An exciting new opportunity for partnerships with local foundations has just opened up – Round Three of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund is now accepting applications! Anticipating support for another seven to ten projects, the goal of the fund is to encourage partnerships between local government sustainability directors and local, place-based foundations. Each partnership selected will receive an investment between $25,000 and $75,000, as long as the requirement of a 1:1 match by at least one local foundation is met.

The Fund was originally a collaboration between the Funder’s Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN). Now a project of the Funder’s Network, the fund is supported by the JPB Foundation, the Kendeda Fund, New York Community Trust, Summit Foundation, and Surdna Foundation.

The Funder’s Network has several tools in place to help with the application process. You can visit the Idea Bank, which contains all of the proposal summaries from rounds one and two (including the winning projects). You can also click here to learn about prior grants given out.

In addition, an informational call will be held from 2:00-3:00pm EST on April 17, 2013 to answer questions and provide more information on application requirements and the application process. You can register for the call here.

Round Three proposals are due May 22, 2013. Click to view the RFP, Frequently Asked Questions or visit the Local Sustainability Matching Fund site to download the Proposal Form.