Deadline Approaching to Apply for Futures Fund Grants

Organizations interested in receiving grant money to fund Long Island Sound environmental projects have until May 29 to apply through the popular Long Island Sound Futures Fund grant program.

The Futures Fund supports projects in local communities that aim to restore and care for Long Island Sound. It unites federal and state agencies, foundations and corporations to achieve high-priority conservation objectives. Funded activities demonstrate a real, on-the-ground commitment to securing a healthy future for Long Island Sound.

Depending on the type of projects, the grants can range between $50,000 and $1.5 million, and can include water quality projects throughout Long Island Sound’s 16,000 square-mile watershed. Those groups who are selected to receive grants through a competitive grant review will be notified later in the year. Information on applying, through a Request for Proposals, is available at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) website.

Below are examples of the types of eligible grants:

Habitat restoration planning or implementation grants for projects in the Long Island Sound Study coastal watershed boundary of CT & NY.

Resilience, education, water quality and fish passage grants for projects in the Long Island Sound Study area in CT and NY.

Nutrient/Nitrogen prevention planning or implementation grants for projects in the Long Island Sound watershed in CT, MA, NY, NH, VT.

Since its inception, the Futures Fund has invested $42 million in 570 projects. The program has generated an additional $54 million in grantee match for a total conservation impact of $97 million. Projects have opened 119 river miles for fish, restored 811 acres of wildlife habitat, reduced 206 million gallons of stormwater pollution, and engaged more than 5 million people in the protection and restoration of the Sound.

NFWF manages the Long Island Sound Futures Fund in partnership with the long island sound partnership through EPA’s Long Island Sound Office. Major funding for the program is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, long island sound partnership, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

For more information, contact Victoria Moreno, Senior Coordinator, Northeastern Regional Programs, at NFWF at Victoria.Moreno@nfwf.org.