QC River Connections Grants  

• maximum awarded per application: up to $50,000

• total available: $250,000

• contact: Kaleigh Trammell

• opens: September 15

PURPOSE

The QC River Connections grant supports projects and organizations that address environmental issues facing the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities area. We seek to support efforts that build and strengthen relationships among people, organizations, communities, and the river.

We prioritize underrepresented groups in the environmental sector, including communities of color and low-income communities, as well as people, neighborhoods, and communities most affected by environmental issues facing the Mississippi River but have less access to resources and opportunities to influence solutions.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Grant applications will be collected by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, and reviewed and evaluated by members of the Clean River Advisory Council.

• Applications must be submitted online through the online grant system. If access to a computer is a barrier, please contact us for assistance.

• Each organization may submit one application – if you’re seeking funding for multiple projects, include all of them in the application.

• We’re here to help you make your best case for your grant application! QCCF staff and identified Clean River Advisory Council members are available to answer questions, discuss ideas, and even read draft applications throughout the process.

• Translation services for written documents and interpretation services for conversations with QCCF staff are available.

Project Examples

Here are a few examples to get you thinking, but we know we haven’t thought of everything you might do.

Have an idea that’s not listed here? Great! We’d love to receive your application!

Have an idea but not sure if it’s a good fit? Give us a call and we would be happy to talk about your idea with you during the application process.

Projects might include – but are not limited to:

• Clean up, restoration, and conservation projects – these could be located on the Mississippi or other rivers that flow into it, adjacent wetlands, or other places from which water flows into the river

• Education programs on environmental issues, green careers, or our community’s varied cultural experiences of the river

• Youth-driven, volunteer, or community engagement projects that relate to the river

• Projects that encourage and support people to safely and inclusively access the Mississippi River for recreation, healing, tourism, and more

• Strengthening the ability of environmental organizations to do their work equitably –

• Strengthening the ability to do environmental work of organizations or groups who represent underrepresented groups in the environmental sector, including communities of color and low-income communities, as well as people, neighborhoods, and communities most affected by environmental issues facing the Mississippi River but have less access to resources and opportunities to influence solutions

• Strengthening the ability of environmental and community groups to build relationships and meaningfully work together

Looking for more specific examples? What about…

• an educational initiative to teach people about the impact of litter in storm drains by partnering with local artists

• local indigenous artists working together to create a sculpture walk along the river

• organizing a river clean-up day with your neighborhood association

• a trail-building project with kayak and canoe access

• adding/improving the accuracy of signage along the river by partnering with the people whose history is represented in the signage

• a project that builds leadership and power in the community through opportunities to build relationships, advocate, and make decisions about how your neighborhood wants to receive support

• developing an intersectional environmental collaborative group that is led by groups whose voices have been left out of environmental decision making

• organizing a community gathering centered around the river and the varied cultural experiences it provides

• … or, any other project that has inspired you to give back to the Mississippi River and our community

Eligibility

All of the following qualities are required in order for an application to be considered for funding. Not sure if this means you? Please contact us, we’re happy to help you figure it out.

• Organizations or community groups that are providing a charitable community benefit in Scott County, IA or Rock Island County, IL.

  • This includes any and all of the following: organizations with 501(c)3 public charity status (typical nonprofit organizations), governments, public schools, universities, and organized community groups.

  • Individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible for this grant.

• Organizations must follow the QCCF Diversity and Non-Discrimination Policy.

• Organization or project must have an environmental benefit to the Mississippi River or the waters that flow into it. Environmental benefit could mean a direct physical improvement and/or people having greater access, awareness, and care for the river.

• Project can be new or existing – you don’t need to create something specifically for this grant!

• Organization or project must intentionally include and center underrepresented groups in the environmental sector, including communities of color and low-income communities, as well as people, neighborhoods, and communities most affected by environmental issues facing the Mississippi River but have less access to resources and opportunities to influence solutions.

Evaluation Criteria

These are the factors that the Clean River Advisory Council will use to determine, from all the applications we receive, which will be funded. Some applications will be stronger on some factors than others – that’s okay.

Relevance: The organization/project demonstrates that it fits strongly within the purpose of the grant, benefiting the Mississippi River and centering underrepresented groups in the environmental sector, including communities of color and low-income communities, as well as people, neighborhoods, and communities most affected by environmental issues facing the Mississippi River but have less access to resources and opportunities to influence solutions.

Request: The grant will have a significant impact on the success of the funded project. Higher-scored applications may show that receiving the grant helps bring in more resources, makes the funded project more likely to be successful, or will let it happen sooner than it otherwise would.

Impact: This project demonstrates that it will have a positive impact for the Mississippi River and the people, organizations, and communities involved. Higher-scored applications may show the potential for future benefits that will build on the funded project.

Inclusion and equity: The project makes our local environmental and conservation efforts more inclusive and equitable by intentionally centering underrepresented groups in the environmental sector, including communities of color and low-income communities, as well as people, neighborhoods, and communities most affected by environmental issues facing the Mississippi River but have less access to resources and opportunities to influence solutions. Higher-scored applications will show leadership and planning involvement from these people and groups.

Connections and Collaboration: The project builds or strengthens relationships between organizations, community groups, or people to benefit the Mississippi River. Higher-scored applications may show that the project will help form new or deepen existing, non-transactional relationships among groups who have not historically worked together.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

We’re here to help you to be as successful as you can with your grant application. To discuss if your project is the right fit, contact:

Kaleigh Trammell / email

Call (563) 326-2840

WATCH the info session

Final Reports

Please complete a final report when you have finished your project, or by the following year's application due date, whichever is sooner. Organizations who elect to receive their grants over two or three years will be asked to provide interim reports each year. Reports are completed in the same online system you submitted your application. 

Learn about the clean river advisory council