District of Columbia
The Chesapeake Bay Trust and the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment partner to deliver the Community Stormwater Solutions Award Program. The goals of this Request for Applications (RFA) are to protect and enhance, directly or indirectly, the District’s water bodies or watersheds. Another goal is to create new community partners and strengthen existing relationships with community-based organizations and small businesses. This program will support community-oriented and inspired projects that are designed to increase knowledge and lead to behavior change as it relates to watershed and stormwater-related issues.
What does this program fund? Activities such as educational events/workshops, installation and maintenance of runoff-reducing green infrastructure, art installations, restoration of habitat, litter or pollution reduction, or other project types that meet the goals of the grant program. Projects should be inspired and supported by the priority community within the District. See the RFA for the full list of eligible project types.
Who can apply? The funding partners welcome requests from the following entities physically located in the District: non-profit organizations, small businesses, schools and universities, government agencies, and more. See the RFA for full list of organizations.
How much can be awarded? Up to $35,000
How much is available in the program? approximately $300,000
Is a match required? In-kind and cash match is not required but can be included, if necessary, to accomplish project goals.
Grant Application Process: The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s applications are all submitted through an online system, using the “New Award” button to the right.
Grant Application Budget Form: Applicants are required to submit a budget using the “Community Stormwater Solutions Application Budget” spreadsheet found here.
Green Infrastructure Maintenance Form: the Trust provides a template form for green infrastructure maintenance found here.
Program Status: CLOSED
Deadline was Thursday, March 28th, 2024, at 4:00 PM EST
Narrative Questions
Other Required Documents
Manage an Existing Grant
Manage an existing grant or continue an existing application
Watch Our Information Session
We held a virtual information session on March 6th, 2024 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET on Zoom. The session provided an overview of the DC-CSS program, the application process and required documentation, what to expect after your application and resources available to applicants. Click on the video below to watch the session or at https://vimeo.com/920481773?share=copy.
View Presentation Slides (.pdf)
Learn more about previously awarded projects on our interactive map!
Questions & Technical Support
Marylin Veiman Echeverría
Program Officer for Outreach and Education
Mveiman@cbtrust.org
410-974-2941 ext.103
Workshops and Webinars
We will be offering free workshops to learn about the Community Stormwater Solutions Grant Program, ‘do’s and don’ts’ of grant-writing, and one-on-one application and project development assistance.
Grant Information Workshop: The FY23 Grant Information Workshop Was Held on 7/7/2022. A recording is available here: https://vimeo.com/728181464
Grant Writing Workshop: A Grant Writing Workshop will be held on 7/28/2022. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEscuisqT0uHdKw4SkSiYMMzA7umHThhNo4
Awarded Projects
| Year | Award Amount | Organization | Project Title | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $30,000 | After-School All-Stars | Let's own our community! | This award is for high school students and community members to participate in a series of stream visits, trash cleanups, and educational activities regarding the impacts of litter on local waterways. |
| 2022 | $24,339 | Casey Trees | Langdon Park Recreation Center | This award is for high school students to participate in interactive learning opportunities and action projects in their Ward 8 community in the Anacostia watershed. |
| 2022 | $30,000 | Constituent Services Worldwide Public Benefit Corporation | Green Infrastructure Environmentalist Apprenticeship Program | This award is for the creation of digital and print educational resources including information regarding the trees on Kingman and Heritage Islands and their role in promoting community and watershed health and for a community stewardship day to include tree planting. |
| 2022 | $30,000 | Designgreen LLC | RiverSmart Rooftops: Expanding Maintenance Capabilities and Inclusion | This award is for middle school students to participate in nature-play and programming promoting stewardship of local waterways at the Farm at Kelly Miller. |
| 2022 | $30,000 | Designgreen LLC | Takoma Community Collaborative: Implementing Resident Action Plan | This award is for Anacostia River-focused poetry performances and community engagement activities that promote stewardship of local natural resources. |
| 2022 | $23,881 | Flywheel Development LLC | Fairfax Village Hill Restoration | This award is for residents in Takoma to explore green infrastructure solutions through community-based design charrettes and to design a shovel ready solution to a long-term persistent flooding issue. |
| 2022 | $18,000 | Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens | WELLderness: Rediscover Your Backyard Oasis | This award is for community engagement activities to expand a woodland adjacent to the Quincy Alley area to include the installation of a natural playground and native trees |
| 2022 | $29,997 | Living Classrooms Foundation of the National Capital Region | Kingman Explorers | This award is for 60 high school students to participate in a field experience at Kingman and Heritage Islands and for 46 teachers to participate in professional development training. |
| 2022 | $35,000 | National Wildlife Federation | Sacred Grounds: Phase 2 | This award is for East Washington Heights Baptist Church congregation members and nearby residents to be engaged in educational activities regarding the negative impacts of lawns and alternative solutions for managing stormwater runoff. |
