Chesapeake Bay Trust - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $25 million (approximately)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Varies by program; notifications sent via email after review period
Grant Range: $500 - $175,000 (depending on program)
Geographic Focus: Maryland, Washington D.C., and Chesapeake Bay Watershed portions of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia
Total Awards to Date: Over $140 million through 14,000+ grants since 1985

Contact Details

Chesapeake Bay Trust 108 Severn Avenue Annapolis, MD 21403

Phone: (410) 974-2941

Website: https://cbtrust.org

Email:

General Inquiries: jdavis@cbtrust.org (President)
Development & Communications: dmc@cbtrust.org or ext. 107

Key Program Contacts:

Dr. Jana Davis, President: jdavis@cbtrust.org, ext. 100
Sadie Drescher, VP of Programs for Restoration: sdrescher@cbtrust.org, ext. 105
Kacey Wetzel, VP of Programs for Outreach & Education: kwetzel@cbtrust.org, ext. 104

Overview

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is Maryland's only nonprofit, grant-making organization dedicated exclusively to improving the watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland Coastal Bays, and Youghiogheny River. Created in 1985 by the Maryland General Assembly, the Trust has grown into a major environmental funder, awarding approximately $25 million annually through 350-400 competitive grants. Since its inception, the organization has distributed over $140 million across 14,000+ awards, engaging hundreds of thousands of citizen stewards in measurable restoration projects.

The Trust operates with exceptional fiscal responsibility—90% of expenditures go directly to restoration and education programs—earning it a perfect 100% score and Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator for over two decades. In 2024, the Trust received approximately $13 million from the EPA to administer a new Community Capacity Building grant program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, part of a historic $206 million federal investment in Chesapeake Bay restoration. The organization's strategic approach emphasizes empowering diverse community-based groups to design and implement projects that create lasting environmental and social benefits.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust offers diverse funding opportunities across seven main categories:

Watershed and Habitat Restoration:

Watershed Assistance: Up to $150,000 per project for watershed restoration project designs, permitting, planning, and programmatic development in Maryland and West Virginia
Outreach and Restoration: Up to $125,000 per project for community engagement and on-the-ground restoration in Maryland
Living Shorelines: Support for shoreline protection projects using natural materials

Outreach and Engagement:

Community Engagement: Funding for efforts that engage community members or restore local natural resources in Maryland
Mini Community Engagement and Restoration: Up to $5,000 per project for small-scale tree plantings, rain gardens, and community cleanups in Maryland
Veterans Engagement: Up to $5,000 per project for veteran-based engagement in outdoor recreation, community engagement, and green jobs training in Maryland

Environmental Education:

Youth Environmental Education: Up to $10,000 per project for youth environmental education and educator support in Maryland and Chesapeake Bay watershed portions of DC, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia

Environmental Justice:

Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns: Up to $175,000 per project for nonprofit organizations to develop and implement plans that enhance livability in cities and communities
Mid-Atlantic Environmental Justice Fund: Support for projects advancing environmental justice
District of Columbia Community Stormwater Solutions: Up to $35,000 per project for innovative, community-oriented projects improving water quality in DC

Urban Forestry:

Urban Trees Programs: Support for tree planting in urban and underserved communities (in 2024, $7.5 million awarded to plant over 17,500 new trees in historically underserved Maryland communities)
Mid-Atlantic Community Forestry Fund: Up to $175,000 (deadline February 27, 2026)

Science:

Restoration Research: Support for scientific research advancing restoration goals
Pooled Monitoring Initiative's Restoration Research Award Program: Research funding (deadline January 29, 2026)

Capacity Building:

Capacity Building Initiative: Funding for capacity-building strategies for nonprofit organizations in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Other Programs:

Sponsorship Program: Up to $500 per event for events aligning with the Trust's mission
Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps: Year-long service opportunities for young adults

Priority Areas

The Trust's grant-making strategies are shaped by three core objectives:

Environmental Education: K-12 environmental education, educator support, and youth engagement opportunities
Demonstration-Based Restoration: On-the-ground watershed restoration including wetlands restoration, living shorelines, oyster seeding, tree plantings, stream restoration, stormwater management, and habitat restoration
Community Engagement: Projects that increase knowledge, change behavior, and accelerate stewardship of natural resources

