Grant Programs

The mission of Freshwater Future is to foster and support a vital, effective grassroots sector working locally to protect aquatic habitats throughout the Great Lakes Basin. Freshwater Future provides financial resources, shares information, and fosters communication between citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats. The Freshwater Future grants program is designed to increase the ability of grassroots groups and individuals to succeed in advocacy projects to protect rivers, lakes, and wetlands in their areas. Advocacy work, as defined here, involves local community members actively promoting aquatic habitat protection by influencing community and/or individual behavior or opinion, corporate conduct, and/or public policy.

Freshwater Future has three grants programs designed to further this goal. Each addresses a different need of grassroots activists.

Project Grants Program

Provides funding to grassroots organizations engaging in advocacy activities to protect local lakes, rivers and wetlands

Climate Grants Program

Provides funding for projects that encourage local communities to actively engage in activities that will result in projects and decisions that take climate change related impacts into account.

Insight Grants Program

Provides funding for scholarships toward Freshwater Future's professional services in organizational development and strategy assistance.

Special Opportunity Grants Program

Offers emergency funding for grassroots projects