Convening Grants

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds (FPW) is a non-profit, grant-making foundation dedicated to safeguarding Pennsylvania’s water resources. Through its Convening Grants program, FPW supports organizations that are fostering collaboration and generating momentum around water conservation and restoration initiatives. These grants are designed to serve as flexible, small-scale funding opportunities that enhance partnerships, planning, and strategic alignment among groups with shared conservation goals. The primary aim of the Convening Grants is to bring together like-minded stakeholders to explore, plan, and coordinate water resource protection and restoration efforts. The program supports activities that promote collaboration, stimulate innovative thinking, and build the foundation for future conservation projects. By creating space for idea exchange and strategic planning, FPW seeks to catalyze broader environmental outcomes through collective impact. Grants are available to nonprofit organizations and government entities, including conservation districts, that can verify their tax-exempt status. All proposed activities must take place within Pennsylvania, although some funds may be geographically restricted depending on the specific grant cycle. Importantly, organizations that already hold active Conservation Grants from FPW are eligible to apply for Convening Grants as supplementary support. Applicants must demonstrate a matching contribution, which may be either in cash or in kind. Final reporting is a requirement for all funded projects. While there is no fixed deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and decisions are made monthly. To ensure sufficient processing time, FPW recommends submitting requests at least two months before the anticipated date funds are needed. The maximum award amount for a Convening Grant is $2,000. These grants are intended to fund short-term planning and convening activities rather than long-term implementation projects. Organizations interested in applying or seeking clarification are encouraged to contact FPW’s Grants Program Administrator, Maggie Anderson, at [email protected]. Pre-application discussions are welcomed and can help assess alignment with FPW’s strategic goals.