The Grant Process

The grant committee comprised of Conservancy board members, reviews funding proposals. This volunteer committee focuses on reviewing the proposed work to be funded, intended outcomes and consistency with the Conservancy’s mission. Drawing on a team of knowledgeable Conservancy members, scientists and environmentalists, the committee considers how closely the proposed work links to Conservancy’s strategies, and how well it would complement efforts already underway. Applicants may be asked to submit more details about their proposals.

The 25th Anniversary Grant Fund welcomes ideas for advancing our goals. If organizations wish to inform us about their work, please send a brief email to Ted McGraw, Grant Committee chair, with a copy to Kristen Peterson.

How to Apply

Applicants provide a two-page Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which is a general description of the proposed project. If the grant committee finds the LOI consistent with Grant Fund goals, the applicant is invited to submit a full proposal. Requests For Proposal (RFP) will be sent to qualifying applicants, inviting them to submit full proposals. Following receipt of the full proposal, the grant committee will review and make a recommendation to the full FIConservancy Board. Following the Board’s decision, applicants will be informed, in a timely fashion, whether their grant has been approved, and, if so, what the level and term will be.

Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Form

Funding Criteria and Guiding Principles

FIConservancy funds projects that address at least one of the following criteria:

  • Responses to urgent and critical need;
  • Bold new ventures; and/or
  • New approaches to ongoing problems.

One of the primary goals of our grant making is to create significant impact on the environment of Fishers Island, the organization and/or the community at large. The Conservancy also encourages projects that leverage other funds or projects, collaborations or partnerships.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Organizations must qualify as 501(c)(3) entities under the Internal Revenue Service code, be based on Fishers Island or work directly to benefit the Fishers Island community.
  • Organizations must be in good standing with U.S. Government agencies, such as the IRS.
  • Applicants should be recognized by the community and demonstrate significant environmental impact and outcomes.
  • Applicants may apply to work in any of the core areas.
  • Board members of the Conservancy are not eligible to apply.
  • Funding for special projects, capital campaigns and operating expenses will be considered.
  • Funding requests for endowments will not be considered.
  • Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief, and organizations that serve an exclusively sectarian purpose will not be considered for funding.