Next grant cycle: Fall 2008
- Pre-Proposal Application Form (MS Word format) A pre-proposal is highly recommended to be submitted before a full proposal. Pre-Proposals are accepted anytime between now and Monday October 6, 2008.
- Full Application Form: Education Grants (MS Word Format)
Full Application Form: Innovation Grants (MS Word Format)
Applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal after their pre-proposal has been reviewed by MCWD staff. Deadline for submittals of full proposals is Monday October 27, 2008. - Please submit via email to jwesterlund@minnehahacreek.org as well as by mail to Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, 18202 Minnetonka Ave, Deephaven, MN 55391 or fax to (952) 471-0682.
- Funds will be distributed in January 2009.
The Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund currently has $100,000 available for projects within the District that create public awareness about water stewardship or use innovative methods to improve water quality. Two types of grants are available:
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Education Grants must result in greater public awareness of ways to improve water quality. These project may include a water quality improvement project. Click here to see a list of previously funded projects.
Jump to Application Guidelines- Education Grant
Jump to Criteria for Selection - Education Grant -
Innovation Grants must use new and innovative techniques for stormwater management, water quality improvement, or habitat enhancement.
Jump to Application Guidelines- Innovation Grant
Jump to Criteria for Selection - Innovation Grant
Request for Proposals
- Overview: The Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund was established by the MCWD in 2000 in memory of Cynthia Krieg, whose life exemplified dedication to community service and natural resource protection. This fund encourages and supports community service initiatives to protect water quality and promote public awareness of nonpoint source pollution abatement. The MCWD wishes to partner with local community groups and government agencies to engage citizens in water quality protection.
- Eligible Applicants: Non-profit organizations*, businesses**, cities, townships, and school districts may apply. Examples of potential applicants include:
- Schools and educational institutions (public and private)
- Youth organizations and clubs
- Civic groups
- Lake, homeowners, and neighborhood associations
- Counties, cities and townships
- Churches
- Local business associations
- Eligible Activities: Funded activities must result in water quality improvement and/or greater public awareness of ways to improve water quality (education grants) or new, innovative ways of managing water quality (innovation grants). Applicants are strongly encouraged to include a community service component, promoting civic involvement by youth, families, and other citizens (education grants) or to evaluate their results and disseminate them to the public (innovation grants). Funded activities must be within the boundaries of the MCWD. Examples of projects that will be considered include:
- Water quality monitoring, sampling or other environmental indicator monitoring and reporting.
- Development of educational sites and exhibits demonstrating water quality protection principles.
- Workshops about water quality issues and techniques to improve water quality.
- Restoration/establishment of vegetated buffer zones, especially along waterways, lakes, ponds or wetlands.
- Public education such as posters, flyers, videos, festivals, public service announcements, exhibits, booths at public events, etc.
- Community clean-ups of natural areas such as lakes, streams and wetlands
- Native habitat restoration.
- Native plantings around buildings or grounds which result in improved water quality.
- Leadership programs engaging young people in water quality related civic activities.
- Applied research related to water quality protection.
- Innovative demonstration projects that protect water quality.
- Eligible Costs: Funds may be used for:
- purchase of supplies, resource publications and plant materials
- contracting with specialists
- copying
- rental of school buses
- permit costs
- other items as agreed to by MCWD and its representatives
- Publicity and Acknowledgement Requirements:
- All award recipients must work with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to seek media coverage of their project(s).
- All projects, publications and publicity generated or developed as part of this project must include public acknowledgement of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District as a partner and funder. Acknowledgement language shall read 'Funding provided by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District' or 'Funding provided by the Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District'. The MCWD logo is available for use on funded projects. Contact MCWD staff.
- All projects shall comply with MCWD signage standards.
- Review Process and Selection Criteria: All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed and ranked by a panel of individuals representing the MCWD. Ranking will be done according to percentages as assigned to questions in the “Application Guidelines” section below. The MCWD Board makes the final selection determination.
- Award of Funds:
- Once the fiscal agent and the MCWD execute a notarized agreement, applicants will receive a check for the awarded amount. Some projects may need MCWD permits and maintenance agreements to be recorded with the appropriate county depending on the type of project.
- For additional information or eligibility clarification please contact the Communications & Education Coordinator at (952) 471-0590 ext 209 or the Communications and Education Assistant at ext 222.
- Final Report Guidelines: A report describing the work performed and documenting expenditures of grant funds shall be provided to the MCWD before the final 10% of the award is paid. All direct expenditures of $50 or more shall be documented with receipts. The final report shall include:
- A narrative describing what occurred during the grant period and how the grant funds were used.
- Photos documenting the process and/or outcome of the project. Digital photos are encouraged.
- Any lessons that you learned during this process and would like to share with current grantees and future applicants.
- Recommendations regarding the grant process or any other suggestions you would like to give the MCWD.
*Non-profit organizations and other groups must be officially registered with the state of Minnesota. Proof of organizational status will be required with submission of the full proposal.
** For-profit groups are encouraged to partner with a local citizen group or school. Individuals are not eligible to apply. If a project will be implemented on private property, the applicant must show how it benefits the general public and is a public service. Applicants need not reside in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed; however, the proposed project must be implemented wholly within the District’s boundaries. In its performance of the Work, GRANTEE shall ensure that no person shall be excluded from full employment rights or participation in or the benefits of any program, service or activity on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, public assistance status, or national origin; and no person who is protected by applicable federal or state laws, rules or regulations against discrimination otherwise shall be subjected to discrimination.
Funds may not be used to pay for capital equipment or for existing staff and overhead expenses.
Application Guidelines
A complete application consists of all the items listed below. Applications should be no longer than five (5) pages in 12-point font (budget, maps, and any appendices do not count as part of the five-page limit).
