Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) Partner Grants fund programs and projects led by community, arts and environmental organizations, schools, faith-based groups and cities 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. Grants are awarded once per year in December and awards range from $5,000 to $20,000.
Above photo credit: Caroline Yang
CRWD is committed to engaging new and historically underrepresented groups and believes we can achieve cleaner waters through engagement across all communities. 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. Proposals that take place in or serve residents from the Trout Brook, Phalen Creek, Saint Anthony Hill, Como Lake or Lake McCarrons watersheds will be given additional consideration. Organizations serving other areas in the District are still eligible to apply.
The following updates have been made to the 2022 Partner Grant application and review process. This information is also noted throughout the online application.
Liability insurance is required for all grantees. Please review our Partner Grant Agreement PDF and terms prior to submitting.
Proposals using CRWD’s online Partner Grant application form were due by Sunday, October 31, 2021. Applications for 2022 Partner Grants are now closed. Please check back in fall of 2022 to apply for a 2023 Partner Grant.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit prior to this deadline to ensure eligibility in case of technical errors. The online form must be completed in one session. An application template PDF is available for you to begin working on your proposal prior to submitting online. Incomplete or illegible submissions received after the October 31, 2021, deadline will not be included in the review pool. A workshop for interested applicants will be held October 8 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. All perspective grantees are strongly encouraged to attend. View details and register on the Partner Grant Information Session event page.
Applicants will be notified of the Board’s 2022 Partner Grant funding decision by January 1, 2022. A detailed budget, final scope of work and executed Partner Grant agreement will be required prior to beginning work.
Please consider the feasibility of executing your proposal under the current Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines for COVID-19.
We recognize that protocols will be updated as new information and guidance is released. We request that grantees propose projects that can be executed should in-person activities be restricted. CRWD staff will continue to work with partner groups to determine how best to execute funded proposals given guidelines at the time of the activity.
If you need files in alternative formats or have any questions, please contact Lindsay Schwantes.
Lindsay Schwantes
Community Outreach Coordinator
lschwantes@capitolregionwd.org
651-644-8888 Ext. 105
Applications for 2022 Partner Grants are now closed. Please check this webpage in fall of 2022 to apply for a 2023 Partner Grant.
Grants are funded on a reimbursement basis upon project completion and receipt of a report no later than the end of the calendar year.
Grant funding can be used to reimburse staff time and supplies for a program or project. A final report must be submitted by year-end, and include receipts or invoices for funded tasks, photography and a written report describing project or program outcomes prior to reimbursement.
All grantees must report general information about program outcomes and deliverables. Priority is given to applicants who propose ways to measure program impacts. These metrics may include actions taken, educational outcomes and changes in water quality protection behaviors.
| Organization | Project name | Approved Funding |
|---|---|---|
| African Economic Development Solutions | 2022 Little Africa Festival and Parade – Water themed art and performances | $10,000 |
| Conservation Corps MN & IA | Youth Outdoors Natural Resource Service-Learning Program | $5,500 |
| Como Community Council D10 | Como Lake Clean-up and Educational Awareness | $5,497 |
| Friends of the Mississippi River | Environmental Stewardship Institute: Water Knowledge Network | $19,995 |
| Frogtown Green | Water stewardship in Frogtown | $14,100 |
| Growing Green Hearts | Connect-the-Drops of Youth Leadership, Water Quality and Sense of Place | $20,000 |
| In Progress | Rain Watcher Project | $20,000 |
| Lower Phalen Creek Project | Mní Wakáŋ at Wakáŋ Tipi: Protecting Sacred Waters | $8,500 |
| Metro Blooms | Habitat, Clean Water, and Livability at Hampden Square | $7,600 |
| Parkview Center School | Parkview Water Project (PWP) 2022 | $13,380 |
| Public Art Saint Paul | eARTh Lab workshops | $9,830 |
| Saint Paul Parks and Recreation | BIPOC Parks Ambassadors | $11,000 |
| Urban Roots | Conservation Program | $14,250 |
In Progress presents Our Sacred Water, a digital storytelling project supported by a CRWD 2019 Partner Grant.
The project entailed mentoring, public education, and creative art-making activities that raised participant and audience understandings of environmentalism from an Indigenous perspective. Six youth and their families developed a series of photo and video works designed to raise awareness about the sacred nature of water.
Statement from In Progress Artists: Indigenous people represent the oldest nations in the world. We have learned from our elders, our parents and our mentors that we must all work together to care and maintain our water resources for the generations yet to come. As Indigenous youth, we stand together in reminding us all that water is everything.
Created by Tiana Bluebird, Azalea Erickson, Alexander Erickson, Rocky Erickson, XIcintli Quiroz, and Kimimila Wahpepah, with support and guidance from Tiana LaPointe and Wakinyan LaPointe.
Check out some of the many programs CRWD's Partner Grants support.
