The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is making $1.7 million available from its Preservation Trust Fund program for grants that protect open space.
Preservation Trust Fund grants for the fall 2024 grant round will prioritize projects that result in significant public access, but funds may also be used for projects that protect exceptional conservation values such as water quality, historic and cultural resources, wildlife habitat, and high-quality farmland and forestland. A real estate interest must either be acquired by a local government or conveyed to VOF to be eligible for funding, and protection must meet the requirements of Virginia’s Open-Space Land Act.
Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. on August 8, 2024. Eligibility requirements, sample applications, a timeline, and other materials may be found online at https://vof.org/ptf.
VOF will host a one-hour Preservation Trust Fund Grant Workshop Webinar on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. using Microsoft Teams. The webinar will address key program requirements and criteria, provide guidance on material to submit with the application and share tips on navigating the grant portal. Registration is required. Visit the program web page to register.
VOF encourages potential applicants to contact staff prior to applying to discuss eligibility and seek guidance on producing a successful application. Contact grants@vof.org or call (434) 282-7054 with questions or for information on how to apply. To discuss ideas at greater length, use https://doodle.com/bp/emilynelson/time-to-talk to schedule a 30-minute meeting with grant program staff.
