Division of Forestry and Wildlife

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 24, 2020

A neighbor accepts a sapling during 2019 Arbor Day Hawaiʻi. Image courtesy of Maui Nui Botanical Gardens.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: 2020 URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANTS

Kaulunani Urban And Community Forestry Program opens call for their small Grants Program supporting up to $40,000 for urban and community forestry projects.

(HAWAIʻI) Could funding from a community grant help your tree project get off the ground?

Whether you are planning a tree planting project, hosting a workshop or training, coordinating a restoration event, or creating outreach materials – there is support available! The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program announces a call for grant applications that support urban and community forestry projects statewide.

The Kaulunani Grant Program has awarded hundreds of grants to nonprofit organizations, schools, community groups, parks, museums, and arboretums across the State of Hawai‘i for a diverse range of urban and community forestry projects. Over the years, Kaulunani grant recipients have impacted nearly every urban area in Hawai‘i. This state and federally funded grant program has enabled the planting of countless trees, raised awareness of the importance of trees in dozens of communities, and has involved thousands of Hawai‘i residents in caring for the ‘āina.           

The Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program’s Grant Program offers several different levels of grants under which organizations and communities can apply:

• “Cool Your School” Grants: School grant requests between $500 and $3,000.
• ‘ILIMA Grants: Requests under $2,500.
• MĀMAKI Grants: Requests between $2,500 and $14,999.
• ‘ULU Grants: Grant Requests OVER $15,000, targeting specific special funding opportunities. ‘Ulu grants consider requests up to $300,000. The complete list of grant opportunities is available on the Kaulunani website. Requires pre-approval.

Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis with the following deadlines for 2020: May 1, August 1, and November 1.  Applications received by May 1st will receive priority consideration for current year funds. The Kaulunani Advisory Council reviews proposals at the subsequent quarterly meeting following each deadline. Grants are made to projects that match or exceed the federal grant funds in cash and in-kind contributions. One grant request per applicant will be considered. Grants are awarded to projects that respond to a need identified in DLNR’s Forest Action Plan, Urban Forestry Chapter, which can be found on Kaulunani’s website: www.Kaulunani.org.

Upcoming informational webinar: Do you have an idea for a project? Join us during our upcoming webinar to learn how to enhance your proposal. We will teach you how to write a successful application and we will help fine tune your project to fit with the Kaulunani grant requirements. This informational session is a great opportunity to ask questions and get feedback for your ideas. Our staff are available to actively work with you through the application process.

Grant Information Webinar:

Date: Friday, April 3rd, 12:00-1:15 pm

Zoom Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/416522240

Meeting ID: 416 522 240

RSVP by April 3rd at 10 am to Jolie Dollar at [email protected] to receive Zoom Meeting password.

For more information about the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program, please contact Heather McMillen, DOFAW Urban & Community Forester, at [email protected].

Kaulunani Urban & Community Forestry Program is funded by the State and Private Forestry branch of the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Region 5 USDA Forest Service and by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife.  The Program is managed in collaboration with the non-profit organization Smart Trees Pacific. This work is being funded entirely or in part by the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. U.S.D.A. Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider.

# # #

Media contact:

Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
[email protected]
808-587-0396 (Communications Office)