The Madrona Institute Announces 2023 Request for Proposals San Juan Islands Stewardship Special License Plate Grant Fund
Stewardship Fund Overview
The Madrona Institute provides small grants to organizations to promote youth engagement, environmental and cultural stewardship, and climate action within the San Juan Islands through the Madrona Stewardship Fund. Funding is derived from the Department of Licensing from the sales of San Juan Islands Special License plates.
Application Process
The first step in the Madrona Stewardship Fund grant application process is to submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) to: erin@madrona.org
Letter of Inquiries should be 1-3 pages and include the following:
Description of applicant organization, including mission, vision, and capacity to complete project
Summary of proposed project
Brief examples of previously completed projects
PROPOSAL DEADLINE: October 15, 2023
The Madrona Institute will review all LOIs and identify those that are most in line with the Madrona Stewardship Fund goals and priorities. Selected applicant organizations may be invited to a video or phone call with Madrona Institute staff. Board, Advisors, and staff will discuss which organizations to recommend for funding. Formal funding decisions are then made by the Board during their next quarterly meeting. At any time, The Madrona Institute may reach out to applicant organizations with supplemental questions or to request financial information.
Eligible Organizations
The Madrona Institute will provide grants to support activities based in San Juan County. Eligible organizations include: nonprofit 501c3, tribal, governmental, and educational entities (agricultural, cultural, environmental, historical) with an emphasis on youth engagement and climate action.
2023 Available Funding
$25,000 is available to support eligible organizations in implementing projects that focus on youth engagement and climate action. Proposals can range from $5,000 to $10,000. We expect to grant 3-5 awards.
How are the Grants Awarded?
In 2022, The Madrona Institute awarded $45,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations in its second year of grant-making based on revenues received from the sales of the San Juan Islands Special License Plate
2022 grantees include:
$10,000 to the San Juan Islands Conservation District for their San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps program
$10,000 to the Madrona Institute for their Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps program
$5,000 to the Friends of the San Juans for their Youth Environmental Mentoring Program
$5,000 to the Alchemy Art Center for their Young Environmentalists Arts Intensive Program.
$5,000 to the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild for their Farm Heroes for Environmental Stewardship Program
$5,000 to Wild Orca for their San Juan Islands Naturalist Program
$5,000 to the Children of the Setting Sun Productions to support the creation of the indigenous film series and pilot episode “Canoe Journey”
Awards are made on an annual basis for local projects and programs that support the conservation and stewardship of agricultural, cultural, historic, and natural resources in the islands, with an emphasis on youth engagement.
As expected, grantmaking has doubled since its first year in 2021 when $22,500 was awarded. We expect grant-making will continue to increase each year as plate sales increase across the county, region, and state.
Purchasing a San Juan Islands Special License Plate is a great way to support stewardship in the San Juan Islands. Visit https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/spsanjuan.html to order your plate.
If you would like to stay informed of future grant opportunities please sign up for our newsletter at madrona.org.
Alchemy Art Center for their Young Environmentalists Art Intensive & Exhibit Program (2021)
