Grant Guidelines

Adopted March 19-20, 2026

Contents

I. Background and Purpose

II. Funding Priorities

III. Funding Considerations

IV. Grant Information

V. Appendices

I. Background and Purpose

California Tahoe Conservancy

The California Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy) is a state agency that leads California’s efforts to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin (Basin). As the only state agency focused on the Basin, the Conservancy works collaboratively with its tribal, federal, state, local, and private partners to achieve this mission. Since its establishment in 1984, the Conservancy has invested more than half a billion dollars in conservation and recreation projects and programs on the California side of the Basin. This includes substantial investment in the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), a partnership established in 1997 to coordinate the funding and implementation of high priority restoration and protection projects. The Conservancy will continue to advance the EIP, which aligns closely with the Conservancy’s recently updated Strategic Plan.

The Conservancy’s efforts are guided by its Strategic Plan, which establishes goals that will advance statewide, Basinwide, and Sierra Nevada regional mandates and initiatives. The Strategic Plan provides a valuable source of information for understanding the programs, projects, and initiatives that the Conservancy will advance over the next five years. These goals and strategies may change with future strategic plans. Grantees should become familiar with the current plan.

Scope of Grant Guidelines

The Conservancy uses available funding to accomplish its mission and Strategic Plan through grants to partners for land acquisition, planning, implementation, and monitoring.

These Grant Guidelines (Guidelines) provide foundational information about our grant processes, and our obligation to partners and the citizens of California to responsibly award and manage grants. The Guidelines identify the Conservancy’s grant funding priorities, and the considerations the Conservancy will use to evaluate an application. Individual funding sources and programs, such as the Tahoe for All Grant Program, may require additional guidance (See Appendices A-D). Separate pre-application forms and application packages provide additional guidance for preparing grant submittals.

All Conservancy grants to California Native American Tribes will also follow the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Tribal Grant Guidance. The CNRA Tribal Grant Guidance acknowledges that tribes have been historically marginalized from state grant opportunities. This is due to historical injustices creating the modern context in which tribes currently exist and operate. These injustices have created unique barriers and challenges for tribes participating in California grant programs. The CNRA Tribal Grant Administration Guidance aims to ensure that tribal grantees can navigate the complexities of the state grant programs with greater ease.

II. Funding Priorities

The Conservancy funds a wide variety of projects on the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin to:

• provide recreational and public access opportunities for all,
• protect and restore natural lands to enhance biodiversity,
• improve climate resilience and safeguard communities,
• support community resilience, and
• promote Tribal presence.

The Conservancy prioritizes its funding based on the Strategic Plan goals, legislation, executive orders, and guidance as well as Basin priorities as set forth in the EIP and topic-specific plans. See the Policy Drivers section of the Strategic Plan for more information.

In 2024, the Conservancy also adopted its Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP). The REAP sets forth goals and actions to address racial equity challenges through internal and external operations, including using a racial equity lens when evaluating grants. As detailed in the REAP, the Conservancy is committed to additional funding support for projects, programs, or initiatives that:

• enhance equity in the Basin,
• enhance Tribal support,
• increase Tribal access and land acquisition across the Basin,
• serve the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and organizations from communities facing the greatest inequities, or
• create and support environmental employment pathways for young, diverse, and local community members that are under-resourced.

As applicable, the Conservancy also advances directives tied to specific funding sources or grant programs (See Appendices A-D).

To be eligible, applicants must show that they will implement the program or project within the California side of the Basin.

III. Funding Considerations

Generally, the Conservancy considers the following when evaluating whether to make a grant. The Conservancy may identify additional items based on the funding source or other factors. Applicants should consider the following in their applications:

1. Multiple Benefit Creation
Maximizing the value of state funding by delivering multiple benefits and positive impacts to the Basin, the public, and communities facing the greatest inequities; and by advancing multiple Conservancy and state priorities.

