Mid-Atlantic Community Forestry Fund
Mini Grant Program

What is it?

The Mid-Atlantic Community Forestry Fund is a grant program that leverages forestry to address environmental and public health issues in the Mid-Atlantic. Our goal is to disperse and democratize the range of co-benefits that healthy community forests have for decades into the future. A robust community forestry and tree stewardship effort is a powerful tool to improve the health of the Mid-Atlantic region. Increasing tree canopy improves local air and water quality, cools neighborhoods, fosters public health, stimulates local green jobs, encourages community cohesion, mitigates flooding and its adverse effects, and strengthens the region and its inhabitants.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust co-leads the Mid-Atlantic Community Forestry Fund with Centro de Apoyo Familiar, CEEJH Inc, Howard University, Overbrook Environmental Education Center, and Sentinels of the Eastern Shore Health. Emphasizing a participatory and inclusive decision-making process, the Fund empowers different representatives of communities affected by environmental and public health issues to participate in the development of the Request for Proposal (RFP), scoring applications, selecting funded projects, and providing limited technical assistance to a select group of applicants.

What does this fund and how much funding is available?

This mini-grant program offers up to $10,000 per award, with applicants eligible to apply for and receive multiple awards.

The Fund supports community-based forestry initiatives that expand local capacity to plan, plant, maintain, and steward trees while addressing environmental, public health, and climate adaptation challenges. Funding may be used for tree planting and canopy enhancement projects, technical assistance and organizational capacity building, and workforce development opportunities that engage residents in forestry-related education, job training, and career pathways. Projects that include tree plantings will be prioritized.  Air-monitoring equipment can comprise up to $750 of an application budget, depending on funding availability.

Examples of eligible projects:

• Developing or refining a strategic plan for forestry-related work.
• Training of staff in forestry-related skills.
• Tree planting on abandoned agricultural land or vacant lots.
• Community food forests.
• Supporting summer job opportunities, internships, and other educational workshops that introduce individuals to careers in community forestry and arboriculture.
• Training in community forestry skills such as tree planting, maintenance, and green infrastructure.

Who can apply?

Community-based organizations that are tax-exempt or fiscally sponsored throughout the Mid-Atlantic region (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV), particularly those who have historically faced barriers in securing funding to address environmental and public health issues.

*See eligibility criteria section of Requests for Proposals for more details.

Funding Acknowledgement:

Funding is provided by the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act investment, as well as by other local private and community foundations. Each of these partners are equal opportunity providers.