Maryland Natural Resources Grants

This program provides funding to community organizations in urban areas for tree planting projects that restore tree canopy lost due to transportation construction, with a focus on environmental justice and urban heat mitigation.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and local governments in Maryland for non-construction projects that research, document, and promote the state's historic and cultural resources.

This program provides financial support to marinas in Maryland for installing and upgrading sewage pumpout facilities to promote environmentally responsible waste disposal and improve water quality.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and local governments in Maryland for outdoor recreation projects, including land acquisition and the development or renovation of recreational facilities.

This program provides funding to nonprofit and community organizations that enhance agriculture and rural life in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland through various initiatives like education, food security, and mental health support.

This grant provides financial support for community organizations in Maryland to plant trees in areas affected by transportation projects, focusing on environmental justice and urban heat mitigation.

This program provides funding to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants to upgrade their systems for better nitrogen removal, improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

This program provides funding to municipalities, recreational authorities, and nonprofit organizations in Delaware and Maryland for projects that promote environmental stewardship and enhance community resilience against climate-related challenges.

This grant provides funding to various organizations and government entities to restore and sustain forests and freshwater habitats in Central Appalachia, benefiting native wildlife and engaging local communities in conservation efforts.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and local governments, tribal organizations, and nonprofits for projects aimed at managing and controlling invasive and noxious plant species on public lands across the U.S.

This grant provides funding for non-federal partners to model oyster larval transport and hydrodynamics in Herring Bay, Maryland, to support ecological restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay.

The Outreach and Restoration Grant Program is a collaborative effort between the Chesapeake Bay Trust and various partners including BGE, Charles County, the City of Baltimore Department of Public Works, and others. This program is designed to foster community engagement, raise awareness, and facilitate on-the-ground restoration projects. Its core mission aligns with increasing knowledge, changing behaviors, and accelerating the stewardship of natural resources within Maryland. The Trust encourages projects that recognize the interconnectedness of environmental and human health, aiming for co-benefits such as improved air quality, access to green spaces, and reduced flooding, alongside direct natural resource improvements. The program targets a diverse range of organizations, encompassing both community-related and environmental-focused missions. Eligible applicants include 501(c)3 private nonprofits, faith-based organizations, community and homeowners associations, public agencies, and educational institutions. The overarching impact goals are to increase public understanding of environmental challenges and solutions, address community environmental health disparities, implement demonstration-scale community-inspired restoration projects, and expand the base of public support for the restoration and protection of Maryland's natural resources. Projects funded through this grant program must meet one or both of two primary goals: engaging specific audiences in community sustainability and environmental health issues through knowledge-building or behavior-change efforts, and accomplishing on-the-ground restoration that enhances the health of Maryland's natural resources, specifically through water quality improvement or habitat enhancement. These priorities are further broken down into four distinct funding tracks: Outreach/Knowledge Building (up to $50,000), Behavior Change (up to $75,000), Restoration (up to $100,000), and Outreach and Restoration (up to $125,000), allowing applicants to focus on their specific expertise and project scope. Expected outcomes and measurable results include increased knowledge and altered behaviors among community members regarding environmental stewardship. On-the-ground restoration projects are expected to yield tangible improvements in water quality and habitat health. The program seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness of community-led stewardship efforts and address local environmental health disparities. By engaging a broad spectrum of organizations and communities, the Chesapeake Bay Trust and its partners aim to build a stronger, more informed base of support for long-term environmental protection and restoration across the state of Maryland.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Grant Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in partnership with the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, offers approximately $500,000 in federal funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). This program is designed to provide comprehensive, collaborative, and community-based approaches to reducing violent crime by employing a full range of appropriate violent crime reduction strategies. As the State Administrative Agency, DCJS is responsible for managing the coordination and distribution of these funds to support and improve Virginia's overall criminal justice system. The overarching goal of this initiative is to reduce violent crime and promote safe communities across the Eastern District of Virginia. This is primarily achieved through the reduction of gun violence and gang activity, with a specific focus on areas that have experienced increased rates of violent crime and gang-related incidents. The program targets local and state law enforcement agencies, local and state governmental entities, educational institutions, and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations located in or serving the Eastern District of Virginia. Funding preference will be given to three regions most impacted by violent crime: Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk, though other cities in the Eastern District with high violent crime rates will also be considered. The program prioritizes several key funding areas. These include Group Violence Intervention (GVI) strategies, which promote prevention and intervention through partnerships between law enforcement, local government, and the community. GVI involves community members delivering moral messages against violence, law enforcement issuing warnings about consequences, and support providers offering help. Another priority is Gun and Gang Crime Investigation/Suppression, focusing on programs and task forces that target perpetrators of gun and gang-related crimes, including illegal firearm possession, illegal gun sales, and gang-benefitting crimes, with an emphasis on multiagency cooperation. Additional funding priorities encompass Firearms Analysis programs, which aim to enhance and support state and local law enforcement agencies in analyzing firearms and ballistic evidence, including NIBIN analysis and firearm tracing. Lastly, Prevention and Reentry Programs are crucial, dedicated to violent crime prevention, identifying high-risk individuals through educational, faith-based, community-oriented, and outreach efforts, and supporting the successful reentry of offenders through housing, educational, and vocational partnerships. While these priorities guide funding decisions, innovative, evidence-based projects outside these specific areas that are aimed at reducing firearm and gang violence will also be considered. Grants are typically awarded for a 12-month period, with a possibility of a 24-month period depending on the specified need in the application.

This grant provides funding to local governments and land trusts in Maryland to obtain professional appraisals for properties intended for public greenspace development in underserved communities.

The Healthy Environment, Healthy Communities Grant Program is a funding initiative by the Chesapeake Bay Trust that supports projects by various organizations to address environmental and public health issues through education, small-scale greening, and large-scale restoration in specific areas affected by wastewater treatment plants and energy companies.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Chesapeake & Coastal Service (CCS) offers grants to support the sustainable development and use of Maryland waterways. Funded by the Waterway Improvement Fund (WIF), the program supports projects that improve and promote the recreational and commercial capabilities, conditions, and safety of Maryland’s waterways. Eligible applicants, including county, town, or city governments and state or federal agencies, can apply for projects such as constructing or maintaining public boating facilities, dredging channels, and purchasing fire/rescue vessels. Applications are due by September 18, 2024, with funding available starting July 1, 2025.

This funding initiative provides financial support for conservation projects in the Delaware River watershed, targeting nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions focused on habitat restoration, water quality improvement, and community engagement.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects that provide employment and training for young adults and veterans, helping them gain experience in environmental stewardship and resource management on public lands.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for state forestry departments, universities, nonprofits, and local governments in the Eastern U.S. to manage and combat invasive species that threaten forest health.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that develop innovative resources and services to help adults in the middle or late stages of their careers with reskilling, upskilling, and career navigation, particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed.