2008 Grantmaking Overview

The Stewardship Council developed the 2008 Grantmaking Plan based on lessons learned in our first two years of grantmaking and from feedback provided by our grantseekers and award winners (click here for grantseeker survey results). The feedback indicates that the Stewardship Council is generally on the right track with its grantmaking program and should continue on the same path it was on in 2007. Therefore, the 2008 Plan closely mirrors that of 2007 with some minor updates and enhancements. Key changes include:

1. There will be two Impact Fund rounds in 2008 so that applications can be better managed
2. More frequent notifications will be made about the status of applications
3. More advice will be provided on how to use the online application system

Below is a link to the 2008 Grantmaking Plan document adopted by the Stewardship Council Board of Directors in September 2007. This is followed by an overview of our 2008 grantmaking goal, objectives, program strategy, priorities, and eligibility requirements.

Request for Proposals and application calendars are available on our Request for Proposals and Application page. Grantseekers will be able to access the online application process as each application deadline approaches. Sign-up to receive email updates from us regarding our grantmaking efforts and initiatives.

NEW! 2008 Grantmaking Plan PDF

Grantmaking Goal

To improve the lives of underserved youth by providing greater access to outdoor experiences from urban parks in the city to watersheds in the wilderness.

Grantmaking Objectives

• Increase the participation of underserved youth in successful outdoor urban and wilderness programs.
• Improve the cultural relevance of outdoor and park programs to better serve and reflect the diverse youth of California.
• Make the outdoors a more integral part of youth’s lives to improve their general health and well-being.
• Improve the infrastructure of community parks and urban open spaces to make them more accessible and welcoming.
• Support coordinated approaches to helping youth get outdoors and to increase their well-being through partnerships among diverse sectors involved in youth development (e.g., health, environmental justice, mental health, education, and juvenile justice).

Program Strategy

In 2008, the Stewardship Council will continue to implement a strategic grantmaking program to reduce physical, financial, and social barriers to enable youth participation in outdoor experiences. To achieve its stated goals and objectives, the Stewardship Council will direct grants to support:

• Emerging, grassroots efforts aimed at reducing barriers for youth engagement in outdoor activities in communities with significant needs (Catalyst Fund)
• Day-to-day operations of promising programs and high-impact organizations (Impact Fund);
• Collaborative ventures that advance the field of outdoor education, health and well being, and cultural relevance through thought leadership and innovative partnerships (Collaboration Fund); and
• Substantial improvements in the infrastructure of community parks and urban open spaces that are planned and executed by established organizations that have demonstrated capacity (Infrastructure Fund);

Priorities

• Demonstrate well-rounded approaches to youth development (e.g., combining outdoor education with academics, health, food, environment, environmental justice, leadership, media, or other youth development models).
• Employ best practices for outdoor and/or environmental education that actively engage learners, promote discovery, and address the interconnectedness of relationships in the natural and social environments.
• Provide ongoing opportunities for connecting youth to the outdoors that go beyond the one-time outdoor experience.
• Integrate outdoor education into the lives of young people and transfer the lessons learned from outdoor experiences to school, home, and community.
• Recognize and address the need for adult relationships in youth’s lives and seek to incorporate adult relationships as a component in its approach. This relationship may be in the form of mentors, extended kin care, foster care, families or extended family members.
• Demonstrate a commitment and capacity to collaborate with others in the field to make the outdoors a more integral part of youth’s lives.
• Share and reflect the core values of the Stewardship Council including collaboration, stewardship, discovery, sustainability, and leadership.
• Bring resources and funds beyond those of the Stewardship Council to ensure continuance of efforts over time.

Eligibility for Funding

Applicants for Youth Investment Program funding must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Be a federally and California exempt organization under IRC Sec 501(C)(3) and/or classified as a public charity or a public agency, school district, or a federally recognized tribe, or a fiscally sponsored project of an exempt organization.
• Serve youth within the geographic scope of the Stewardship Council in Northern and Central California.
• Serve youth who are between the ages of 13 to 18 (non-school-based projects), or between 7th and 12th grades (school-based projects).
• Have been in existence for at least one full calendar year (with the exception of the Catalyst Fund for grassroots organizations).

Geographic Focus

The Stewardship Council will continue to focus grantmaking efforts in the major urban areas of the Bay Area, as well as urban communities along the Highway 99 corridor of the Central Valley from Chico to Bakersfield. We will also strive to provide appropriate resources for compelling park and youth program requests from rural areas.

Multi-Year Funding

In 2008, we will make multi-year grants on a trial basis, one per Impact Fund grant round. We will continue to exercise the option of distributing Infrastructure funds over two years. We anticipate that three out of the five estimated Infrastructure grants will be paid out over a two-year period.

Grant Funds and Budgets

The Stewardship Council will commit between $2.0 million and $2.5 million in grant funding for 2008. We will continue to offer four grant funds. To review details on these funds, review our 2008 Grantmaking Plan or visit our Request for Proposal and Application Page.