2. Cost-Sharing
Leveraging other financial contributions, whether public or private, to multiply the value of the Conservancy’s investment, and expand the total resources available.

3. High-Quality Project Design

• Providing compelling rationale, clear goals, a rigorous methodology, and explicit deliverables, accompanied by a detailed scope of work, timeline, and budget.
• Providing sufficient funding and staff for the high-quality and timely completion of tasks and deliverables.
• Designing monitoring to be consistent with and complementary to existing Basin monitoring programs.

4. Consistency with Existing Plans and Guidance
Maintaining consistency with relevant existing plans and guidance from state and Basin agencies, including commitment to furthering the Conservancy’s racial equity goals.

5. Accounting for Climate Change in Planning and Investment
Applying the principles of Executive Order B-30-15, which directed state agencies to account for climate change in planning and investment. The State’s guidebook, Planning and Investing for a Resilient California, provides several principles to implement this mandate, including prioritizing actions that build climate preparedness as well as reduce emissions; prioritizing natural infrastructure solutions; managing uncertainty by using flexible and adaptive approaches; and protecting the State’s most vulnerable populations.

6. Innovation and Transformative Change

• Pioneering new approaches to planning and implementation, including creating planning, permitting, operational, financial, or other efficiencies. This may involve, for example, revising analytical approaches, using emerging technologies, engaging communities in novel ways, or experimenting with new authorities.
• Promoting transformative change (i.e., change that manifests at a large geographic, ecological, financial, and/or demographic scale).

7. Use of California Conservations Corps and Other Conservation Corps Services
Using California Conservation Corps (CCC) services when possible or as required by funding source (see Appendix A and B). Founded in 1976, the CCC provides young adults ages 18 to 25 with a year of paid service to the State, during which they implement environmental projects and respond to disasters as part of their career development. Community conservation corps serve as locally organized analogs to the CCC. The CCC’s Tahoe Center provides a major contribution to the Basin’s workforce, and partners with the Conservancy to implement forest fuels treatments on state and federal lands.

The Conservancy encourages applicants to also explore the use of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Youth Conservation Corps for their projects. The CCC supports tribal conservation crews and recognizes the importance of shared knowledge between these crews and the CCC.

8. Long-Term Sustainability
Planning for and describing funding strategies for long-term operations, maintenance, and monitoring to ensure the long-term benefits intended by general obligation bonds, as applicable.

9. Professional Qualifications and Past Performance
Demonstrating the requisite skills and expertise necessary to manage risks and successfully complete the work, and possessing a track record of similar, high-quality work or equivalent experience.

10. Community, Stakeholder, and/or Political Support
Demonstrating broad-based support because this increases the likelihood that the activities will create significant public benefit, including for communities facing the greatest inequities. Supporters may include, but are not limited to, community groups or homeowner associations; advocates, professionals, businesspersons, or investors that work on similar issues; community-based organizations and community leaders; and elected officials and public agency or tribal government leaders. Best practice is for applicants to conduct outreach at the development stage and demonstrate that equitable community engagement was completed or planned as part of the project development.

IV. Grant Information

This section provides basic information that applies to all Conservancy grants.

1. Grant Categories

The Conservancy awards grants in four general categories:

2. Eligible Applicants

Applicant eligibility is determined by the Conservancy’s enabling statute. Staff encourages potential applicants to contact the Conservancy for assistance in determining eligibility. Unless the funding source specifies otherwise, eligible applicants include:

• Local public agencies including cities, counties, special districts, and joint powers authorities; state agencies; federal agencies; and the Tahoe Transportation District.
• Federally recognized Native American tribes.
• Nonprofit organizations as defined by section 66905.9 of the Government Code.

