To be considered for a Brainerd Foundation grant, applicants must be involved in programs that augment regional conservation efforts within the following geographic funding region:

• Washington
• Oregon
• Idaho
• Montana
• Alaska
• British Columbia
• Yukon Territory

We do not fund projects related to:

• school education programs
• direct land purchases or easements
• structures, capital improvements or campaigns
• endowments, debt reduction, or cash flow
• basic research or fellowships
• books, videos, and television or film projects that are not components of a broader strategy.

When preparing a proposal for funding from the Brainerd Foundation, we urge applicants to consider the following eligibility criteria:

Current Strategic Focus

Does your proposal fit within the focus established in our new strategic plan?

Criteria for Funding

Below are the criteria that we use to determine whether a program is a good fit for the foundation. (Programs do not need to meet all of these criteria to receive funding, but a strong proposal will address many of them.)

• Would Brainerd resources, coupled with existing or pending support, be enough to meet the goals of the project? Why is Brainerd funding critical?
• What will the Brainerd Foundation learn from this investment? How might we share what we learn?
• Will success build increased public support for the organization or for conservation more broadly?
• Do the issues addressed link to community-held values?
• Who are allies on this issue? How does your organization plan to engage them?
• Is there a communications/media plan associated with this issue or your organization?
• Is there sufficient grassroots capacity where it is needed on this issue?
• Why is your organization best suited to do this work?
• Is the strategy to win well-defined? Is there a strategic campaign plan associated with the issue?
• What is the urgency? What are the implications of inaction now?
• Does success on this issue help to build on or amplify existing momentum on this or other similar issues? What future victories could be built from a victory on this issue?

Grantmaking Limitations

Our grantmaking does have specific restrictions beyond our geographic and programmatic scope:

• The foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations classified as 501(c)(3) public charities by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or to Canadian organizations deemed equivalent by the foundation. We do not make grants to individuals or for-profit organizations.

• The foundation cannot earmark any portion of its grants for use in influencing legislation (lobbying). The foundation's general support grants to Section 501(c)(3) public charities may, however, be used to support a grantee's overall operations, even if the grantee engages in lobbying as part of its programs. The foundation may consider funding projects that include both lobbying and nonlobbying activities if the applicant provides a detailed budget that identifies separately both lobbying and nonlobbying expenses, so long as the amount of a project grant requested does not exceed the nonlobbying expenses. Foundation funds may never be used to support or oppose candidates for political office. (Please see Restrictions on Lobbying Activities* for more information).

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