Strategic Emphasis Areas:

Projects that benefit multiple outcomes (environmental, community health, and social equity)
Work in historically underserved urban communities
Climate resilience and adaptation
Water quality improvement and pollution reduction
Native species and habitat restoration
Green infrastructure implementation
Environmental justice and equity
Long-term community capacity building

What They Don't Fund

The Trust cannot support:

Projects or costs involving advocacy against persons, businesses, or projects
Political candidates or positions
Litigation
Activities outside the Chesapeake Bay watershed region

Geographic Limitations: Most programs focus on Maryland; some extend to DC and other Chesapeake Bay watershed states (check individual program requirements)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is governed by a 19-member Board of Trustees that sets policies relating to grant making, spending, investment, management, and governance. The board meets quarterly.

Board Composition:

14 members appointed by the Maryland Governor
2 ex-officio representatives from the State General Assembly
1 representative from Maryland Department of Natural Resources
1 representative from Maryland Department of the Environment
1 representative from Maryland Department of Agriculture

Current Board Leadership (2025):

Alexander G. Núñez, Esq. (Chair): Former BGE senior executive with extensive regulatory and governmental affairs experience
Coretta Bennett (Vice-Chair): Johns Hopkins University Director of Operations, Design & Construction
Astrid Caldas: Senior Climate Scientist at Union of Concerned Scientists, focused on climate change adaptation
F. Carter Heim, CPA: Founder of HeimLantz CPAs & Advisors, LLC; former chair of Maryland Association of CPAs

The Board reflects diverse professional backgrounds including energy, environmental science, law, finance, public policy, sustainability, and conservation.

Key Staff

Leadership Team:

Dr. Jana Davis, President: Marine ecologist with Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography; leads the organization's strategic direction
Jeanne Nelson, VP of Finance and Administration: Oversees accounting, budgeting, HR, IT, and facilities
Sadie Drescher, VP of Programs for Restoration: Leads restoration programs and watershed initiatives
Kacey Wetzel, VP of Programs for Outreach & Education: Focuses on community engagement, environmental justice, and education
Celia Parker, VP of Communications & Advancement: Manages marketing and communications strategies (joined 2024)

Leadership Perspectives

President Jana Davis on Community Empowerment: "When we empower people to design and implement the on-the-ground projects needed for their own communities, we are investing in the long-term health of these areas."

On the People-Centered Approach: "All of this great work that gets done to restore our watershed gets done by people…people who own land who want good projects to go on that land, leaders in communities. We're all people, and so without the people part of it, the watershed's just not gonna get restored."

On Green Infrastructure: "Green infrastructure projects are one of those rare win-win-win scenarios: They improve communities in various ways, they improve human health, and they also benefit our waterways."

On Community Capacity: "Without strong communities and strong nonprofits realizing multiple benefits from and participating in natural resources efforts, we will not be able to realize our vision of a restored watershed."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications are submitted through the Trust's online portal at https://cbtrust.org/grants/

Application Steps:

Review the grant program schedule and identify relevant programs
Watch the Trust's application process video (available on their website)
Review program-specific requirements and deadlines
Create an account or log in to the online portal with your email address
Click "Start a New Application" for your chosen program
Complete the online application form
Prepare and upload the Financial Management Spreadsheet (FMS) with your project budget
Upload the Narrative Questions Document
Submit any additional required documents (varies by program)
Submit application before the deadline (typically 4:00 PM EST)

Required Application Materials:

Financial Management Spreadsheet (FMS): Required budget template provided by the Trust (only edit white cells)
Narrative Questions Document: Responses to program-specific questions
W-9 Form: Tax information
Additional program-specific attachments (letters of commitment, site maps, etc.)

