Brandywine Conservancy to launch new Brandywine Creek Greenway Mini-Grant Program funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR)
Chadds Ford, PA, July 27, 2020 — The Brandywine Conservancy is pleased to announce the launch of the Brandywine Creek Greenway’s (BCG) new Mini Grant Program for 2020-2021. The program is funded by a recent grant of $40,000 from the Pennsylvania DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Program Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation (BRC). With these funds, the Brandywine Conservancy will be able to grant awards of $2,000 to $10,000 to projects that will support and advance the goals and objectives of the BCG’s Strategic Action Plan (2014). The grant funding round will open on July 30, 2020, with applications due by September 15, 2020.
The mini grant program will fund small projects that improve parks, open space and community trails, and will advance priority conservation and recreation projects identified in the BCG's Strategic Action Plan, plus other publicly vetted municipal planning documents. Eligible applicants include Pennsylvania non-profit organizations with tax-exempt status 501(c)(3), municipalities, counties and some educational institutions. Non-profit organizations must submit proof of non-profit status and be registered with the PA Department of State Bureau of Charitable Organizations. Mini grants may not be used to fulfill match requirements for other DCNR funded grant projects. The maximum grant award is $25,000; any amount greater will require approval by DCNR. All projects, related costs and funding must conform to the guidelines of the PA DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Program.
Important application dates:
- Grant Round Opens: July 30, 2020 (grant application materials will be available on the Brandywine Creek Greenway website)
- Application Deadline: September 15, 2020
- Grant Awards Announced: November 29, 2020
- Contracts executed: December 31, 2020
- Projects Begin: January 1, 2021
- Projects Completed: December 31, 2021
- Final Site Inspections by Mini Grant Local Project Coordinator: January-April 2022
- Final Payments: Upon project completion, satisfactory final site inspection and DCNR approval
"We are very excited that these mini grants will provide funding for smaller, yet critical, projects that may otherwise be overlooked for traditional sources of funding,” said Ellen Ferretti, Director of the Brandywine Conservancy. “This program reinforces the work of the strong and collaborative partnerships that have been created through the Brandywine Creek Greenway.”
For questions about the BCG Mini Grant Program, please contact the Brandywine Conservancy’s Meredith Mayer by telephone at 610-388-8351 or via e-mail: [email protected].
About the Brandywine Conservancy:
The Brandywine Conservancy protects water, conserves land, and engages communities. The Conservancy uses a multi-faceted approach to conservation. Staff work with private landowners who wish to see their lands protected forever and provide innovative community planning services to municipalities and other governmental agencies. The Conservancy currently holds over 485 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of more than 66,000 acres of land. The Conservancy is a program of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
About the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art:
The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art preserves and promotes the natural and cultural connections between the area’s beautiful landscape, historic sites, and important artists. The Conservancy protects the lands throughout the Brandywine Valley, developing new conservation approaches and assuring access to majestic open spaces and dependable water supplies for generations to come. The Museum of Art presents and collects historic and contemporary works of American art, engaging and exciting visitors of all ages through an array of exhibitions and programs. The Brandywine unites the inspiring experiences of art and nature, enhancing the quality of life in its community and among its diverse audiences.
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