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    2024 Grant Program

    Open Space Institute and the Land Trust Alliance are pleased to announce that the 2024 Land and Climate Grant Program request for proposals is open through May 17.

    The program aims to support and build the capacity of land trusts and other groups that conserve and steward land to integrate climate change into land protection and management decisions. 

    The program will support the development of climate-informed land conservation, stewardship, policy, or communications plans that address one or more of the following issues: habitat resilience, carbon mitigation, renewable energy siting or community adaptation to climate impacts such as stronger storms, flooding, drought, fire or extreme heat.

    Projects should achieve one or more of the following deliverables:

    • Incorporate climate science into new or existing strategic conservation plans that target land protection for climate adaptation or mitigation.

    • Incorporate climate science into land stewardship or management plans to address adaptation and/or mitigation strategies.

    • Develop a comprehensive climate communication strategy that promotes the adaptation and mitigation goals of the organization and its conservation or stewardship plans.

    • Develop a plan, decision matrix and/or policies to guide organizational engagement with renewable energy siting on conservation lands and/or in service areas.

    The program encourages proposals that address the inequitable burdens of climate change and environmental racism on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and low-income communities.

    See grant awardees in the 2023 grant round
    THANK YOU

    This program is made possible through support from the Doris Duke Foundation, Jane’s Trust Foundation, The Volgenau Foundation, the William Penn Foundation and several generous individual donors.

    Opportunity and funding available

    Through the program, Land Trust Alliance and Open Space Institute will award $200,000 to support projects in the 2024 grant round.

    Eligibility

    • Projects must begin in 2024 and be completed by Dec. 1, 2025. Please carefully consider if the project is ready and your organization has the capacity to complete the work within this timeframe.

    • The grants may be used to cover costs associated with the development of strategic conservation plans or land management plans as described above and/or to develop internal policies, procedures, and communications in support of this work. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to staff time, travel, graphic design, printing, mailing, indirect costs (up to 15%) and project consultants.

      • General operating support

      • Research that is not directly related to the conservation planning or management project described in the application

      • Land acquisition and restoration capital costs

      • Political lobbying

      • Development of carbon offset projects.*

      *The Alliance’s Carbon Offset Pilot Program provides a separate opportunity for qualified land trusts to apply for grants that support carbon offset project development.

    Methods

    Applicants may employ a variety of climate science and mapping and planning tools in their projects, and OSI and the Alliance do not require the use of specific datasets or approaches.

    We welcome the use of diverse forms of knowledge in project proposals, including Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Indigenous science. 

    Recommended data sources and approaches include, but are not limited to:

    Resources on renewable energy siting best management practices

    Who may apply

    Land Trust Alliance Grants

    • Land Trust Alliance member land trusts and Affiliate state land trust associations are eligible to apply

    • Applicants must have been a qualified organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for at least two years, or, in the case of affiliate member state land trust associations, have an established fiduciary meeting this qualification.

    • Applicants must be a current member in good standing of the Land Trust Alliance.

    • Preference is given to accredited land trusts and organizations with a board-approved plan to pursue accreditation.

    • Geographic eligibility: Nation-wide.

    Please note that Renewable Energy Siting project grants are only available to applicants that meet Land Trust Alliance eligibility requirements.

    Open Space Institute Grants

    • The following entities are eligible to apply for Open Space Institute grants:

      • 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations or organizations that otherwise fulfill a similar not-for-profit charitable purpose

      • State or federally recognized Tribes

    • Open Space Institute will consider applications from the following regions and states:

      • Northern New England: Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine

      • Delaware River Watershed: Portions of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

    • Open Space Institute will award grants to support land conservation and land stewardship plans that address climate resilience with a preference for projects that integrate forest carbon and/or mitigation of flood hazard or other climate impacts to communities.

    Please note that applicants that are not land trusts are only eligible to apply for grants from Open Space Institute, which are limited to the geographies outlined above. You may use this tool to check whether your project is within Open Space Institute’s eligible geography.

    Match

    There is no match requirement. Applicants will be asked to report the full project budget, and any sources of funding in addition to the grant request as part of the financial summary form. Documentation of in-kind or cash match is appreciated where possible.

    Evaluation criteria

    • Project impact

      The project has the potential to inform conservation decisions (such as land protection; land stewardship; or related activities), in the near term. If the project does not cover a broad geographic region (e.g., county scale or larger), the applicant should demonstrate how the project serves as a model or demonstration or will influence the way the organization operates.

    • Audience

      The plan seeks to inform the actions of an identified audience (such as a land trust or organization, Tribe, landowners, municipalities, public agency partners, etc.) that has the resources and commitment to achieve the goals of the project.

    • Methods and use of science

      The proposal identifies information sources that will be used in the project and articulates clear steps or methods to achieve outcomes.

    • Feasibility

      The project team has the capacity, expertise and commitment to complete the project. The project is likely to succeed within the proposed timeframe. The applicant demonstrates ability to make effective use of technical support, if requested.

    • Community benefit

      The applicant demonstrates how the project will strengthen climate resilience in communities facing climate threats and/or address the inequitable burdens of climate impacts.

    Application process and timeline

    Applications will be accepted through May 17.

    A PDF of the grant application and financial summary are available for reference purposes only. All applications must be submitted through the Land Trust Alliance’s grant portal, Foundant.

    Applicants will be notified of grant decisions by August 31, 2024.

    Learn more about applying

    The Alliance and Open Space Institute want to help make sure you're able to build the best application possible. Click here to view the recording of the online information session held on April 10th.

    Program staff will also offer three virtual “office hours” sessions, where applicants can ask questions and receive feedback on project proposals. Register here to schedule a 20-minute individual consultation with program staff on one of the dates listed below.

    • Office Hours Session 1: April 23, 1-3 PM Eastern

    • Office Hours Session 2: April 25, 2-4 PM Eastern

    • Office Hours Session 3: April 30, 1-3 PM Eastern

    Questions?

    If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please do not hesitate to reach out via phone or email.

    Kelly Watkinson

    Land and Climate Program Manager, Land Trust Alliance

    (540) 333-1450 | kwatkinson@lta.org

    Hallie Schwab

    Conservation Planning Manager, Open Space Institute

    (929) 405-3294 | hschwab@osiny.org

    Projects from grantees

    Check out examples of conservation plans, story maps and communications products completed by Land and Climate Grant awardees.

    Learn more about how these resources were created in the webinar recording below.

    https://vimeo.com/919705618/00d06346d3?share=copy