By TFN Staff

The Funders’ Network (TFN), in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, is pleased to announce the opening of Round 16 of the Partners for Places grant program.

Partners for Places is a successful matching grant program that improves U.S. and Canadian communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability leaders and place-based foundations. National funders invest in local projects developed through these partnerships to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy and well-being for all residents. Through these investments, Partners for Places fosters long-term relationships that make our communities more prosperous, livable and vibrant.

In addition to the general grant program, Round 16 also includes dedicated funding to support green stormwater infrastructure projects that advance water-related sustainability goals.

To date, Partners for Places has awarded more than $7 million across North America in this successful matching grant program. Matching local funders have contributed in excess of $8 million, leading to more than more than $15 million in investments.

TFN and USDN are excited to partner once again with Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange, a practitioner network that supports communities seeking to grow green stormwater infrastructure programs, to support outreach efforts and participate in reviewing stormwater infrastructure project proposals.

The grant program provides partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one-year projects, or between $50,000 and $100,000 for two-year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations.


Partners for Places funding will support education and volunteer programs at a seven-acre food forest, located on one the last remaining farmsteads in the area. Photo Credit: City of Atlanta.

Creating a Successful Proposal

Partners for Places accepts proposals for the creation of a community-focused sustainability, climate action, adaptation/resilience, equity, water or comprehensive plan that specifically addresses sustainability; or urban sustainability and/or green stormwater infrastructure. If your proposal requests funding for the creation of one of these plans, please closely review our Proposal and Award Guidance document before preparing your proposal.

In addition, all proposals are scored on the extent to which projects include meaningful involvement of priority audiences/stakeholders in program development and implementation.

The application deadline for Round 16 is January 31, 2020 (by 11:59 p.m., any time zone).

Please visit the Partners for Places webpage for more information. Here you can view our promotional video, download the Request for Proposals (RFP), and access our Proposal Form and Budget Form. You may also consult our Proposal and Award Guidance document to learn more about frequently asked questions.


The Mill River Trail project in New Haven will make waterfront areas more accessible to the public. (Photo credit: Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound.)

Additional Resources

Info Webinar

TFN will host a webinar to answer any questions about the grant program on Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. ET. Please register for the webinar here. A recording of the webinar will be made available upon request for those of you unable to participate. (Please email Ashley Quintana at ashley@www.fundersnetwork.org.

Meet the Newest Grantees!

We recently announced the Round 15 grantees of the Partners for Places matching grant program: Six communities across the U.S. will receive funding for sustainability efforts that will help them better withstand the impact of climate change, strengthen local economies and improve the well-being of all residents. Read more about our newest grantees here.

Funder Investors

Partners for Places general grant program is supported by The JPB Foundation, Kendeda Fund, The Kresge Foundation, New York Community Trust, the Pisces Foundation, The Summit Foundation, and Surdna Foundation.

Selection Process

A selection committee comprised of foundation representatives and urban sustainability directors will make grant selection decisions on behalf of Partners for Places, and awards will be announced in May 2020.

If the RFP and the Proposal and Award Guidance documents don’t answer all your questions, please contact Ashley Quintana at ashley@www.fundersnetwork.org for more information.