3. Ineligible Projects

Projects funded by bonds must be consistent with the General Obligation Bond Law, Government Code, section 16720 et seq. Additional factors may make some projects ineligible, including:

• Projects dictated by a legal settlement or mandated to address a violation of, or an order to comply with, a law or regulation.
• Projects that fund acquisitions of land by eminent domain.
• Projects that include acquisition of property that cannot be purchased at fair market value.
• Projects that will not be completed in the allotted timelines.
• Operations and maintenance of existing structures, including roads.
• Projects that are intended to correct problems caused by inadequate maintenance.
• Projects that are solely for the purpose of compensatory mitigation or regulatory compliance.

4. Grant Process

This section provides an overview of the entire Conservancy grant process. Conservancy staff is available to consult with grant applicants prior to, or during, any step in this process. Typically, the Conservancyfunds grants on a rolling basis without a request for proposals or due dates, but certain funding sources or programs (Appendix D) involve funding announcements or specific requirements.

• Step 1: Pre-application. Applicants fill out and submit the Conservancy’s pre-application form. This initial step allows the applicant and Conservancy to understand and work through any potential issues, such as applicant/project eligibility or funding availability, prior to applicants preparing a full application. The Conservancy strongly recommends that prospective applicants contact staff for a consultation prior to submitting a pre-application.
• Step 2: Full application submittal. The Conservancy will provide an application package that includes additional directions to complete a full application. Applicants must complete a full application and submit it to the Conservancy along with any attachments or support letters. In most cases, Conservancy staff can work directly with applicants to revise and improve applications, if necessary.
• Step 3: Conservancy Review. The Conservancy will review the application for eligibility, completeness, and the funding considerations (Section III). Staff will make an initial recommendation to Conservancy management to proceed, or not move forward, with a grant recommendation to the Conservancy Board.
• Step 4: Conservancy Staff Recommendation. Conservancy staff will prepare a recommendation to the Board based on its review of the funding considerations (Section III), the Conservancy’s enabling legislation and Strategic Plan, and the availability of funding from appropriate sources. Certain grants may not require this step and Step 5, and can move to Step 6.
• Step 5: Conservancy Board Approval. The Conservancy Board will consider the Staff Recommendation and authorize funding for an approved project.
• Step 6: Grant Agreement. The Conservancy will finalize and provide a grant agreement for signature and execution by both parties.
• Step 7: Active Grant Period. Grantee completes the tasks and deliverables in compliance with the grant agreement. Conservancy staff monitors and documents grant compliance. Grant terms typically range from two to five years. The Conservancy closes out grants after receiving all necessary documentation and paying the final invoice.
• Step 8: Post Grant Period. Grantee and Conservancy complete and document all necessary long-term requirements including operations and maintenance monitoring, if applicable. Conservancy and grantee maintain grant files for potential audit.

5. California Environmental Quality Act Compliance

Grantees are responsible for complying with all laws and regulations applicable to their projects, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). If the grant is subject to CEQA, the Conservancy Board must consider the environmental document prior to approving the grant. Applicants should consult with Conservancy staff as early as possible because CEQA compliance will vary significantly depending upon the proposed project activities and potential environmental impacts.

Assembly Bill (AB) 52 promotes involvement of California Native American Tribes in the CEQA environmental review and decision-making process. AB 52 requires consideration of a project’s potential to significantly impact a tribal cultural resource and requires early notice of projects and, if requested by a tribe, consultation with the requesting tribe to inform the CEQA process. Applicants must meet all AB 52 requirements.

Applicants should visit the California Natural Resources Agency website for information on CEQA compliance and the Native American Heritage Commission website for information on AB 52.

6. Acquisition Grant Requirements

With regard to acquisition grants, applicants must typically meet the following requirements:

a. Estimated fair market value of land and improvements: Fair market value is established by an appraisal prepared by a California licensed real estate appraiser and approved by the Conservancy and the Department of General Services (DGS). A completed appraisal, approved by the DGS Real Property Services Section, is required, but need not be completed by the time of the application submission. DGS must approve the appraised fair market value of the proposed acquisition, and the funding cannot exceed that amount.

