California Watershed Protection Fund Grant

California Watershed Protection Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Rose Foundation For Communities And The Environment
Amount: Up to US $40,000
Last Updated: March 23, 2026

Summary

The California Watershed Protection Fund Grant supports projects aimed at enhancing water quality and protecting watersheds throughout California. With grants ranging from $10,000 to $40,000, eligible applicants include 501(c)3 organizations and governmental entities. Priority is given to initiatives that engage impacted communities and uphold principles of equity and environmental justice. The fund emphasizes hands-on activities that yield tangible benefits for surface water quality, fostering community-based stewardship in response to fluctuating watershed needs.

Overview

NOTE: This fund no longer requires an LOI process. Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on the due date. Background The California Watershed Protection Fund supports projects designed to improve water quality and protect watersheds across California. The fund originated with a $50,000 mitigation payment from a Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement case brought by San Francisco Baykeeper, and out of this humble beginning, the SF Bay Citizens Action Fund was created. Within a few years, the fund expanded to cover watersheds throughout the State as several other groups including the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and Los Angeles Waterkeeper among others, directed their mitigation payments to Rose. The fund continues to be enabled by settlements in CWA citizen suits and supports projects which benefit the surface water quality where enforcement actions have been brought. Due to funding fluctuations, the specific watersheds eligible for grants may vary – please check the list of currently eligible watersheds. The maximum grant amount is $40,000 with most grants expected to range between $10,000 and $30,000. All applicants must be able to demonstrate a strong track record of community-based water quality stewardship. Allowable Projects and Activity Focus Projects must benefit the surface water quality of the watershed in question. Eligible activities include water stewardship, conservation, outreach and education, restoration, and watershed protection.Projects focusing exclusively on groundwater quality are only eligible if there is known interconnectivity to surface waters.We especially encourage projects that involve impacted communities, benefit vulnerable populations, and are centered around principles of equity and environmental justice.Please note: Any projects with an education component must have a palpable water quality benefit. Applicants should consider the inclusion of hands-on activities such as planting, restoration, or trash cleanups as part of their projects or other activities that will have a more immediate impact and should be a substantive part of the project proposal.The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project, including experience in successfully conducting similar or otherwise related work in the past. Most grants are for a one-year period; however, you do not have to ask for a one-year grant. It is permitted to request a shorter or longer grant period if that is what you need. Project proposals must protect or benefit the surface water quality of an eligible watershed.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The applicant must be a 501(c)3 organization, fiscally-sponsored by a 501(c)3, or a governmental or tribal entity. If you work with a small organization that lacks non-profit status but has a compelling project, the Rose Foundation may be willing to act as your fiscal sponsor for this grant proposal. Nonprofit colleges, universities, university clinics and graduate programs are eligible to apply, but university overhead is limited to 5% of grant award. The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project as well as a strong track record of community-based water quality stewardship.Geographic Scope The eligible geographies for this fund vary cycle to cycle due to funding fluctuations. For the Spring 2025 cycle, funding is available for the following watersheds:San Francisco Bay Delta Watershed Tomales Bay including all its tributary watershedsThe Santa Ynez River watershed, including San Miguelito Creek Los Angeles watersheds, including the Los Angeles River, Dominguez Channel, and San Pedro Bay Orange County watersheds, including the San Gabriel River, Newport Bay, and the Santa Ana River Watershed Southern California Bight (coastal LA County)

Ineligibility

The following activities or types of projects will not be funded:Endowment, land acquisition, capital improvement (unless proposed project directly improves water quality) or other similar projects.Grants to individuals.Grants to for-profit businesses.Grants for general operating support.Grants for projects in waters that are not listed in the geographic scope.