• Next grant cycle: Fall 2009 (funds distributed in January 2010)
  • Pre-Proposals Due - Wednesday, September 29, 2010 (MCWD accepts pre-proposals at any time and will provide feedback, but a pre-proposal is not required)
  • Proposals Due - Wednesday, October 20, 2010
• The Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Grants are available every year for projects within the District that:
  • create public awareness about water stewardship (Education Grant)
    or
  • use innovative methods to improve water quality (Innovation Grant)

Questions about the Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund can be direct to the Education and Communications Manager.

Jump to:
Application Guidelines
Selection Criteria
Acknowledgement and Final Report Requirements

Pre-Proposal

Applicants are asked to review the application guidelines and submit a pre-proposal (application below). Also, the selection criteria the review team uses is available for review.

• Education Grants must result in greater public awareness of ways to improve water quality. These projects may include a water quality improvement project. Click here to see previously funded projects.
  
• Innovation Grants must use new and innovative techniques for stormwater management, water quality improvement, or habitat enhancement. Click here to see previously funded projects.

Download Pre-Proposal Application (MS Word format)

Please submit via email to the Education and Communications Manager as well as by mail to Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, 18202 Minnetonka Ave, Deephaven, MN 55391 or fax to (952) 471-0682.

If you have questions about the pre-proposal or the Cynthia Krieg Grant please contact the Education and Communications Manager, at 952-471-0590 ext. 209 or by email.

Proposal

Applicants are encouraged to review the application guidelines of the Cynthia Krieg grant as they work on their proposal. In addition, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the selection criteria the review team uses during their review.

• Education Grants must result in greater public awareness of ways to improve water quality. These projects may include a water quality improvement project. Click here to see previously funded projects.
  
• Innovation Grants must use new and innovative techniques for stormwater management, water quality improvement, or habitat enhancement. Click here to see previously funded projects.

Download Proposal Applications (MS Word/Excel format):

Application - Education Grant

Application - Innovation Grant

Budget Form - Education and Innovation Grants

Please submit via email to the Education and Communications Manager as well as by mail to Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, 18202 Minnetonka Ave, Deephaven, MN 55391 or fax to (952) 471-0682.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Education and Communications Manager while working on their proposals with any questions or concerns at 952-471-0590 ext. 208.

Application Guidelines

The application guidelines are below for applicant review or are available for download in MS Word format here: Application Guidelines

I. 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 non-point source pollution abatement. The MCWD wishes to partner with local community groups and government agencies to engage citizens in water quality protection.

II. 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

*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.

III. 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.  

IV. 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

*Funds may not be used to pay for capital equipment or for existing staff and overhead expenses.

V. 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.

VI. Award of Fund

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 Education & Communications Manager at (952) 471-0590 ext 209.

VII. 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:

• An accounting summary sheet showing a full accounting of expenditures, as well as photocopies of receipts for all expenditures of $50 or more.
• A narrative describing what occurred during the grant period and how the grant funds were used.
• Results of your project evaluation
• 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.

 

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria is below for applicant review.

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?
• Is the reason for and impact of the project described?
• Is the purpose of the project compelling?

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?
• Will the evaluation give meaningful information that will be useful in future projects with phases of this project?

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?

Innovation 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?
• Is the reason for and impact of the project described?

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?

Acknowledgement and Final Report Requirements

Publicity and Acknowledgement Requirements:

• The MCWD is happy to help you advertise your project or program.  Please send information 6 weeks before your event so we can post it on our website and send it via our list serve.
• 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 signage paid for with grant funding must be approved by the MCWD Education & Communications Manager.

Final Report Requirements: 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.  To ensure proper processing of final payment, final reports are due 30 days prior to the project expiration date noted in your grant agreement.  The final report needs to include:

• A 100-word summary of the project and the end date of the project (to be used on the MCWD website)
• An accounting summary sheet showing a full accounting of expenditures, as well as photocopies of receipts for all expenditures of $50 or more.
• A 1-2 page narrative describing what occurred during the grant period and how the grant funds were used.
• Results of your project evaluation as specified in the work plan included in Exhibit A.
• Photos documenting the process and/or outcome of the project in digital format.
• Copies of any newspaper, newsletter, website or other media mentions of the project.
• 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.
• Any additional anecdotal feedback you wish to share such as verbal comments, emails, or letters from participants.

Photo Requirements: Photos documenting your project are required.  For any project involving construction photos need to be taken “before”, “during”, “after” and “1-2 years after”.  We are especially interested in “action shots” showing people planting, learning and hopefully having fun!