Special Opportunity Grants Program
Realizing that aquatic habitat protection efforts may not coincide with the application timeline or grant periods for the Grants Program and that many grassroots projects can be completed for under $500, the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Fund maintains a reserve to support urgent projects or those that present a special opportunity. Although the eligibility, overarching goal, types of activities funded, priority program areas, and evaluation criteria are the same as the Grants Program, Special Opportunity Grant (SOG) requests are processed differently to ensure quick turnaround.
Grants will be disbursed on a first come, first served basis.
United States applicants that do not have 501(c)(3) tax status or Ontario applicants that are not registered charities governed by the Charities Accounting Act must have a sponsoring 501(c)(3) organization or registered charity.
Preference will be given to requests made prior to the expenditure of project funds. Reimbursement requests will be considered only if the request is made within one month of the expenditure.
Requests for funding under this program shall be submitted electronically via an online form and a Microsoft Word request letter. Please see http://www.glhabitat.org/grantsubmissionsog.html to apply.
The Freshwater Future staff will review applications, contact sponsors, seek input from the Freshwater Future Advisory Panel if necessary, and render a decision within two weeks of receipt of request. Payment will be made within four weeks of request. Within one month of completion of the funded activity, the grant recipient must submit a one-page written report that briefly documents the actual expenses incurred, activities performed, and the outcomes.
Special Opportunity Grants Program Recipients
Freshwater Future builds effective community-based citizen action to protect and restore the water quality of the Great Lakes basin. We work toward this goal by providing financial assistance, communications and networking assistance and technical assistance to citizens and grassroots watershed groups throughout the Great Lakes basin. Through these efforts we work with over 1,800 grassroots watershed groups and citizens to protect and restore the rivers, lakes and wetlands in their communities. Freshwater Future, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
For more information, please contact:
info@freshwaterfuture.org
P.O. Box 2479, Petoskey, MI 49770
PH (231) 348-8200