The percentage following items 2-8 corresponds with the weight of each item in the ranking process.
Education Grants must result in greater public awareness of ways to improve water quality. These projects may include a water quality improvement project.
Download this material in MS Word Format
1. Title Page with Executive Summary:
Using the format of the pre-proposal application form, write a title page that includes the primary applicant’s (organization) name, contact person’s name and title, address, phone, fax and email. List any partnering organizations with contact person.
Include a brief Executive Summary paragraph (50 words or less) that summarizes the main goals and activities of your project. Indicate the total amount you are requesting from MCWD, along with any match. Note: it is important that your executive summary be 50 words or less. The summaries will be used in the grant review process and on the MCWD website, should your project be funded.
2. Project Description, Goals and Activities: (30%)
Provide a brief description of your organization and the proposed project. List the primary goals for your project related to water quality protection. After each goal, describe the activities you will undertake to reach that goal. These goals should be measurable and indicate the outcomes you expect to achieve. For example: “At least 40 local citizens will participate in a water quality fair at Smiley Community Center and take home a soil testing kit.” Be sure to indicate where project activities will take place. Provide a one-page map 8-1/2” x 11” showing specifically the location of the work and indicating what will take place at each location.
3. Educational Component: (30%)
Clearly define your target audience and the water quality messages you are delivering about your project, and how you will communicate those messages.
4. Community Involvement Component: (15%)
Specifically, list the names of community groups and/or local citizens you will partner with on your project. Explain how their involvement will be encouraged. Explain, in detail, how will they be involved in planning and implementing your project?
5. Evaluation: (5%)
Explain how the effectiveness and success of the project will be measured. (The required final report is not considered part of the project evaluation)
6. Project Timeline: (5%)
Please provide a brief project timeline listing major project activities and when they will occur.
7. Key Project Personnel: (5%)
Who will lead the project and implement activities? What are their qualifications? List any sub-contractors who will be working on this project and their expertise in participating. What role will they play in implementing the project?
8. Budget: (10%)
Provide a detailed and reasonable budget that lists each item for which you request funding. If you have other sources of funding, describe them. Please Use the sample Excel spreadsheet format.
You are strongly encouraged to seek assistance while preparing your application from the Communications & Education Assistant at the MCWD Offices - contact Melissa Reimer at (952) 471-0590 ext 222.
Download this material in MS Word Format
Title Page with Executive Summary:
Using the format of the pre-proposal application form (found online), write a title page that includes the primary applicant’s (organization) name, contact person’s name and title, address, phone, fax and email. List any partnering organizations with contact person.
Include a brief Executive Summary paragraph (50 words or less) that summarizes the main goals and activities of your project. Indicate the total amount you are requesting from MCWD, along with any match. Note: it is important that your executive summary be 50 words or less. The summaries will be used in the grant review process and on the MCWD website, should your project be funded
Project Description, Goals and Activities: (30%)
Provide a brief description of your organization and the proposed project. List the primary goals for your project related to water quality protection. After each goal, describe the activities you will undertake to reach that goal. These goals should be measurable and indicate the outcomes you expect to achieve. For example: “Plant survival using new planting techniques for green roofs will be evaluated for 10 species of plants.” Be sure to indicate where project activities will take place. Provide a one-page map 8-1/2” x 11” showing specifically the location of the work and indicating what will take place at each location.
Are there new and different techniques being incorporated into the project? What makes this project innovative? Please note: we do not consider standard rain garden installations to be innovative.
Evaluation: (15%)
Explain how the effectiveness and success of the project will be measured. (The required final report is not considered part of the project evaluation)
Disseminating Results: (5%)
What methods will be used to ensure that the purpose and the success of the project are made known to the public?
Project Timeline: (5%)
Please provide a brief project timeline listing major project activities and when they will occur.
Key Project Personnel: (5%)
Who will lead the project and implement activities? What are their qualifications? List any sub-contractors who will be working on this project and their expertise in participating. What role will they play in implementing the project?
Budget: (10%)
Please provide a detailed and reasonable budget that lists each item for which you request funding. If you have other sources of funding, please describe those. Use the sample Excel spreadsheet format
You are strongly encouraged to seek assistance while preparing your application from the Communications & Education Assistant at the MCWD Offices - contact Melissa Reimer at (952) 471-0590 ext 222.
Criteria for Selection
These correspond to questions in the Application Guidelines:
Education Grants:
Water Quality (30%)
- Does the project have an impact on water quality protection (either direct or indirect) within the Minnehaha Creek Watershed?
- Does the applicant clearly state what their goals are related to water quality protection and how they will reach them?
Education (30%)
- Does the project have an educational component? Is the audience clearly identified?
- Is a specific method described? (30%)
Community Involvement (15%)
- Does the project encourage community involvement or community service by local citizens?
- Are local citizens involved in planning and/or implementing the project?
Evaluation (5%)
- How will the effectiveness of the project will be measured?
Timeline (5%)
- Is the timeline realistic given the scope of the project?
Personnel/Partnership (5%)
- Does the project involve partners with other organizations or groups?
Budget (10%)
- Is the budget appropriate for the proposed project?
Water Quality (30%)
- Does the project have an impact on water quality protection (either direct or indirect) within the Minnehaha Creek Watershed?
- Does the applicant clearly state what their goals are related to water quality protection and how they will reach them?
Innovation (30%)
- What makes the project innovative?
- Is a specific method described?
Evaluation (15%)
- How will the effectiveness of the project will be measured?
- Is this a viable form of evaluation?
Disseminating Results (5%)
- How will the results of the project be made known to the public?
Timeline (5%)
- Is the timeline realistic given the scope of the project?
Personnel/Partnership (5%)
- Does the project involve partners with other organizations or groups?
Budget (10%)
- Is the budget appropriate for the proposed project?
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