Enrivonment and Natural Resources Trust Fund - Community Grant Program
Applications are not currently being accepted.
The Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program supports projects that protect, conserve, preserve or enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources. The program is designed to help expand the number and diversity of organizations benefiting from ENRTF funding, especially communities adversely affected by pollution and environmental degradation.
The Community Grant Program uses a two-stage competitive application process. Applicants first submit a shorter Concept Note - a brief document that outlines the main idea, objectives, and planned approach of a proposed project. Only applicants invited to continue to Stage 2 will submit a Full Application.
You do not need previous experience with state grants to begin exploring whether the Community Grant Program may be right for your organization or project idea.
What can the Community Grant Program support?
The Community Grant Program can support projects in the eligible activity areas. Start by considering which area best reflects the main purpose of your project idea.
Adversely impacted communities
Projects that address environmental degradation and related health concerns in communities adversely affected by pollution or other environmental harm.
Aquatic invasive species management
Projects that manage aquatic invasive species.
Preserve or enhance natural resources
Projects that preserve or enhance Minnesota's air, water, land, fish, wildlife or other natural resources.
Education and awareness
Projects that increase environmental and natural resource education and awareness.
Existing trail maintenance and improvement
Projects that maintain or improve existing state, regional or local trails. New trails and new trail segments are not eligible under this activity area.
Start the conversation
You do not need a complete project plan to get started.
Use this time to learn about the Community Grant Program, talk with your community about environmental and natural resource needs and opportunities, and begin identifying the people and organizations that should be part of the conversation.
Consider:
- What environmental or natural resource need or opportunity are you trying to address?
- What does your community already know about this need or opportunity?
- Who is affected?
- What change would your community like to see?
- Which eligible activity area might best fit your project idea?
- Who should be part of the conversation?
- Are there organizations or potential partners you may want to work with?
Applicant pathway
See how the Community Grant Program process will work
The Applicant Pathway shows the Community Grant Program process from exploring a funding opportunity through project implementation and closeout.
- Explore the opportunity
- Check your fit and choose a project pathway
- Submit a Stage 1 Concept Note
- Stage 1 comptetitive review
- If invited, develop a State 2 application
- Stage 2 compatible technical review
- If contingently selected, compelte preaward and grant agreement steps
- Begin the grant, implement the project, report and close out
Understanding your project pathway
A project idea may relate to more than one eligible activity area. Applicants will choose the project pathway that best represents their project's primary purpose.
Choosing a project pathway helps the Community Grant Program understand the main focus of a project and review it with other projects addressing similar purposes. A project can still include activities that relate to other eligible areas.
Start with the primary purpose of your project. Consider the environmental or natural resource result the project is primarily intended to achieve and use that purpose to identify the pathway that best fits your idea.
Learn and prepare
You can begin learning about the Community Grant Program and considering whether the program may fit your organization and project idea before a funding opportunity is published.
Stay informed
Language and accessibility
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