The William Penn Foundation is accepting applications for its Schuylkill River Watershed Cluster grant program. Letters of intent are due December 11.

Through this program, the Foundation awards multi-year grants to support watershed protection and policies, innovative strategic demonstration projects, and participation in collaborative, watershed efforts. Submissions by partnerships involving multiple organizations are encouraged

Seventeen projects are currently funded under this program, which began in December 2004. Organizations and institutions that receive funding under this third round will join the seventeen current projects and participate in activities of the Schuylkill Learning Community. The Institute for Conservation Leadership serves as a convener of the learning community to facilitate peer learning and collaboration.

The Foundation is supporting innovative, collaborative projects that aim to demonstrate effective approaches to issues of water quality/quantity, land conservation, smart growth, recreation, and/or revitalization in the Schuylkill River watershed. Bringing these advances to scale and sustaining them over time requires more effective local, state, and federal policies.

Through this grant making program, the Foundation is interested in supporting demonstration projects and coordination efforts that will help Schuylkill River Watershed nonprofits and their partners effectively work within a policy framework.

A subset of applicants – those who submit letters responding most directly and persuasively to the selection criteria – will be invited to submit full proposals for six-month planning or two-year full implementation grants. The selected applicants will be notified in late January. Invited applicants will then be required to submit complete proposals.

The Foundation will select five to eight proposals to be awarded either six-month planning gr ants or two-year full implementation grants. Planning grants will range from $10,000 to $30,000 for six months beginning in the spring of 2007 . Full implementation grants will be up to $300,000 per year for two years, commencing in July 2007

Visit Schuylkill River Watershed Cluster webpage for more information. (Courtesy Watershed Weekly)

11/17/2006