Rooting Justice

Deadline:  Completed applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout 2025 until all funds have been awarded. We have priority application deadlines scheduled for March 15, 2025 and August 15, 2025.

Application Options: Our application is designed to support you and work with you, especially if you have not submitted a grant application before. Our application asks for basic applicant information and responses to four project questions . There will be no penalties for lack of traditional writing conventions, such as grammar, punctuation, and formatting in the application process. Basic applicant information can be submitted through this Blackbaud Grantmaking form while responses to the four project questions can be submitted through one of these three submission methods:

1. Written Letter of Intent
2. Answer Questions using this Blackbaud Grantmaking form 
3. Video or Phone Interview with Justice Outside Staff Member

No mode of submission will be given preference over another. We ask that applicants choose only one submission method. If none of these methods work for your needs but you are still interested in applying, we would like to hear from you! Reach out to [email protected] or call us at 510-671-5294.

STEP 1: PROVIDE BASIC APPLICANT INFORMATION – ONLINE FORM HERE

We ask all applicants to submit basic applicant information, this can be submitted via the Blackbaud Grantmaking form. If you need to provide the basic application via U.S. postal service or another method please contact Rachele Lopez at [email protected] or at 510-671-5294.

Basic applicant information:

1. Organization name:
2. Project title:
3. Primary contact name and title; email address; phone number; mailing address; and organization EIN or fiscal sponsor (if applicable)
4. Select all groups your organization and program engage and benefit:
   1. Work benefiting displaced communities and peoples
   2. Work with indigenous communities
   3. Disadvantaged communities
   4. Communities over burdened with environmental injustices
5. Has your organization received USDA Forest Service Urban funding before? (Y/N) If yes, please list the amounts and issuing agencies.
6. Have you been involved in Justice Outside activities or funding before? (Example: Org is a previous grantee, staff member or participant in the Outdoor Educator Institute, Rising Leaders Fellowship or Network for Networks Leaders programs, attended an outreach event, etc.) (Y/N) (optional box for description)
7. Amount requested for year one (not to exceed $50,000) and amount requested for year two, (not to exceed $50,000) The total amount requested for the entire two year period should not exceed $100,000 in total.
8. How did you hear about this funding opportunity? Select all that apply.
   1. Current Grantee Partner, Board Member, Newsletter, Website, Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, Twitter, Staff outreach, and/or Other
9. Have you or your organization applied for funding with us before but were declined?

Eligibility:

10. Your organization must be registered and validated with SAM.gov to be eligible for funding. If you do not have a SAM.gov UEI Number (formerly DUNS Number), here is a short GSA video outlining the steps to create one. Enter your UEI Number here (e.g. ABCDE1234567).
11. Select the geographic and programmatic location:
    1. Arizona, California, Delaware, Illinois,, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and/or Washington.

Budget:

13. Organizational Annual Budget:
14. Please upload a completed budget using our budget template
    1. Includes: personnel, fringe, travel, supplies, contracts, indirect costs (10% of Direct Costs, unless you have an existing Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate with the Federal government).

Project Questions:

1. Please share your organizational mission and project history.
2. What need will this project address and what are the intended outcomes (what will be the result of the project)? 
3. Please describe the project activities, project partners, and a brief timeline and explain how it will build community resilience through urban and community forestry. 
4. Please describe the relationship that your project team has to the community you are engaging with (its people, its land/geographical area and with other local community efforts/initiatives you are engaged with in support of your mission).

STEP 2: CHOOSE APPLICATION SUBMISSION METHOD:

We ask that you indicate on the online Blackbaud Grantmaking form if you plan to submit your project question responses  via uploaded written letter of intent, video or phone interview with Justice Outside staff members or use the Blackbaud Grantmaking form. In this method you will fill in the Blackbaud Grantmaking form to complete the questions. If you cannot access the Blackbaud Grantmaking online form, please contact Rachele Lopez at [email protected] or call us at 510-671-5294.

STEP 3: COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION (ANY METHOD)** 

Your application will automatically save as you complete fields.  If you are not prepared to complete the application and need to return to it later, check the status of the ‘Save’ by looking for the orange bubble in the lower left corner of your window. It will show a status of either ‘Saving’ or ‘Saved’.  Once the bubble shows ‘Saved’ you may exit the window or return to the applications page by scrolling to the top of the application window and clicking the Applications link in the top left.  When you have created and saved your form, you may access your in progress application by clicking the “Account URL” at this link.

**Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout 2025 until all funds have been awarded. We have priority application deadlines scheduled for March 15, 2025 and August 15, 2025.

FOR UPLOADED LETTER OF INTENT* 

After completing the basic applicant information, if you have chosen to submit your application via an uploaded letter of intent, submit a written letter of intent no more than two pages in length via this Blackbaud Grantmaking form. The letter should answer the following questions:

1. Please share your organizational mission and project history.
2. What need will this project address and what are the intended outcomes (what will be the result of the project)? 
3. Please describe the project activities, project partners, and a brief timeline and explain how it will build community resilience through urban and community forestry. 
4. Please describe the relationship that your project team has to the community you are engaging with (its people, its land/geographical area and with other local community efforts/initiatives you are engaged with in support of your mission).

