Environmental Grant Program

The St. Croix Valley Foundation Environmental Grant Program supports nonprofit and public-serving organizations that protect, restore, and connect people with the natural resources of the St. Croix Valley. The program is funded by the St. Croix Valley Environmental Fund, an endowed field of interest fund established in 2021 by Jim and Judy Freund and supported by additional donors. The fund was created to meet the region's changing environmental needs over the long term. The grant program launched on Earth Day, April 22, 2024, and is intended to strengthen environmental education, stewardship, access, restoration, and community engagement across the Valley. The program offers two types of support. Organizations with the environment at the core of their mission and programs may request general operating support ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Environmental and non-environmental organizations may request program or project support ranging from $500 to $10,000 for hands-on environmental programs and projects. Eligible activities include environmental education, outdoor learning, habitat protection and restoration, inclusive access to natural spaces, community-based sustainability initiatives, volunteer engagement, conservation partnerships, citizen science, native plantings, invasive species removal, interpretive signage, and improvements to outdoor recreation areas. Applicants must provide programming or services within the St. Croix Valley Foundation's six-county service area: Chisago and Washington counties in Minnesota, and Burnett, Polk, Pierce, and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, tribal entities, educational or religious organizations defined as tax exempt, or organizations working through an eligible fiscal sponsor. Organizations are limited to one application to the Environmental Grant Program. Funding is not available for individuals, for-profit businesses, endowments, science or research requests, or large-scale restoration projects. The webpage also states that capital expenses are not eligible. Grant funds must be expended within one year from the date of award. No matching or cost-share requirement is stated in the provided materials. Applications are submitted through the St. Croix Valley Foundation Environmental Grant page. Applicants may begin the application, save their work, return later, and download a completed copy after submission. The guidelines note that the narrative section has a substantial character limit but reviewers appreciate concise applications. The application opens April 22 and is due June 5, with notifications expected in July. Applications for general operating support are assessed based on long-term organizational commitment to the environment, strategic vision for current and future environmental needs, engagement in experiential learning, access and inclusion, advocacy or policy engagement, and organizational need. Program or project support applications are assessed based on capacity to deliver the work, realistic activities and timelines, participant engagement or learning, environmental benefit, community access to or use of natural spaces, and a reasonable budget. For environmental education programs, partnerships, curriculum alignment, and relevant educator experience or certifications may also be considered. Heidi Herron is named as the contact for questions.

Be concise in narrative responses; clearly connect the work to experiential learning, access and inclusion, advocacy, stewardship, education, community engagement, environmental benefit, organizational need, realistic timeline, and reasonable budget; for education programs, highlight partnerships, curriculum alignment, and relevant educator experience or certifications.