b. Willing seller: Applicants must provide written evidence that the landowner is a potentially willing participant in any proposed real property transaction. Applicants must also provide written evidence that the landowner has received notice that the purchase will be at fair market value, as determined by a state-approved appraisal.

c. Relocation costs: Applicants must provide a parcel-by-parcel analysis of the extent of any relocation assistance required by the State Relocation Act Requirements (Government Code, § 7260 et seq.).

d. Ownership and Grantee Capacity: All fee title acquisition applications shall include discussion of long-term ownership and management. The Conservancy will consider the financial vigor of the grantee as it relates to long-term landownership and stewardship. Lastly, the Conservancy will consider the grantee’s past performance as a real property owner or manager in its decision to fund.

e. Land Acquisition Information Form: Applicants need to complete a land acquisition form for each parcel they intend to acquire with Conservancy funding. See application package for details and this form.

7. Implementation Grant Requirements:

Applicants must demonstrate through documentation that they have adequate control of, and tenure to, properties to be improved. Adequate control includes, but is not limited to, ownership, lease, easement, joint-powers agreement, other long-term interest in the property, or a satisfactory agreement with the legal owner/administering agency. The Conservancy recognizes that specific activities may change over time; however, the property must remain available for compatible public use.

Generally, the Conservancy will expect the grantee to:

1. Manage, maintain, and/or operate the project funded for a period stipulated in the grant agreement (typically 10-20 years). With Conservancy approval, the grantee or grantee’s successor may transfer responsibility to maintain and operate the property in accordance with the grant agreement.
2. Document management, maintenance, and operations after the grant is closed out and during the agreed upon period.
3. Request Conservancy authorization prior to various steps in the implementation process, as specified in the grant agreement.

8. Eligible and Ineligible Costs

The grantee’s use of the grant funds is limited to those expenditures that are necessary to implement the scope of work and that are in accordance with the budget and schedule (Exhibit A). For bond-funded grants, all costs must be consistent with General Obligation Bond Law (Government Code § 16727) or the applicable bond act.

Indirect Costs: Indirect costs are the non-project specific costs of doing business (e.g. rent, computers, telephones, office supplies, internet access, copy machines, electricity). Any cost that is billed as a direct cost may not be included in indirect costs. It is the responsibility of the grantee to keep documentation used to determine the indirect cost rate, including detailed calculations in support of the rate. For all indirect costs claimed, grantees must keep backup documents in audit-ready files (these documents are not provided to the Conservancy). Typical backup documents include, but are not limited to, allocation documentation, utility and rent bills, and similar documents. If a grantee seeks to recover indirect costs from a Conservancy grant, this item should be included as a line item in the approved grant budget.

Allowable indirect cost rates and associated documentation requirements for Conservancy grants vary depending on funding source. Applicants who seek to include indirect costs in grant budgets should consult with Conservancy staff during the pre-application phase to confirm allowable indirect rates and any associated requirements.

Questions associated with eligible or ineligible costs should be directed to the Conservancy staff prior to submittal of an application or budget.

9. Funding, Legal, Administrative, and Accounting Requirements

Following Conservancy Board authorization of a grant, Conservancy staff will prepare a detailed grant agreement, including funding, legal, administrative, and accounting requirements. The Board may impose additional requirements. All grant activities shall be implemented in accordance with the requirements of the Board authorization and staff recommendation, and the terms and conditions of the grant agreement. Funding is typically available for two to five years.

Certain Conservancy grants are pass-through grants that are reimbursed by federal or other state agencies, or other sources. In these instances, grantees need to comply with all requirements of the original funding source and agreement. Applicants should discuss this before completing a full application to ensure all requirements are understood early in the process.

Several documents provide additional guidance for Conservancy funding. These include, but are not limited to, relevant statutes and regulations, the State Administrative Manual, the State Contracting Manual, and requirements specific to a funding source (See Appendices A-D). Contact Conservancy staff to understand current available funding terms, which can evolve over time.

