ROSE Grant Program

The ROSE Grant, offered by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Water Foundation Board, is designed to support initiatives that improve local water quality around Estero Island, Florida. The acronym ROSE stands for Research, Outreach, Stewardship, and Education, reflecting the program’s emphasis on scientific research, public awareness, educational outreach, and long-term ecological stewardship. The ROSE Grant program is managed by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Water Foundation, a local organization dedicated to promoting the health of the region’s aquatic ecosystems through education and advocacy. The purpose of the ROSE Grant is to fund competitive proposals that clearly demonstrate measurable benefits to both residents and visitors of Fort Myers Beach. Priority is given to projects that enhance scientific understanding of water quality, increase community engagement, and develop or implement educational and outreach activities that encourage environmental stewardship. Grants are awarded twice annually, during the spring and fall cycles, with individual awards typically under $5,000. While larger amounts may be approved on a case-by-case basis, any request exceeding $5,000 must receive prior approval from the FMBCoC Water Board. Applicants must submit a structured proposal including a title page with a summary, a detailed budget, and a project narrative that outlines the research question, goals and objectives, project design and timeline, anticipated results, literature cited, and a justification for all budget items. The project narrative must not exceed five pages and should align with the mission of the ROSE Program by demonstrating relevance to Estero Island and Estero Bay. Projects should be achievable within twelve months of the award date and must not include requests for personal salary or wages. Funds may not be used for indirect costs or overhead. The Spring 2026 grant cycle is currently accepting applications, with a submission deadline of April 10, 2026. Applications will be reviewed by the FMBCoC Water Foundation Board Committee, and awards will be announced by June. Selected projects may be implemented immediately upon award notice. Upon project completion, recipients are required to submit a 3–5 page final report describing outcomes and contributions to local water stewardship. A seminar presentation to the Board of Directors is also expected. Evaluation criteria include the clarity of the project’s rationale and goals, the scientific and educational relevance to Fort Myers Beach, feasibility of the timeline, quality of expected outcomes, and the project's potential to foster future stewardship and research. Previous awardees of the Fall 2025 cycle include Florida Gulf Coast University’s Vester Field Station and The Mound House, which received funding for projects focused on water quality community engagement and public water gauge maintenance, respectively. For additional information or technical assistance, applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Mike Parsons at [email protected] or call the Water Foundation directly at 239.454.7500. All proposals should be submitted in a single document format following the required structure, and must be received by the stated deadline. The program operates on a recurring, biannual schedule, with future cycles anticipated every spring and fall.

Emphasize community impact, measurable outcomes, and alignment with stewardship and education goals.