Los Cerritos Wetlands Fund Grant Program

Geographic Scope: Projects located in and around the Los Cerritos Wetlands area (straddling Long Beach and Seal Beach at the end of the San Gabriel River Watershed)

Mission Focus: The Fund supports projects that:

1. Conserve, manage, restore, and enhance wetland and upland habitat, and facilitate environmental planning, permitting and public access
2. Advance healthy communities, social equity and climate resiliency and adaptation
3. Provide educational and research opportunities

Eligible Project Types

• Purchase of strategic conservation easement or fee title of land
• Carbon sequestration pilot projects
• Invasive plant/non-native plant abatement and control
• Urban run-off treatment systems
• Tidal marsh restoration (rip-rap removal, slope recontouring, vegetation with salt marsh plants)
• Native plant landscaping
• Habitat creation (e.g., burrowing owl)
• Wetlands-friendly public access improvements
• Stewardship and education projects
• Sea turtle ecological modeling and monitoring
• Development of wetland restoration, public access, or strategic acquisition plans
• Educational programming and curriculum development
• Public access programming
• Conservation or research value assessments
• Institutional capacity building

Eligibility Requirements

• Primary: Non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
• Limited Exception: Governmental entities, tribes, and academic institutions may qualify if part of a collaboration with eligible non-profits or proposing projects that fill a critical gap in advancing the Fund's mission

Grant Criteria (Projects Must Meet)

1. Applicant is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization (or eligible exception)
2. Project is located in and around the Los Cerritos Wetlands
3. Project advances the Fund's mission
4. Project does not substantially duplicate existing projects/programs (except for partnerships or matching requests)
5. If needed for project success, applicant has provided evidence of working/will work with appropriate partners and has leveraged matching or other funding
6. Project does not involve:
   • Direct political or religious activities or advocacy
   • Direct debt reduction or loans
   • Activities substantially funded or with other principal funding currently being sought
   • Activities that have been completed (other than existing/proposed matching funds)

Grant Review Process

• Decision Authority: Board of Directors makes final grant decisions
• Consultation: Board may consult experts and Fund Advisors
• Conflict of Interest: Board members or Fund Advisors with conflicts must disclose and recuse themselves
• Right to Request Information: Fund reserves right to request additional information and follow-up questions

Grant Awards & Announcements

• Award amounts determined by Board based on Fund resources and other relevant factors
• Awards announced via phone and email to grantees
• Published on Fund website
• Press releases or public announcements expected
• Discretion: Fund reserves right not to award grants if funding insufficient, no qualified applicants, or other reasons

Funding Cycle

• Frequency: Annual competitive grant cycle

About the Fund

• Established: 2019
• Federal Tax ID: 84-1876735
• Partnership: Housed through Long Beach Community Foundation for grant administration
• Founders: Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, Synergy Oil & Gas LLC, AES, and The Trust for Public Land

Contact

• Program Officer: Terry Watt (for questions about the grant program)

Basic Application Steps

1. Review Grant Criteria - Learn if your project qualifies by reviewing the Grant Program & Criteria page
2. Set Up Account - Create an account on the Long Beach Community Foundation's Online Grant Portal
3. Submit Pre-Application - Complete and submit a pre-application through the portal
4. Invitation to Full Proposal - If your project meets the criteria, you will be invited to submit a full proposal
5. Submit Full Proposal - If selected, submit complete grant application

Grant Review Process

• Board of Directors reviews all applications
• Board may consult with experts and Fund Advisors
• Fund may request additional information and follow-up questions from applicants
• Board members or Fund Advisors with conflicts of interest must disclose and recuse themselves

Grant Contract

• Applicants selected for an award must sign the Fund's standard grant agreement

Application Portal

• Applications managed through Long Beach Community Foundation's grant site
• Access the Non-Profit Grants page to find the Fund's grant opportunities
• URL: Apply through Long Beach Community Foundation's system