March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 49 F

Chesapeake Bay Trust Announced $1.8 Million In Grants

CB TrustThe Chesapeake Bay Trust announced today $1.8 million in grants awarded to more than 100 nonprofit organizations, municipalities and local schools throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  These awards, approved by the Trust’s board of trustees, will be made through the Trust’s Mini Grants; Living Shorelines; Watershed Assistance; Capacity Building; and Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Grant Programs. They will fund projects that create wildlife habitat and restore shorelines, promote watershed planning and green infrastructure, increase the capability of organizations to improve water quality, and engage students and communities in restoration and environmental education programs.

“The Chesapeake Bay Trust is honored to work with so many dedicated grantees who are implementing meaningful projects and programs that are benefiting our local neighborhoods and communities and the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” said Jana Davis, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “The demand for grants continues to grow and we are incredibly thankful to the thousands of Marylanders who buy a Bay plate and the countless partners whose support allows us to fund these amazing efforts.”

Today’s announcement of $1.8 million is the largest amount ever awarded in a single quarter in the history of the Trust, which announces awards four times per year,  This award amount can be attributed in large part to strong partnerships with the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network for its capacity building initiative and with Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of the Environment, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 3 Office for on-the-ground restoration design and construction work.  The Anne Arundel County Forestry Board also contributed funding for community forestry grants and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Bay Watershed Education and Training Program partners with the Trust to fund its K-12 environmental education grants.

In addition to private and public partnerships, the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s funding comes from two other major sources: the Treasure the Chesapeake license plate program and donations the Bay Fund on the Maryland state income tax form. For every dollar the Trust receives, 90 percent is directed to support on the ground restoration projects, community outreach programs and environmental education efforts. For 10 consecutive years, the Trust has received a “Four-Star Rating” from Charity Navigator, the nation’s leading independent evaluator of non-profits organizations, placing the organization in the top 1 percent of charities nationwide.

“The Trust prides itself on being a sound fiscal manager and working with our grantees to get as many valuable projects in the ground as quickly and economically efficiently as possible,” continued Davis. “We carefully evaluate each grant proposal we receive with technical experts and are incredibly proud of the exceptional work these organizations are implementing to improve local waterways.”

May 2013 Chesapeake Bay Trust Grant Program Awards

Living Shorelines Grant Program: Provides grants up to $100,000 to design, implement and promote living shorelines in Maryland. Six grants totaling $290,476 were awarded to London Town Property Owners’ Association, Talbot County Department of Public Works, West/Rhode Riverkeeper, Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy, Washington College Center for Environment and Society, and the North East Isles Community and Homeowners Association

Capacity Building Initiative: Provides multi-year grants throughout the watershed up to $50,000 to increase the effectiveness of local organizations that protect and restore rivers and watersheds. Twenty-two grants were awarded totaling $671,000 to the Friends of the Rappahannock, South River Federation, Potomac Conservancy, West/Rhode Riverkeeper, Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, Savage River Watershed Association, James River Association, West Virginia River Coalition, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, Stewards of the Lower Susquehanna, Trout Unlimited, Rock Creek Conservancy, Blue Water Baltimore, St. Mary’s River Watershed Association, Chester River Association, Delaware Nature Society, Friends of the North Fork Shenandoah River, The Elizabeth River Project, Port Tobacco Conservancy, Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy, Potomac Riverkeeper, and the Rivanna Conservation Society

On-the-ground Design and Restoration Grant Programs: Provides grants up to $100,000 for technical planning and design assistance to improve water quality throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. Sixteen grants were awarded for $646,868 for projects that support stormwater project design, green infrastructure implementation, and watershed planning.

Mini Grants Program:  Includes grants up to $5,000 for K-12 environmental education and community outreach, grants up to $2,000 for forestry projects in Anne Arundel County and grants up to $1,000 for Chesapeake Conservation Corps projects. Sixty-two grants totaling $192,772 were awarded throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.

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