Brandywine Conservancy Accepting Applications Starting March 20 For Brandywine Creek Greenway Mini Grants

The Brandywine Conservancy is pleased to announce the launch of the Brandywine Creek Greenway’s Mini Grant Program for 2023-2024. The grant funding round will open on March 20, with applications due by May 30, 2023. 

This program is funded by a recent grant of $85,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnership Program Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation (BRC). 

With these funds, the Brandywine Conservancy will be able to grant awards of $2,000 to $25,000 to projects that will support and advance the goals and objectives of the Brandywine Creek Greenway Strategic Action Plan in Chester and Delaware counties.

The mini grant program will fund small projects that improve parks, open space and community trails, and will advance priority conservation and recreation projects identified in the BCG's Strategic Action Plan, plus other publicly vetted municipal planning documents

Eligible applicants include Pennsylvania non-profit organizations with tax-exempt status 501(c)(3), municipalities, counties and some educational institutions. 

Non-profit organizations must submit proof of non-profit status and be registered with the Department of State Bureau of Charitable Organizations. 

Mini grants may not be used to fulfill match requirements for other DCNR funded grant projects. 

The maximum grant award is $25,000; any amount greater will require approval by DCNR. All projects, related costs and funding must conform to the guidelines of DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnership Program.

Important application dates: 

-- Grant Round Opens: March 20, 2023 (grant application materials will be available on the Brandywine Creek Greenway website) 

-- Application Deadline: May 30, 2023  

-- Grant Awards Announced: September 18, 2023 

-- Contracts Executed: November 6, 2023 

-- Projects Begin: November 2023   

-- Projects Completed: November 30, 2024 

-- Final Site Inspections by Mini Grant Local Project Coordinator: September 2024 

-- Final Payments: Upon project completion, satisfactory final site inspection and DCNR approval  

Visit the Brandywine Creek Greenway’s Mini Grant Program webpage for all the details.  Questions should be directed to the Brandywine Conservancy’s Sarah Sharp at ssharp@brandywine.org. 

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Brandywine Conservancy website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy (middle of the webpage.)  Visit the Conservancy’s Blog, Like the Conservancy on Facebook and Follow them on Instagram.

The Conservancy currently holds over 485 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of more than 70,000 acres of land.

[Posted: February 24, 2023]  PA Environment Digest