Long Island Community Foundation Issues RFP for the Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund
Proposal Due: Friday, January 17, 2020
Email to: jdemaio@licf.org
OVERVIEW
The Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund (LISSF) is a competitive grant program seeking proposals to restore and protect the health and living resources of the Long Island Sound. We are interested in empowering communities of all kinds but especially underserved communities to access, improve and benefit from the Long Island Sound, its waterways and surrounding lands. Up to $400,000 is expected to be available for grants in 2020. The availability of funds is contingent upon the quality of proposals received, and their alignment with the priorities in this RFP. The LISSF aims to:
- Support nongovernmental organizations working on issues and projects related to the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan 2015 (CCMP 2015);
- Help build stronger nongovernmental organizations working in this region;
- Foster collaboration and innovation around conservation and environmental quality work;
- Accelerate the “next best step” for proven strategies to reduce pollution, restore habitat, conserve species, enhance resilient communities, support inclusive management, and engage people around the Sound;
- Support local communities in advancing environmental justice.
THE LONG ISLAND SOUND FUNDERS COLLABORATIVE
The Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative (the Collaborative) is a group of funders with missions that include clean waters, thriving habitats, and sustainable communities. While most of the funders are not solely focused on this goal, we aim to build our effectiveness through collaboration. Since its inception, the Collaborative has worked together to educate ourselves about the myriad issues facing the Sound and about possible solutions. We have been engaged in aligned funding for eight years. The LISSF pools our investments and expands our grantmaking. We will support projects that address pressing challenges and provide for a healthy, productive, and resilient Sound now and into the future. LISSF is administered by the Long Island Community Foundation (LICF). Foundations providing support for grants under this RFP are: Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Jeniam Foundation, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Long Island Community Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, New York Community Bank Foundation, The New York Community Trust, Pamela and Richard Rubinstein Foundation, Rauch Foundation, and Westchester Community Foundation.
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS
All proposals must fall within any part of the Long Island Sound watershed in the states of Connecticut and New York as shown on the LISSF Boundary Map.
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
Capacity Building to increase the effectiveness of organizations that focus on restoration and protection of the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. Capacity-building can occur in every part of an organization, including programs, management, operations, technology, governance, fundraising, and communications. Funds may be requested to build: resource capacity needed to carry out the CCMP; systems capacity needed to effectively and efficiently deliver project results; or adaptive capacity that provides an organization with the capacity to monitor, assess and act on data, to respond to organizational or environmental changes and/or to adjust performance for greater impact. Some examples of capacity-building strategies and tools for which funds may be requested are...