Applications Closed
California Watershed Protection Fund
The California Watershed Protection Fund supports projects designed to improve water quality and protect watersheds across California.
The fund originated with a $50,000 mitigation payment from a Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement case brought by San Francisco Baykeeper, and out of this humble beginning, the SF Bay Citizens Action Fund was created. Within a few years, the fund expanded to cover watersheds throughout the State as several other groups including the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and Los Angeles Waterkeeper among others, directed their mitigation payments to Rose. The fund continues to be enabled by settlements in CWA citizen suits and supports projects which benefit the surface water quality where enforcement actions have been brought.
Due to funding fluctuations, the specific watersheds eligible for grants may vary – please check the list of currently eligible watersheds. The maximum grant amount is $40,000 with most grants expected to range between $10,000 and $30,000. All applicants must be able to demonstrate a strong track record of community-based, water quality stewardship.
The Rose Foundation welcomes proposals from small grassroots conservation and environmental justice groups, but if your organization is new and very small, we urge you to consider applying to our California Environmental Grassroots Fund instead.
Fund Details
Maximum Funding Request:
Up to $40,000
Important Dates:
Application Opens: 1/21/25
Applications Due: 3/25/25
Grant Award Decisions: Early June 2025
This fund no longer requires an LOI process. Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on the due date.
Let’s Connect:
Have questions or want to book a consultation? Connect with us at grants@rosefdn.org.
Eligibility And Priorities
- The applicant must be a 501(c)3 organization, fiscally-sponsored by a 501(c)3, or a governmental or tribal entity. If you work with a small organization that lacks non-profit status but has a compelling project, the Rose Foundation may be willing to act as your fiscal sponsor for this grant proposal. Nonprofit colleges, universities, university clinics and graduate programs are eligible to apply, but university overhead is limited to 5% of grant award.
- The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project as well as a strong track record of community-based water quality stewardship.
The eligible geographies for this fund vary cycle to cycle due to funding fluctuations. For the Fall 2024 cycle, funding is available for the following watersheds:
- Tomales Bay and adjacent watersheds, including Walker Creek
- The Napa River (limited funding available)
- The Santa Ynez River watershed, including San Miguelito Creek
- Los Angeles watersheds, including the Los Angeles River, San Gabriel River, San Jose Creek, Dominguez Channel, Port of Long Beach, and San Pedro Bay
- Orange County watersheds, including the San Gabriel River, Newport Bay, and the Santa Ana Delhi Channel
- San Diego watersheds, including the Otay River, San Luis Rey River, and San Diego Bay
- Projects must benefit the surface water quality of the watershed in question. Eligible activities include water stewardship, conservation, outreach and education, restoration, and watershed protection.
- Projects focusing exclusively on groundwater quality are only eligible if there is known interconnectivity to surface waters.
- Most grants are for a one-year period; however, you do not have to ask for a one-year grant. It is permitted to request a shorter or longer grant period if that is what you need.
- The maximum grant amount is $40,000 with most grants expected to range between $10,000 and $30,000.
- Priority will be given to community-oriented grassroots groups as well as to organizations with a strong track record of community-based water quality work.
- We especially encourage projects that involve impacted communities, benefit vulnerable populations, and that are centered around principles of equity and environmental justice.
- Organizations that have been funded may only re-apply in the next cycle after their grant report has been submitted and approved. Organizations with an active grant from this Fund are not eligible to reapply.
Steps To Apply
Please read these instructions carefully and follow them step by step.
Review Eligibility and Instructions
Please check all eligibility requirements before starting the application.
Please read the following application instructions carefully and follow them step by step.
FAQ
In most cases, the applicant organization does not need to have its physical address in the watershed. However, eligible projects must relate strongly to one or more of the eligible watersheds. If your project is broader in scope than an eligible watershed (for example: statewide policy advocacy), you must be able to demonstrate the specific benefits to one or more of the eligible watersheds.
Projects must benefit the surface water quality of the watershed in question. Eligible activities include water stewardship, advocacy, outreach and education, restoration, and watershed protection. We are especially encouraging projects that involve impacted communities, benefit vulnerable populations, and are centered around principles of equity and environmental justice. Projects focusing exclusively on groundwater quality are not eligible unless there is known interconnectivity to surface waters.
Outreach and Education Projects must have a palpable water quality benefit. Applicants should consider the inclusion of hands-on activities such as planting, restoration, or trash cleanups as part of their projects or other activities that will have a more immediate impact.
No. Many factors affect water quality. For example, land development and transportation patterns significantly impact the volume and toxicity of stormwater runoff. Through aerial deposition, toxics released into the air may return to the ground and pollute watersheds. Sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management reduce pesticide use and correspondingly benefit water quality. Therefore, projects do not necessarily need to have an explicit water quality focus to be eligible, but need to be able to address the impacts as they relate to water quality.
Yes. A successful applicant will be able to clearly demonstrate the linkages between their project and water quality. For example, do your outreach materials include water quality as one of the elements the project is working on? If you are engaged in regulatory or legal advocacy, is water quality one of the issues you are raising? If your project relates to urban farming, can you quantify pesticide reductions, or reductions in stormwater flows or pollution stemming from your efforts?
If your group is awarded a grant, you must provide a final grant report at the completion of your project. If your project is longer than one year, you must provide an interim report as well. The final report is required before your group can receive additional funding. Grantees are also required to acknowledge grant funding in all project signage and publicly distributed materials.
Meet Past Grantees
From grassroots community organizers to groups with nation-wide reach, meet the changemakers supported by Rose grants.
Funding Partners
The California Watershed Protection Fund is supported by the following key citizen enforcement organizations. Any signage or publicly distributed materials related to a funded project must include the Rose Foundation and relevant partner organization’s logo.
Take the next step
Do you still have questions about this application process or need additional support from Rose Foundation staff? Here are some helpful resources.
Helpful Resources
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