Budget Categories:

Personnel
Supplies
Contractual
Travel
Field Trip Fees
Equipment
Other
Indirect Costs

Application Resources Available:

Example application budgets
Indirect and Fringe Benefits Guidance
Letter of Commitment Policy
Demographic Data Policy
Federal Awards FAQ
Program-specific resources and guidance documents

Decision Timeline

Review Process:

Applications are reviewed by the Trust staff and Technical Review Committees after each deadline
Technical Review Committees include members from various communities to ensure diverse perspectives
The Lead Preparer listed on the application receives an email notification about the decision

Timeline Varies by Program:

Some programs have rolling deadlines
Others have fixed deadlines (typically 1-3 times per year)
Decision timelines vary; notifications sent via email through the online portal
For example, Capacity Building Grant Program applicants are notified in early October for spring submissions

Notification Method:

Email to the primary contact person
Access decision information by logging into the Trust's online portal

Two-Phase Applications: Some programs require a preliminary submission (project idea form), and only selected applicants are invited to submit a full application in the second phase.

Success Rates

The Trust currently allocates approximately $25 million annually through 350-400 awards. While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, the Trust has demonstrated commitment to expanding access:

In 2023, awarded over $18 million to more than 700 environmental and educational projects
The Trust has doubled its grant-making five times in the past fifteen years
Some programs (like Community Engagement) limit eligibility to applicants who have received three grants or fewer from the Trust, indicating efforts to reach new organizations

Competitiveness: Given the volume of funding ($25 million) and number of awards (350-400 annually), average grant size is approximately $60,000-70,000, though this varies significantly by program type.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented in general terms. Policies may vary by program.

Known Restrictions:

Community Engagement programs limit eligibility to applicants who have received three grants or fewer from the Trust
Contact the Trust directly at (410) 974-2941 or the relevant program officer for specific guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application

Application Success Factors

Priority Alignment

The Trust explicitly values:

Multiple Benefits: Projects that deliver environmental restoration AND community health AND social equity outcomes (the "win-win-win" approach President Davis emphasizes)
Community-Driven Design: Applications showing that community members designed and will implement the project themselves, not just receive services
Measurable Impact: Clear metrics demonstrating how the project will improve water quality, habitat, or community stewardship
Diversity and Inclusion: The Trust actively encourages applications from diverse communities and tracks demographics of grantees and audiences served
Long-Term Capacity: Projects that build lasting capacity in communities beyond the grant period

Application Best Practices (Direct Guidance from the Trust)

Focus on Priority Sections:

Project Summary: Grant coordinators emphasize this section receives heavy scrutiny
Budget: Must be clear, itemized, tabular format showing effective use of funds

Budget Excellence:

Demonstrate leveraging through discounts, in-kind donations of time and services, material donations, and cash matches from other donors
Make budgets easy to read and understand
Show cost-effectiveness and value

Clear Goal Alignment:

Explicitly show how your project meets the specific grant criteria
Demonstrate clear alignment between planned results and the grant program's goals
Address all application questions thoroughly with sufficient detail

Strong Formatting:

Use succinct statements on project goals and deliverables
Include bulleted statements, headers, text boxes, and photos to organize text visually
Have a colleague proofread to reduce redundancy and grammatical errors

Partnership Strength:

Strong partnerships maximize human and technical resources
Include letters of commitment demonstrating genuine collaboration
Show how partners strengthen project outcomes

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Not providing sufficient detail to address application questions thoroughly
Unclear or overly complex budgets
Failing to demonstrate how the project aligns with Trust priorities
Not showing community involvement in project design

Recent Funded Projects (Examples for Reference)

FY2024 Mini Grants:

Catoctin Land Trust: $5,000 for outreach and engagement of residents to assess restoration sites in Monocacy, Catoctin, and Antietam watersheds
Fairhaven United Methodist Church: $5,000 to plant 12 native trees addressing stormwater runoff
Belvedere Elementary School: $4,890 for watershed education for 129 fifth graders
Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park: $10,000 for three new middle schools in year-long Oyster Education Program

FY2025 Major Projects:

Lower Shore Land Trust: Wetland and habitat restoration on abandoned golf course in Pocomoke River watershed
Baltimore Municipal Golf Corp., Blue Water Baltimore, and Baltimore Tree Trust: Stream restoration and stormwater management at Forest Park Municipal Golf Course
Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council: Native forest establishment on approximately 280 acres in four counties

Strategic Positioning

The Trust particularly values applications that:

