[BCNnet] Small grants available for aquatic habitat conservation

[Joel Brammeier]

To:		Chicago Area Environmental Leaders
From:		Joel Brammeier, Habitat Coordinator, Lake Michigan
Federation
Date:		August 22, 2001
Re:		Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund


The Chicago region is known around the world for its majestic skyscrapers,
strong industrial presence, and stunning lakefront parks.  As we move into
the next decade, the Lake Michigan Federation wants the region to be known
as a leader in another field: aquatic habitat restoration.  The past several
years have seen many efforts to bring natural habitat back to the Chicago
area: the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan, Mayor Daley's
signing of the Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds, and the
Federation's own work on the redevelopment of Northerly Island. 

It is critical to involve local community groups in successful urban habitat
restoration efforts.  To that end, the Lake Michigan Federation is pleased
to announce the availability of funding for aquatic habitat protection in
the Lake Michigan basin.  The Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
(GLAHNF) offers grants of up to $3,500 twice per year for community-based
habitat restoration efforts.  Illinois groups such as the Friends of the
Chicago River, the Lake Bluff Open Lands Association, and the Waukegan
Harbor Citizens' Advisory Group have successfully obtained GLAHNF grants
since the program's inception in 1996.  As Illinois coordinator for the
Fund, the Lake Michigan Federation assists organizations with the grant
application process.  Types of projects that would be considered for funding
include, but are not limited to:

*	Land use and watershed advocacy and planning.
*	Watchdogging of regulation implementation.
*	Rehabilitation of ponds, lagoons, shoreline, and other wetland areas
for fish and migratory bird habitat.
*	Non-partisan voter education and citizen involvement initiatives.

The GLAHNF Special Opportunity Grants Program also provides grants of up to
$500 throughout the year for short-term needs.  Some key project criteria:
grants are for smaller organizations, with budgets of about $250,000 or
less; projects should be action and advocacy based (education alone will not
likely be eligible); projects should be in the Lake Michigan drainage basin
or a case must be made that the project will provide benefits to habitats
inside the basin.

In addition to providing GLAHNF funding, the Lake Michigan Federation serves
as the Network Hub for GLAHNF in Illinois.  The Hub provides a resource for
information regarding habitat protection and funding availability.  We are
interested in strengthening Illinois' presence in the Great Lakes Aquatic
Habitat Network in 2001 and encourage all interested parties to contact the
Federation. 

The grant application appears below.  Proposals are due on September 30,
2001.  Please contact me at the Lake Michigan Federation (312-939-0838 or
jbrammeier@lakemichigan.org) with any questions about the application
process and grantwriting assistance.  If you would like extra copies of the
application and complete information about the grant program, please visit
the Network's web site at www.glhabitat.org.  The Great Lakes Aquatic
Habitat Fund & Network is a program of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
in Harbor Springs, MI.

Please forward this notice to other organizations that need assistance in
conserving aquatic habitat in and around the Chicago area.






GREAT LAKES AQUATIC HABITAT NETWORK and FUND
2001 GRANTS PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM
Fall Funding Cycle

Application Information
This application form is to be used by applicants to the 2001 Fall grant
cycles of the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund Grants Program.
Complete information regarding this grant program, including eligibility,
types of activities funded, priority program areas, evaluation criteria, and
application process and timeline are included in the 2001 Request for
Proposals (2001 RFP). This form is not to be used for Special Opportunity
Grants Program. See the 2001 RFP for information on how to apply for a
Special Opportunity Grant. 

Assistance for Potential Applicants
You are encouraged to contact a GLAHNF Advisory Panel member, Network Hub or
staff member to discuss your grant application. Pre-application discussions
can help you work the kinks out of your proposal and increase your chances
for success. See the back of the 2001 RFP for a list of GLAHNF advisors.

Application Deadline
Fall 2001 Funding Cycle--Applications must be postmarked by September 30,
2001.

Application Instructions
Please type your application on separate sheets using the headings,
questions, and format outlined below. The application, including the budget,
should be no longer than six (6) typed pages using no smaller than 11 point
font.

Electronic Application Submittal
This application form is located on the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network
and Fund website at www.glhabitat.org.  Electronic applications may be
submitted in lieu of paper copies, so long as the application is e-mailed
and the necessary support materials are mailed by the appropriate deadline.
To submit electronically, simply download or cut and paste the application
questions from the website, complete the application in your own word
processing program, save as a Microsoft word document with a  ".doc"
extension, and send as an attachment to greatlakes@watershedcouncil.org.
However, you will still need to mail the supporting materials requested
below.

Application Format
Applicant Information
Organization Name
Name of Project Coordinator
Street Address or P.O. Box
City, State/Province, Zip/Postal Code
Telephone
Fax
E-mail

Sponsor Information (If Applicable)
(U.S. applicants who are not 501(c)(3) organizations and Canadian applicants
who are not Registered Charities must have a qualified sponsor serve as
fiscal agent. See RFP for details. If a sponsor is required, please include
the same information as requested for applicants.)

Project Title

Amount of Request

Total Project Cost

Abstract
(Provide a concise one-paragraph summary of the project.)

Organizational Information
(Please answer the following questions about your organization.)
1. When was your organization founded and what is your organizational
mission?

2. What are your current programs, activities, and accomplishments?

3. What is your current annual budget and primary sources of income by
percentage?

4. Explain why you feel you are a grassroots organization and therefore
eligible for this grant program.

5. If you receive funding for this project, will it in any way impact your
status as a 501(c)(3) organization or registered charity?

Description of Project
(Please answer the following specific questions about your project.)
1. Is the project located in the watershed of the Great Lakes? If not, how
will this project protect or restore aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes
Basin?

2. What aquatic habitat protection need does the project address?

3. Describe your plan of work, including specific tasks or outcomes that
will be accomplished with this project. 

4. Provide a brief time line for the proposed project, including start
dates, milestones, and expected completion date.

5. How does the project relate to your organization's core work and help
your organization increase its ability to protect aquatic habitats?

6. How does your project address the 2001 GLAHNF Priority Program Areas?
(Please refer to the 2001 RFP; projects need not meet all priorities.) 

7. How do you plan to evaluate the success of the project?

8. Do you plan to promote or disseminate the results of your project? If so,
how?

9. Have you sought other funds for this project? If so, describe sources and
results.

10. How did you find out about the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and
Fund?

Proposed Budget
Please present the project budget in descriptive summary categories, such as
personnel, materials, phone, printing, postage, training, workshops, travel,
professional consultant fees, and materials. Clearly identify which portion
of the budget is to be supported by this grant. If there are matching funds
for this project, please identify source and amount.

Supporting Materials
Please attach the following supporting materials to your application:
		1) 501(c)(3) confirmation letter from IRS or Registered
Charity confirmation letter from Revenue Canada. If the applicant is not a
501(c)(3) organization or registered charity, then submit required
charitable status documentation for sponsor organization
2) Address and phone numbers of all collaborators
		3) Please limit other support materials (letters of support,
newspaper articles, etc.) to two items that you feel are essential to
evaluate your proposal.

Note: In addition to these materials, grant recipients may be required to
provide GLAHNF with additional information.

Send your completed application (or supporting materials if you are applying
electronically) to: 

Jill Ryan, Coordinator
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
c/o Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Mailing Address: 426 Bay Street, Petoskey,  MI  49770

PH (231) 347-1181
FX (231) 347-5928
E-Mail: jill@watershedcouncil.org
GLAHNF Website: http:www.glhabitat.org