10. Withholding and Advances

Typically, Conservancy grants are distributed on a reimbursement basis, and withholding retention helps ensure grantees complete a project as intended. The Conservancy typically retains the final grant disbursement request until the grantee provides adequate documentation of grant completion, including all deliverables and a final report. The Conservancy may also decide to include other retention requirements, such as retaining a percentage of each invoice, if specific conditions warrant additional fiscal control.

Certain statutory authorities or funding sources, such as Proposition 4, allow for advance payments of grant funds if requested by the grantee. Applicants should consult with Conservancy staff early in the grant process if they intend to request an advance.

11. Audit

Projects are subject to audit by the State for three years following the most recent payment including the final payment of grant funds. The purpose of the audit is to verify that project expenditures were made in accordance with the respective bond act(s) and grant agreement, and were properly documented. Grantees should maintain an accounting system that provides standard information necessary for audits.

If a project is selected for audit, the grantee will be contacted at least 30 days in advance. The audit will include all books, papers, accounts, documents, or other records of the grantee, as related to the project for which Conservancy funds were granted. The grantee must make the project records, including the source documents and cancelled warrants, readily available to the State. The grantee must also provide an employee having knowledge of the project and the accounting procedure or system to assist the State’s auditor. All project records must be retained for at least five years following an audit or final disputed audit findings.

12. Project Monitoring and Reporting

Typically, implementation grant applications must include a monitoring and reporting component that explains how the implementation and effectiveness of the project will be measured and reported. The Conservancy can help grantees to develop appropriate monitoring and reporting templates and procedures following an award.

Monitoring should be consistent with existing Basin monitoring programs, such as the EIP, Regional Stormwater Monitoring Program, or Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program. Detailed information on EIP performance measures can be found on the EIP website.

Generally, grantees are required to submit regular progress reports and invoices on an active grant per the schedule specified in the grant agreement. The Conservancy typically requires these submittals on a quarterly basis, although other cadences may be acceptable for certain grants.

The Conservancy typically require grantees report in the EIP Tracker. Applicants should consult with Conservancy staff, if needed, to fulfill this requirement. Acquisition grants funded with Proposition 4 have additional reporting requirements (Appendix B).

13. Insurance

The Conservancy requires grantees to maintain insurance against claims for injuries to persons and damage to property that may arise from or in connection with project-related activities of the grantees or their agents. The grantee shall maintain all required insurance from the effective date through the completion date.

Insurance requirements vary according to a project’s purpose and needs. Typically, the grantee shall maintain coverage limits no less than:

1. General liability (including operations, products, and completed operations, as applicable): $2,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage. If commercial general liability insurance or other form with a general aggregate limit is used, either the general aggregate limit shall apply separately to the activities under this agreement, or the general aggregate limit shall be twice the required occurrence limit.
2. Automobile liability: $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury and property damage.
3. Course of construction: Completed value of the project with no coinsurance penalty provisions.
4. Property insurance: 90 percent of full replacement cost of the facilities or structures.

14. Acknowledgment and Signage

All grantees must acknowledge Conservancy support, typically through a sign and social media. Certain funding sources may require additional acknowledgement. Grant agreements provide general signage and acknowledgement requirements, and logo use information. Costs to implement the acknowledgment plan can be included in the grant budget.

V. Appendices

Appendix A – Proposition 68 Directives

California voters approved Proposition 68, the Parks, Environment, and Water Bond, on June 5, 2018. The measure authorizes $4 billion in general obligation bonds to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program.

Per Public Resources Code section 80110, subdivision (b), the bond allocates $27 million to the Conservancy for the purposes set forth in the Conservancy’s governing statutes.

