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.
We are now accepting applications for the 2024 Outdoor Equity Fund cohort. Please download and read the Funding Opportunity Announcement for full details, organizational eligibility criteria, and application instructions. Completed applications are due April 26th, 2024 by 11:59pm.
Current Grantees
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
The Outdoor Equity Fund is now accepting applications for its 2024 cohort. Please download and read the Funding Opportunity Announcement for full details, eligibility criteria, and application instructions. Completed applications are due April 26th, 2024 by 11:59pm.
See all of our OEF grantees