Environmental Grant Deadline Nearing For VA Nonprofits, Schools

VIRGINIA — Dominion Energy's charitable foundation is providing up to $1.5 million for environmental grants in 2020 to support nonprofit organizations and schools working to improve the environment. Eligible organizations include nonprofit groups and public and private K-12 schools in communities served by Dominion Energy companies.

For the foundation's Environmental Education and Stewardship grants program, nonprofit organizations can apply for grants up to $25,000 each to support specific, short-term projects that promise measurable results to improve the environment. Public and private K-12 schools in eligible regions can apply for classroom grants up to $5,000 each for environmental education programs.

"We're grateful for the contributions these organizations and schools are making to advance environmental stewardship," Hunter A. Applewhite, president of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, said in a statement. "Their efforts align with our commitments to protect natural resources and lift up the communities we serve."

Eligible organizations in Virginia, along with other states where Dominion has operations, can submit applications through March 23. Dominion will notify the grant winners on May 6 and will make public announcements and check presentations to the grant winners this summer. Nonprofit groups and schools in all localities of Virginia can apply for the grants, the company said.

The Richmond-headquartered company said it will consider grant requests that focus on one or more of the following priorities: educating K-12 students and the public about environmental stewardship; protecting and preserving natural habitats; and omproving open spaces and making nature accessible.

In their applications, the nonprofit organizations and schools should provide an extensive description of their projects, including:

• Specific plan of action that includes project activities, locations and targeted audiences (K-12 applicants include grade levels).
• Anticipated outcomes that address identified community need.
• Effective evaluation methods.
• Plans to sustain the program and share results with Dominion Energy and the community.

A panel of Dominion Energy representatives will review the applications. They will consider whether the proposal focuses on specific, short-term projects that promise measurable results to improve the environment and/or provide meaningful educational opportunities; represents innovative and promising ideas to meet stated objectives; demonstrates careful planning and strong likelihood of success, including plans to sustain the project; and includes plans to evaluate and share results on effectiveness of the program.

In 2019, the James River Outdoor Coalition in Richmond received a grant to support the construction of a universal access ramp to enable paddlers and water enthusiasts of all abilities to access to James River. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach received a grant from the foundation to help fund the rescue and care for sea turtles mistakenly hooked by fishermen.

Other grant recipients in 2019 in Virginia included the Four Mile Run Conservatory in Alexandria, which received $10,000 for its Nature Explorers and Restorers; Arlington County Public Schools, which received $1,500 for its Demonstration Solar Charging program; Clean Fairfax Council, which received $20,000 for its Clean Streams Initiative Expansion; Earth Sangha in Fairfax, which received $9,000 for its In-School Native Plant Propagation program; the Children's Science Center in Fairfax, which received $10,000 for its Summer of Science Initiative; Friends of the Rappahannock in Fredericksburg, which received $24,000 for its Headwater Stream Initiative; the Potowmack Elementary School in Sterling, which received $2,000 for its Marvelous Monarchs program; NatureBridge in Triangle, which received $15,000 for its Environmental Education in Prince William Forest Park program; and the Virginia Association for Parks in Woodbridge, which received $15,000 for its Replanting of the Riparian Corridor program at Leesylvania State Park.