Partners in Conservation (PIC) Grants support community projects that focus on soil health and water quality, reducing and addressing climate impacts, sustainable agriculture and community gardens, outdoor and garden education programs, and fish and wildlife habitat restoration. These grants also increase conservation benefits for communities experiencing disparities in environmental health, environmental education, and natural amenities.
The 2025 Partners in Conservation (PIC) grant application closed on December 17, 2024. Non-profits, local governments, schools and educational institutions, and Native American tribes are all eligible for projects ranging from $5,000 to $70,000 and may take up to two years to complete. Projects or events must show a clear public benefit and be located within the EMSWCD service area (all Multnomah County east of the Willamette River) or serve its residents.
You can subscribe to our email list for announcements about grant opportunities.
Questions?
Interested in applying and have questions? Please contact our Grants Program Manager, Heather Nelson Kent at Heather@emswcd.org or call at (503) 935-5370.
Find out more about this program by reading our 2025 Partners in Conservation Handbook. You can also find templates, information about past grant recipients and more here.
Learn more about how to apply for a PIC Grant
Watch our recording of the online info session. Learn more about the application process and how to apply. You’ll hear all about project eligibility, support for developing your project, and how grants are evaluated by our community-based grants review committee.
- Link to the video – here.
- Link to the presentation – here.
- Or read the PIC 2025 Handbook for all the details.
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- Zenger Farm opens doors to the community at their annual Dia De Los Muertos event. Funding from EMSWCD helps make the event accessible to the community. Photo courtesy of Zenger Farm.
A Grant Review Committee reviews the applications and selects those that strongly meet our grant program goals. Find examples of projects that meet our program goals in our updated 2025 Partners in Conservation Handbook. You can also find more information and resources here.
Find the 2025 application questions in a word document here.
Previous PIC Grant Awards
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- Wisdom Workforce Interns conducting a plant survey. Photo courtesy Wisdom of the Elders.
EMSWCD’s Board awarded $1,050,000 to 24 projects serving diverse communities, youth and families for 2024 PIC Grants. Every year, several first-time applicants are selected.
See the projects awarded funding in 2024.
Grant Review Committee
The Board of Directors appoints the Partners in Conservation Grant Review Committee. The committee includes individuals from the community with diverse professional backgrounds, lived experience and relevant expertise.
The committee reviews all PIC grant applications and makes funding recommendations to the Board of Directors. The Board has final approval.