The Brandywine Conservancy announced the launch of the Brandywine Creek Greenway’s (BCG) Mini Grant Program for 2023-2024. This program is funded by a recent grant of $85,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnership Program Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation (BRC). With these funds, the Brandywine Conservancy will be able to grant awards of $2,000 to $25,000 to projects that will support and advance the goals and objectives of the Brandywine Creek Greenway Strategic Action Plan. The grant funding round will open on March 20, with applications due by May 30, 2023.
The mini grant program will fund small projects that improve parks, open space and community trails, and will advance priority conservation and recreation projects identified in the BCG’s Strategic Action Plan, plus other publicly vetted municipal planning documents. Eligible applicants include Pennsylvania non-profit organizations with tax-exempt status 501(c)(3), municipalities, counties and some educational institutions. Non-profit organizations must submit proof of non-profit status and be registered with the PA Department of State Bureau of Charitable Organizations. Mini grants may not be used to fulfill match requirements for other DCNR funded grant projects.
The maximum grant award is $25,000; any amount greater will require approval by DCNR. All projects, related costs and funding must conform to the guidelines of PA DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnership Program.

Important application dates:

  • Grant Round Opens: March 20, 2023 (grant application materials will be available on the Brandywine Creek Greenway website: www.brandywine.org/mini-grants)
  • Application Deadline: May 30, 2023
  • Grant Awards Announced: September 18, 2023
  • Contracts Executed: November 6, 2023
  • Projects Begin: November 2023
  • Projects Completed: November 30, 2024
  • Final Site Inspections by Mini Grant Local Project Coordinator: September 2024
  • Final Payments: Upon project completion, satisfactory final site inspection and DCNR approval

For questions about the BCG Mini Grant Program, please contact the Brandywine Conservancy’s Sarah Sharp at [email protected].

About the Brandywine Conservancy:

The Brandywine Conservancy protects water, conserves land, and engages communities. The Conservancy uses a multi-faceted approach to conservation. Staff work with private landowners who wish to see their lands protected forever and provide innovative community planning services to municipalities and other governmental agencies. The Conservancy currently holds more than 510 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of over 70,200 acres of land. The Conservancy is a program of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.