Mission
The Four Cedars Environmental Fund provides financial incentives that initiate, stimulate, enrich and assist programs and organizations involved in the protection, preservation and education of the unique natural resources found primarily within the western Lake Superior watershed. The fund supports programs and organizations with capital requests, start-up costs, technical assistance and project/program support.
Examples
The following are representative but not exclusive examples of possible grant recipients:
- The University of Wisconsin-Superior, located in Douglas County, Wisconsin
- The Sigurd Olson Institute at Northland College, located in Ashland County, Wisconsin
- The McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
- Sweetwater Alliance, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
- The Great Lakes Aquarium, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
- The Sustainable Farming Association of Northeast Minnesota, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
- The research vessel L.L. Smith of the Lake Superior Research Institute, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for funding, an organization must:
Be classified as one of the following:
- Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., traditional nonprofit)
- Section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (e.g., governmental entities and schools)
- Section 7871 Tribal government
- Church
- Organization with a fiscal agent that is classified as one of the above
- Be located in or provide service to residents within: Bayfield, Douglas and Ashland Counties in northwest Wisconsin; or Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis Counties in northeast Minnesota; or the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Mashkiiziibii, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa/Atisokanigamig, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Nah-Gah-Chi-Wa-Nong, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Gichi Onigaming, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe or the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Gaa-Miskwaabikaang
Grant range
Grants generally range from $500 to $25,000.
Application timeline
Spring 2025 Grant Cycle
- Open: January 3, 2025
- Close: March 3, 2025 at 5pm
- Project Start Date: June 1, 2025, or later
- Project End Date: No more than 12 months from the project start date
- Notifications: By May 21, 2025
- Funding Awarded: May 30, 2025
