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 that it is a public service. Applicants need not reside in the District, but the proposed project must be implemented wholly within District boundaries. In its performance of the work, the 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.

 

Eligible Activities
Funded activities must result in water quality improvement and/or greater public awareness of how 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.

Education Grants must result in greater public awareness of ways to improve water quality. These projects may include a water quality improvement project.

Innovation Grants must use new and innovative techniques for stormwater management, water quality improvement, or habitat enhancement.
 
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 that 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
• School bus rental 
• 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.
 
 

Publicity and Acknowledgement Requirements:

• The MCWD is happy to help you advertise your project or program.  Please send information six weeks before your event so we can post it on our web site 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 MCWD 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 by contacting MCWD staff. All signage paid for with grant funding must be approved by the MCWD Education 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 and the end date of the project (for use 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 your project are required in digital format. Any project involving construction photos need photos taken “before”, “during”, “after,” and “1-2 years after.”  We are especially interested in “action shots” showing people planting, learning, and hopefully having fun.

Other helpful items include:

• Copies of any newspaper, newsletter, web site, or other media mentions of the project.
• Any lessons 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.