At the Tahoe Fund, we work directly with our partners on projects that improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy. Over the past decade, we have granted funds to over 80 different environmental improvement projects.
We are currently seeking project submissions with fundraising goals of $5,000-$1,000,000 that align with our five focus areas. These projects should:
- Forest Health – increase the pace and scale of forest restoration in the Tahoe Basin.
- Lake Clarity/Water Quality/Lake Health – improve lake clarity, water quality, and lake health. We are particularly interested in projects with a focus on Aquatic Invasive species, near shore water quality, and Upper Truckee watershed restoration.
- Sustainable Recreation – improve quality of experience and equity of access, while minimizing impacts on natural resources in Tahoe.
- Stewardship – inspire more people to take care of Tahoe by funding projects that increase environmental awareness and promote behavioral change.
- Transportation – solve current and future transportation challenges; especially those that help tackle peak congestion issues.
Early-Stage Grants
Looking for an early stage investment? Project submissions for early-stage grants through our Environmental Venture Trust or Smartest Forest Fund can be submitted here as well. These projects should be able to demonstrate how an early investment will be leveraged to secure significantly more funding in the future from public and/or private sources. They should also bring innovative solutions to Tahoe’s environmental challenges.
How to Submit a Project
We invite you to submit a project using this form. At this stage, we are most interested in learning the basic details of the project, the benefit to the Tahoe Basin, the alignment with a specific goal area, the general timeline and a budget range. Please review project guidelines prior to completing the form.
Please provide the following information in the form below:
- Your contact information
- An overview of the project, its objectives and its benefits to Tahoe (2,000 characters max)
- Project location
- Which Tahoe Fund Focus Area your project addresses (see full list above)
- How your project aligns with the Focus Area you selected
- How your project will increase access and inclusivity for underserved communities in the Basin (if applicable)
- Project partners, including any organizations, agencies or other entities that are or will be involved in this project.
- Project timeline, including timelines for environmental approvals, planning, construction, etc.
- Total project budget, as an exact number, estimate or range
- Amount of funding requested from the Tahoe Fund
- Other funding sources for the project, including any public funding sources
Project Guidelines
- Tahoe Fund projects must be in the Tahoe Basin and should be consistent with the program priorities laid out above: Forest Health, Lake Clarity/Lake Quality/Lake Health, Sustainable Recreation, Transportation and Stewardship.
- Projects should be inclusive of all residents and visitors of Lake Tahoe.
- Projects should have high appeal to the private sector. Tahoe Fund does not provide funding for activities or projects that are generally viewed as the base operation and maintenance responsibilities of the requesting entity.
- Tahoe Fund grants are intended to leverage existing levels of federal, state, and local funding. Project requests cannot be a substitute for the base operational budgets of these entities.
- With the notable exception of stewardship/interpretation projects, the Tahoe Fund will generally not include funding requests for planning, design, or other pre-construction activities, or for maintenance and monitoring of projects in its portfolios of Signature and Premier Projects.
- Tahoe Fund will consider funding requests for early-stage projects within its Environmental Venture Trust portfolio. Project must show the ability to leverage an early investment with future funding sources.
- Tahoe Fund projects must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local statutes and regulations, and should contribute to the attainment of one or more TRPA thresholds (water quality, air quality, soil conservation, scenic quality, recreation, fisheries, wildlife, noise, vegetation preservation).
- The Tahoe Fund seeks projects that have completed the environmental review process for the Signature and Premier projects. Please state the date of anticipated environmental approvals.
- The Tahoe Fund is focused on expanding stewardship of the region, and will consider projects that focus on large-scale stewardship. K-12 in-school programs are not currently being considered.
- The Tahoe Fund will not select projects that address the mitigation requirements of private projects.
- Project administrator must be able to demonstrate that there is full community support for the project (or no major conflicts).
- Project administrator must have ability to recognize the Tahoe Fund for the donation (plaque, publicity, marketing, special events).
- Indirect costs cannot exceed 5%.
Project Review Process
All submissions will be reviewed by the Tahoe Fund Board, which is tasked with developing the Tahoe Fund’s Signature and Premier Projects Portfolio. Select projects will be invited to provide further details. The Tahoe Fund Board will review proposals on a rolling basis.