California Watershed Protection Fund

• 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.
• 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.
• Organizations that have been funded recently may only re-apply in the next cycle AFTER their final grant report has been submitted. Organizations with an active grant from this fund are not eligible to reapply. Organization with an active grant from a different Rose grant fund may be eligible.

The eligible geographies for this fund vary cycle to cycle due to funding fluctuations. For the Spring 2025 cycle, funding is available for the following watersheds:

• San Francisco Bay Delta Watershed 
• Tomales Bay and adjacent watersheds, including Walker Creek 
• The Santa Ynez River watershed, including San Miguelito Creek 
• Los Angeles watersheds, including the Los Angeles River, Dominguez Channel, and San Pedro Bay 
• Orange County watersheds, including the San Gabriel River, Newport Bay, and the Santa Ana River Watershed 
• Southern California Bight (coastal LA County)

• 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.
• We especially encourage projects that involve impacted communities, benefit vulnerable populations, and are centered around principles of equity and environmental justice.
• Please note: Any projects with an education component 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 and should be a substantive part of the project proposal.
  
• The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project, including experience in successfully conducting similar or otherwise related work in the past.

• 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.
• Project proposals must protect or benefit the surface water quality of an eligible watershed.
  

• 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.