FOR VIDEO OR PHONE INTERVIEW:

After completing the basic application information, if you have chosen to submit your application via video or phone interview, use this Zoom link to schedule to select an interview time, and review the following questions in advance of your call. At the selected time you will then join a Zoom video chat or phone call with a Justice Outside staff member and your interview will be no more than 30 minutes in length. Your interview time must be scheduled at least 2 days in advance, please work to reserve a time as soon as possible. Your conversation will be recorded, and you can assume your submission is complete at the end of the conversation.

1. Please share your organizational mission and project history.
2. What need will this project address and what are the intended outcomes (what will be the result of the project)?
3. Please describe the project activities, project partners, and a brief timeline and explain how it will build community resilience through urban and community forestry.
4. Please describe the relationship that your project team has to the community you are engaging with (its people, its land/geographical area and with other local community efforts/initiatives you are engaged with in support of your mission).

1. Do I need to provide match funding for this subaward opportunity?
   • No, match funding is not required. A 100% match waiver is available for qualifying applicants. Match funding does not increase your chances of a successful award.
     
2. What is the length of time for each subaward?
   • Each subaward will be for a 2-year period.
     
3. Will extensions be available, if we are unable to complete our project?
   • Yes, no-cost extensions will be allowed with prior approval and appropriate justification for why the project can’t be completed by the end date.
     
4. What is the funding range for this subaward opportunity?
   • We are offering subawards in the range of $50,000 to $100,000.
     
5. Are subawardees allowed to request salary/fringe benefit compensation on this subaward opportunity?
   • Yes, salary and fringe benefits are an allowable expenditure.
     
6. Is there a limit on Indirect Expense?
   • No, you are permitted to use either the de minimis (10%) or your Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) rate.
     
7. What are some examples of allowable costs?
   • Examples of allowable costs include salary and benefits, travel expenses for conferences and professional development training sessions, supplies including trees, tree diapers, fruit bushes, pruning shears, and shovels, permeable pavers, native grasses for medicinal or tree stabilization purposes, contractual agreements including tree trimming service and tree maintenance, and indirect expenses using either the de minimis rate or your NICRA rate.
     
8. What are some examples of unallowable costs?
   • Examples of unallowable costs include capital equipment (over $5,000 per unit cost), construction costs, pre-award costs, and real property.
     
9. Can I submit more than one application?
   • Yes, you can submit more than one application to Rooting Justice funding.
     
10. Are organizations that already received USDA Forest Service Urban funding eligible to apply to Rooting Justice funding?
    • Priority will be given to organizations that have not already received some amount of USDA Forest Service Urban funding for urban forestry.
      
11. If my project does not get selected for funding, what other options does my organization have to work with Justice Outside?
    • Justice Outside may take proposals that do not get selected to receive funding into consideration for future funding opportunities. We are always looking for projects that align with the goals of our work
      
12. What does capacity building mean and what are eligible uses of funding toward capacity building and budget template?
    • In the context of urban and community forestry projects, capacity building works to enhance the ability of organizations, communities, and individuals to effectively manage and maintain trees and green spaces. Capacity building can encompass an organization’s community engagement needs to build a more equitable urban forest including, but not limited to staffing, resource development, and material creation. Any hiring needs must be directly related to grant deliverables and with the goal that newly created positions be permanent, not just temporary and for the grant period.

Capacity-building: Capacity-building is training and learning that provides support for building organizational infrastructure and works to ensure the longevity of a project or program. Capacity building can include, but is not limited to, training and insights around fundraising, hiring processes, organizational growth, board recruitment and retention, and organizational budgeting. 

De minimis rate: The percentage of an organization’s Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) that can be used as indirect costs if the organization doesn’t have a negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement. The de minimis rate is 10% of the MTDC. MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services and travel, including equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, and participant support costs.

Letter of Intent (LOI): A “Letter of Intent” or LOI, for short, is a written document requesting financial support from a grant or funder. Justice Outside offers 4 questions that we would like addressed in the letter of intent for funding. You can find these questions under the “Application Instructions” section of this document. 

Urban forestry: This includes efforts focused on tree planting and maintenance, community engagement, community gardens, workforce development in the field of urban forestry, nature deprivation, access to green jobs, food insecurity, urban heat, environmental justice advocacy/policy campaigns, climate resiliency, cultural and ancestral practice preservation, and public health.

Displaced Communities: Established, local communities of displaced people that immigrated or relocated due to natural disasters, safety, conflict, or other reasons.

Tribes: Defined as Federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations/villages, Tribal organizations as defined in 25USC 5304 (I) and operating within the United States or its territories, and organizations working in Tribal communities.