The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Urban Forest Improvement Grant Program is designed to support sustainable management of urban and community forests, which play a critical role in enhancing environmental and community well-being. Urban forests face challenges such as urban development, climate change, and invasive pests. This grant program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, helps organizations assess their urban forests against the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard. The goal is to benchmark current management practices, identify strengths and gaps, and provide a roadmap for achieving sustainability through a certification readiness process.

The program provides financial support for organizations to engage an accredited Certification Body to conduct a readiness assessment for the initial SFI certification audit. This assessment evaluates the organization’s policies, processes, and procedures against the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard to determine their readiness. The process includes an in-depth review of sustainability indicators and helps organizations document progress, challenges, and areas needing improvement.

Eligible applicants include municipalities, universities, non-profits, Indigenous communities, and Tribes actively managing urban or community forests within the United States. Priority is given to cities or communities serving disadvantaged populations, particularly those identified by the EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening Tool. Grant funds, ranging from $15,000 to $75,000, can be used for personnel, supplies, consultants, or hiring a Certification Body to conduct the readiness assessment. Applicants must provide a detailed budget justification explaining how the funds will support project goals.

Grantees are required to complete an assessment of SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard objectives within 12 months. Deliverables include a detailed final report, quarterly progress updates, biannual reports on achievements and challenges, and an exit interview summarizing insights gained. Objective 16 of the SFI Standard is optional but may be included at the organization’s discretion. Organizations must submit evidence supporting their progress against the sustainability indicators.

The application process is open on a rolling basis until January 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, with the potential for additional applications to be considered based on funding availability. Applications are reviewed within 45 days of submission, and applicants are notified via email of their status. Supplemental guidance and instructions are available to assist applicants through the process.

For additional questions or assistance, applicants can contact Michael Martini, SFI Director of Urban and Community Forestry in the United States, or Paul Johnson, SFI Vice President of Urban and Community Forestry and Career Pathways. This program provides organizations with a pathway to assess, improve, and sustain the long-term health and resilience of urban and community forests, addressing critical environmental and social priorities.