Since the Bay Conservancy received its first appropriation from the Legislature in 1999, the Conservancy has contributed approximately $215 m to help fund over 230 fish and wildlife habitat, public access and open space, and environmental education projects. For each dollar spent, these monies have leveraged an average of three dollars from local, federal, private, or other State sources. Annual reports with descriptions of all of the projects funded from July 1999 through June 2005, along with funding summaries, may be viewed by clicking here . (Reports for FY 05-06 and 06-07 will be posted during winter of 2007.)

What kinds of projects does the Bay Conservancy fund?

The Bay Conservancy funds the following types of activities in both urban and rural areas, anywhere in the nine Bay Area counties:

• Acquisition of property interests for fish and wildlife habitat, open space and scenic viewsheds, regional trails (trails that serve greater-the-local needs), and protection of agriculture;
• Planning and design for habitat restoration projects and regional trails and related visitor-serving facilities;
• Construction of regional trails and related visitor-serving facilities and habitat restoration measures; and
• Certain hands-on, community-based habitat restoration projects that also provide environmental education

Bay Conservancy funds generally are not available for long-term monitoring, operation and management, mitigation, or scientific research.

We welcome multi-purpose projects, such as those that entail habitat restoration and compatible public access or that combine stream restoration and flood management. When multi-purpose projects include purposes outside of the Bay Conservancy’s mandate (e.g., flood management), matching funds must be provided from another source.

What types of organizations are eligible for Bay Conservancy funding?

Organizations typically eligible for Bay Conservancy funding include local, state, and federal public agencies, special districts, and private non-profit organizations with 501(c)3 tax status whose purposes are consistent with those of the Coastal Conservancy. Eligibility various slightly depending upon the source from which the Bay Conservancy funds are drawn.

What is the size of Bay Conservancy grants?

Grants typically range from $100,000 to $1,000,000. Larger grants may be available for certain property acquisitions and habitat restoration projects. Small grants involving hands-on, community-based habitat restoration and environmental education usually range from $25,000 to $150,000.

Are matching funds required?

A strong preference is given to projects with matching funds. On average, Bay Conservancy funds are matched 3:1 by contributions from the grantee and other sources.

When are funding proposals due?

For most types of projects, the Bay Conservancy welcomes funding requests continuously. Grants are approved by the Coastal Conservancy at public meetings held approximately eight times per year. For small grants involving hands-on, community-based habitat restoration and environmental education, the Bay Conservancy conducted a grant round during the summer of 2007 and expects to conduct a similar grant round in 2010.

What is the procedure for applying for funding?

Contact the Bay Conservancy staff person with responsibility for the county (or program area) in which your project is located. Staff responsibilities and contact information are as follows:

• Deputy Bay Program Manager, San Francisco County, SF Bay Trail and Ridge Trail:
  Moira McEnespy- mmcenespy@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-4165


• Contra Costa County and Eastern Alameda County:
  Michelle Jesperson- mjesperson@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-7143


• Western Alameda County and South Bay Shoreline Study:
  Brenda Buxton - bbuxton@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-0753


• Santa Clara County and Hands-On Trails/Restoration Grant Program:
  Jeff Melby - jmelby@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-4088


• San Mateo (Bayside), South Bay Salt Pond Project and S.F. Bay Area Water Trail:
  Ann Buell - abuell@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-0752


• San Mateo County (Coastside):
  Janet Diehl - jdiehl@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-4164


• Marin County (Bayside), Napa County and Eastshore State Park:
  Tom Gandesbery - tgandesbery@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-7028


• Marin County (Coastside) and Sonoma County (Coastside):
  Karyn Gear - kgear@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-4171


• Sonoma County (Bayside) and Invasive Spartina Project:
  Maxene Spellman - mspellman@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-0332


• Hamilton Field/Bel Marin Keys:
  Betsy Wilson- bwilson@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-4167


• Solano County, Integrated Regional Water Mgmt. Program and Watersheds:
  Melanie Denninger - mdenninger@scc.ca.gov or 510-286-0748

For projects located in two or more counties, please contact the Bay Conservancy’s Program Manager, Amy Hutzel (510-286-4180; ahutzel@scc.ca.gov)

The Bay Conservancy staff person contacted will ask for information to confirm the appropriateness of the project and the eligibility of the project sponsor for Bay Conservancy funding. If the project meets those basic criteria, then a project sponsor would typically be asked to fill out an application. Under some circumstances, staff may be able to assist with readying projects for funding.