Midpen approves five new grantmaking program proposals

December 14, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Date: December 14, 2023
Contacts: Deborah Hirst, dhirst@openspace.org

Midpen approves five new grantmaking program proposals 

Los Altos, CA—At its regular meeting on December 13, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District board of directors approved the funding of five new grant proposals. The 2023 grantmaking program will fund five (5) proposals composed of three (3) access, interpretation, and education projects and two (2) network and partnership support, which will allocate $249,769 in funding to grantees Grassroots Ecology, Canopy, Saved by Nature, TOGETHER Bay Area and Tamien Nation. 

“Midpen is delighted for the opportunity to collaborate with community organizations like these grant recipients,” Midpen General Manager Ana María Ruiz said. “We look forward to deepening relationships with partners, both long-standing and new, and supporting the vital role they play in connecting our communities to open space.”  

In June 2023, Midpen announced the availability of $250,000 in funding through the 2023 Grantmaking Program. Organizations were invited to submit proposals for projects up to $50,000 under three priority areas outlined in Midpen’s Grantmaking Board Policy 3.01: 1) access, interpretation, and education; 2) applied science; and 3) network and partnership support. Midpen received 40 short-form pre-proposals totaling $1.7 million in funding requests and a Midpen staff committee selected 19 to move forward to the full proposal stage for additional consideration. Sixteen full proposals were received by the deadline, totaling $740,731 in requests.   

All five final proposals build the capacity of academic and nonprofit institutions to sustain and grow the conservation field and facilitate Midpen’s mission by building and strengthening new and existing partnerships. The three (3) access, interpretation, and education projects would increase access of inter-tribal Native American communities to Midpen lands, connect high school youth from traditionally underserved communities with nature through land stewardship opportunities, and provide educational nature-based field experiences for elementary and middle school students in disadvantaged school districts. The two (2) network and partnership projects would also support fostering relationships between area partners working on climate resiliency, including Native American tribes and tribal organizations, and strengthening the understanding of Indigenous land stewardship practices through knowledge-sharing and capacity-building. Grant proposal agreements are expected to be executed in the spring of 2024 and will conclude by the spring of 2027.   

Midpen protects, stewards, and manages over 70,000 acres of public land consisting of 27 open space preserves. Developing new partnerships with local public agencies, nonprofits, K-12 schools, academic institutions, and private institutions helps to enhance Midpen’s mission. The Grantmaking Program supports organizations and projects that further the understanding and protection of our natural world, build the capacity of the conservation field, and facilitate access to the outdoors or augment interpretation and education opportunities for the public. The grantmaking process is guided by an emphasis on investments that reflect a regional focus and provide avenues for partnership with Midpen and other stakeholders. 

For more information, visit openspace.org/grantmaking-program