To ensure Rooting Resilience applicants have equal access to all information, we will continue to add responses to common questions we receive via email here. Last updated on October 2, 2024.

• What is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)?
• What is the role of River Network (RN) with IRA funding?
• Do I need to provide match or cost-share for this grant opportunity?
• Can I submit more than one application?
• Is there the possibility of extensions to grants if we encounter challenges to our original project timeline?
• How do I estimate costs in the budget with rising prices?
• What does capacity building mean and what are eligible uses of funding toward capacity building?
• Can my grant request include indirect costs?
• What if my organization doesn’t have a UEI (Unique Entity ID) Number?
• What are the eligible entities for applying?
• For Tribes or Tribal Entity Applicants are project locations outside the boundaries of the lands of Federally Recognized Tribes eligible?
• Does previous federal funding or IRA funding disqualify an entity from applying for the Rooting Resilience program?
• Are U.S. Territories eligible to apply?
• Are projects allowed to take place on private property?
• Are personnel costs allowable under this grant program?
• What are examples of eligible costs under the Rooting Resilience program?
• Are subgrants/subawards to other entities allowable?
• Are personnel costs allowable under this grant program?
• What are ineligible costs under the Rooting Resilience program?
• What is the difference between requests at the Seedling Project vs. Sapling Project funding levels?
• Are there limits on the % or amount requested under certain budget categories like personnel costs or contractual costs?
• Are there word limits or a time limit (for a phone or video application) for answering the narrative portion of the application?
• Are Rooting Resilience grants only on a reimbursement basis?
• Are entities outside the United States eligible for funding under the Rooting Resilience program?
• Is a municipality considered a Community-Based Organization eligible for funding?
• How do I access and download the required financial and compliance documents for the application?
• How do I submit multiple overlay maps, if my project is occurring in several locations, to demonstrate alignment with working in federally designated disadvantaged communities?
• How do I determine the census tract number in the EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities Tool map- locations are no longer clickable to get their census tract information?
• What will be the reimbursement schedule for grants?
• What happens if our letters of support are not received by the application deadline? Can they be submitted late?
• My organization was planning to apply but was affected by the recent Hurricanes, Helene and/or Milton – is there a possibility of an application extension?

What is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)?

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is federal funding that includes a broad range of national investments, including $1.5 billion dedicated to trees in cities and towns. The IRA was signed into law in August of 2022. You can read more about urban forestry funding in the IRA here.

What is the role of River Network (RN) with IRA funding?

River Network is a national pass-through partner of the USDA Forest Service, with the goal of distributing Inflation Reduction Act funds through the Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to communities using trees to promote equity, enhance urban resilience, and create more livable conditions for all. To expedite the funding process, a mix of national pass-through partners— including state forestry agencies and nonprofits with granting experience (like RN) — are helping distribute IRA dollars. You’ll see this referred to as “pass-through funding.” RN and our outreach and engagement partners provide subawardees with guidance, tools, and a network of peers.

Do I need to provide match or cost-share for this grant opportunity

No, match funding is not required, nor does it increase your chances of a successful award.

Can I submit more than one application?

Yes, you may submit more than one application. However, since the review process will consider the full range of applications submitted to ensure that funds are awarded fairly across geographically and by project type, it might be most advantageous to submit your most aligned and competitive project for funding to avoid competing against yourself.

Is there the possibility of extensions to grants if we encounter challenges to our original project timeline?

Yes, no-cost extensions (extensions of the project end date without additional funding) may be available with prior approval if projects encounter unanticipated delays.

How do I estimate costs in the budget with rising prices?

Given the current financial situation, we are encouraging grantees to budget for any additional costs that may accrue as a result of market forces, including inflation, increasing fuel costs, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages. This should not be a separate ‘contingency’ line item but built into individual line items, for example a Tree Planting contractor.

What does capacity building mean and what are eligible uses of funding toward capacity building?

In the context of urban and community forestry projects, capacity building refers to activities that enhance the ability of organizations, communities, and individuals to effectively manage and maintain trees and green spaces. Capacity building dollars can encompass your organization’s community engagement needs to build a more equitable urban forest including, but not limited to staffing, resource development, and material creation. Any hiring needs must be directly related to grant deliverables and with the goal that newly created positions be permanent, not just temporary and for the grant period.

Can my grant request include indirect costs?

