Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits, Tribes, and Watershed Districts for Environmental Projects

Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant Program

Agency

State

GrantWatch ID#

217392

Funding Source

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)

Geographic Focus

USA: Minnesota

Important Dates

Deadline: 08/05/25 4:30 PM

Grant Description

Grants to Minnesota nonprofit organizations, Tribal entities, and watershed districts for environmental projects. Applicants must complete the required registration before applying. Funding is intended to protect the state's water resources and implement infrastructure projects. The grant program includes two opportunities: the Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant and the Green Infrastructure Grant.

The Clean Water Fund was established to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams in addition to protecting groundwater and drinking water sources from degradation. Clean Water Funds must supplement traditional sources of funding and may not be used as a substitute to fund activities or programs.

Program components:

First year and second year: For developing and implementing a Water Legacy Grant program to expand partnerships for clean water; and
Second year: Grants to watershed districts to reduce the costs to landowners for green infrastructure projects, including rain gardens, permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting and reuse, and other clean water practices. Priority must be given to projects in low-income and high-pollution areas. Watershed districts may partner with local community groups, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties to perform the work and provide outreach to communities.

Eligible activities can consist of structural and non-structural practices; project development (feasibility study, subwatershed assessment, etc.); program and project support (e.g. education, outreach, marketing, staff time); technical and engineering assistance necessary to implement grant activities; and grant management and reporting.

For information about conservation projects see https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2024-10/FY24-25%20Clean%20Water%20Legacy%20Partners%20RFP_final.pdf#page=5.

Recipient

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Non-governmental organizations, Tribal governments, the 1854 Treaty Authority, and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission are eligible to apply for the Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant. Watershed districts are eligible to apply for the Green Infrastructure Grant.

A non-governmental organization is defined as an organization that is a nonprofit, also known as a charitable organization, that is formed to fulfill a mission to improve the common good of society rather than to acquire and distribute profits.

Minnesota Tribal Governments refers to the federally recognized sovereign tribal nations that share geography with Minnesota (MINN STAT. 10.65), the 1854 Treaty Authority, and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

For Green Infrastructure Grants, watershed districts must have a current state-approved and locally adopted local water management plan or comprehensive watershed management plan. Applicable plans must be current when the Board approves awards to be eligible to receive grant funds.

Ineligible

Costs that are unallowable to be charged to BWSR grants include but are not limited to:
• Bad debts, late payment fees, and investment management fees
• Giving donations and fundraising
• Entertainment, gifts, prizes, and decorations
• Alcohol
• Interest on loans not authorized under state statute
• Loans of BWSR grant funds
• Lobbying, lobbyists, and political contributions

For ineligible conservation activities see https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2024-10/FY24-25%20Clean%20Water%20Legacy%20Partners%20RFP_final.pdf#page=7.

Pre-Proposal Conference

An informational webinar will take place on November 6, 2024, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzE3NzNlYjAtMzM2NC00YTIzLWE4NDAtODY3NzJiODU5MDU0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22eb14b046-24c4-4519-8f26-b89c2159828c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22f740492d-c6d4-428c-ae8b-c0838fee5537%22%7d

Pre-Application Information

Applications must be submitted in eLINK by 4:30 pm on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

Round 2 (if needed) will open on May 5, 2025, and close on August 5, 2025.

Submit questions in writing by 4:30 pm Central Standard Time on Friday, January 3, 2025 (Round 1), and August 1, 2025 (Round 2).

Proposals must be submitted via eLink. Eligible applicants without a current eLINK user account must submit a request to establish an eLINK account no later than seven days before the proposal deadline.

A non-state match equal to at least 10% of the amount of the grant received is required. Match can be provided by landowners, land occupiers, private organizations, local governments, or other non-state sources and can be in the form of cash or in-kind for services or materials contributed to accomplish grant objectives.

FAQ: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/node/9726

Grant profile: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/node/10511

Estimated Size of Grant

Applicants must request state funds between $50,000-$250,000.

Allocations:
- $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year for developing and implementing a water legacy grant program to expand partnerships for clean water; - $2,000,000 the second year for developing and implementing a water legacy grant program. Of this amount, $500,000 is for grants to watershed districts.

For additional funding information see https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2024-10/FY24-25%20Clean%20Water%20Legacy%20Partners%20RFP_final.pdf#page=4.

Contact Information

Apply online: https://elink.bwsr.state.mn.us/login

For questions regarding the grant program, email cwfquestions@state.mn.us with “Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant” or “Green Infrastructure Grant” in the subject line.

For questions regarding the eLINK grants management system, email elinksupport@state.mn.us. Review the eLINK-related topics on BWSR’s eLINK webpage before contacting eLINK support: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/elink

RFP & Supporting Documents

Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.

https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2024-10/FY24-25%20Clean%20Water%20Legacy%20Partners%20RFP_final.pdf

Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits, Tribes, and Watershed Districts for Environmental Projects

Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant Program

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