2026 Clean Water Montgomery Grant Program

The Clean Water Montgomery Grant Program is a partnership between the Montgomery County Government and the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The program was created to improve water quality in Montgomery County, Maryland, by funding restoration and outreach projects. Since its inception, it has sought to enhance local streams and waterways through projects that combine public engagement, education, and on-the-ground restoration efforts. The Chesapeake Bay Trust, an established nonprofit entity focused on environmental restoration and stewardship, administers the program to help ensure both immediate impact and long-term sustainability of community-based water quality projects. The purpose of the program is to fund initiatives that address watershed restoration and public outreach. Supported projects include public outreach and stewardship programs, water quality implementation efforts led by communities, tree planting and reforestation projects, and litter reduction initiatives, particularly in the Anacostia River Watershed. Each project must aim to educate and engage local residents while producing measurable improvements to water quality and encouraging sustainable changes in community behavior. The program encourages innovative and creative approaches that integrate public participation with technical restoration work. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with active 501(c)(3) status. This includes watershed associations, faith-based organizations, civic groups, and service organizations. Groups without formal nonprofit status may apply through a fiscal sponsor, and the Trust provides support to help organizations understand these arrangements. Projects must be implemented within Montgomery County, but the municipalities of Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Takoma Park are excluded from the program’s eligible geography. Match funding is generally not required, though it is strongly encouraged and can strengthen applications. A 20 percent match is required for permeable paver installation projects, with the match typically coming from the benefiting property owner or entity. The program makes available different funding levels depending on project type. Public outreach and stewardship projects may receive up to $40,000 for knowledge building and up to $60,000 for behavior change efforts. Community-based restoration projects may be awarded up to $100,000. Water quality monitoring projects may be funded up to $75,000, while litter reduction initiatives within the Anacostia River Watershed may receive up to $50,000. No overall ceiling or floor is specified for the total program, but since 2014 the program has awarded 123 projects with total funding exceeding $5.5 million, indicating a strong and ongoing commitment. The current program cycle is open. The application deadline is Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 4 PM Eastern Time. An informational session is scheduled for September 10, 2025, at 6 PM for prospective applicants to learn more and ask questions. Applications must be submitted through the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s online system, and applicants are encouraged to review the detailed Request for Proposals for guidance. Supporting resources, including the FY25 Anacostia Watershed Trash Hotspot Survey, are provided to help applicants plan effective litter reduction projects. The program is administered from the Chesapeake Bay Trust offices at 108 Severn Avenue in Annapolis, Maryland. The contact for this grant cycle is Kathy Somoza, who can be reached at ksomoza@cbtrust.org or by phone at 410-974-2941 extension 120. The Trust also highlights examples of successful past projects, such as stormwater management installations, permeable pavement projects, conservation landscaping, and interfaith environmental initiatives, to illustrate the types of impactful efforts that can be funded. These examples underscore the dual goals of improving water quality and building stronger community stewardship across Montgomery County.

Preference given to projects offering match or in-kind contributions; litter reduction applicants must review FY25 Anacostia Watershed Trash Hotspot Survey; attend info session Sept 10, 2025.