SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS
Foresters' Fund
Grant Program
Goals:
The SAF Foresters' Fund assists local SAF units in achieving the goals of the Society. The SAF Bylaws state that the goals of the Fund are to:
§
promote education to enhance public understanding of the role of professional foresters in
forest resource management,
§conduct forest policy activities, and
§to strengthen state societies, divisions, and chapters in achieving the mission of the Society.
Project Ideas:
SAF units are encouraged to submit proposals that meet one or more of the goals of the Fund. Such proposals could include but not limited to:
§Public outreach and education forestry field days, museum displays, Walk in the Forest
activities, or education for teachers.
§Media campaigns opinion/editorials, feature articles, press releases, or field tours.
§Legislative events tours, breakfasts, luncheons, or offices visits by SAF members.
§Local unit support special professional development opportunities (guest speakers, joint
organizational meetings), website development, membership recruitment/retention, or
leadership/media training.
Deadlines:
Regular grants (up to $1,500) February 15; June 15; and September 15
Special grants ($1,501 to $5,000) is June 15
Applications:
at murgial@safnet.org or 301/ 897-8720 ext. 118
SAF local units (state societies, divisions, and chapters) are encouraged to partner with student chapters, working groups, national committees, and the
National Student Assembly on Foresters' Fund projects.
Procedures:
All requested items under the "Proposal" section must be included in your unit's Foresters' Fund grant proposal. Only typed proposals will be accepted.
All grant proposals must be approved by a state society executive committee before submission to the national office. Recognizing that Foresters' Fund money
is limited, the executive committee should assess carefully all proposals and submit only those that will be most effective in meeting the objectives of the Fund
and the local unit.
If the project is proposed between meetings of an executive committee -- making a full committee decision difficult -- the officers of the state society have the
discretion to review the proposal by phone or by mail and pass on their recommendation to the national office on behalf of the state society.
State societies, divisions, and chapters are eligible for the regular grants. Only state societies and divisions may apply for special grants; Chapters are not
eligible for a special grant. A joint special grant request can be submitted if two or more state societies or divisions are working together on a project.
State societies or divisions are encouraged to coordinate special grant projects with chapter participation. Working groups are encouraged to partner with state
societies to submit grants. SAF local units (state societies, divisions, and chapters) are encouraged to partner with student chapters, working groups,
national committees, and the National Student Assembly on Foresters' Fund projects.
A project manager, working with a committee, should be designated to take responsibility for the project.
Regular grant projects must be completed within one year of approval. Special grants must be completed within two years of approval. At completion, any unused
funds must be returned to the Foresters' Fund at the national office.
Grant funds will be sent to the state society treasurer for prompt remittance to the project manager.
A state society is eligible to receive up to 2 regular grants per deadline, and no more than $6,000 per year (this total does not include any special grants that may be awarded).
No regular grant will exceed $1,500; No special grant will exceed $5,000.
The Affiliate Services Manager will confirm receipt of the proposal by letter or e-mail to the project manager, state society, division, chapter, and Foresters' Fund Chair.
If the letter or e-mail is not received within two weeks of sending the proposal, please contact the Affiliate Services Manager.
SAF units may apply for more than one Foresters' Fund regular or special grant in any calendar year. However, depending on the number of requests, the second or
additional projects may be deferred until other local units are provided funds for their first project.
An evaluation form will be provided to the project manager. The national office will hold back twenty percent (20%) of the total amount funded until the final project evaluation
is received. The evaluation is due sixty (60) days after completing the project.
The comprehensive final evaluation must be submitted to the national office, including illustrations, photographs, brochures, news clippings, etc. which will be used to publicize
the project in The Forestry Source and the SAF website. Upon return of the project evaluation, the remaining funds will be forward to the state society treasurer for distribution
to the project coordinator.
After 60 days, any unclaimed funds will be reallocated to the Foresters' Fund for other projects.
