Outdoor Equity Fund
Outdoor Equity Fund
The Outdoor Equity Fund is a partnership between Maine Initiatives and the Nature Based Education Consortium to improve safe, equitable access to outdoor spaces and increased opportunities for nature-based learning for Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color in Maine.
Join us in celebrating the 2024 Outdoor Equity Fund cohort! Read the July 1st Press Release here.
Current Grantees
2024:
Khmer Maine
Kivulini Afro Yoga Project
Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition
Maine Soccer Development
Mawita'nej Epijej: Welcome to the Gathering Place
Nibezun
Niweskok: From the Stars to the Seeds
Purpose
BIPOC communities experience systemic and institutional targeting that prevent safe access to these spaces.
The Outdoor Equity Fund seeks organizations focused on addressing and finding solutions to these issues, including:
- Land-based cultural continuation & preservation
- Land-back and land return projects
- Leadership development and mentoring
- Farming and gardening programs
- Outdoor accessibility development
- Outdoor expeditions, such as hunting and fishing trips
- Outdoor learning or environmental education, including school-based experiences
- Therapeutic and trauma-informed nature programs
Grant Amount & Funding Levels
Outdoor Equity Fund grantees will each receive general operating grants of $30,000 over three years, in increments of $10,000 per year. In addition to funding, grantees will be invited to participate in a series of peer learning, training, capacity-building, and community outreach activities over the course of the three-year grant period.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Outdoor Equity Fund, the applicant organization must:
- Be working exclusively or primarily in Maine, unceded Wabanaki Territory.
- Be a Black-, Brown-, Indigenous-, Latine-, Asian-, or People of Color-led organization/group/coalition. All BIPOC-led and serving groups may apply.
- Be doing work that advances outdoor equity. Please see the OEF’s goals and funding priorities in the Request for Proposals for more specificity.
- Be a Maine-based organization, group or a coalition/alliance of groups (we do not fund individuals).
- Have an organizational operating budget under $1,000,000. (Not required for groups applying with sponsorship from a Wabanaki Tribal Government or other tribal entity or for groups with fiscal sponsors).
To establish BIPOC-led status, organizations need to meet two of the following criteria for the past two years:
- BIPOC directors or specific program leaders (leadership roles): 50% or more
- BIPOC board members (or governing decision-making roles): 50% or more
- BIPOC activists (on-the-ground community change makers): 50% or more
How to Apply
Applications for the 2024 Outdoor Equity Fund closed April 26th, 2024 at 11:59pm.
See all of our OEF grantees