The Conservancy adheres to the various funding source directives. In particular, Proposition 68 encourages conservancies to partner with cities, counties, nonprofit organizations, joint-powers authorities, and nongovernmental organizations to acquire open space and create urban greenway corridors. Additionally, public agencies that receive funds must consider a range of project actions that, to the extent possible, increase the diversity and inclusion of communities that benefit from the bond funding. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Conducting active outreach to diverse populations, particularly minority, low- income, and disabled populations and tribal communities, to increase awareness within those communities and the public generally about specific programs and opportunities.
2. Mentoring new environmental, outdoor recreation, and conservation leaders to increase diverse representation across these areas.
3. Creating new partnerships with state, local, tribal, private, and nonprofit organizations to expand access for diverse populations.
4. Identifying and implementing improvements to existing programs to increase visitation and access by diverse populations, particularly minority, low-income, and disabled populations and tribal communities.
5. Expanding the use of multilingual and culturally appropriate materials in public communications and educational strategies, including through social media strategies, as appropriate, that target diverse populations.
6. Developing or expanding coordinated efforts to promote youth engagement and empowerment, including fostering new partnerships with diversity-serving and youth-serving organizations, urban areas, and programs.
7. Identifying possible staff liaisons to diverse populations.

Applicants that receive funding will, to the extent possible, provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

Grantees shall use the services of the CCC, or local conservation corps certified by the CCC, whenever feasible (Public Resources Code, § 80016). With regard to grant-making, Proposition 68 requires giving preference to projects that involve the CCC or community conservation corps services. Applicants should consult with representatives of either the CCC or community conservation corps prior to application submission to determine the feasibility of their participation (climatebond@ccc.ca.gov).

Projects that are solely for the purpose of fulfilling mitigation requirements imposed by law are not eligible for Proposition 68 funding. (Public Resources Code § 80020).

Appendix B – Proposition 4, the Climate Bond, Directives

California voters approved Proposition 4, the Climate Bond, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clear Air Bond, on November 5, 2024. The measure authorizes $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. Per Public Resources Code section 91520, subdivision (i), the bond allocates $25.5 million to the Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development. Per Public Resources Code section 93020, subdivision (a), the bond allocates $29 million to the Conservancy to reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources, and increase public access.

The Conservancy adheres to the various funding source directives.

Public Resources Code section 90130 states, “For grants awarded under this division, the administering agency may provide advanced payments in the amount of 25 percent of the grant award to the recipient, including state-related entities, to initiate the project in a timely manner. The administering agency shall adopt additional requirements for the recipient of the grant regarding the use of the advanced payments to ensure that the moneys are used properly.”

California Conservation Corps Services

Public Resources Code section 90150 states, “To the extent feasible, a project whose application includes the use of services of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps, as defined in section 14507.5, shall be given preference for receipt of a grant under this division.”

For implementation projects, applicants shall be given preference, in the form of additional scoring points, if their project includes the use of the services of the California Conservation Corps or Certified Community Conservation Corps (hereafter collectively referred to as Corps). If you would like to receive preference by including the use of the Corps in your application, submit your project details via the Corps Consultation web page. The Corps will review the project application for feasibility within 14 business days and respond with evidence of consultation to include in the application.  The Corps cannot guarantee a compliant review process for applicants who submit the required form and attachments fewer than 14 business days before an application deadline.

For property acquisitions and conservation easement projects, which count towards the State’s 30×30 initiative, programs will pay for and require grantees to provide spatial data to the California Protected Areas Database and/or the California Conservation Easement Database. Exceptions may be made to protect sensitive tribal data or other sensitive information..

Proposition 4 states that at least 40 percent of the total funds available shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to vulnerable populations (VP) or disadvantaged communities (DAC) and at least ten percent to severely disadvantaged communities (SDAC). (Public Resource Code § 90100). The Conservancy may prioritize projects that serve DAC, SDAC, or VP. View maps of SDAC and DAC areas on the Department of Water Resources website. See definitions below.

• Disadvantaged community (DAC): A community with a median household income of less than 80 percent of the area average or less than 80 percent of statewide median household income.
• Severely disadvantaged community (SDAC): A community with a median household income of less than 60 percent of the area average or less than 60 percent of statewide median household income.
• Vulnerable population (VP): A subgroup population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts. (Note: tribes are considered vulnerable populations.)

