Grants
In order to preserve birds and ecosystems for future generations, we must be willing to work toward a better future. That is why Louisville Audubon provides grants for organizations working to conserve our local environment. We encourage groups to apply that are interested in birding and environmental conservation, restoration and education.
To apply for a grant from the Louisville Audubon Society, download the grant application form below.
LAS Grant Request Form – 2017
Louisville Audubon Society
2017 Grant Requests Summary
LAS GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE
TAVIA CATHCART BROWN, TONY EVANS, MATT LAHM
We had a total of nine grant requests submitted for review, which were received from the following organizations. Here is a summary of their requests, followed by the amount we decided to award each organization.
1. Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission – Hemlock Wooly Aldegid Control at Archer-Benge S.N.P.The request from Kentucky State Nature Preserve for LAS grant funding was $2500.00. Archer-Benge SNP is 1,864 acres located on the southern end of Pine Mountain in Whitley Co. and located within the Laurel Fork watershed.This preserve contains significant natural areas and several rare species. The Eastern hemlock trees here are highly infested with the exotic hemlock wooly aldegid. If not treated with the pesticide imidicloprid they will soon die.We decided to fund this project for $700 because of the mission of the KSNP and need to protect high quality, biologically significant habitat.
2. Salt River Watershed Watch – Improving water quality in our region through Citizen ScienceThe request from Salt River Watershed Watch for LAS grant funding $1,500. SRWW is primarily a Citizen Science organization that conducts water sampling across the Salt River basin three times a year. Funding would go towards the analysis of water samples taken during the fall sampling. We agreed to fund this project because of it being a Citizen Science project and its emphasis on water quality and habitat improvement. We decided to fund this request in the amount of
$600.
3. Kentucky Natural Lands Trust Inc.-Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor Project (PMWC).The request from KNLT for LAS grant funding was for $2000. KNLT is focused on connecting existing protected areas along Pine Mountain.Pine Mountain is 180,000 acres, 110,000 acres in Ky., and is the largest intact ecosystem remaining in Kentucky and connects protected land in Tennessee and Virginia.Pine Mountain is home to nearly 1/7 (100) of the states’ rare plant and animal species. Again, because of the necessity to create and protect more contiguous quality habitat and the mission of the KNLT, we decided to fund this project for $1,000.
4. University of Louisville – Restoration of a native woodland in an urban University campusThe request from U of L for grant funding was $408. This project will transform a 90ft X 90ft area on the Belknap campus back into a woodland with native plants that will be able to attract and support birds and other pollinators. The LAS Grant Review Committee agreed that the mission and needs of this project, promoting the restoration of native habitat in an urban environment and also the future educational value for students to establish and reinforce an ethic of becoming responsible environmental stewards. We decided to fund this project for $300.
5. St. Francis School – The St. Francis Aquaculture ProgramThe request from St. Francis School for LAS Grant Funding was $750. This project is to purchase plants to complete the existing pond.The current pond needs multifunctional species of plants to be planted both submerged in the pond and around the perimeter in order to improve the life and productivity of the pond and the insects, birds, and animals that benefit from it. LAS Grant Review Committee decided to fund to this project for $300. While this project does feature an environmental education component that includes the education of the public and developing birding advocates, this project’s focus is a more broad spectrum and is limited to a smaller audience.
6. Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky Inc. – Eagle crate upgrade
The request from RROKI for LAS grant funding was $1550. RROKI has an educational bird program using live birds of prey and currently uses pet carriers to transport their educational birds, Bald and Golden eagles in particular. They would like to purchase and use custom eagle crates designed to facilitate easy loading and unloading of their eagles at public presentations. We decided to fund this project for $350, as it does align with the LAS Mission of public education and advocacy of birds, but we agreed that this project did not fully embrace the spirit of the LAS Grant Program. In addition, LAS donates funds every year to RROKI.
7. Jefferson County Public Education Foundation (JCPEF) on behalf of Hartstern Elementary School-Hartstern Elementary School Rain Water Garden and Habitat
The request from JCPEF for LAS grant funding was for $1000. This is an ongoing project since 2014 when Hartstern created the original 2,000 sq ft. garden, and this phase of the project will be to purchase hydrophilic plants to plant in a wet, boggy part of the existing garden to create a Rain Water Garden as a usable outdoor classroom for the students.We decided to fund this grant for $300. Like several other projects requesting LAS grant funds that involve creating garden/wildlife viewing space, we honor the importance of their projects, but felt the mission of others that are proactive in habitat preservation.
8. Second Chances Wildlife Center-Wildlife Viewing AreaThe request from Second Chances Wildlife Center for LAS grant funding was for $1400. The project for SCWC consists of cleaning up and creating a wildlife viewing area at their new wildlife rehabilitation center. This viewing area will provide an area for people to have the opportunity to form a connection between themselves and nature.Wildlife rehabilitation is important, but we decided to fund this project for $300 because we felt that funding projects that were proactive and focused on preserving and protecting habitat were more aligned with the LAS mission.
9. River City Paddlesports Inc. – Long Term Ecological monitoring and Water Quality Education by Male High School
The request from River City Paddlesports Inc. for grant funding was $4,550. River City Paddle Sports operates a water and paddlesport education center at the Community Boat House in Louisville’s Waterfront Park.The class has two goals; first the students will investigate the flora fauna and geology/geography of Beargrass Creek.Secondly, The Male H.S. students will work with 8th grade science class field trips as naturalist mentors. The LAS Grant Review Committee decided to fund this project for $300 . LAS does value the importance of environmental education and it recognizes the value of fauna (bird) surveys, the focus of this project is more broadly centered on watershed education programs overall.
