Deerfield River Enhancement Fund
The Deerfield River Enhancement Fund was established in 1999 by USGen New England, Inc., now known as Great River Hydro, LLC , for the environmental preservation of the Deerfield River Watershed. Grants are awarded for new initiatives, one-time special projects, or continuing funding for outstanding, existing programs. Examples include, but are not limited to, volunteer monitoring projects, events, trail work projects, field trips, educational workshops, media campaigns, and improving public access sites.
The Vermont Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts are jointly managing grantmaking for the Deerfield River Enhancement Fund.
What We Fund
The Deerfield River Enhancement Fund is for the purpose of supporting watershed conservation, development of low impact recreational and educational facilities, and planning, design, maintenance and monitoring of such facilities in the Deerfield River Watershed. Projects must provide clear public benefits and contribute to the goals of enhancing low impact recreational, environmental education, or environmental protection opportunities directly related to the Deerfield River Watershed. Funds may be used for outdoor educational programs, including curriculum development and travel for students, interpretive materials and signs. The review committee encourages applicants to consider projects that support marginalized populations and promote environmental justice.
Projects must be located within the Deerfield River Basin or in towns with some portion falling within the basin. In the latter case, projects must be directly tied to the basin, e.g. a trail spur originating outside the basin that connects with a trail network within the basin.
The Deerfield River Enhancement Fund runs a competitive process every 4 years. We anticipate opening the next cycle in November 2026 with awards being distributed in spring/summer 2027.
Who May Apply
Eligible grant recipients include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and units of local and regional government within Vermont and Massachusetts. Projects must be located within the Deerfield River Basin or in towns with some portion falling within the basin. In the latter case, projects must be directly tied to the basin, e.g. a trail spur originating outside the basin that connects with a trail network within the basin.
All applicants to programs at the Vermont Community Foundation must meet these guidelines.
Grant Size
The Fund will award grants ranging between $2,000 and $10,000.
Deadline and Notification
The Deerfield River Enhancement Fund runs a competitive process every 4 years. We anticipate opening the next cycle in November 2026 with awards being distributed in spring/summer 2027.
Application Process
All applications must be submitted electronically. Visit our Online Grants Center page to learn how and to register for a new account. Or click here to access your existing account.
To help you prepare, click here to view or download the 2022-23 application. Please note that this is a PDF sample and not the actual application. To view and begin working on the application, login to the Online Grants Manager (OGM), which can be accessed at www.vermontcf.org/OGM.
