Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
$10,000 / 2011 / Environment
For continued support of programs designed to educate conservation voters about key public policy issues on open space, transportation, and storm-water management. By serving as a communications hub with its enhanced online list reaching more than 241,000 environmental voters, the League is in a position to advance conservation policies and to strengthen the environmental collective voice of Maryland.
The Sierra Club Foundation
$30,000 / 2011 / Environment
Toward support of the Beyond Coal Maryland project, an effort to end burning coal for energy. The campaign has been designed to reduce dependency on coal as a major source of energy and to encourage the development of cleaner alternative energy.
Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
$10,000 / 2010 / Environment
For continued support of the Environmental Connections Project, in support of expanding capacity, educational outreach, and grassroots programs to energize voters about public policy issues such as global warming, land protection, and Bay restoration.
American Farmland Trust
$45,000 / 2010 / Environment
Toward support of Clean Water for the Chesapeake Bay, a project designed to reduce nutrient runoff into the Chesapeake Bay and to improve its water quality. The focus of the three-year campaign is to engage local farmers in adopting best practices, and developing and supporting policies to increase agricultural-inclusive actions. With participation of seven local farmers in Maryland, a demonstration project using Best Management Practices Challenge Tools, American Farmland Trust will introduce the computerized systems to determine how to calculate more exact amounts of fertilizer needed. This measured approach is expected to reduce the amount of nitrogen spread on the fields, thus lowering nutrient runoff.
Blue Water Baltimore (formerly Baltimore Water Alliance)
$30,000 / 2010 / Environment
For a challenge grant to launch an inaugural membership campaign for Blue Water Baltimore, a merger of five Baltimore watershed associations. By creating a consolidated organization with a common mission, the newly formed organization will be able to increase its capacity, be cost efficient, reduce duplication, attract and retain specialized staff, expand volunteer opportunities, undertake more effective fundraising, and work toward creating a stronger and more united voice for local watersheds.