The Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) has announced that the Community Forestry Catalyst Fund (CF2) is now open! You can find more information, view the Request for Proposals, and start an application by going to the Community Forestry Catalyst Fund website.
This program was created by the Maryland Department of Resources Forest Service with funds from the U.S. Forest Service and is now administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. CBT welcomes proposals that directly support tree planting projects or increase the capacity of organizations to scale up their tree planting and maintenance initiatives in overburdened, underserved communities across the state of Maryland. The goal of the CF2 program is to reduce barriers to tree planting and provide local partners with flexible access to a source of funds that can be leveraged to secure additional resources without requiring matching funds.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Local government entity
- Federally Recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations as defined in 25 USC 5304 (l) and operating within the United States, or its territories
- Non-profit organizations
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Community Based Organization, defined as a public organization that supports and/or represents a community and/or certain populations within a community through engagement, education, and other related services provided to individual community residents and community stakeholders
Eligibility:
Projects selected for funding must directly or indirectly result in trees being planted in overburdened, underserved communities across the state. To determine if your project is located within, or serves, applicable disadvantaged communities it must be identified in the archived, Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.
What this funds:
Funding amounts vary by project track, with grants available between $5,000 and $50,000 for planting site readiness (Track A) and tree planting (Track B) projects, and between $50,000 and $250,000 per year for capacity building projects (Track C). To know more about the specifics of each track and how to combine them, go to the website or download the Request for Proposals here.
To learn more about previously awarded projects, check out their interactive map!
The deadline for applications is Monday, September 15th, 2025, at 11:59 pm EDT.
CBT will be hosting an informational webinar for potential applicants on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 from 6:00-7:00 pm. You can register to attend here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lvPP6dyRQ0WRzTdZYjefkQ
They highly encourage all interested applicants to attend the webinar. If you are unable to join live, a recording will be posted on their website for later viewing.
For any questions about this opportunity, please reach out to Samara Pyfrom, Program Officer, Environmental Justice, at 410-974-2941, ext. 147 or email: [email protected].