Indirect costs represent the expenses of doing work that are not readily identified with a particular grant, contract, project function or activity, but are necessary for the general operation of the organization and the activities it performs. You are permitted to use either the de minimis rate or your Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) rate.

What if my organization doesn’t have a UEI (Unique Entity ID) Number?

A UEI Number will be required if your organization is selected for award so we suggest obtaining a UEI at the application stage if you do not have one already. If you do not have a SAM.gov UEI Number, here is a short GSA video outlining the steps to create one.

What are the eligible entities for applying?

Entities that are eligible to apply are organizations with a 501(c)(3); fiscally sponsored by an organization with 501(c)(3) legal status; a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) legal status applying on behalf of a project; or Federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations / villages, Tribal organizations as defined in 25USC 5304 (I) and operating within the United States or its territories, and organizations working in Tribal communities.

For Tribes or Tribal Entity Applicants are project locations outside the boundaries of the lands of Federally Recognized Tribes eligible?

Please reach out to discuss specific scenarios and projects but land within the boundaries of Federally Recognized Tribes and point locations for Alaska Native Villages are designated as disadvantaged in the federal tools.If proposing a project outside these areas the project locations would need to be owned by the Tribe and/or designated as disadvantaged using federal tools.

Does previous federal funding or IRA funding disqualify an entity from applying for the Rooting Resilience program?

No, recipients of previous federal funding, including IRA funding are not disqualified from the program. However, priority will be given to organizations that have not already received some amount of Inflation Reduction Act funding for urban forestry and are new to applying for federal funding.

Are U.S. Territories eligible to apply?

Yes, all U.S. Territories, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are eligible to apply for the Rooting Resilience Program.

Are projects allowed to take place on private property?

Eligible applicants may apply for funding for a project to take place on non-Federal lands in designated disadvantaged communities including:

• State and local governments
• Private lands
• Homeowner associations
• Tribal/Alaska native corporation (includes Trust lands)

Lands owned or administered by the Federal government are not eligible for this funding opportunity except for lands held in trust for Native American Tribes and individuals.

Are personnel costs allowable under this grant program?

Yes, personnel costs are allowable under this program. Please see the budget template for all allowable budget categories and the list of ineligible costs below.

What are examples of eligible costs under the Rooting Resilience program?

Examples of allowable costs include personnel and fringe benefits, travel to project sites, community events, or conferences or professional development training sessions; supplies including trees, tree stakes or watering bags, pruning shears, and shovels; equipment rentals or contractual agreements including tree planting or tree maintenance services or outreach support through a community group hosting events; equipment rental including and indirect expenses using either the de minimis rate or your NICRA rate.

Are subgrants/subawards to other entities allowable?

Subgrants or subawards are not an offered budget category for this program. If you’re working with another entity to achieve project outcomes, we suggest setting up contractual agreements with your project partners, list their proposed expenditures under the Contractors section in your budget, and include in the budget narrative what services these partners will be providing and how costs were estimated.

Are personnel costs allowable under this grant program?

Yes, personnel costs are allowable under this program. Please see the budget template for all allowable budget categories and the list of ineligible costs below.

What are ineligible costs under the Rooting Resilience program?

Ineligible costs include the following activities and purposes as named in the original USDA-Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):

• Research: Basic research as defined in 2CFR 422.1, “Systematic study directed toward fuller knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind.”
  • Note: Technical transfer, education, and outreach activities associated with applying research can be included in the application.
• Construction and capital improvements. Examples of construction include facilities, infrastructure, roads, new buildings, culverts, and boardwalks.
• Land acquisition (conservation easement and fee simple) projects.
• Cost-share, reimbursement, and other types of payment provided directly to private landowners. However, Urban and Community Forestry funding may be used to perform work on private lands; for example, an eligible entity could pay for trees to be planted on private lands with permission of the landowner.
• Small business start-up funding.
• Equipment purchases, defined as an article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. Equipment rental should be considered as an alternative.

What is the difference between requests at the Seedling Project vs. Sapling Project funding levels?

• The different grant categories speak to project size and scale- we anticipate Seedling Projects ($75,000) will likely be for a single small site and setting the stage for future work where sapling projects ($75,000-$200,000) might be at a larger scale at several project sites. Both categories can fund any of the eligible project types and have a 1-3 year timeline. Your budget in the grant portal will specify which level you’re applying for.

