Tiny Grants Program

Tiny Grants Program is sponsored by Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions. Provides seed money and/or matching funds for specific conservation projects.

Tiny Grants - Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions The goal of AVCC’s Tiny Grants program is to provide seed money and/or matching funds for specific projects in the broad categories of land conservation, education and outreach, stewardship and management, and planning.

Applications Due : Saturday, April 11, 2026 Awards Announced : Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Grant Period: May 1, 2026 to May 1, 2027 2026 Tiny Grants Guidance ☑ Cover expenses related to fee and conservation easement acquisitions including appraisals, grant writers, survey work, environmental assessments, title work and legal services, and other associated project costs.

☑ Support research, data collection, capacity studies, inventories, and mapping related to conservation, stewardship, and land management. ☑ Underwrite expenses for public meetings, informational workshops and events, citizen surveys, outreach, and notification costs. ☑ Conduct land stewardship activities on Town Forests and other lands, such as (but not limited to) habitat management, restoration, and public access improvements.

☑ Purchase equipment that is also made available to other CCs or for broader community use through a lending library or other regional partnership. ☑ Other projects not on the prohibited list.

Funds may not be used to: ☐ Support political activities ☐ Reimburse expenses incurred before the grant is awarded ☐ Advance projects unrelated to land conservation, land stewardship and management, conservation education, outreach and/or planning.

➡ High Impact & Demonstrated Need ➡ Local Support & Partnerships ➡ Regional Impact or Focus ➡ Community & Volunteer Engagement Refer to our additional guidance worksheet for tips on how to make your application more competitive. Grant Terms and Conditions Eligibility : To be eligible, applicant must be a Vermont conservation commission (or a local committee/groups working towards becoming a CC) and a paid member of the AVCC.

Check here to find out if your commission is current on its membership dues . Prior recipients must have completed and closed out their grants in order to reapply for funding in 2026. Timetable: Applications must be submitted ( or postmarked if sent by postal service ) on or before April 11, 2026.

Grantees will be notified of funding approval by May 5, 2026. A brief update and progress report should be delivered by December 18, 2026 for inclusion in AVCC’s 2026 Annual Report. A final budgetary and programmatic report should be submitted upon completion of the project and no later than May 1, 2027.

Payment Process : The funds awarded under this grant will be available approximately two weeks after the awards are announced. Checks will be made payable to the town or city unless instructed otherwise. Please make sure that the selectboard/city council and treasurer are aware and agree that any grant funds received will be spent at the discretion of the conservation commission and for the purposes outlined in the award letter.

Grant Closeout : Grantees will be required to submit a Conservation Success Story (via email or Google Form ) presenting evidence of grant completion with photographs and text detailing outcomes and challenges. Acknowledgement : If awarded, grantees should credit AVCC in any publicity. Please email all applications to the AVCC Board at grants@vtconservation.

org . We strongly encourage email submissions, but if it is not possible to send materials electronically, you can mail them to: Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions c/o Vermont Natural Resources Council Application Templates and Instructions: Google Doc | Microsoft Word Thanks again to the generous sponsors of our 2026 Tiny Grants!

Tom Hinckley (and Maggie) from the Putney Conservation Commission, mapping the occurrence of Emerald Ash Borer along town roads, funded in part by a 2020 Tiny Grant. VINS educator Lexie Smith introduces Westford, a rescued American kestrel, at an educational event hosted by the South Hero Conservation Commission and financed by a 2024 Tiny Grant.

Funded by a 2025 Tiny Grant, volunteers help members of the Westford Conservation Commission construct a bridge to restore a trail and improve accessibility in the Misty Meadows Town Forest. The AVCC is looking for sponsors to support our upcoming grant cycle. To learn more, please send an email to grants@vtconservation.

org with the subject line “2027 Tiny Grant Sponsorship”. To enjoy the full benefits of sponsorship, commitments must be made by October 31, 2026. Details on previous grant recipients can be found at the links below: