Thanks for your interest in applying for an FWOC Conservation Grant. Please read the following information carefully. The purpose of these guidelines is to identify a minimum standard process for grant review and approval.
1. The application deadline is January 31 of a given year for grants that are to be awarded by March 31 of that same year.
2. Conservation grants are awarded only to applicants that have established their tax-exempt status under Section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Codes and are not a “Private Foundation” as defined under Section 509(a) of the Code.
3. Grants are only made to qualified organizations in the western US in the region of influence of the Federation of Western Outdoors Clubs.
4. Grant requested amounts should not exceed $2,500.
5. Recipients of grants must agree to provide to the FWOC by January 31 of the following year an itemization of expenditures made from the grant funds.
The Committee cannot grant requests for the following:
• Endowments
• Annual fund drives
• Overhead funds in excess of 10% of the requested total
• Activities that directly or indirectly attempt to intervene or affect any campaign for public office
• Activities that benefit specific individuals
• Sectarian or religious organizations whose principal activity is for the benefit of their own members or adherents
• Requests to fund litigation - these will ordinarily be denied, but exceptions may be granted in extraordinary or unusual circumstances
• Requests from the same organization will normally be considered only once in each calendar year
Applicants will be notified if their application has been received in an incomplete form. Applicants will be notified of the results of the grant application on or before February 22.
For additional information on Conservation grants, please contact the FWOC Executive Committee.
Review Procedure
The FWOC Executive Committee grant review chair will first review all applicants for omissions. Upon satisfactory review, the chairperson will request the full Executive Committee to review the grant proposal. The committee will review each complete grant application within one month of grant submission deadline, and make recommendations by majority vote to disapprove or to approve proposals in part or in full.
Consideration will be given to the following factors in choosing a successful grant proposal:
1. The ability of the grantee to successfully complete the grant.
2. Whether the grant proposal addresses an area of the environment or conservation issues that are significant in the principal region of our influence, the western US.
3. Whether the grant proposal addresses an issue within the FWOC priorities and objectives, as outlined under our Constitution, ARTICLE II. PURPOSES, Section 1, to wit:
“This organization exists to promote cooperation among its members and member organizations in pursuit of conservation and effective action. It aims at educating its member organizations on these issues, drawing them to a shared agenda, disseminating information on the challenges and opportunities for conservation, and enabling them to operate in a more cohesive and effective manner.”
“It strives to conserve outdoor and recreational resources, parklands, wildlife and its habitat, native plants and forests, waters, wetlands, and the environment. It will work to preserve the integrity of these resources and promote stewardship.”
4. The funds available to the FWOC for the fiscal year in question.
5. The size and other resources available to the grantee.
6. The quality of the grant proposal: Is its goal clear? Is it timely? Is the project clearly outlined? Is the line-item budget for the project realistic?