Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund

The Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund supports restoration, protection, and enhancement of the river, wetlands, and shore lands within the Connecticut River watershed upstream of the confluence of the White River and the Connecticut River at White River Junction, VT and West Lebanon, NH. This fund was created as part of the settlement agreement between the parties involved in the federal process to award a new operating license for three hydroelectric dams on the Connecticut River at Fifteen Mile Falls near Littleton, NH and Ryegate, VT. For further information on the creation of the fund please consult the settlement agreement.

Geographic focus

Funding is limited to the Connecticut River watershed upstream of the confluence of the White River and the Connecticut River at White River Junction, VT and West Lebanon, NH. Please see the eligibility map for more information. Projects within the White River sub-watershed will be considered ONLY when those projects offer “exceptional environmental benefits not available in the upper Connecticut River watershed.”
Eligibility

Must be recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or be a municipality or other subdivision of government. Organizations that do not have public charity status may apply for grants if another public charity acts as a fiscal sponsor.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals, and will not knowingly make grants (including those recommended by donor-advised-fund holders), to organizations whose mission or programs promote hate, or run counter to principles of basic respect, justice and equity.
Grant amount

This fund awards grants of all sizes. Grants amounting to less than $10,000 may undergo a shorter application process.
Recent grants

See a complete list of grants.
Application deadline

Concept paper due Thursday, December 5, 2024, 5:00 pm Eastern time.
GrantSource will begin accepting applications on Monday, November 4, 2024

You must submit an interim or final report for all outstanding MEF-funded projects by the concept paper deadline. (Please note that requests for $10,000 or less may be evaluated only on the concept paper and may not require an application.)

The application deadline (for invited applicants only) is Thursday, February 6, 2025.

Application and grant process

Step 1

Determine eligibility.

Learn about the priorities of this program by reading the following documents:

Step 2

Contact staff to discuss your proposal idea.

Pre-application consultation is required. Please contact Ben Amsden, senior program officer at 603-225-6641 ext. 225 or Ora.Nzfqra@aups.bet.

Step 3

Log in or create a new profile in GrantSource.

If you have previously applied for grants from the Foundation through GrantSource, please log in with the email from your previous account, and click the “forgot password” feature to initially log in and then change your password. Then make any necessary updates to your profile. If you have never applied, please create a new profile using the “Register here” button.

Step 4

Submit an interim or final report for all outstanding MEF-funded projects.

Interim or final reports for all outstanding projects must be submitted on or before the concept paper deadline of Thursday, December 5, 2024.

Step 5

Complete concept paper. Upload map, draft budget and metrics form.

Submit by Thursday, December 5, 2024. Please consult the following templates for project budgets and metrics.

Step 6

If invited, complete the full application.

If invited, all concept paper proposals are required to complete the full application through GrantSource by Thursday, February 6, 2025, by 5:00 pm.

Concept paper proposals of up to $10,000 may be funded based only on the initial concept paper. In some cases, the MEF advisory committee may request a full proposal.

Step 7

Receive funding.

If your project is funded, you will be notified in March.

Step 8

Publicize your grant.

If you are awarded funding and you’d like to share the good news, please refer to our grantee press kit.

Step 9

Report.

At the end of your funding period, complete and submit a final grant report (including a final metrics form reflecting actual project accomplishments).

If you are applying for additional MEF funding, you must submit a final or interim report on all outstanding MEF-funded projects by the concept paper deadline.

Application and grant process

We're here to help