Bay Mini-Grants

Bay Mini-Grants is sponsored by Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Funds environmental restoration and education projects in the Tampa Bay watershed with a focus on community-led initiatives.

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youtube. com/user/TheTBEP) * [](https://github. com/tbep-tech/) Bay Mini-Grants are competitive awards that fund environmental restoration and education projects in the Tampa Bay watershed with a focus on community-led initiatives.

This funding program stimulates environmental stewardship and science literacy among those who live, work, and play around Tampa Bay. The maximum award is $10,000 per project. Schools, nonprofits, businesses, and governments are eligible to apply.

**The application period is currently open! ** Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm on **September 16, 2026**. See below for details.

view application materials ## Bay Mini-Grant Details **Applicant Eligibility** Nonprofit organizations, businesses, and educational institutions are eligible to receive grant funds. Government agencies may apply if a project has strong volunteer or community involvement. A federal employer identification number (FEIN) or state tax exemption is required.

Funds will not be awarded to individuals. Past award recipients have included nonprofits, educators, filmmakers, neighborhood associations, artists, chambers of commerce, researchers, and other affinity groups. Projects that are led by, empower, benefit, or engage communities that are underserved and/or overburdened are encouraged to apply.

Projects must be within the Tampa Bay watershed. Applicants may submit up to two proposals, but only one proposal per organization may be awarded. Being listed as a project partner in a different organization’s application does not count against the two applications or award stipulations.

In the application and scope of work documents, each project must address at least one, and up to three, of the Actions listed in the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Tampa Bay (CCMP). Specific deliverables, metrics, or outputs to achieve the CCMP Action(s) must be clearly laid out in the application scope of work. The maximum Bay Mini-Grant award is $10,000.

00. The application must include a detailed budget using the required template. Everything in the budget must be directly related to the project.

Provide enough detail for the reviewers to understand what the funding is being requested for, how each item fits into your project, and how each item contributes to the stated outcomes and deliverables of the project.

These costs are not eligible for Bay Mini-Grant funding: * Reimbursement for costs outside the grant’s scope of work * Purchase of commercial software and hardware * Interest and financial costs of borrowing * Non-native flora or fauna Funds will not be awarded to projects on private property unless there is public access, an existing conservation easement, or the property has a direct link to Tampa Bay.

Salary costs are allowable in the budget, but salary costs above 25% of the total project budget are not considered competitive. Food costs are only allowed for scheduled volunteer events and shall not exceed 25% of the total budget. Reimbursement limits: $6/person for breakfast; $11/person for lunch; $19/person for dinner.

Reusable packaging is strongly encouraged. Mileage may be reimbursed at $0. 445/mile and should not exceed 10% of total budget.

Single-use giveaway items and apparel (or apparel printing) are unlikely to be funded due to their contribution to the waste stream. Matching funds are not required, but including other costs and funding can strengthen your application’s competitiveness. If matching funds are included in the Budget Worksheet, the source of the funding must be described, too.

Volunteer time can be represented as matching in-kind funds at a rate of $36. 14/hour. ### Award Amount and Selection Process The maximum Bay Mini-Grant award is $10,000.

The selection committee is composed of members of the TBEP Community Advisory Committee. They will provide findings to the TBEP Executive Director who will make recommendations for approval to the TBEP Management and Policy Boards . The selection committee, TBEP staff, or Board members may make recommendations for modifications to the submitted scope of work and budget, prior to final approval by the TBEP Policy Board.

The award total may be less than the requested amount. Refinements to the final scope of work may occur prior to executing an agreement and issuing a notice to proceed. The timeline below is specifically for 2027 Bay Mini-Grants.

* May 6, 2026: Application period opens. * June 17, 6-7pm, and July 29, 11am-12pm: TBEP staff hold informational webinars for interested applicants. Attendance is optional but strongly recommended.

Both webinars will provide the same information. There is no need to attend both. * **September 16, 5:00pm: Application period closes.

** * October: Selection committee meets to discuss applications. * November: Award recommendations are made to TBEP Management and Policy Boards. * December: Award notices are then sent out to applicants.

* December 2026: Notices will be provided to all applicants. Awardees will then work directly with TBEP staff to finalize a scope of work and budget. TBEP will issue a purchase order that will function as the Notice to Proceed, and the project can begin.

* **January 1, 2027: Bay Mini-Grants begin. ** * February 28: First progress report is due. * August 31: Second progress report is due.

