Clean Water Grants

Frequently Asked Questions - Clean Water Grants

Q: What is the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water?
A: For over 20 years, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has promoted safe and environmentally sensitive boating. We work with boaters, marinas, and boating-related groups to reduce accidents and fatalities on the water, while increasing stewardship of our water resources. The BoatU.S. Foundation is a national 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization with nine staff members and an overall annual budget of about $1.4 million.

Q: What is the BoatU.S. Foundation Grant Program?
A: In 1988, the Foundation started a Boating Safety Grant program to support volunteers with community-based boating safety projects. Our environmental education support began in 1999.

Our grant-making activity is an extension of our mission. Each year, we allocate about 8% of our budget ($100,000) to helping local groups who further our goals and help local communities.
Our grant program is funded primarily by small voluntary donations made by members of BoatU.S., the Boat Owners Association of the United States.

Q: What kind of groups is the Foundation looking to fund?
A: We want to work with small, local, volunteer-based nonprofits. We will fund volunteer boating groups, clubs, and associations, as well as local nonprofit organizations, including local chapters of national organizations.

Q: What kind of groups doesn’t the Foundation fund?
A: We will not give grants to government agencies, national or international organizations, for-profit businesses or individuals, or private clubs not open to the general public. We have received requests in the past from nonprofits that have multi-million dollar budgets and dozens of staff members. While these nonprofits are clearly successful, our focus is more toward the small groups who couldn’t do this outreach without our grant.

Q: What kind of projects does the Foundation fund?
A: The Foundation is looking for new and innovative ideas to reach local recreational boaters with environmental messages. Key components of the project must be designing the information for the boater, and getting it to the boater; they shouldn’t be an afterthought. In addition, the project should be designed to get wide exposure in the local community, and should be able to be duplicated by others. Also, projects that will give us feedback about boater behavior are encouraged.

Q: My organization promotes clean water, but we don’t work with boaters. Are we eligible?
A: No. Only projects that target boaters will be considered. A major component of the project must be designing information specifically for the boater and getting it out to the boater.

Q: What kind of projects does the Foundation prefer to fund?
A: The Foundation prefers to fund projects that use positive messages. We would like to work with groups that use positive “do” messages rather than negative “don’t” messages. For instance, “Recycle here!” is preferable to “Don’t Litter!” We also find that projects that focus on a particular issue are more effective than broad projects that try to address all “green” issues at once.

Q: What is a focus topic?
A: A focus topic is an issue we believe needs more public awareness. Through our Grant Programs, we will be able to reach more people at the local level educating them about an issue that affects all recreational boating. The Foundation may elect not to promote a focus topic for a given year. If there is a focus topic, it will be listed on the application.

Q: What happens if I propose a project on a topic other than the focus topic?
A: All applications that educate boaters about reducing their impact on the environment while boating will be considered. Applications with a majority of the project devoted to the focus topic will be given preferential treatment.

Q: Is there a place where I can get ideas for possible projects?
A: Yes. A list of funded projects from past years can be seen by visiting the Clean Water Grants page of the BoatU.S. Foundation web site (http://www.boatus.com/cleanwater/grants/). Please use this list as a starting point, but remember that we are looking for innovation, not duplication of a past project in a new location.

Q: Are there limits on funds?
A: Applicants may request up to $4,000. In general, the Foundation tries to help as many applicants as possible--so, as an example, the preference would be to fund four $1,000 applications rather than one $4,000 application. Applicants who are realistic in their funding requests stand a much better chance of receiving funds!

Q: If I apply, do I automatically receive a grant?
A: No. Each year about 100 organizations apply for this limited funding. As a result, it is a highly competitive grant application process.

Q: If my grant proposal is accepted, will I receive all the funds I asked for?
A: Not necessarily. Although you are free to request the maximum available under the grants, in order to increase the number of grants funded each year, the Grant Committee may choose to fund parts of your grant, or specific items listed in your budget.

Q: Are there any expenses that are NOT allowable under the grant guidelines?
A: Yes. Please review the list in the grant guidelines on the application carefully.

Q: What’s the timetable?
A: The Clean Water Grant applications must be sent by email or postmarked by midnight February 1st. Applications will be reviewed, and final decisions will be announced in April. If your group receives a grant, you will be expected to complete all grant related work by March 30th of the following year.

Q: Does “postmarked” mean the Foundation has to receive the application by the deadline?
A: No, it means you must have mailed it on or before the deadline and the postmark will reflect that.

Q: Does the Grant Administrator decide whether or not I get funding?
A: No. The Grant Administrator oversees the grants themselves, but does not decide who is accepted. The Grant Administrator is there to answer questions from applicants and will handle your application when you apply. The Grant Administrator is also the person you will work with if you do receive funding for a grant.

Q: Who decides what groups will get funded then?
A: Grant applications are carefully reviewed by a committee of about 12 people, made up of senior/executive members of the BoatU.S. Foundation and BoatU.S.

Q: What kind of paperwork and accounting is required to apply?
A: You must properly fill out our application in order to apply for a grant. Once you have submitted the application, within several days we will confirm with you by e-mail or a phone call that your application has been accepted.

Q: We’ve submitted a grant application, what happens next?
A: About 10 weeks after the grant deadline, you will receive notification of whether or not your group was accepted for funding. In an effort to make the grant process as paperless as possible, you may receive notification by e-mail. All groups will be notified.

Q: We were accepted! Now what?
A: Congratulations! If your grant application is successful, you will be sent a contract, which you must sign and return. Over the year, the following will be expected from you:
• You will need to provide us proofs of your project for approval before you have anything printed.
• You will stay in close communication with the Grant Administrator.
• You must provide a short six month written report including fund allocations.
• At the end of the year, you will provide a final 12 month written report, copies of your products (if applicable), and an expense sheet detailing your purchases. Remember to save all receipts. Any surplus funds must be returned to the Foundation unless you receive prior approval to spend the funds on something other than what was listed in your budget.

Q: We were not accepted. What did we do wrong?
A: Because the grants are competitive, only a portion of those who apply will receive funding. If you would like guidance on why your proposal was not funded, you may contact the Grant Administrator.

Q: Are matching funds required?
A: No, matching funds are not required. The Foundation requires that its grant represent at least 50% of a project’s budget. Proposals that include in-kind donations of product and/or time are encouraged. You must include a detailed budget at the time you submit your proposal for it to be considered for funding.

Q: What are matching funds and in-kind donations?
A: Matching funds is the money your organization is putting into a project. An in kind donation is the goods or services that your organization will add to the grant, like graphic design skills, products, or staff time spent distributing brochures, etc.

Q: What is a “proof” and why does the Foundation want to see it?
A: A proof is a draft of your project before it is printed. With your application, we’d like to see a proof that is as close to the final design of your project as possible so we can visualize your project, and so we know you have thought out your message. Once you receive a grant, we must then approve a final proof that reflects the BoatU.S. Foundation logo before you may print. We have a lot of experience educating boaters, so we want to help make sure the information you are conveying is accurate and complete, and reflects current best practices.

Q: The application says I should get permission from “controlling authorities?” What does that mean?
A: If your project will require the cooperation or permission of others, we would like you to obtain that before you apply. For instance, if you want to hang signs at a marina or a park, get the permission of the property owner or manager, or the agency that oversees the park. You may also need permission to hold public events, distribute brochures in a state or national park, post signs at public launch ramps, etc.

Q: Still have questions?
A: We suggest that you print out a copy of the application and read it thoroughly before beginning. If something is unclear, please contact the grant administrator.

If you have questions about the Clean Water Grants, contact cleanwater@boatus.com.