Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) is excited to again partner with CITGO to provide grants to organizations and groups in the Gulf of Mexico region interested in hosting volunteer-based clean-up, conservation, or restoration events to protect and enhance the Gulf’s coasts and waters.

These grants are intended to provide groups with funding to host new events, or to increase the impact of already planned events, aimed at engaging Gulf-region communities in the protection of their local natural resources. Funds should be used to support event activities; for example, to purchase trash bags and gloves for a shoreline cleanup or to purchase plants and tools for a restoration event.

Funds may not be used for political lobbying or otherwise attempting to influence legislation or specific elections, fundraising, budget shortfalls, general operating costs, scholarships or grants to individuals, or any other purpose beyond the scope of this request for proposals.

Funding Information

• Available Funding: Approximately $18,000 will be available through this program.
• Grant Amount: The maximum amount that will be awarded to one organization is $3,000. There is no minimum funding amount.
• Project Period: Given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, projects place between February 1st and July 30th, 2021 will be considered.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants will be registered non-profits (501(c)(3)) and local community organizations in the Gulf of Mexico region.
• Organizations outside the Gulf of Mexico region, for-profit entities, and individuals are not eligible.

Evaluation Criteria

Project proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Potential for this funding to increase event capacity and/or impact – e.g. additional volunteers/hours, additional number of plants, miles, etc. planted/improved
• Expected impact of the event on local communities and ecosystems – e.g. number of volunteers, amount of shoreline cleaned, acres planted, etc.
• Demonstration of community engagement and outreach – e.g. expected number of participants, future follow-up events planned
• Funding need

Grantee Requirements

• Projects selected for funding will be required to submit a short report to Restore America’s Estuaries in August, 2021 detailing how the funds were used and outcomes of the event.
• The report should also include at least 10 high-quality photographs from your event, including at least one group photo with signage should it be provided, and one blog post written by the grant recipient to be featured on RAE’s website.
• Grantees will be expected to recognize both Restore America’s Estuaries and CITGO on all advertising and promotion related to the event.
• Grantees will be expected to allow Restore America’s Estuaries and CITGO use of their logo and/or name as it relates only to the event.
• Lastly, grant recipients will be required to attend an informational webinar in February to discuss safety precautions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

For more information, visit Gulf Region Grants Program.