Maine Land Protection Grants

Maine Community Foundation

Predicted deadline: Sep 15, 2024 8:59pm PDT

Grant amount: Up to US $50,000

Funding uses: Education / Outreach, Project / Program

Location of project: Maine

Location of residency: Preferred: Maine Other eligible locations: United States

Overview:

Purpose

The Maine Land Protection grant program provides grants for land acquisition or land conservation easement projects that build strong connections between people in Maine/ Wabanaki territory and its land and water.

The proposed project must:

• Create or increase permanent access to land and water, particularly to marginalized and historically excluded populations (such as those with low incomes, disabilities, mental health conditions, limited English proficiency; Black, Indigenous and other people of color; immigrants and/or refugees; and those who identify as LGBTQ+) and communities with limited conservation opportunities
  
• Involve and have support from community members and interested stakeholders, (for example, other non-profit organizations, local businesses, and municipal officials or committees, etc.)
• Include a vision or plan for the future use of the land or easement, including strategies to engage people and communities in developing uses and organizational plans to care for the land over time.

Priorities

Priority will be given to projects that will benefit most or will be nearest completion with a grant from this program. This includes if the grant will:

• Pay a significant portion of the purchase price 
• Help secure other funds (such as through matching grants)
• Complete a fundraising campaign.

Additional priority will be given to projects that:

• Benefit communities and the economy, including but not limited to: 
• Protecting and providing access to cultural resources and other resources valued by community members
• Supporting agriculture, fisheries, and working forests
• Creating or increasing outdoor recreation opportunities
• Address climate change by:
• Helping communities prepare for and respond to climate change
• Reducing the impact of climate change on the communities and people who are most affected
• Conserve critical habitat and sensitive ecological areas.

Types of Funding

 This program provides:

• Project grants for costs associated with the purchase of land or conservation easements. This may include the purchase price, closing costs, legal fees, and value assessments, as well as stewardship funds that are established as part of the purchase.

Grant awards will range in size up to a maximum of $50,000 for the purchase of land or conservation easements.

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Eligibility:

• Who is eligible to apply:
• Nonprofit, charitable organizations tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and also classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2)
• Municipalities
• Public schools
• Public agencies working for the State of Maine
• Indian tribal governments (or political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior
• Groups without any tax status may apply a fiscal sponsor that is an eligible organization as described above. (Click here for information on fiscal sponsorships).

Preferences:

•  Wabanaki tribal governments or political subdivisions are encouraged to apply.
  

Ineligibility:

• Funds may not be used for:
• Staff time or other general operating expenses such as rent, utilities, or overhead
• Loan repayment
  
• What we will not fund, without exception
• Expenses already incurred
• Regranting to a secondary grantee through a competitive process
• Political campaigns
• Lobbying in the form of calls to action on a specific vote
• Religious activities, including, but not limited to, religious services, promotion of religious beliefs, or activities that are restricted to church or religious group membership.