Partner Grants

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

About CRWD (with map)

2024 Proposal Eligibility

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.

Review the following regarding CRWD’s Partner Grant application and review process. This information is also noted throughout the online application.

  • First-time grantees can apply for $5,000 – $10,000.
  • Repeat grantees can apply for $5,000-$20,000.
  • Applicants should only include deliverables and outcomes expected as a result of CRWD funding. This information will be used in part to determine the cost per participant and to compare project deliverables across proposals during the review process.
  • Each task will receive full or no funding. Applicants should develop a task description (up to four total) for each unique activity that includes all deliverables and outcomes. Applications will be reviewed based only on the content you provide.

Grants are funded on a reimbursement basis upon project completion and receipt of a report no later than the end of the calendar year. Liability insurance is required for all grantees. Please review our Partner Grant Agreement PDF and terms before applying.

 

2024 Partner Grant Program Schedule

Proposals will be accepted using CRWD’s Partner Grant online application through 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

You can reference the Partner Grant Application Template PDF to review the application questions before beginning the online application.

Watch the recording of the 2024 Partner Grant Information Session on vimeo.com. The session covered the following topics.
– Program updates, goals, and priorities
– Elements of strong grant applications
– Summary of the application review process
– Funding allocations and reimbursements
– Insurance requirements
– Schedule of contracting and reporting

Applicants will be notified of the Board’s 2024 Partner Grant funding decision by January 1, 2024. A final scope of work and executed Partner Grant agreement will be required prior to beginning work.

 

Partner Grant Online Application

Questions?

Reporting and Reimbursements

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.

Partner Grant Final Report Requirements Form PDF

2024 CRWD Partner Grant Funding

Organization Project name Approved Funding
Afrocontigbo A Stream of Black Voices – Movement, Conversation and Water Tasting $5,000
Como Community Council D10 Como Lake Clean-up $12,001
East Side Arts Council Watershed Art at Johnson High $7,450
Frogtown Green FrogLab! Water Stewardship Outreach and Education in Frogtown $9,500
Hamline Midway Coalition Clean Streets, Clean Water $8,846
In Progress The Waterers $20,000
MN SEED Project Building a Community of Saving Seeds from Native Plants $12,780
Parkview Center School Parkview Water Project 2024 $19,500
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation BIPOC Parks Ambassadors $10,000
Saint Paul Police Department – Police Activities League Urban Students Become Urban Ice Anglers $10,000
Urban Roots MN Conservation Internships – Restoration Program $10,000
Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi Urban Conservation and Restoration $15,010
We All Need Food and Water “Green Light” Puppets for Healthy People and Planet $6,000
YMCA of the North Day Camps at Hidden Falls $15,000
TOTAL $161,087

Partner Projects In Action

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.