Urban and Community Forestry: Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program

Urban and Community Forestry: Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Virginia Department of Forestry
Amount: US $1,000 - US $55,000
Last Updated: January 21, 2026

Summary

The Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program supports communities in enhancing their urban tree canopy to improve water quality and public awareness. With funding ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, projects can include tree plantings and community engagement initiatives. Grants are available for diverse organizations, including local governments and civic groups, aiming to foster long-term environmental benefits and community involvement in tree management.

Overview

NOTE: Applications must be submitted 30 days prior to the estimated planting date and an award must be issued prior to beginning the project or incurring project expenses. Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program The Virginia Department of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry program seeks to support cities, towns, and communities across the Commonwealth as they establish and maintain their urban tree canopy. The benefits of trees to the urban environment, including water quality protection, are clear. As urbanized areas of the state grow, trees are an essential component of vibrant communities, providing balance to the built environment and improving the quality of life for residents and visitors. Managing urban and community forest resources can sometimes be a complex undertaking. The DOF community assistance programs provide professional forestry assistance to help communities balance the built environment and their urban forest resources to protect, conserve, and manage tree resources for future generations. Objectives of the Virginia Trees for Clean Water Program Plant trees that restore and improve the waters for the benefit of current and future citizens of the Commonwealth.Achieve long-term improvements in water quality through long-lived tree cover and increased public involvement.Raise public awareness about the benefits of planting trees for the health of our citizens, streams, wildlife and rivers.Help the Commonwealth meet WIP III goals. Proposal Categories Projects may include but are not limited to the following: Riparian BuffersCommunity or Street Tree PlantingsNeighborhood-wide ProjectsTurf-to-TreesTree Giveaways Funding The funding range for proposals is $1,000 to $55,000 per project.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grants may be awarded to civic groups, communities, local governments, non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, public educational institutions, state agencies, tribal organizations and volunteer groups.We do fund:The only costs eligible for reimbursement are those associated with one or more of the following:Fees charged by private contractors and/or consultants. Purchase of essential supplies and materials. Purchase and planting of trees (2 inches in caliper or less) and shrubs. Maintenance expenses, including watering, are eligible for reimbursement; however, VDOF cannot reimburse until after all deliverables/activities have been completed. Maintenance costs will be ineligible if submitted outside the approved grant period.Costs associated with site preparation and soil amendments.All projects must have a direct community engagement component.Projects should educate participants of the water quality benefits of tree planting.All projects must be maintained for a minimum of 15 years.Trees for riparian projects should generally be seedlings. Any street tree planting should provide the square footage of planting space, such as the dimensions of the tree pit or planting strip for each site.NeighborWoods projects must be carefully planned and technically sound, and involve the assistance of qualified technical experts, agencies or organizations.

Ineligibility

The following costs are NOT reimbursable BUT are allowed to meet the match for the project.Cash or in-kind donations and services. Salary and fringe costs for paid staff. Volunteer labor, machinery and equipment. Overhead and/or indirect costs.We don’t fund::Purchase of machinery or equipment.

Construction of any kind (e.g., sidewalks or roads).
Purchase of food, snacks or beverages.
Purchase of land or land charges.
Purchase of plant material classified as invasive species (See provided list for ineligible plants - Invasive Plants Species List).Purchase and planting of ash species (Fraxinus sp.) due to the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis).Costs that are not incurred during the grant award period.
Costs not approved by the U&CF program manager during the award phase or by grant modification.No vines or non-woody plants.Grant funds will not be approved for projects that are initiated as a requirement of zoning, mitigation, etc.No large shade trees shall be planted under power lines.
No monocultures of trees will be funded under the program.
Tree planting events cannot occur between May 1 st and September 30th.