Come from or serve historically underserved urban communities
Address climate resilience and adaptation
Use green infrastructure approaches
Engage veterans or youth in environmental work
Build organizational capacity for long-term impact
Demonstrate innovative approaches to restoration or education
Include strong community partnerships and support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Emphasize Community Co-Benefits: Frame your project as delivering multiple wins—environmental restoration, community health improvement, and social equity. President Davis's emphasis on "win-win-win scenarios" is central to the Trust's philosophy.
Show Community Ownership: Demonstrate that community members designed and will implement the project. The Trust invests in people-centered solutions, not just environmental fixes.
Budget with Precision: Create clear, itemized budgets showing leveraging and cost-effectiveness. The budget section receives intense scrutiny and should demonstrate smart use of funds.
Match the Right Program: With grant sizes ranging from $500 to $175,000, carefully select the program that matches your project scale and type. Don't apply to a major program when a mini grant would suffice.
Demonstrate Measurable Outcomes: Include clear metrics for environmental impact. The Trust values projects with demonstrable, quantifiable results.
Highlight Diversity and Inclusion: If your organization serves or is led by diverse communities, emphasize this. The Trust has a 17-year commitment to diversity and actively tracks demographics of grantees.
Build Strong Partnerships: Partnerships that maximize resources and expertise strengthen applications. Include letters of commitment showing genuine collaboration.
Use Available Resources: Watch the application video, review example budgets, and don't hesitate to call program officers at (410) 974-2941 with questions—the Trust provides extensive applicant support.
Apply Early in Your Grant History: Some programs favor organizations with limited prior Trust funding (three grants or fewer), so newer applicants may have an advantage in certain programs.
Think Regionally: While most programs focus on Maryland, some extend to DC and other Chesapeake Bay watershed states. Consider multi-state collaborations where appropriate.

References

Chesapeake Bay Trust Official Website - Grants and Opportunities. https://cbtrust.org/grants/ (Accessed January 2026)
Chesapeake Bay Trust - Leadership Page. https://cbtrust.org/leadership/ (Accessed January 2026)
Chesapeake Bay Trust - Staff Directory. https://cbtrust.org/staff/ (Accessed January 2026)
Chesapeake Bay Trust - Contact Us. https://cbtrust.org/contact-us/ (Accessed January 2026)
Chesapeake Bay Trust - Applicant Resources, Forms, & Policies. https://cbtrust.org/grants/applicant-resources-forms-policies/ (Accessed January 2026)
Chesapeake Bay Trust - Diversity & Inclusion. https://cbtrust.org/diversity-inclusion/ (Accessed January 2026)
GuideStar Profile - Chesapeake Bay Trust (EIN: 52-1454182). https://www.guidestar.org/profile/52-1454182 (Accessed January 2026)
Charity Navigator - Rating for Chesapeake Bay Trust. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/521454182 (Accessed January 2026)
Chesapeake Bay Trust - Fiscal Year 2024 Awards. https://cbtrust.org/chesapeake-bay-trust-awards-fiscal-year-2024/ (Accessed January 2026)
Maryland Department of Environment - The Chesapeake Bay Trust Overview. https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Marylander/Documents/Chesapeake%20Bay%20Trust%20One%20Pager.pdf (Accessed January 2026)
U.S. EPA News Release - "Biden-Harris Administration announces $206 million to selectees to protect and restore Chesapeake Bay through community partnerships" (March 2024). https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-206-million-selectees-protect-and-restore (Accessed January 2026)
Maryland DNR News - "Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Provides $35.8 Million for Ecological Restoration Projects" (July 2024). https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2024/07/12/chesapeake-and-atlantic-coastal-bays-trust-fund-provides-35-8-million-for-ecological-restoration-projects/ (Accessed January 2026)
WBAL-TV - "Annapolis women leading the way in restoring Chesapeake Bay." https://www.wbaltv.com/article/annapolis-womens-panel-restoring-chesapeake-bay-goal/43323155 (Accessed January 2026)
DOEE Press Release - "DOEE and Chesapeake Bay Trust Award Over $250K in Funding to Nine Community Organizations for Water Quality Improvement Projects." https://doee.dc.gov/release/doee-and-chesapeake-bay-trust-award-over-250k-funding-nine-community-organizations-water (Accessed January 2026)
Chesapeake Bay Trust - Financials. https://cbtrust.org/financial-information/ (Accessed January 2026)