Pierce County, Washington, is accepting applications for its 2025 Watersheds Small Grants Program, which provides funding for community-driven projects aimed at improving habitat and water quality within the county’s watersheds. This grant cycle runs from March 3 through April 30, 2025, and supports initiatives in the Nisqually, Puyallup-White, Chambers-Clover Creek, and KGI watersheds. The maximum award is $2,500 for most watersheds, and $3,000 for the KGI watershed under the Lu Winsor Environmental Grants.

This program is a collaborative effort between Pierce County, watershed councils, nonprofits, and local agencies. The grants are intended to promote environmental literacy and advance watershed health through practical, community-based projects. Successful proposals typically include activities like riparian buffer plantings, invasive species removal, rain garden installations, nature-based education programs, and community clean-up events.

Applicants are encouraged to align their proposed activities with the goals outlined in their respective watershed councils’ current Action Agendas or workplans. Though the grants are small, they have a meaningful impact on local water and habitat quality. Additional funding may be made available through the Washington State Department of Natural Resources' Watershed Resilience Program for projects supporting salmon recovery, climate resilience, and watershed health, particularly in the Nisqually and Puyallup watersheds. Interested applicants may reach out to Hannah King at Hannah.King@dnr.wa.gov for more information.

There are no restrictions on who can apply, making the opportunity accessible to nonprofit organizations, public and private schools, teachers, tribes, local governments, community groups, and individuals. However, the grant program does not support for-profit ventures, fundraising campaigns, lobbying efforts, or advocacy projects. All awarded entities must report grant income on their federal taxes, and only complete applications will be considered for funding.

An informational webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. via Zoom to help applicants understand the program’s goals and application process. Pierce County encourages interested individuals and organizations to register for the session and review prior grant recipient successes for inspiration.

For updates, interested parties may sign up for email notifications about future funding opportunities and deadlines through the county’s website.