In support of the Resilient by Nature Project (RxN), Walder Foundation is inviting proposals for projects in the Chicago region that improve understanding and demonstrate the potential of nature-based solutions to address challenges related to climate and human well-being, while also improving biodiversity. Our intention is to harness nature to help build a more sustainable, equitable and vibrant city.
Summer 2021
ABOUT RxN
RxN is pursuing approaches to catalyze the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the Chicago region. Since adopting its motto, “City in a Garden,” nature has been an integral part of Chicago's heritage. The region boasts a wealth of biodiversity supported by diverse landscapes, engaged communities, and an array of existing assets, including forest preserves, parks, and community gardens. Unfortunately, access to nature and green space is not evenly distributed. Today’s Chicago communities reflect decades of institutional racism and urban development approaches that have disrupted the natural environment rather than enhanced it. At the intersection of these patterns lie the social and environmental challenges faced by residents, many of which disproportionately impact low-income residents and/or people of color. These include urban flooding, poor air quality, urban heat island effect, inequitable food access, and numerous social determinants of health.
Leaders and residents in the Chicago region recognize the urgency to change course. There is growing interest in better integrating nature into our neighborhoods to realize the benefits of improved health and quality of life, economic opportunities, and resilience to the impacts of climate change.
WHAT ARE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS?
RxN defines nature-based solutions as “employing nature at a meaningful scale for multiple benefits.” They are “win-win” approaches to community improvement that benefit both people and nature.
Employing nature
Modifying, enhancing, or restoring an ecosystem, planting specific vegetation, or changing the topographical and hydrological features of a landscape.
Meaningful scale
Defined relative to the desired benefit and to the challenge that the project seeks to address, from pocket parks and green roofs to landscapes.
Multiple benefits
Delivering economic, social, and environmental outcomes that improve human well-being and biodiversity.
Examples of nature-based solutions
Nature-based solutions exist across a wide range of scales and types and may be implemented in different ways depending on the challenge they seek to address.
In the urban environment, examples of nature-based solutions include but are not limited to:
Nature-based green stormwater infrastructure
Community gardens
Green roofs
Parks, forest preserves, and other open spaces and natural areas
Tree planting and maintenance
Habitat conservation and restoration
The specific type of approach pursued is highly context-dependent and will be based on the local environment and community needs. Nature-based solution projects must result in a net benefit to people and nature.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND FUNDING GUIDELINES
To catalyze the expansion of nature-based solutions initiatives, Walder Foundation aims to support projects that raise awareness and demonstrate the potential of these approaches. This work will help improve communities and show the value of this work to decision-makers, residents, planners, and other key audiences.
Grants will be made to projects that:
Are led by organizations that are governmental units or treated as public charities for tax purposes, or working with a fiscal sponsor with public charity status.
Request support between $25,000 - $400,000.
Can be completed within two years (i.e., prior to August 31, 2023).
Are located in the Greater Chicago region defined as the Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will, and Lake County in Indiana
We seek proposals that focus on one or both of the following focus areas:
1-Catalytic Projects
To implement on-the-ground projects that provide viable demonstrations and proofs of concept for how nature-based solutions can benefit people, communities, and the environment, we will support projects that achieve one or more of the following:
Utilize NBS to directly address solvable challenges such as flooding, poor air quality, high temperatures, etc.
Have the potential to serve as “models.” This might mean developing evidence about the value of NBS, or testing and implementing innovative approaches to NBS financing, or installation and/or community engagement that could be transferable to other locations.
Benefit historically and currently marginalized communities, such as low-income neighborhoods and residents of color.
Incorporate an equitable community engagement process.
Employ a collaborative approach among stakeholders.
Proposals may be for new projects or those at some stage of planning or implementation. Proposals may be for projects where some portion of the work is funded and underway and where additional support might better enable it to serve as an example for others. This could include funding for communications, education, community engagement, monitoring, data collection, additional NBS features, collaboration support, etc.
Projects already in progress that seek supplemental support should demonstrate how the funds will help expand or enhance the work by maximizing the ability to deliver multiple benefits for the community where the project is located.
2-Critical Data and Knowledge
To create a shared understanding of Chicago’s existing NBS assets and opportunities for growth, fill crucial data gaps, and build the evidence base for NBS in Chicago, we will support projects that achieve one or more of the following:
Coordinate, standardize, and make NBS-relevant data more accessible in the Chicago region.