* **December 31: Bay Mini-Grant projects wrap up. ** * January 31, 2028: Final progress reports are due. * February: Provide a presentation about the completed project to the Community Advisory Committee in order to be considered for the Golden Mangrove award.

Bay Mini-Grants follow a similar timeline annually. *Projects that are specifically tied to the traditional school year schedule may have flexibility with this project period. Reach out to Jessica Lewis (jlewis@tbep.

org, 727-893-2765) with questions about this. All proposals that meet the basic eligibility requirements will be evaluated based on the selection criteria outlined below.

**_Requirements_**_(no points are assigned for these criteria because they must be met in order for the application to move forward in the review process)_ * * Applicant is a nonprofit organization, business, educational institution, or government agency in good standing with a valid FEID or exemption * Project is in the Tampa Bay watershed or provides a direct benefit to the watershed * Project addresses one or more CCMP goals * The funding request is no more than $10,000 * Complete scope of work and budget are provided * Only eligible and relevant costs are included in the budget * Application was submitted properly according to instructions The points system described below should be used as a guideline for producing a strong application.

Many factors are considered when determining which projects will be funded each year. A high score does not guarantee that an application will receive an award.

**How the Project Will Improve the Tampa Bay Watershed and Clarity of Proposal****Maximum Score** Application explicitly states how the project will address environmental restoration, enhancement, or protection, or community education priorities identified in the CCMP 15 Realistic and meaningful project outcomes and goals are defined 15 A detailed budget is provided, and proposed costs are appropriate in amount and relation to the scope of work 10 The project supports or addresses one of this year’s below funding priorities 10 a.

Engages informal influencers such as hairdressers, barbers, rideshare drivers, etc. in bay protection and restoration b. Uses compelling storytelling about Tampa Bay’s environmental resources, history, value, or stakeholders c. Preserves the diversity and abundance of listed and potentiallyimperiled species d.

Supports prevention or removal ofinvasive species Application clearly defines and describes how the project’s success will be measured 5 The applicant describes how they will promote the “Tarpon Tag” (Tampa Bay Estuary Specialty License Plate)5 **Community Support and Ability to Execute the Project** The application clearly describes how the project will enhance environmental stewardship in their target community(ies) through active participation or involvement of the community(ies)15 The project shows support for implementation, maintenance, and monitoring 5 Application describes or demonstrates the ability of the applicant to complete the project, and why the applicant believes they will be successful in meeting their defined goal(s)5 Application clearly describes how the project engages or assists an underserved or overburdened community (as defined in theTBEP Equity Strategy, or another cited definition), or clearly addresses an issue specifically identified by an underserved or overburdened community 5 The role of any listed project partners is described, and letters of commitment are included 5 This applicant previously received a BMG award and describes how they will partner with and build capacity in emerging or grassroots organizations or community leaders; OR, this applicant has never received a BMG award 5 **For Bay Mini-Grant Awardees** * Administrative Guidance * Progress Report Template To see if your idea is a good fit for this grant, or to garner ideas for future projects, check out the various goals, activities, and actions listed in the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Tampa Bay (CCMP) and the list ofpast Golden Mangrove Award winners.

The Golden Mangrove is awarded to a completed Bay Mini-Grant project from the previous year that stood out among other projects. TBEP’s Community Advisory Committee selects that award winner each year. * Application Materials (2027) and Templates * Recent webinar and Q&A recording – check this out for tips on how to submit a strong application!

Below are highlights of past projects. A list of previous awards can be found here. Salt Creek Crossing Mural _AquaKulture Alliance partnered with Saint Paint Arts and City of St Pete to install a mural showing some of the beautiful wildlife that can be seen along Salt Creek.

_ Sanderlin Family Neighborhood Center Demonstration Rain Garden _The League of Women Voters of the St Petersburg Area engaged dozens of local volunteers to install a rain garden at a community center. _ Using Cameras to Understand Faunal Biodiversity _Eckerd College professors and students used cameras at Pinellas County’s Fort De Soto Park to document wildlife.

_ Boca Ciega Bay Vertical Oyster Garden Project _Tampa Bay Watch staff and volunteers installed vertical oyster gardens (VOGs) to provide oyster habitat and improve water quality. _ Comparative Study of Seagrass Bed Habitat _The SCUBAnauts conducted a seagrass assessment to determine if restoration was successful at a mitigation site. _ ## Keep Tampa Bay on the Road to Recovery Get a Tarpon Tag!

Bay Mini-Grants are supported by sales of this specialty license plate. **Tampa Bay Estuary Program** 263 13th Ave. S.

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