programs have different deadlines. The application deadline for the Outreach and Community Engagement grants program is July 6, 2012. The application window for the Environmental Education grants program will open in the fall. Information should become available in late summer. The Trust runs three deadlines for the Mini-Grants program (two in summer and one in winter).

How to apply: Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Trust staff to discuss proposals prior to the deadline. Contact program grant manager Kacey Wetzel at (410) 974-2941, ext. 104 or kwetzel@cbtrust.org. Applications are submitted online. Detailed guidelines are available from this page.

In reviewing proposals, the Trust will look for:

  • Committed partnerships that provide funding, technical assistance, or other in-kind services to support the successful implementation of the project.
  • Engagement with the community. Partnerships with agencies, schools, churches, non-profits, and other groups in the community that leverage impact and broaden the base of support are strongly encouraged.
  • Connections to other existing community watershed stewardship efforts, such as school-related projects, restoration projects, and volunteer projects. Applicants should identify other complementary or related efforts in their watersheds. For a list of Trust-funded projects in the area, applicants are encouraged to reference the recently funded projects map.
  • Engaging new audiences that are not already involved in or familiar with your message.
  • Involvement of underrepresented groups.

Giving range: Outreach and Community Engagement grants range from $5,000 – $15,000 for awareness projects. Environmental Education grants range up to $50,000. Mini-grants are up to $5,000.

Assets: $9,616,298 (year ending June 2011)

Total giving: $5.2 million in 2011