The Sierra FundRestoring Resiliency in the Sierra

TSF Initiates Micro-Grants Program

Posted on by Kerry Morse

January 21, 2009

Today the Nevada City-based community foundation The Sierra Fund announces a new “Micro” grants program aimed at providing public education assistance to organizations across the Sierra concerned about “Mining’s Toxic Legacy.”

Micro grants are available to non-profit community organizations in the 22 counties of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy service region willing to host an event in 2009 on historic mining in the Sierra Nevada.  Applications are available on The Sierra Fund’s website and are due 2/20/09. 

Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, CEO of The Sierra Fund says; “Community based organizations across the Sierra are working tirelessly on important environmental and public health issues everyday. Often these organizations are doing this valuable and much-needed work on budgets that are already stretched thin. The Sierra Fund is both proud and grateful to be in a position to offer these ‘micro’ grants to groups wanting to hold public education events in their community. We are thrilled to bring more organizations into the Sierra-wide effort to raise awareness of the environmental, health and cultural impacts of “Mining’s Toxic Legacy”, and achieve real solutions to the problems posed by the nearly 50,000 abandoned mines in California.”

The Sierra Fund released its groundbreaking report Mining’s Toxic Legacy (which can be viewed and downloaded at the Fund’s website www.sierrafund.org) at a joint State Assembly hearing in Sacramento in March of 2008, and since that time has been engaging a wide range of stakeholders and interested parties—including environmental and public health advocates, federal, state and local decision makers, public and private sector scientists, mining industry representatives, academics and others—in building a coalition to address the impacts of legacy mining in the Sierra Nevada.

For more information on and/or to apply for a “Micro” Grant, visit our website www.sierrafund.org or contact Kerry Morse at 530-265-8454 ext. 13 or email kerry.morse@sierrafund.org

Mining’s Toxic Legacy Initiative
Micro-Grants for Public Education Events

Micro-Grants
The Sierra Fund is offering $100-$500 grants to organizations in the Sierra Nevada for hosting and publicizing a public education event that our Community Organizer will speak at. This event should be open to the public in an accessible location for people with disabilities, and should be publicized widely in order to attract area residents.

Grant Criteria

  • Geographic location: Sierra Nevada Conservancy service region, CA (see: http://sierranevada.ca.gov/snc_counties.html).  Preference will be given to communities in areas in which we have not already been active. 
  • Ability to hold event 3/15/09 – 11/30/09
  • Community rapport: Appeal to a broad section of community; ability to promote the event through a range of media outlets. 
  • Non-profit tax-exempt organizations only: For example, tribal or watershed groups, outdoor recreation clubs and medical clinics.
  • Other pluses (not required): Bi-lingual population (Spanish), low-income population, interest in continuing partnership with the Initiative, creative event ideas. 

To Apply