To apply for a grant from the Louisville Audubon Society, download the grant application form below.
LAS Grant Request Form – 2017
Louisville Audubon Society
2017 Grant Requests Summary
LAS GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE
TAVIA CATHCART BROWN, TONY EVANS, MATT LAHM
We had a total of nine grant requests submitted for review, which were received from the following organizations. Here is a summary of their requests, followed by the amount we decided to award each organization.
1. Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission – Hemlock Wooly Aldegid Control at Archer-Benge S.N.P.The request from Kentucky State Nature Preserve for LAS grant funding was $2500.00. Archer-Benge SNP is 1,864 acres located on the southern end of Pine Mountain in Whitley Co. and located within the Laurel Fork watershed.This preserve contains significant natural areas and several rare species. The Eastern hemlock trees here are highly infested with the exotic hemlock wooly aldegid. If not treated with the pesticide imidicloprid they will soon die.We decided to fund this project for $700 because of the mission of the KSNP and need to protect high quality, biologically significant habitat.
2. Salt River Watershed Watch – Improving water quality in our region through Citizen ScienceThe request from Salt River Watershed Watch for LAS grant funding $1,500. SRWW is primarily a Citizen Science organization that conducts water sampling across the Salt River basin three times a year. Funding would go towards the analysis of water samples taken during the fall sampling. We agreed to fund this project because of it being a Citizen Science project and its emphasis on water quality and habitat improvement. We decided to fund this request in the amount of
$600.
3. Kentucky Natural Lands Trust Inc.-Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor Project (PMWC).The request from KNLT for LAS grant funding was for $2000. KNLT is focused on connecting existing protected areas along Pine Mountain.Pine Mountain is 180,000 acres, 110,000 acres in Ky., and is the largest intact ecosystem remaining in Kentucky and connects protected land in Tennessee and Virginia.Pine Mountain is home to nearly 1/7 (100) of the states’ rare plant and animal species. Again, because of the necessity to create and protect more contiguous quality habitat and the mission of the KNLT, we decided to fund this project for $1,000.
4. University of Louisville – Restoration of a native woodland in an urban University campusThe request from U of L for grant funding was $408. This project will transform a 90ft X 90ft area on the Belknap campus back into a woodland with native plants that will be able to attract and support birds and other pollinators. The LAS Grant Review Committee agreed that the mission and needs of this project, promoting the restoration of native habitat in an urban environment and also the future educational value for students to establish and reinforce an ethic of becoming responsible environmental stewards. We decided to fund this project for $300.
5. St. Francis School – The St. Francis Aquaculture ProgramThe request from St. Francis School for LAS Grant Funding was $750. This project is to purchase plants to complete the existing pond.The current pond needs multifunctional species of plants to be planted both submerged in the pond and around the perimeter in order to improve the life and productivity of the pond and the insects, birds, and animals that benefit from it. LAS Grant Review Committee decided to fund to this project for $300. While this project does feature an environmental education component that includes the education of the public and developing birding advocates, this project’s focus is a more broad spectrum and is limited to a smaller audience.
6. Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky Inc. – Eagle crate upgrade
The request from RROKI for LAS grant funding was $1550. RROKI has an educational bird program using live birds of prey and currently uses pet carriers to transport their educational birds, Bald and Golden eagles in particular. They would like to purchase and use custom eagle crates designed to facilitate easy loading and unloading of their eagles at public presentations. We decided to fund this project for $350, as it does align with the LAS Mission of public education and advocacy of birds, but we agreed that this project did not fully embrace the spirit of the LAS Grant Program. In addition, LAS donates funds every year to RROKI.
7. Jefferson County Public Education Foundation (JCPEF) on behalf of Hartstern Elementary School-Hartstern Elementary School Rain Water Garden and Habitat
The request from JCPEF for LAS grant funding was for $1000. This is an ongoing project since 2014 when Hartstern created the original 2,000 sq ft. garden, and this phase of the project will be to purchase hydrophilic plants to plant in a wet, boggy part of the existing garden to create a Rain Water Garden as a usable outdoor classroom for the students.We decided to fund this grant for $300. Like several other projects requesting LAS grant funds that involve creating garden/wildlife viewing space, we honor the importance of their projects, but felt the mission of others that are proactive in habitat preservation.
8. Second Chances Wildlife Center-Wildlife Viewing AreaThe request from Second Chances Wildlife Center for LAS grant funding was for $1400. The project for SCWC consists of cleaning up and creating a wildlife viewing area at their new wildlife rehabilitation center. This viewing area will provide an area for people to have the opportunity to form a connection between themselves and nature.Wildlife rehabilitation is important, but we decided to fund this project for $300 because we felt that funding projects that were proactive and focused on preserving and protecting habitat were more aligned with the LAS mission.
9. River City Paddlesports Inc. – Long Term Ecological monitoring and Water Quality Education by Male High School
The request from River City Paddlesports Inc. for grant funding was $4,550. River City Paddle Sports operates a water and paddlesport education center at the Community Boat House in Louisville’s Waterfront Park.The class has two goals; first the students will investigate the flora fauna and geology/geography of Beargrass Creek.Secondly, The Male H.S. students will work with 8th grade science class field trips as naturalist mentors. The LAS Grant Review Committee decided to fund this project for $300 . LAS does value the importance of environmental education and it recognizes the value of fauna (bird) surveys, the focus of this project is more broadly centered on watershed education programs overall.
