Member Directed Grants

Grant-Giving Process

We host two grant cycles each year – a summer and winter grant cycle. In each cycle, member companies can nominate two (2) organizations to apply for funding. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are then distributed to each nominated organization who may submit a funding request of up to $50,000. After careful internal vetting and member-company voting, grants are announced and distributed.

Our member companies are eager to connect with and nominate organizations, particularly those located in their community or state. Organizations interested in receiving funding through The Conservation Alliance should connect with member companies to secure a nomination. Check out our member page to find companies located in your state.

Questions about grant-making at The Conservation Alliance? Contact Kim Paymaster, Grant Program Director: kim@conservationalliance.com.

Funding Criteria And Priorities

We fund groups who are nominated by our members and whose work meets all of these criteria:

The project should seek to secure lasting and quantifiable protection of a specific wild land or waterway.
The campaign should engage grassroots citizen action in support of the conservation effort.
All projects must have a clear recreational benefit.
The project should have a good chance of final success within four years.

We prioritize funding for:

Landscape-scale projects that have a clear benefit for habitat.
Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.
Projects that benefit Asian, Black, Brown, Hispanic, Latin American, or other People of Color, and/or underserved communities, and organizations that work directly with these communities.
Projects that measurably mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Grant Program Calendar

Nominations - April and October

On April 1 and October 1, nomination forms are distributed to the grant program contacts at each member company. Member companies can nominate two organizations per funding cycle to receive funding.

Applications - May and November

Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are emailed to each nominated organization on May 1 and November 1. Organizations have one month to submit a funding request. Nominated groups are encouraged to connect with The Conservation Alliance staff to ensure proposals meet our funding criteria.

Internal Review - June/July and December/January

The Conservation Alliance staff and board review applications and conduct rigorous due diligence during this time. 25 projects that best meet our funding criteria are selected. These projects are placed on a ballot and forwarded to our members and their employees for a final vote.

Voting - February and August

At the beginning of February and August, email ballots are sent to all member companies with details on the 25 projects selected for potential funding. Member company employees are invited and encouraged to cast a ballot.

Grant Announcements - September and March

After the voting deadline, ballots are tallied and projects with the most votes receive funding. A social media toolkit highlighting the new grantees and funded projects is provided to all member companies to share the good news about our latest grant announcement with their audience. The Conservation Alliance works with grantees to publicize the award and to celebrate succeses.