Generate new data or knowledge about nature-based solutions and their impacts on communities and the environment in the Chicago region.
Develop new thinking and knowledge around persistent challenges associated with nature-based solutions such as maintenance, gentrification, and financing.
Answer important research questions related to NBS that will serve to advance our understanding of how NBS can be implemented, scaled and made accessible to all.
Develop monitoring and evaluation techniques and processes to better understand the performance and impact of NBS and demonstrate their broad benefits.
Projects that address research questions as defined by communities and have a clear pathway to on the ground impact.
WHAT WE ARE NOT FUNDING
Projects led by organizations that are not public charities.
Projects that predominantly use physical types of green infrastructure such as permeable paving, rain barrels or other types of intervention that do not include nature-based elements.
Projects where there is no clear benefit to biodiversity.
General operating or unrestricted funding.
Event or conference sponsorship.
Basic scientific research.
Walder Foundation is committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. We encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds and/or projects that improve outcomes for those from underrepresented backgrounds.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
HOW TO APPLY
A complete application requires submitting an online form and uploading documents. You will need to create an account in the Walder Foundation’s grants management system, foundationConnect. To create an account, you will need your organization’s EIN.
1. Create an account in foundationConnect and save an application.
Click on the link below and choose Create New Account:
You will receive a confirmation email from grants@walderfoundation.org. Choose the link in the email, sign in to your account and start and save a new application. To save an application, complete the first field, Project Title, and then choose Save.
IMPORTANT: If you do not start your application immediately after receiving the confirmation email, you will need to return to this page and click the link above to be directed to the application form.
If you are already registered in our grants management system, click on the link above and choose “Sign In” and you will be directed to the application form.
2. Continue to work on and complete your application.
Once you have saved an application, use the link below to resume work and submit your application:
Walder Foundation Grantee Portal
You can log in any time (up until the deadline) to work on your application and save your progress.
We recommend creating your account early to familiarize yourself with the system and the application form.
View a sample of the application form
An automated email confirmation is generated upon submission of the application. If you do not receive a confirmation within 24 hours of submitting your application, please check your spam folder and then contact: grants@walderfoundation.org
PROPOSAL QUESTIONS
Please view the sample application form above to see all of the application questions.
Within the Uploads section of your application, as the Narrative Proposal, please include responses to the following questions uploaded as a Microsoft Word document or a PDF. Your responses should be no more than eight pages in total.
What is the current status of the project?
What are the primary challenges that your project addresses, and what are the main community benefits?
Please describe the timeline including key milestones for the proposed work.
How will your project benefit biodiversity and the environment?
Will the funding requested help to expand or build upon existing work? If so, how?
How will you define success for this work? What obstacles might you encounter that prevent success?
How will your project be maintained/sustained over time?
In what ways have you connected and engaged with residents? How will this continue to inform your work?
What might you and others be able to learn from your project regarding how nature can be better integrated into our region to benefit communities?
Are you aware of any relevant zoning, permitting, or ownership issues (if applicable)?
Does your project align with the goals or strategies of any relevant regional, neighborhood or community plans (e.g., LISC Quality of Life plans)?
What organizations are involved (formally or informally) in this work, and what role will each organization play?
Please describe the costs associated with each budget category, how they relate to the implementation of the project, and how they will advance the work.
You will also need to upload a project budget, including income and expenses by year. If you have any existing plans or drawings of your proposed project, please feel free to include them as an upload (not counted in the eight-page limit). Please also upload a copy of your organization’s most recent financial audit.
FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS ONLY
For the narrative proposal upload, in addition to uploading answers to the questions above, please also upload a research description of no more than five pages comprised of the following:
Project summary: a one-paragraph summary of the proposed research and potential outcomes
Project description including relevant background information and research plan
Potential for impact: how will this research advance nature-based solutions in the Chicago region?
List of key personnel (not included in page limit)
Literature cited (not included in page limit)
TIMELINE
Applications due: JULY 27, 2021, 5 p.m. CDT
Grant notification: NOVEMBER 2021
Initial payment: DECEMBER 2021
RESOURCES
Global Standard for Nature-Based Solutions, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2020)
Building Community Resilience with Nature-Based Solutions, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (2020)
Using Green Infrastructure to Enhance Urban Biodiversity, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (2018)
CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions related to the content of your request, contact Jack Westwood, Senior Program Officer, by email: environment@walderfoundation.org.
For questions about using our grants management system, contact grants@walderfoundation.org.