To the extent practicable, a project that receives funding pursuant to this division may provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for vulnerable populations (Public Resources Code § 90610).

The Conservancy may prioritize projects that implement California’s climate change goals, including those in California’s Climate Adaptation Strategy and California’s Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality, and that advance implementation of California’s Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets.

The State will require grantees to establish project signage and issue a press release and/or a short video to highlight their project.

Appendix C – Science and Lake Improvement Account (SB 630) Directives

The California State Lands Commission (Commission) collects fees from lakefront property owners that use state lands at Lake Tahoe. The most common uses are pier supports and buoy anchors on the lakebed. In 2013, Senate Bill 630 (SB 630) mandated that the Commission deposit those fees into an account to support a bi-state science advisory council and nearshore management. As one of the three state agency recipients of SB 630 funding, the Conservancy awards grants for aquatic invasive species (AIS) and public lake access projects.

Per Public Resources Code section 6217.6.1, subdivision (c), funding shall be expended for “Near-shore aquatic invasive species projects and projects to improve public access to sovereign land in Lake Tahoe, including planning and site improvement or reconstruction projects on public land, and land acquisitions from willing sellers.” The phrase “sovereign land” refers to the bed and banks of the California portion of Lake Tahoe up to the high-water mark (6,229 feet). As a result, grant recipients of SB 630 funds for public access projects must improve access to the shore of Lake Tahoe.

SB 630 requires the Conservancy or other public entities provide matching funds. The Conservancy encourages applicants to provide match but does not require it on a project basis. The Conservancy complies with the match requirement and documents it programmatically, by including federal and other funding for AIS and lake access projects.

SB 630 also requires the Conservancy coordinate the selection of projects through a collaborative process with the participation of key stakeholders. As of 2025, the Conservancy has awarded over $3.5 million in SB 630 funds while striking a balance between AIS and lake access grants. While there is no minimum or maximum grant award, typical grant awards range from $75,000 to $500,000.

Appendix D – Conservancy’s Tahoe for All Program

Background and Grant Program Overview

Conservancy Grant Guidelines

This document outlines the Tahoe for All Grant Program Description, which provides direction for the funding for the Tahoe for All Grant Program (Program) and complements the Conservancy’s agency-wide Grant Guidelines. Applicants and grantees will need to read and understand both the Conservancy Grant Guidelines and the additional guidance provided in this document.

Tahoe for All Grant Program

The goal of the Program is to support programs and projects that provide positive and inclusive outdoor experiences for communities that face barriers to accessing outdoor recreation infrastructure and opportunities in the Basin. Although Lake Tahoe is a world-class outdoor recreation destination, many people face barriers to accessing and enjoying its recreational opportunities. In California and nationwide, outdoor access and its benefits are not equitably available to all communities. The Program seeks to improve access to Lake Tahoe and surrounding public lands for historically underserved and excluded people and communities by providing grants to programs and projects that address economic, physical, social, cultural, or other barriers. The Program supports the Conservancy’s Strategic Plan, by improving equitable access to outdoor recreation, and the California Outdoors for All Initiative, which directs state agencies to expand all Californians’ access to parks, open space, nature, and cultural amenities.

The Conservancy will establish an Advisory Committee to help create an equitable and impactful program. The Advisory Committee will consist of people who have experience and expertise related to the Program’s purpose. The Advisory Committee will assist Conservancy staff in reviewing applications. It will also provide input on Program processes, along with Conservancy Board members. Advisory Committee members will serve two-year terms.

Program Priorities

Through the Program, the Conservancy aims to reduce economic, physical, social, cultural, or other barriers for communities that have been historically underserved and excluded from outdoor spaces at Lake Tahoe.

Examples of economic, physical, social, and cultural barriers include but are not limited to: socio-economic disparities, poverty, racial or ethnic discrimination, geographic isolation, historical exclusion from outdoor spaces, physical and cognitive disabilities, and feelings of not belonging due to discrimination, or lack of access to educational resources needed to feel comfortable in outdoor spaces.