Are there limits on the % or amount requested under certain budget categories like personnel costs or contractual costs?

There are no limits on the % or amount requested under any budget category. All budgeted expenses should include a narrative description describing how the cost is necessary and reasonable to achieve the intended project outcomes and will ultimately benefit disadvantaged communities.

Are there word limits or a time limit (for a phone or video application) for answering the narrative portion of the application?

Yes, word suggestions and word limits (which offer the flexibility of 100 more words than the word suggestions for each question) are included in the grant application portal. For phone or video applications you have up to 30 minutes to address all of the narrative questions.

Are Rooting Resilience grants only on a reimbursement basis?

Grant funds will generally be disbursed by reimbursement; however, advance payments will be considered on a case-by-case basis due to immediate need as allowable under Federal guidance (typically within 30 days of expenses being incurred). Once awards have been announced, River Network will work with selected grantees to ensure the funds disbursement process is not a barrier to carrying out their project.

Are entities outside the United States eligible for funding under the Rooting Resilience program?

No, this funding is not available for locations outside the United States and US Territories.

Is a municipality considered a Community-Based Organization eligible for funding?

Technically, any community-based organization that represents a community and/or certain populations within a community through engagement, education, and other related services provided to individual community residents and community stakeholders is eligible. If you represent a local government or a school, we strongly encourage partnership with a local non-profit organization that has programming or expertise related to trees and/or that represents a specific neighborhood or historically underserved or underrepresented community.

How do I access and download the required financial and compliance documents for the application?

For both the financial capability questionnaire and certification regarding debarment for the application you’ll need to download a copy of the linked forms, fill it out, and then upload in the grant portal. Applicants aren’t allowed to edit the form directly to preserve the blank copies as templates.

How do I submit multiple overlay maps, if my project is occurring in several locations, to demonstrate alignment with working in federally designated disadvantaged communities?

If you plan on working in several locations you can either create one overlay map, zoomed out enough to show all your project locations, or upload multiple maps for each location and bundle them into one file to upload in the grant portal. The easiest way to create an overlay map is to screenshot one of the disadvantaged community tools showing your project location(s) and use PowerPoint or another tool to outline your project locations on top of the mapping layer.

How do I determine the census tract number in the EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities Tool map- locations are no longer clickable to get their census tract information?

The EPA mapping tool was recently updated and getting the census tract information is now a bit harder than just clicking on a selected location. A workaround for finding this information is as follows:

• On the EPA Disadvantaged Communities Environmental and Climate Justice program map click on ‘Content’ in the left hand sidebar
• Then click on Environmental Climate Justice Program so that the EPA Disadvantaged Community Environmental and Climate Justice Program pops up below
• If you click on the second icon ‘Show Table’ a table will pop up at the bottom of the screen
• Click on your location on the map which will now be able to be selected and will be highlighted in blue
• Then on the table at the bottom of the screen click the 3-bar icon in the right-hand side and click ‘Show Selected Record’ and only the census block group selected will be shown in the table.
  • The ID field is what you’d put in your application. The map notes disadvantaged communities at the census block group level, a smaller division of a census tract- the first 11 digits of the ID number are the census tract number, and the 12th digit is the block group’s unique identifier.

What will be the reimbursement schedule for grants?

After submitting a reimbursement request grantees should receive payment within 2-3 weeks, barring any issues or need for follow-up or correction with the payment request information submitted. Grantees are asked to request reimbursement no more frequently than monthly, but we may be able to offer the flexibility of twice a month reimbursements in cases where monthly reimbursements would present a significant challenge.

What happens if our letters of support are not received by the application deadline? Can they be submitted late?

Letters of support received after you submit your application and after the program deadline can be sent to rootingresilience@rivernetwork.org to be attached to your application. Note: if letters are significantly delayed, they may not be able to be considered by program reviewers. For Community-based organization applicants that are required to include one letter of support we recommend uploading a document that states that letters of support are forthcoming but were delayed to be able to meet the requirement of uploading a document.

My organization was planning to apply but was affected by the recent Hurricanes, Helene and/or Milton – is there a possibility of an application extension?

If your organization is in a federally designated disaster relief area and was impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton and you are in need of an extension for your application please email rootingresilience@rivernetwork.org.