Project Advancement Grants - California Land Trusts

To apply, please complete the web Round 2 Grant Application below. In addition, you must submit a Work Plan, and Budget Worksheets A and B with the application (click here to download an excel template containing all three required elements).

Consultation with Program Staff
The Program Director is available for consultation with potential applicants prior to submittal. It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants schedule time via the "Book time with Karin Winters: CCLT Project Advancement Grant Round 2 Discussion" link in the sidebar or reach out directly (see Contact Information). Staff are also available to assist applicants complete the Application as needed.

Review Process
Applications will go through an administrative review for eligibility.

Eligible applications will then be reviewed by a Grant Review Committee (GRC) composed of representatives from CCLT and other key partners and peers with relevant expertise and experience. The GRC may request applicants to revise and resubmit applications, as necessary. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Program Director prior to submitting applications to minimize necessary revisions.

The grant proposals will be scored in accordance with the breakdown per prompt outlined below and as listed in the grant evaluation criteria in Appendix A. Scores will be one of many aspects used to determine final grant decisions, including geography and focus areas, and impact on Native, and/or under resourced, underserved, Disadvantaged and Severely Disadvantaged communities. The GRC may recommend modifications, including recommending partial funding, to meet program priorities, funding targets, and available funding limitations. Final funding decisions rest solely with CCLT. CCLT’s decisions on project funding should not be interpreted as an endorsement or approval of projects for future funding by WCB. CCLT will notify all applicants of final decisions.

Round 2 Grant Application

Project Overview

Organization(Required)

Project Name: (Please provide a short descriptive title for the proposed project.)(Required)

Total Cost: (includes match or cost share)(Required)

Amount requested from Project Advancement Grant Program: (total grant funds requested between $25,000-$125,000)(Required)

Start Date: (no sooner than 11/1/25)(Required)

End Date: (no later than 10/31/26)(Required)

Project Location

Primary County(Required)

Specific location (Assessor Parcel Number or address if available)(Required)

Nearest City (distance and direction)(Required)

Latitude (decimal degrees)(Required)

Longitude (decimal degrees)(Required)

Landowner (if applicable)

State Senate District(s)(Required)

State Assembly District(s)(Required)

Optional: Attach a one-page PDF map or photo(s) of your project (location).

Accepted file types: pdf, png, jpg, Max. file size: 5 MB.

Applicant

Organization Name(Required)

Organization EIN #(Required)

Organization Purpose/Mission(Required)

Organization operating budget:(Required)

Acres in Org. Project Pipeline:(Required)

Primary Contact Name and Title(Required)

Primary Contact Email(Required)

Primary Contact Phone(Required)

Primary Contact Mailing Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Project

Project Summary (word limit: 100)(Required)

Please provide a summary of the project in one or two sentences.

Purpose, Need, and Impact (word limit: 500) (20 points)(Required)

1. Clearly describe the proposed project, why it is necessary, and how your project will advance the pace and scale of conservation and/or stewardship in your community and/or in California.
2. Describe the specific problems (current conditions, limiting factors, etc.), issues, or unserved needs the project will address. If this project is part of a land protection project, please describe both development threat and biodiversity of the target property.

Advancing California Conservation (word limit: 350) (15 points)(Required)

1. Describe how this project will increase the pace of land conservation in California and how it both quantitatively and qualitatively supports statewide environmental priorities, including WCB’s strategic goals around Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Access to Nature, the Pathways to 30x30, and/or the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy (NWLCSS).
2. Please describe how your project has a direct connection to WCB’s strategic goals, 30x30 and/or the NWLCSS, referencing specific sections as appropriate. Do you expect your proposal to result in newly protected or stewarded acres? If so, how many acres of land protection or stewardship do you expect your proposal to support?

Advancing Objectives of Project Advancement Grant Program for Land Trusts (word limit: 300) (15 points)(Required)

Describe how the proposed project will both quantitatively and qualitatively advance the following objectives of the Project Advancement Grant Program for Land Trusts:
1. Build a pipeline of over 1 million acres of completed or in-progress conservation projects that directly contribute to 30x30 goals and the NWLCSS,
2. Support projects that provide a direct benefit to disadvantaged communities,
3. Support partnerships between land trusts and California Native American tribes or Native-led organizations, and
4. Support land trusts and partners to leverage $7 million toward projects.

In responding to this question, you should clearly identify the number of acres in your project pipeline, the direct benefits to disadvantaged communities (if applicable), the specific partnerships supported, and the amount of other funding you believe this project will leverage over time.

