Guidelines
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
  • Applicant must be a publicly supported charity or a governmental unit as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • Grants cannot be made to individuals or organizations classified as private foundations.
  • Organizations need not be accredited to apply.
USE OF GRANT FUNDS
  • Grants are usually one-time awards up to $15,000.
  • Awarded funds are restricted to the use described in the application. If the project cannot be carried out as described, the funds must be returned to the Wharton Trust.
  • Grant funds may NOT be used:
    • For organizational purposes such overhead charges, fundraising, marketing, communications, maintenance, legal contingencies, or so-called "soft costs";
    • For the construction, restoration, improvement, cleanup or demolition of man-made structures such as buildings, signage, kiosks, gates, fences, bridges, boat ramps and parking lots;
    • To contribute to funds held for investment, endowment, stewardship, or legal defense purposes;
    • To "re-grant" or transfer to other entities except in the ordinary course of business.
    • To support stewardship/stewardship endowment;
IMPORTANT CRITERIA ADVISORS CONSIDER Further weight will be given to projects where:
  • The project’s results will be tangible, promptly accomplished, and long-lasting;
  • Management techniques do not require annual or frequent application (i.e. mowing, invasive species control);
  • Evidence is provided that the project has a strong likelihood of success;
  • A Wharton Trust grant is a meaningful portion of overall project support;
  • A Wharton Trust grant will help to attract & secure matching funds from other sources;
  • There is coordination by multiple organizations, both public and private, to meet common conservation goals.
LAND CONSERVATION PROJECTS
  • For land acquisition projects, preference will be given to those where enforceable legal protection – such as a conservation restriction (CR) or conservation easement (CE) – is provided for the acquired land.
  • Grant funds must be applied to the actual purchase price of the land or conservation easement/restriction, and/or to relevant direct costs (e.g. appraisals, legal fees, closing costs, boundary surveys, environmental assessments, and/or ecological assessments).
  • Habitat and resource conservation will be given priority over recreational use. Agricultural use is generally not considered.