By Thomas Au, Conservation, Legal & Nominating Chair, Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter
The PA Chapter Executive Committee has approved a budget of about $40,000 for 2024 for conservation projects. Conservation projects are broadly defined as those that advance the mission of the Sierra Club but do not involve political or legislative activities. We offer these large and small grants in three separate categories:
- Chapter Conservation Teams (Clean/Dirty Energy, Air/Water Quality, Zero Waste, Food & Agriculture Public Lands, Transportation)
- PA Chapter Groups
- Non-Sierra Club entities (must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit)
Chapter Conservation Teams will get the first opportunity to be considered. There is no deadline (except for the end of the year), but it is first-come-first-serve. Groups are also invited to submit.
If you have an idea or concept, please discuss it with your team/group leaders and get the application process started. It's a very simple process. You can find our application form here.
You should be aware that there is a separate concurrent grant program, known as Huplits Grants, administered by the Allegheny Group. See the description of this grant program. You are welcome to apply for a Huplits Grant as well.
Recent recipients used this funding for PFAS testing in groundwater and for farm stand produce, environmental awareness yard signs, water quality monitoring, and installation of PM2.5 air monitors.
We encourage conservation projects to be innovative, reach out to our conservation community, and positively impact our environment. Matching (or partial) funding from a sponsoring group is encouraged, but not required.
Thank you for all that you do to protect our environment.
This blog was included as part of the September 2024 Sylvanian newsletter. Please click here to check out more articles from this edition!