Project Readiness and Defining Success (word limit: 300) (10 points)(Required)

1. Please describe the project status, feasibility, and the preparations undertaken to ensure prompt project completion. If this project is supporting land protection, please clearly describe the current status, including landowner negotiations, if any.
2. Please share what success in this project looks like one year after completion. How will you measure success and what are specific metrics for both short-term and long-term success, how can CCLT and our funders measure the success of your project upon completion?
3. What would be the impact of these funds throughout your organization and what is the durability of that impact beyond the grant term?

Community Support (word limit: 150) (5 points)(Required)

Describe the specific public and institutional support for the project and any efforts to include the local community and/or Native Tribe or Tribal organization or stakeholders. (Do not include any support letters unless this is a partnership project, but list project supporters and supporting organizations.)

Disadvantaged/Justice Communities (word limit: 100) (5 points bonus, if applicable)

1. If the project provides a direct benefit to a California Disadvantaged or Severely Disadvantaged Community (DAC/SDAC), please provide the location of the project and documentation demonstrating that it is located within or providing direct benefit to the community. Please document by using one of the following tools: Department of Water Resources Disadvantaged Community Mapping Tool, Cal Enviro Screen 4.0, or other tool that defines an underserved or disadvantaged community and why this tool is appropriate for your community.
2. Please describe the services and/or benefits provided. Direct benefits may include training, job opportunities, or cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities.

Will you be working with a Partner Organization?(Required)

Yes

Community Collaboration and Engagement (word limit: 250) (5 points bonus, if applicable)

If applying with a community partner, please explain how the organizations will work together, how grant resources will help strengthen and/or formalize the partnership, and how the resources will be allocated between partners. Provide a letter, MOU, or MOA from the partner organization describing your collaboration.

Native Tribe or Native-led organization (word limit: 250) (5 point bonus) (if applicable)

If applying with a Native Tribe or Native-led organization, describe and provide evidence that this project is engaging authentically with or directly benefiting Native communities, Tribal Nations, Native Tribes (does not need to be federally recognized), or Native-led organizations through an MOU, MOA, or letter of support. Note that if you are partnering with a Native Tribe or Native-led organization, you must provide a letter, MOU, or MOA from the Tribe or organization describing your collaboration.

Partner Organization Name

Partner Organization Focus Area(s)/Purpose/Mission:

Partner Organization Community or Communities Served:

Partner Organization Leader Name

First Last

Partner Organization Leader Title

Partner Organization Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Partner Organization Email

Partner Organization Phone

You must upload a Memorandum of Understanding, Memorandum of Agreement, or other letter of understanding or support with the partner organization. This agreement should be signed by an authorized signer and approved by the organization’s governing board. (PDF)

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.

Project Team and Capacity (word limit: 200) (5 points)(Required)

Describe the project team and their roles for this project and describe your organizational capacity and commitment to complete and sustain the proposed activities. Specifically discuss the likelihood of project success based on the project team and proposed workplan and timeline. Discuss your team’s capacity and commitment to manage this grant and respond to requests in a timely manner.

Project Work Plan (20 points)(Required)

1. List and describe the grant activities by task, with no more than five (5) tasks.
2. Provide a realistic timeline for project activities over the course of the grant period. The grant period may be from 6-12 months long and must conclude no later than October 31, 2026. (Applicants must use the provided Project Work Plan template.)

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.

Budget (10 points)(Required)

Upload completed Budget Worksheet A and Worksheet B saved as PDFs.

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

ROUND 2 APPLICATION RESOURCES

ROUND 2 GRANT TIMELINE

May 2, 2025	Grant Applications Open
May 19 – July 31, 2025	Program Director Available for Consultations
June 16, 2025, 1-2pm	Grant informational webinar (Register)
August 1, 2025	Applications Due
September 15, 2025	Grant Decisions (estimate)
October 17, 2025	Last Day to execute contracts
November 1, 2025 – October 31, 2026	Potential Grant Period

Rolling Deadline for Partnership Proposals or Proposals from Native-led Land Trusts
Applications from Native-led land trusts, or applications that include partnerships with underserved community organizations, Tribes, or Native-led organizations may be accepted on a rolling deadline. You must contact the Program Director by July 18, 2025 to discuss. Regardless of when you submit your application, your grant project must end by October 31, 2026.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Karin Winters, Program Director
E-mail: grants@calandtrusts.org
Phone: 916-497-0272 x2
Book a meeting with Karin