Applying for a Grant

Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) and Resources Legacy Fund Foundation (RLFF) accept letters of inquiry for the programs below.

California Coastal and Marine Initiative. An RLFF program to provide grants and low-interest loans primarily on California’s Central Coast and its marine environment, in order to create tangible, enduring, and significant impact in the region, which can then serve as a springboard for broader state and national policy and programs. See a summary of the revised CCMI program strategy for a more detailed description.

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Loan Fund. An RLF program providing low-interest bridge loans for strategic land or easement acquisitions in the Greater Yellowstone and Crown of the Continent Ecosystems.

Sustainable Fisheries Fund. An RLF program to provide grants to fisheries to prepare for certification by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Western Conservation. A program to provide targeted grants, contracts, and low-interest loans to protect and restore ecologically important lands and corridors, improve resource management systems, and build environmental constituencies in the Sierra Nevada, California Central Valley, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Northwest Mexico, and increase land trust capacity and efficacy throughout the west.

Northwest Mexico Land Conservation. A program to provide support for acquisition and other protection efforts in priority Northwest Mexico coastal areas.

Eligible organizations include nonprofit organizations, universities, and select governmental entities.

Application criteria and specific instructions for each program accepting letters of inquiry are available by clicking on the name of the program. Before preparing a letter of inquiry, please carefully review the application criteria and geographic limitations. Priority is given to those letters of inquiry which clearly articulate a plan to accomplish significant, measurable results in support of a program’s goals.

Following is a general procedural timeline to help plan the timing of a request. For more specific instructions, refer to the respective program link above.

Grant recommendations are reviewed and grants are approved at the quarterly board meetings held in March, June, September, and December.

Letters of inquiry (LOIs) can be submitted at any time. (Proposals are only accepted by invitation.) An LOI should provide a descriptive title and should explain the project’s objectives, funding needs, and relationship to the specific grantmaking priorities of the program.

Staff will review and respond to all LOIs. If an LOI is identified for further development and possible consideration by the board, staff will invite a full proposal.

Notification of board approval or denial will be sent within ten days following the board meeting.

Photograph by Tupper Blake