Communities that have been historically underserved and excluded from outdoor spaces at Tahoe include, but are not limited to: people of color; people with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities; low-income individuals or households; English-as-an-additional-language learners; federally recognized Native American tribes; foster youth; and other historically excluded communities who face barriers to accessing and enjoying Lake Tahoe and the surrounding public lands.

The Conservancy acknowledges that many Californians face barriers to accessing the Basin. The Conservancy encourages all organizations working to reduce barriers to accessing and enjoying outdoor recreational opportunities in the Basin to contact Conservancy staff.

Eligibility and Scoring Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Unless the funding source specifies otherwise, eligible applicants for Program funding include:

• Local public agencies, including cities, counties, special districts, and joint powers authorities; state agencies; federal agencies; the Tahoe Transportation District; and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency;
• Federally recognized Native American tribes; and
• Nonprofit organizations registered to do business in California and identified in section 66905.9 of the Government Code as “any private, nonprofit organization which qualifies for exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and has among its principal charitable purposes the preservation of land for scientific, historic, educational, recreational, scenic, or open-space opportunities, or protection of the natural environment or preservation or enhancement of wildlife.”

Applicant eligibility is determined by the Conservancy’s enabling statute. Staff encourages potential applicants to contact the Conservancy for assistance in determining eligibility.

Eligible projects must show the applicant will:

• Increase access by reducing economic, social, physical, cultural, or other barriers to visiting and experiencing the Basin;
• Provide or enhance recreational or educational outdoor experiences in the Basin;
• Implement the program or project within the California side of the Basin.

Scoring Criteria

The Conservancy’s scoring criteria will consider but is not limited to, the extent to which the project:

• Provides an enjoyable outdoor experience in the Basin;
• Serves participants from groups that consistently face barriers to experiencing and enjoying the Basin;
• Reduces economic, physical, cultural, or social barriers to enjoying and connecting with the Basin;
• Facilitates the inclusion of all participants by considering differences in cultural and social backgrounds, experiences, physical capabilities, knowledge, and comfort levels;
• Serves participants with varying physical and/or cognitive abilities;
• Provides long-term positive impacts on participants by providing leadership development opportunities, multi-year programming, participant engagement over multiple occasions, family members or other support systems involvement, peer-to-peer mentorship, solutions to overcoming ongoing barriers, or career pathways creation;
• Has an outreach strategy to recruit participants from communities that have been historically underserved and excluded from outdoor spaces at Lake Tahoe;
• Has a clear and reasonable budget that balances impact on participants with funding requested;
• Has demonstrated project readiness and support; examples include matching or in-kind contributions, staff capacity, and curriculum or program plans and goals; or
• Includes methods to monitor progress towards meeting project objectives and impacts on participants.

 

Funding Amount and Application Process

Award Amount and Reimbursement

Based on available funding, Conservancy staff will announce available funding and minimum and maximum grant amounts in the funding announcement. Conservancy staff may also recommend to the Conservancy Board an award amount that is lower than the amount requested.

The Conservancy will likely distribute grant funds as reimbursements for expenses paid, unless otherwise specified in the funding announcement or grant agreement.

Project Duration

Applicants may request one to three years of funding unless otherwise specified in the funding announcement.

Solicitation and Application Process

At the beginning of each grant round, the Conservancy will publish a funding announcement on the Conservancy website, the California Grants Portal, various social media outlets, and email lists. The funding announcement will provide information for applicants to successfully apply, including grant application processes and templates, deadlines, grant scoring criteria, funding availability, minimum and maximum award amounts, and grant application assistance.

After the grant application deadline, Conservancy staff and the Advisory Committee will review all applications and score them using the scoring criteria published in the funding announcement; the scoring criteria will be based on the funding priorities listed in the Grant Guidelines above.