With major support from Toyota Motor North America, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is pleased to announce $225,000 in grant funding to support biodiversity conservation projects on public lands within the California Floristic Province ecological region.

Funding priorities

• Conservation Projects: The purpose of this funding is to support a cohort of conservation projects all working within the same ecological region. Individual projects should focus on protection of biodiversity in the California Floristic Province. Projects must contribute to the 2021 Biodiversity Conservation Grant Program’s conservation priorities and report on the key performance indicators (KPIs) listed below.
• Public Engagement: Additionally, the project should provide opportunities to engage the public through volunteer and community engagement events designed to educate and empower the public to address local biodiversity issues in their communities.
• Target Location: NEEF and Toyota will focus the 2021 Biodiversity Conservation grants on the California Floristic Province. The California Floristic Province (CFP)(link is external) is a region with a Mediterranean-type climate located on the Pacific Coast of North America. This biodiversity hotspot, which experiences hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, is known for being the home of the endangered giant sequoia tree and coast redwood. The CFP was designated as a biodiversity hotspot in 1996, joining 33 other areas in the world with many endemic species. To be named a biodiversity hotspot, an area must contain species and plant life that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The CFP is home to over 3,000 species of vascular plants, 60% of which are endemic to the province.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, state or federal government agencies, federally recognized tribes and local governments, and educational institutions.
• Must have been in existence for at least two (2) years.
• Private for-profit firms and individuals are not eligible to apply.
• Grant funding may not be used to support political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities, or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.
• Must meet the funding criteria (below).

LOI Criteria

• Applicants can request a max of $55,000 to be spent over two (2) years.
• Describe the biodiversity conservation projects that will take place during the grant period and how they will address a regional ecological issue. Proposed projects must be technically sound and apply the best available science and generally accepted best management practices for conservation of critical habitat and species specific to their ecological region. Projects must take place within the California Floristic Province (U.S. locations only).
• Describe the project team, including partnerships with other organizations responsible for implementing grant activities.  Detail the roles and involvement of each organization cited in the LOI.
• Describe how funds will be used to meet project goals.
• 501(c)(3) letter issued by the IRS.

For more information, visit NEEF.