Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) Partner Grants fund programs and projects led by public, private and non-profit organizations that increase clean water knowledge and actions. All proposed projects must serve residents within CRWD’s boundaries. Visit the About CRWD page and scroll down to view a map of the District. Grant awards range from $10,000 to $40,000.
Above photo credit: Caroline Yang
In 2024, CRWD conducted a review of our Partner Grant Program to strengthen the connection to our Watershed Management Plan, reduce barriers for grantees, and create efficiencies for staff and partners. This review led us to change our grant award range to $10,000 – $40,000 and to offer support for projects lasting up to two years.
We received the highest number of applications for the 2025 grant cycle, with higher funding requests and most applications proposing two-year projects. CRWD is currently funding nine Partner Grants for the 2025 – 2026 cycle, with eight continuing through 2026.
In response to this demand, CRWD will switch to accepting new proposals every two years. The next request for Partner Grant proposals will open in fall 2026. If you have questions about the program, these updates, or would like to be notified when the next cycle opens, please contact Lindsay Schwantes, lschwantes@capitolregionwd.org
The 2025 Partner Grant term spans two years: from early 2025 through late 2026. Projects and programs may span up to two years. The grant completion dates are noted in the PDF linked below.
If you need files in alternative formats or have any questions, please contact Lindsay Schwantes.
Lindsay Schwantes
Community Engagement Program Manager
lschwantes@capitolregionwd.org
651-644-8888 Ext. 105
Grants are funded on a reimbursement basis, except for the optional 25% upfront payment for grantees who indicate interest on their application.
Grantees may submit invoices for reimbursement of eligible staff and materials expenses up to four times per year throughout their grant term.
Documentation needed for a reimbursement request includes an itemized invoice from your organization for all expenses to date, including details such as staff name, material description, and services provided. Staff will review these invoices to ensure the expenses connect to the work of the approved grant project. Any expense under $500.00 can be listed on an itemized invoice from your organization. Our contracting terms require you to keep original expense forms for seven years, and we may request them if needed. For individual expenses greater than $500.00, we require an original receipt or invoice.
Annual and final reporting: All grantees must report on actual project outcomes and deliverables. These metrics may include the number of individuals engaged, water-quality-related actions taken, educational outcomes, or commitments to water protection. November 30th is the annual deadline to submit an invoice and report of project outcomes to date. The term for Partner Grants is now up to two years. You are required to submit a final report through our online reporting system by November 30th of the year when the project is completed. If your project spans two years, you will submit a mid-term report, final report, and reimbursement requests.
Please track your expenses using the Partner Grant Project Reimbursement Template Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (download). Grantees will be prompted to upload this file to the online report.
For questions about your reporting process, please contact Lindsay Schwantes; contact information is in the section above.
2024 Partner Grant projects included educational programs, youth internships, performances, and community outreach initiatives. You can read about them in Partner Grants Cultivate Connections to Water.