Grant Application Information, Form, And Exhibits

Updated July 2011

The Coastal Conservancy announces the availability of grants to government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Funding availability is generally subject to legislative appropriation of bond funds. Included in this document are an introduction to the Conservancy, the grant application process, the grant application, and the following exhibits which should assist you in preparing an application:

• Exhibit A: Project Selection Criteria and Guidelines
• Exhibit B: Coastal Conservancy Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives
• Exhibit C: Prioritization Required by Proposition 84
• Exhibit D: Typical Sequence of Activities for Grant Funding
• Exhibit E: Climate Change Policy
• Exhibit F: Climate Change Guidance

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The Coastal Conservancy, established in 1976, is a state agency that uses entrepreneurial techniques to purchase, protect, restore, and enhance coastal resources, and to provide access to the shore. We work in collaboration with local governments, other public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private landowners. Our jurisdiction includes the entire coastal zone of California, ocean habitats, coastal watersheds, and the entire nine-county San Francisco Bay region.

To date, the Conservancy has undertaken more than 1,800 projects along the 1,100 mile California coastline and around San Francisco Bay. These projects often accomplish more than one Conservancy goal. Through such projects, the Conservancy:

• protects and improves coastal wetlands, streams, and watersheds;
• helps people get to coast and bay shores by building trails and stairways and by acquiring land and easements. The Conservancy also assists in the creation of low-cost accommodations along the coast, including campgrounds and hostels;
• works with local communities to revitalize urban waterfronts;
• helps to solve complex land-use problems;
• purchases and holds environmentally valuable coastal and bay lands;
• protects agricultural lands and supports coastal agriculture; and
• accepts donations and dedications of land and easements for public access, wildlife habitat, agriculture, and open space.

Applying for Grants

Prospective applicants must discuss their projects with Conservancy staff prior to completing or submitting this application. Conservancy staff will determine whether or not an application should be submitted and whether Part A, or both Part A and Part B, should be completed. Please contact the appropriate Program Manager from the list below, listed from North to South:

North Coast: Del Norte County to coastside Sonoma and Marin Counties
Karyn Gear: kgear@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-4171.

San Francisco Bay Area: Nine Bay Area Counties, excluding the coastside of Sonoma, Marin, and San Mateo Counties
Amy Hutzel: ahutzel@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-4180

Central Coast: coastside San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County
Trish Chapman: tchapman@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-0749

South Coast: Ventura County to San Diego County
Joan Cardellino: jcard@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-4093

Continuous Submission Dates

Proposals will be accepted on a continuous basis. In addition, periodically grant rounds will be advertised and applications will be accepted for projects of a particular type or for specific locations.

Number of Copies

Please submit one hard copy of the completed application form, including all attachments. Please include a CD that contains your application saved as a Microsoft Word document, and your digital photos and maps (photos should be saved as .jpg files; maps should be saved as .pdf or .jpg files). If you are unable to send a CD, please contact us to discuss alternate ways to submit your electronic files. Please note: all information that you submit is subject to the unqualified and unconditional right of the Conservancy to use, reproduce, publish, or display, free of charge. Please indicate if crediting is requested for any of the photos and/or maps.

Mail the application to:
State Coastal Conservancy
1330 Broadway, 13th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612

Grant Amounts

There are no established minimum or maximum grant amounts. The Coastal Conservancy will base the size of awards on project needs, benefits and competing demands for existing funding.

Eligible Applicants

Government agencies (federal, state, local, and special districts) and certain nonprofit organizations are eligible for funding. Eligible nonprofit organizations must exist under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eligibility of nonprofit organizations is defined by whether an organization’s articles of incorporation (and IRS letter) demonstrate that the organization’s purposes are consistent with Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, the Coastal Conservancy’s enabling legislation.

Eligible Activities

The Coastal Conservancy may fund property acquisition and project planning, design, and/or construction in accordance with Division 21 of the Public Resources Code (available at http://scc.ca.gov/about/enabling-legislation/). Projects should meet the goals and objectives in the Conservancy’s Strategic Plan (listed in Exhibit B), and be consistent with the purposes of the funding source, typically bond funds (see Exhibit C for Proposition 84 priorities: Proposition 84 is the source of the majority of the Conservancy’s current funding). In addition, project applications should provide information that will enable consideration of any applicable criteria specified in the Project Selection Criteria and Guidelines established by the Conservancy’s board (see Exhibit A). Regional planning, research, monitoring, and assessments will generally be considered only when directly tied to the furtherance of on-the-ground projects.

California Conservation Corps

The Coastal Conservancy encourages all applicants to consider using the California Conservation Corps for construction projects.