Tree Canopy & Workforce Community Grant
You’re Invited to Apply for up to $30,000 to Plant Trees at Your House of Worship or Community Organization! Learn more about the opportunity through Invitation for Applications.
Faith in Place is an equal opportunity provider.
About the Opportunity
Faith in Place will distribute 65 to 85 grants, each up to $30,000, to community organizations and Houses of Worship within environmental justice communities across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. These grants are intended for planting and maintaining trees on their properties over a four-year period.
Learn more about the opportunity by viewing our full Invitation for Grant Proposals and checking out our FAQs.
Tree Planting Success Stories
First Presbyterian Church
Danville, IL
"The [tree planting] project is concerned with improving air quality by planting more trees, particularly native species, because natives thrive rather than just exist."
Church Member, Claudia Ferrell
How to Apply
1. Watch the Tree Workshop Recording
2. Apply
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Step 1: Check if you are eligible (see below).
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Step 2: If you think you are eligible, create an account through our grant portal.
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Instructions for how to do this are available in this video guide.
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Step 3: Complete the Eligibility Questionnaire (listed as "LOI" in the Grant Portal). This should take 20-30 minutes if you already have a UEI number. You can start and save your progress at any point.
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This step collects basic information to ensure you are eligible for the grant before working on your application. See below for additional resources.
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Step 4: Wait to hear from us. Our team will review your submission, and if you meet the criteria, we'll invite you to submit the full application through the portal.
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Step 5: If approved, review the Application Toolkit and application resources below and gather the information needed to apply.
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Step 6: Complete your application by November 21. We estimate the application taking 10-15 hours to plan the project, gather the application details, and submit the information through the portal. You can start and save you progress when completing the application in the grant portal at any point.
Check Your Eligibility to Apply
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Legal Designation: If you are applying as an organization, you must be a 501(c)(3). If you are applying as a House of Worship, this isn’t required.
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Location: Your organization or House of Worship (or the location of your project, if different than your organization's address) must be located in a CEJST community in Indiana, Illinois, or Wisconsin. Use the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool and follow these instructions to check if you are.
Application Guides and Resources
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A general explanation of the opportunity
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Step-by-step guidance on how to complete the application
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Letter Template Granting Permission to Plant
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Required to indicate the property owner approves the planting project
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Example of what a completed application could look like
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Downloadable Excel template to use for your application budget
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List of Recommended Tree Species
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List of tree species you can plant. If you have a non-invasive species you want to plant that's not on the list, please write to grants@faithinplace.org for permission.
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List of Supplies That the Grant Can Pay For
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When creating your budget, only include items on this supply list.
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Ideas for Incorporating Workforce Development in your Application
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Additional FAQs
FAQs
Please email grants@faithinplace.org if you have a question not answered here.
Can I use this grant funding to plant native gardens?
No, this funding can only support the planting and maintaining non-invasive trees and the growth of the forestry workforce.
If my organization is not in a CEJST community, can I apply for the grant?
Only if you plan to plant trees on a property that is in a CEJST zone (identified as "Disadvantaged" according to this federal mapping tool) and you have written permission from the property owner.
Do volunteers or employees have to do all the tree maintenance?
No, you are able to utilize grant funding to pay for contractor support for the planting and maintenance of trees.
If a number of houses of worship/organizations are in CJEST locations and they want to collaborate, can they apply for this grant as a collaborative entity?
This would make the application process more challenging. Suppose groups wanted to work in a common area. In that case, we recommend each group doing an application for their portion of the work, or having a primary applicant complete the application and being the entity in charge of the financial tracking and reporting.
Could the grant be used to plant trees from seed rather than sapling?
This grant can only be used to plant saplings. The reason being, the seeds would take longer to establish and grow to benefit the tree canopy at the pace desired by the Forest Service. They want to see trees planted at a 1" caliper to maximize the benefits to the tree canopy.
Can this grant be used to remove invasive/diseased/dead trees and plant native trees in their place?
Any tree removal would have to be a very small part of your proposal and trees would need to be replanted at at least a 2:1 ratio of those removed.
Can an applicant whose address is in a CEJST community apply with written permission to plant on property they aren’t located on but is also in a CEJST Community?
Yes, as long as they have signed permission to plant and it is clear who will be responsible for maintaining the trees.
Can planting be done on municipal property/ right of way in front of an organization/ House of Worship or in residential locations?
Yes, though the municipality or property owner must provide written permission.
Can funding be used for soil amendments?
Soil amendments such as compost are acceptable; fertilizers, etc. are not recommended for newly planted trees as they can burn the tree’s roots and would not be permitted.
Can funding be used for "earth moving" to prepare a space for tree planting?
This could be eligible; though hand digging trees is usually the best option. Using heavy equipment to plant trees can result in improper planting depth so the application should include how the property would be prepared in a way that support healthy tree planting.
Can we use funding to remove concrete/ashpalt for tree planting?
This could be eligible but the grant would only cover the cost to remove concrete/asphalt directly needed to plant the tree.
When should we plant to plant trees in our application?
We encourage you to plant the trees in the Spring 2025 after the last frost and before it gets hot (normally by the end of May). If your organization has a different schedule, like an Autumn planting plan, you are still welcome to apply. Please just outline your planting plan for the grant review committee.
Tree Planting Tips & Resources
We invite you to use the following resources and tips when creating your planting and maintenance plan.
Call 811 Before You Dig!
Call 811 at least 72 hours before digging to ensure you won't damage utility lines.
Find you local number here.
Right Tree, Right Place
The best tree options for your property depend on where the trees will be planted. When reviewing options, consider the mature height and ensure trees are planted at least 5 feet from sidewalks, pavement, and buildings.
Watering is Critical!
Your maintenance plan must include 10-15 gallons of watering per week per planted tree during the growing season.
