IOWATER Mini-Grants
Application Form MS Word format (.doc)
Mini-Grant Application
IOWATER is seeking proposals for a mini-grants program to help volunteers fulfill the mission of protecting and improving Iowa’s water quality. Grants of up to $1,000 are available to individual volunteers and watershed groups (including school classes, civic organizations, etc.) who meet the applicable criteria listed below and submit this form by the appropriate deadline. Grant money will be awarded in a two-step process – 50% of the grant will be paid at the start of the project, while the remaining 50% will be paid at the project’s mid-point.
Mini-grant awards will be based on the merit of proposed projects, and will be competitively judged by an IOWATER Mini-Grants Committee. Priority for funding will be given to those projects that show local support and participation, demonstrate a clear environmental benefit, enhance volunteer opportunities and/or improve knowledge of local water resources.
Mini-Grant Applicant Requirements
- Applicant must be at least a certified IOWATER Level One Citizen Monitor.
- Grant recipients are limited to one grant per year.
- Upon approval of the grant, the applicant must sign a contract with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
- Local governments (cities, counties, school districts) and service organizations with 501(c)(3) status are eligible to receive funds. Individuals and groups lacking this status can attain eligibility by involving their local governments or non-profit groups in the handling of the funds. If such is the case, the grant application should be made by the group or unit of government that will hold the funds, and reference the non-tax exempt group or individual leading the effort.
Mini-Grant Project Requirements
- A budget detailing how the money will be spent must accompany the application (NOTE: salaries, food, and political activities cannot be paid with grant money).
- Projects must include a water quality monitoring plan that uses IOWATER methods (other methods may be used side-by-side with, but not substituted for, IOWATER methods).
- Data collected using IOWATER methods during the project must be submitted to the IOWATER online database and included in the final report.
- Data collected by other means (meters, probes, etc.) should be submitted on the IOWATER database in the “Other monitoring” field on the Chemical/Physical Assessment form and be included in the final report.
- A summary of the project and of the data collected must be presented to the public – public meetings, informational poster sessions, written reports mailed to area residents, or press releases would be considered acceptable formats.
- A Project Report must be submitted upon successful completion of the grant (see Mini-Grant Project Report on the following page).
Mini-Grant Project Report (To be submitted upon completion of the project)
The IOWATER Mini-Grant Project Report should include:
- A summary of the project.
- A final budget.
- A three-quarter page (single-spaced, standard margins) article and two accompanying photos that may be printed in the IOWATER newsletter.
- An analysis of the data collected, along with any other relevant information.
- A copy (if applicable) or summary of the public presentation (see below)
o Upon completion of the project, a summary of the project and of the data collected must be presented to the local community. Presentation formats may include, but are not limited to: public meetings, informational poster sessions, written reports mailed to area residents, or press releases sent to local media outlets.
Application Submission
Applications must be mailed in full to:
Jacklyn Gautsch – Iowa DNR
109 Trowbridge Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 335-1761
Completed Mini-Grant Projects
- Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District
- South East Junior High School ECHO
- Prairie High School
- Ida County Conservation Board
- Enhancing Education Through Technology
- East Pottawattamie Soil & Water Conservation District
- Winterset Community School District
- Arbor Lake Monitoring Team
- Competine Creek Assessment