Community Engagement and Restoration Mini Grant

The Community Engagement and Restoration Mini Grant Program is a funding initiative administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, a nonprofit organization focused on improving natural resources throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. The Trust supports projects that enhance communities while also advancing environmental goals, with special emphasis on community-led, local-scale efforts. In collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, this program is offered annually and aims to empower first-time and underrepresented applicants by removing traditional access barriers and encouraging hands-on participation in restoration work. The purpose of this program is to fund grassroots environmental efforts that directly involve local residents in tangible restoration and educational activities. Grants are intended for small-scale projects that simultaneously engage the community and benefit nearby natural resources. Examples of eligible activities include native tree plantings, rain garden installations, stream and trash cleanups, storm drain stenciling, and educational workshops. The funders place a strong emphasis on connecting people to their environment through community-led design, labor, and outreach. Applicants may request up to $5,000 in funding. Matching contributions, either in-kind or cash, are encouraged but not required. Funding is available until exhausted within each annual cycle, which begins July 1 and ends June 30. The total pool of funding is approximately $180,000 for Maryland projects and $30,000 for West Virginia projects. Applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis until all funds are committed. Projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving the award, and all awardees are expected to submit a final report detailing the outcomes of their project. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, community associations, homeowner associations, service groups, youth and civic groups, and municipal, county, regional, state, or federal public agencies. However, applicants are only eligible if they have received three or fewer prior awards from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Organizations that have received four or more awards may apply only if it has been at least eight years since their last grant from the Trust. For-profit entities are not eligible to lead projects under this program, although they may serve as partners or contractors. Applications must be submitted through the Chesapeake Bay Trust's online portal. Required components include an eligibility quiz, organization and project details, proposed timeline, volunteer involvement, list of project partners, project narrative, and budget documents. Applicants must designate both an executive officer and a project leader. The narrative and supporting documentation must address the Trust’s evaluation criteria, including alignment with program goals, cost-effectiveness, clarity of project outcomes, community visibility, and likelihood of success and sustainability. Applications are reviewed by technical experts, and the Trust works with applicants to improve proposals before finalizing funding decisions. Key contacts for the program include Sadie Friesen ([email protected], 410-974-2941 x150) for Maryland-based projects and Kayleigh Katzenberger ([email protected], 410-974-2941 x127) for projects in West Virginia. The most current information, including updates about fund availability, application materials, mentorship opportunities, and technical guidance, is maintained on the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Community Engagement Grants page. This program operates on a rolling deadline each year and expects to issue a new cycle annually beginning in July, pending fund availability.

Submit 8+ weeks before project start; use mentorship program if unfamiliar with grant writing.