| 2022 | $30,000 | Near Southeast Community Partners | Lluvia Verde: Green Career Recruitment and Training for DC Latinos | This award is for residents in and around the Oxon Run sub-watershed to participate in six family-oriented educational activities regarding natural resources issues and stewardship actions. |
| 2022 | $29,122 | The Green Scheme | Ward 8 Water Watchers Returns! | This award is for Cleveland Elementary School's fourth and fifth grade students to participate in a neighborhood-based, watershed education project that will connect them to the Anacostia River. |
| 2022 | $22,000 | Washington Area Bicyclist Association | DC Youth Watershed Explorers | This award is for utility and topographic surveys to further develop a community green space concept plan, production of a mini documentary including resident interviews, and support for student internship projects as connected to the original Takoma Community Collaborative project. |
| 2021 | $4,960 | Designgreen LLC | Takoma Community Collaborative: Extension | This award is for student and community engagement in the installation of rain barrels and an artistic vertical garden structure using native and pollinator friendly plants. |
| 2021 | $20,000 | Friendship Public Charter School | Friendship Collegiate Academy Giving Tree | This award is for the creation of a cohort of three churches, development of a planting plan, and an additional workshop for Ward 7 and 8 congregations on the RiverSmart Communities Program as connected to the original Sacred Grounds project. |
| 2021 | $4,893 | National Wildlife Federation | Sacred Grounds Extension | This award is for outreach and recruitment activities to increase participation of Latino residents in stormwater management workforce training. |
| 2021 | $15,000 | Near Southeast Community Partners | Lluvia Verde: Green Career Training for DC Latinos | This award is for the addition of educational sessions, one field trip, and one online training video for participants of a stormwater management workforce training as connected to the original Green Career Training for DC Latinos project. |
| 2021 | $3,600 | Near Southeast Community Partners | Lluvia Verde: Green Career Training for DC Latinos Extension | This award is for education on environmental stewardship and the creation of a community mural to amplify the message of stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay through images of the plants and animals of the watershed. |
| 2021 | $19,747 | Pipkin Creative Communications | Mural: Beauty of the Bay | This award is for an educational video and increased outreach to residents living near Oxon Run as connected to the original Ward 8 Water Watchers project. |
| 2021 | $5,000 | The Green Scheme | Ward 8 Water Watchers Extension | This award is for high school students to participate in a series of virtual learning modules regarding the District's stormwater challenges and solutions. |
| 2021 | $20,000 | The Urban Studio | The Virtual Studio: Designing for DC Stormwater | This award is for the addition of outdoor programming for Cleveland Elementary School's fourth and fifth grade students as connected to the original Waterway Guardians in Shaw project. |
| 2021 | $5,005 | Urban Learning and Teaching Center | Lions in the City Extension | This award is for educational activities and engagement of residents and park stewards in the revitalization of Fort Stanton Park. |
| 2021 | $19,860 | Ward 8 Woods Conservancy | Restore Fort Stanton Park | This award is for increased activity days involving litter clean up and invasive species removal by park stewards as connected to the original Restore Fort Stanton Park project. |
| 2021 | $4,994 | Ward 8 Woods Conservancy | Restore Fort Stanton Park Project Extension | This award is for engagement of students, parents, and the broader community in scientific inquiry of local green spaces. |
| 2020 | $15,320 | Anacostia Riverkeeper | River Service Today, River Stewards Tomorrow | This award is for a series of community activities focused on maintaining existing trees and enhancing other green infrastructure practices. |
| 2020 | $15,500 | Anacostia Watershed Society | Building Community through Service with Anacostia High School | This award is for the implementation of the Green Infrastructure Apprenticeship Program. |
| 2020 | $19,972 | Casey Trees | Trees, Water, and You: Fostering Stewardship on Kingman & Heritage Islands | This award is for the engagement of Latino landscape companies in the implementation of a green roof maintenance training program. |
| 2020 | $20,000 | City Blossoms | Environmental Education Opportunities at the Farm at Kelly Miller | This award is for the implementation of a design and community action plan to capture stormwater runoff. |
| 2020 | $20,000 | Day Eight | Anacostia Swim Club | This award is for the creation of consensus-based and professionally made design drawings to capture stormwater runoff. |
| 2020 | $20,000 | Designgreen LLC | Takoma Community Collaborative: Streamway to Greenway | This award is for a series of activities in nature to promote restoration of the watershed and personal health. |
| 2020 | $10,000 | Endangered Species Coalition | Quincy Entrance and Woodland Improvement Project | This award is for immersive, out-of-school time programming with underserved youth groups. |
| 2020 | $19,996 | Living Classrooms Foundation of the National Capital Region | Anacostia High School Meaningful Watershed Education Experience (MWEE) | This award is for educational and restoration activities on congregation grounds and congregation members’ homes. |
| 2020 | $19,612 | National Wildlife Federation | Sacred Grounds: Engaging the Hillcrest Community in Caring for Creation in the Anacostia Watershed | This award is for participation of Latino residents in workforce training on stormwater solutions and career pathways. |
| 2020 | $19,995 | The Green Scheme | Ward 8 Water Watchers | This award is for the training of community leaders as water ambassadors and for family-oriented watershed activities. |
| 2020 | $20,000 | Urban Learning and Teaching Center | Lions in the City: Cleveland Elementary School Waterway Guardians in Shaw, DC | This award is for bicycle explorer camps to provide youth and families with opportunities to learn about local waterways. |