Criteria
oGrants will be awarded to projects that meet one of the goals of the Fund:
§promote education to enhance public understanding of the role of professional foresters in
forest resource management,
§conduct forest policy activities, or
§to strengthen state societies, divisions, and chapters in achieving the mission of the Society:
The mission of the Society of American Foresters is to advance the science, education, technology, and practice of forestry; to enhance the competency of its members;
to establish professional excellence; and, to use the knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest
ecosystems and the present and future availability of forest resources to benefit society.
oThe project must be sponsored, supervised, or organized and involve the active participation of SAF members.
oSpecial consideration will be given to SAF units submitting a proposal for the first time, and to projects that include substantial matching funds
(e.g. from foundations, corporations, etc.) A specific SAF unit project can receive funding for up to three consecutive years.
oThe proposal must clearly convey to the review panel that the state society, division, or chapter has the capability and enthusiasm, as well as a realistic timetable
and budget, necessary to ensure the proposed project's successful implementation.
oProjects need to include a strong communications plan that includes but is not limited to:
§Providing press releases and other notices to external audiences and media.
§Notifying unit members about the project
§Promptly sharing the outcome of the project with unit members plus other SAF units through SAF's newspaper, The Forestry Source.
Please see the "Society Affairs" section in The Forestry Source.
oProjects that have already been completed are not eligible for Foresters' Fund grants. Late submissions will be held for the next review period.
Proposal:
All proposals must include the enclosed application form and full explanation of the following (please note items K-M are for special grants only):
A.Summary of Project: A brief project summary (up to 50 words) that captures the goals, purpose, and outcomes of the project.
B.Objectives: List 3 to 5 points you would like to communicate to your audience. In addition, state how these objectives meet the goals of the Fund.
C.Target Audience: Describe the types of people or group the project seeks to benefit.
D.Methods: Describe in detail what specific steps you will take to teach your audience the 3 to 5 points listed in part "B".
E.Evaluation: Describe how you will measure what the audience has learned as a result of the project.
F.Recognition: Describe in detail how SAF will be connected to and credited for the project.
G.Community Service: Describe the type of community service or benefit this project provides.
H.Member Involvement: Show what SAF members are responsible for and how many members will be directly involved in the project.
I.Communications Plan: Describe your communications plan plus any strategies to attract media attention to the project, including contacting
newspaper, radio, and TV stations.
J.Budget: Please use the attached budget form. Provide a complete budget including the overall project budget and detailed list of items or services
for which the requested funds ($500 to $1,500 for regular; $1,501 to $5,000 for special grants) will be spent. In addition, list any project cosponsors or copartners.
The following items (K-M) need to be included in the special grant proposal ONLY!
K.Needs Statement: Describe why this project is important to do at this time in this community or with your target audience.
L.Schedule & Timetable: Provide an outline of when specific components of the project will take place.
M.Adaptability: Describe how the project can be adapted for use by members in other parts of the country.
Questions
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact
Louise Murgia Phone: (301) 897-8720 ext. 118
Affiliate Services Manager Fax: (301) 897-3690
5400 Grosvenor Lane E-mail: murgial@safnet.org
Bethesda, MD 20814 www.safnet.org
Society of American Foresters'
Foresters' Fund
Application Form
Date:______________ Requesting SAF Unit:_______________________________________
Amount of SAF funds requested:
oRegular Grant (between $500 - $1,500):_________________________
oSpecial Grant (between $1,501 - $5,000):________________________
Project Title:_____________________________________________________________________
Expected Date of Project Completion:_________________________________________________
Project Manager (name, address, and contact information)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone (___) ____________________ Fax (____) _______________________ E-mail: ____________________________________________________
Certification of the state society executive committee:
I hereby certify that this proposal has been reviewed and approved by the executive committee of the________________________ SAF State Society.
Signature:________________________________________Date:_________________
SAF Title______________________________________________________________
Check List:
oDoes the proposal clearly describe how the 3 to 5 points meet the goals of the Foresters' Fund?
oDoes the project coordinator understand that 20% of the funds requested will be held until the national office receives a project evaluation, that the evaluation is due
within 60 days of project completion, and that after 60 days, any unclaimed funds will be returned to the Foresters' Fund?
Submitting the Proposal:
Please submit the Foresters' Fund proposal to:
Society of American Foresters
Foresters' Fund
5400 Grosvenor Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
Fax: (301) 897-3690
E-mail: murgial@safnet.org
Society of American Foresters'
Foresters' Fund
Budget Worksheet
Please submit this worksheet with your Foresters' Fund grant proposal.
Category Total BudgetForesters' FundGrant Request
Ex: Mailings/Postage$800 $500
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
TOTAL:
Please list all cosponsors, foundations, or other confirmed sources of funds or in-kind support for this proposal (including SAF unit funds):
If applicable, please list other funders considering this proposal:
