CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR A CONSERVATION GRANT

Grant deadline: March 31, 2021

Thanks for your interest in applying for a Mazamas Conservation Grant.  Please read the following information carefully. The purpose of these guidelines is to identify a minimum standard process for grant review and approval.

  • Conservation grants are awarded only to applicants that have established their tax-exempt status under Section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Codes and are not “Private Foundation” as defined under Section 509(a) of the Code.
  • Grants will be awarded only for qualified purposes as defined within the guidelines and under Section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • Grants are only made to qualified organizations in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Grant requests should not exceed $2,500.
  • Recipients of grants must agree to provide to the Mazamas by April 30th of the following year an itemization of expenditures made from the grant funds. If not all funds have been accounted for in the April report, a final financial report is to be submitted by September 1st of the following year.

The Committee cannot grant requests for the following:

  • Endowments
  • Annual fund drives
  • Overhead funds in excess of 10% of the requested total
  • Activities that directly or indirectly attempt to intervene or affect any campaign for public office
  • Activities that benefit specific individuals
  • Sectarian or religious organizations whose principal activity is for the benefit of their own members or adherents
  • Requests to fund litigation - these will ordinarily be denied, but exceptions may be granted in extraordinary or unusual circumstances
  • Requests from the same organization will normally be considered only once in each calendar year

Applicants will be notified if their application has been received in an incomplete form. Applicants will be notified of the results of the grant application before July 1st.

For additional information on Conservation grants, please contact the Conservation Committee.

Review Procedure

The Conservation Committee Chair will review all applicants for omissions. Upon satisfactory review, the chairperson will request the full committee to review the grant proposal.   The committee will review each complete grant application within one month of grant submission deadline, and make recommendations by majority vote to disapprove or to approve proposals in part or in full.

Consideration will be given to the following factors in choosing a successful grant proposal:

  1. The ability of the grantee to successfully complete the grant
  2. Whether the grant proposal addresses an area of the environment significant in the Pacific Northwest
  3. Whether the grant proposal addresses an issue within the Mazamas priorities and objectives
  4. The funds available to the Conservation Committee for the fiscal year in question
  5. The size and resources of the grantee
  6. Preference will be given to grantees that find creative ways to educate, inform, and/or include the Mazamas in their conservation projects. Some examples might be a day hike in the wilderness area identified in the grant, an overnight outing (which could include fieldwork), or a slide presentation.
  7. The quality of the grant proposal: Is its goal clear? Is it timely? Is the project clearly outlined? Is the line-item budget for the project realistic?  The Mazama Board of Directors will approve grants approved by the Conservation Committee before final notification.

Previously Awarded Grants