Grantee Reporting Guidelines

Current grantees may access reporting guidelines and forms (if required) by clicking on the appropriate program link.

California Coastal and Marine Initiative

Preserving Wild California

Sustainable Fisheries Fund

All Other Programs

Applying for a Grant

Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) and Resources Legacy Fund Foundation (RLFF) accept letters of inquiry for the programs below.

California Coastal and Marine Initiative. An RLFF program to provide grants and low-interest loans primarily on California’s Central Coast and its marine environment, in order to create tangible, enduring, and significant impact in the region, which can then serve as a springboard for broader state and national policy and programs.

Conservation Opportunity Fund. A limited RLF fund providing select grants and contracts, between $15,000 and $40,000, to support projects that closely align with one of our major program areas but are not eligible for funding under these programs. Priority will be given to those projects that are focused on California and leverage additional funds from other private or public sources.

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Loan Fund. An RLF program providing low-interest bridge loans for strategic land or easement acquisitions in the Greater Yellowstone and Crown of the Continent Ecosystems.

Preserving Wild California. An RLFF program providing grants to support wild lands and river conservation in California, including planning, land acquisitions, capacity building, and policy initiatives. This program is in the final year of grant making and will accept letters of inquiry until October 31, 2008.

Sustainable Fisheries Fund. An RLF program to provide grants to fisheries to prepare for certification by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Western Conservation. A program to provide targeted grants, contracts, and low-interest loans to protect and restore ecologically important lands and corridors, improve resource management systems, and build environmental constituencies in the Sierra Nevada, California Central Valley, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Northwest Mexico, and increase land trust capacity and efficacy throughout the west.

Eligible organizations include nonprofit organizations, universities, and select governmental entities.

Application criteria and specific instructions for each program accepting letters of inquiry are available by clicking on the name of the program. Before preparing a letter of inquiry, please carefully review the application criteria and geographic limitations. Priority is given to those letters of inquiry which clearly articulate a plan to accomplish significant, measurable results in support of a program’s goals.

Following is a general procedural timeline to help plan the timing of a request. For more specific instructions, refer to the respective program link above.

Grant proposals are reviewed and approved at the quarterly board meetings held near the end of the month in March, June, September, and December.

Submit a letter of inquiry three (3) months or more prior to the quarterly meeting. The letter should provide a descriptive title and should explain the project’s objectives, funding needs, and relationship to the specific grantmaking priorities of the program.

RLF or RLFF staff will review and respond to the letter of inquiry within four (4) weeks of receipt.

For those inquiries staff identifies for further development and possible consideration by the board, staff will request a full proposal.

The full proposal will be due two (2) months prior to the board meeting.
Notification of board approval or denial will be sent within four (4) weeks after the board meeting. Grant funds are disbursed approximately six (6) weeks after approval by the board.

Carbon Offset Program

RLF and RLFF are partnering with Sustainable Travel International in a one-year pilot program to offset the greenhouse gas emissions associated with travel under RLF or RLFF funded programs and projects. Grantees, contractors, and employees can offset travel funded by RLF or RLFF or associated with a project or program supported by RLF or RLFF through a custom online carbon emissions calculator developed by Sustainable Travel International. RLF will pay for offsets logged in this calculator during the one-year pilot program, investing in projects that support renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation. RLF and RLFF’s goal is not only to reduce our contribution to climate change but also to increase the awareness of our grantees and contractors of the environmental impact associated with travel. For more information regarding the program specifics, please contact Conservation Program Administrator, Meghan Moda at (916) 325-7538 or mmoda@resourceslegacyfund.org. Additional information on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions can be found on Sustainable Travel International's website, www.sustainabletravelinternational.org.

Photograph by Doug Steakley