Environmental Champions Awards

Overview

Founded in 1935 by Middletown philanthropist Clarence S. Wadsworth, The Rockfall Foundation is one of Connecticut’s oldest environmental organizations. The Foundation supports environmental education, conservation and planning initiatives in the Lower Connecticut River Valley through public programs and grants. In addition, the Rockfall Foundation operates the historic deKoven House Community Center that offers meeting rooms and office space for non-profit organizations.

Environmental Champions Awards

Through its Environmental Champions Awards, The Rockfall Foundation recognizes individuals and groups to highlight their contributions to the region in the area of natural resource preservation, conservation, restoration, or education. The Tom ODell Distinguished Service Award\* is given for outstanding life-long accomplishments. Certificates of Appreciation are awarded to recognize significant programs and projects.

The focus areas include:

* Preservation: work to protect ecosystems, species, and other irreplaceable elements of the region’s natural heritage.
* Conservation: work to minimize our use of finite natural resources and our negative impacts on ecosystems and communities.
* Restoration: work to re-establish the healthy functions of an ecosystem or parts of ecosystems.
* Education: work to foster a stronger awareness and understanding of environmental and sustainability issues.

The nominee’s contributions must impact the Lower Connecticut River Valley, which includes the following towns: Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook. Impacts to the Connecticut River corridor or Long Island Sound are also eligible as long as there is a benefit to at least one of the listed towns.

What We Fund
Programs, projects, or capacity building initiatives within one or more of the Foundation’s priority areas are eligible for funding. Annual grants support both ongoing programs and start-up initiatives. The Foundation’s grants often provide critical seed money and support for groups that do not have large budgets or staff.
Ideally, these grants can be leveraged to attract additional funders.
Grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. The available pool in 2024 for all grant awards is $31,200. The Grants Committee may schedule applicant interviews at their discretion if they believe it will be helpful to their understanding of the proposal.
Funding for materials, transportation, program/presenter fees, intern stipends and similar items are eligible. Items such as food, regular operating expenses (e.g. insurance, rent, and other overhead), indirect labor, salaries and benefits are not generally funded, but may be considered for organizations under financial hardship. Funding must be applied to the items/activities described in the application form. Substitutions are not permitted unless prior approval has been obtained.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Eligible projects are those that support the environment through preservation, conservation, restoration or education.
* Organizations certified as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, towns, and schools are eligible to apply. Prospective applicants who do not meet this eligibility requirement may partner with an eligible entity as a co-applicant in order to comply. A letter of agreement of this partnership from the host entity must be included with the application, stating that they agree to be equally responsible for compliance with all grant requirements.
* Organizations or projects must be based in one of the focus towns: Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, or Westbrook. Proposals that focus on the Connecticut River corridor or Long Island Sound will be considered as long as there is a demonstrated impact in at least one of the focus towns.
* Types of programs, projects and initiatives that are funded include:
* environmental education
* responsible environmental planning
* preservation of the Connecticut River Watershed
* innovative solutions to waste stream management and pollution
* open space acquisition
*  environmental justice
* or anything consistent with the priorities