New York Natural Resources Grants

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF), managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), seeks to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. This grant program, with approximately $12 million available in 2024, aligns with the foundation's mission by supporting efforts to test innovative conservation approaches, deliver transformative projects, and engage communities that value and protect the Sound. Major funding is provided by EPA through the LISS, with additional support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Zoetis Foundation, demonstrating a collaborative strategic approach to environmental conservation. The LISFF targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local and municipal governments, Tribal Governments and Organizations, and educational institutions. The impact goals are centered on improving water quality, enhancing and restoring coastal habitats, and fostering sustainable and resilient communities around the Long Island Sound. The program’s strategic priorities are guided by the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan 2020-2024 Update (CCMP), which emphasizes three core themes: Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds, Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife, and Sustainable and Resilient Communities. Cross-cutting principles of resiliency to climate change, long-term sustainability, and environmental justice are also integral to the program's theory of change. Under the "Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds" theme, the program prioritizes reducing nitrogen pollution, combined sewer overflows, impervious cover, stormwater runoff, and point and nonpoint source loading. This includes funding for "shovel-ready" projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention, particularly those addressing water quality at a larger scale. Planning activities, such as community engagement, feasibility studies, site assessments, conceptual design, and final design and permitting, are also supported. Projects in the Upper Basin states (MA, NH, VT) are specifically focused on quantifiable nitrogen/nutrient prevention with a documented benefit to Long Island Sound. The "Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife" theme focuses on enhancing or restoring coastal habitats to maintain resilience and function, supporting fish, bird, and wildlife populations, and sustaining the Sound's ecological balance. This involves implementing "shovel-ready" habitat restoration and nature-based or green-gray hybrid resilience projects, as well as planning activities for such projects. The program also aims to foster diverse, balanced, and abundant populations of fish, birds, and wildlife, encouraging proposals that consider the LISS Habitat Restoration Guidelines. The "Sustainable and Resilient Communities" theme supports vibrant, informed, and engaged communities through projects that offer hands-on conservation experiences. Expected outcomes include quantifiable pollutant reductions, enhanced and restored coastal habitats, increased resilience to climate change, and more engaged communities actively participating in the Sound's protection and sustainability. For water quality projects, measurable results will include quantifiable pollutant prevention, particularly nitrogen/nutrient reductions. For habitat projects, long-term maintenance plans and ecological improvements are expected. The LISFF's strategic framework, rooted in the CCMP, aims to accelerate local and regional water quality improvements, natural resource restoration, coastal resilience, environmental justice, and community outreach, ultimately leading to a healthier, more productive, and resilient Long Island Sound for both people and wildlife.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community-based organizations and tribal entities in New York to establish or improve environmental education centers that promote awareness and action on climate justice and sustainability in disadvantaged communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for nonprofit organizations and community groups to develop training programs and services that help disadvantaged individuals and transitioning fossil fuel workers build careers in New York's green economy.

This grant provides funding for research projects that enhance the health of the Lake Champlain Basin, focusing on climate change adaptation, water quality, and community resilience, and is open to universities, nonprofits, and businesses in Vermont and New York.

This grant provides funding for projects in St. Lawrence County that focus on preserving historical sites, supporting places of worship, and aiding military veterans.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and event organizers in Cattaraugus County to create tourism-driven events and attractions that encourage visitors to explore the area.

This grant provides funding to Great Lakes states to implement their plans for managing and preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species, benefiting both the states and the Great Lakes ecosystem.

This funding opportunity supports not-for-profit organizations and local governments in New York State to provide food boxes and nutrition education in communities eligible for SNAP benefits.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to not-for-profit organizations, tribal groups, and local governments in New York to create community gardens that promote nutrition education and increase access to fresh produce for low-income residents.

This grant provides financial support to individual artists in specific New York counties for creating new artwork that engages the community through participation or public presentation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to New York State municipalities for developing or expanding food scraps recycling programs to promote sustainable waste management and reduce organic waste.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions in New York State for projects aimed at preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species through education, outreach, and direct action initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to municipalities and non-profit organizations in selected New York counties for various recreational trail projects, including construction, planning, rehabilitation, and educational initiatives.

This program provides funding to New York State municipalities for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate change resilience.

This mini-grant program provides funding for individuals and organizations in New York to support projects and activities that promote soil health research, education, and awareness.

This program provides funding to support community development, workforce training, and sustainable business initiatives in the forest-based economy of rural areas in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for community-driven environmental projects in New York's Great Lakes Basin, targeting local governments, non-profits, and educational institutions focused on improving water quality, habitat restoration, and sustainability.

This program provides funding for community-driven conservation projects that improve water quality and habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, targeting local organizations, governments, and educational institutions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities and nonprofit organizations in the Hudson River Estuary region for projects that improve water quality, promote environmental education, and enhance climate resilience.

This funding opportunity supports municipalities in the Hudson River Valley to develop plans and projects that enhance their scenic, natural, and cultural resources while promoting regional collaboration and community development.