About the Fund

The Puget Sound Grassroots Grants Program is intended for smaller, mostly volunteer-driven groups that are working on water quality issues, and might not have past experience in applying for foundation grants. Applicants in the Puget Sound area whose annual income/expenses are below $100,000 are strongly encouraged to apply to the Grassroots Fund. Grassroots Grants will range from $1,000 – $10,000. After receiving a grant, all Grassroots Fund grantees will also become eligible for supplemental organizational capacity-building assistance, including scholarships to attend trainings related to accounting, fundraising, planning, board development, communications, media, database development and similar topics. Click here to read the story of the settlement that led to this Fund’s creation.

If your group is over $100,000 in income/expenses, then your group maybe eligible for larger grant from the Puget Sound Stewardship & Mitigation Fund. Click here for more information.

Deadlines

• Spring 2015 Applications due March 2, 2015
• Fall 2015 Applications due August 1, 2015

Eligibility and Priorities

To be eligible for a Puget Sound Grassroots Grant, the applicant and project must meet the following criteria:

• Projects Supported: The project must be designed to improve (or prevent degradation) of the water quality of Puget Sound. Preference will be given to projects that directly relate to Elliott Bay or Central Puget Sound and their related watersheds.
• Applicant requirements: The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project, including experience in successfully conducting similar or otherwise related work in the past.
• In addition to 501(c)(3) organizations or those fiscally-sponsored by a 501(c)(3), and governmental or tribal entities, the Grassroots Fund also accepts proposals from unincorporated associations such as neighborhood groups, school clubs, and other largely volunteer-driven organizations that may lack formal recognition of non-profit tax status.
• Frequency of Applying: Organizations whose proposals are rejected may re-apply after one year. Organizations that are funded may re-apply after one year if their evaluation form has been submitted and accepted.
• Duration of Support: Most grant are for a one year period. Since one of the goals of the Puget Sound Grassroots Fund is to support the development and creation of small, new nonprofit groups, after three years of funding, groups must wait two years before reapplying.

Click here to check the full eligibility requirements and to see examples of eligible projects.

HOW TO APPLY

Please read these instructions carefully and follow them step by step. If you have any questions, please contact us by email or phone. Please check the eligibility requirements before completing the application, and review the hints we have compiled for applicants.

Click here to download the Puget Sound Grassroots Grants Program Budget Template.

Click Here to complete the online application.

What Happens Next: 

We will acknowledge the receipt of your applications once it is submitted. If you do not receive this confirmation, please contact us. Applications are reviewed by staff and by a volunteer funding board. We will contact you if we have any questions or if we need more information. The funding board usually meets 6 – 7 weeks after the application deadline. Notices of the funding decisions are sent within a week of the board meeting. If your application is successful, you will have a check in hand 6 to 8 weeks after the deadline date.

Apply for Training Scholarships

Grantees are encouraged to increase their effectiveness by expanding their organizational and administrative skill through a training scholarship program.

Grant Reporting Instructions

If your group is awarded a grant, you must provide a final grant report within one year of receiving the money, or before your group can receive additional funding. Click here for the grant reporting instructions.

Funding Board Members

The Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund is advised by a local funding board of individuals with deep knowledge of Puget Sound issues. Click here to read the member bios.

Puget Sound Grassroots Grantees

Click here for a list of our Fall 2013 grantees.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Tim Little, Executive Director
Email: tlittle[AT]rosefdn.org (please replace AT with @)