South Lake Champlain Fund

The South Lake Champlain Fund (originally organized as the South Lake Champlain Trust in 1989) was established to provide support for research and education concerning the southern portion of Lake Champlain. Advised by a committee of three members, the Fund makes annual grants to support these efforts. 

The primary goal of the South Lake Champlain Fund (SLCF) is to have a positive environmental impact on the southern portion of Lake Champlain, defined as the area of Lake Champlain south of Crown Point in both Vermont and New York with a preference for projects directly on the lake or in close proximity. It is also a goal of the fund to support projects that involve experts and other people who live in the southern Lake Champlain region.

What We Fund

  •  Educational projects which engage young people in learning and loving the cultural heritage, history, and ecology of the southern portion of Lake Champlain
  • Innovative research projects focused on the cultural heritage and environmental health of the southern portion of Lake Champlain
  • Educational or research projects which directly impact the communities around the southern portion of Lake Champlain and/or use the expertise of local experts including scientists, educators, and environmentalists
  • Expenses related  to time, equipment, hardware and software, travel expenses, publication and/or implementation of research findings, and dissemination of findings for projects as above

All findings and results of funded projects should be made public and shared with any organizations that share concern or interest in Lake Champlain. Projects with a volunteering element are encouraged.

What We Don't Fund

  • Projects duplicating lake studies in other areas
  • Projects or publications focusing primarily on the northern part of Lake Champlain
  • Publications of findings funded originally by other organizations
  • Lobbying or advocacy work
  • Implementation or follow through which are traditionally funded through government or free enterprise

Who May Apply

All applicants to programs at the Vermont Community Foundation must meet these guidelines.

Grant Size

The fund anticipates awarding five to nine grants a year—one to three grants will range from $5,000 to $7,500 and the remaining grants will range from $1,000 to $3,000. Matching funds are encouraged, but not required. The committee may award partial grants so please take that into consideration when planning your project budget.

Deadline and Notification

Applications will be accepted between February 6 - March 26, 2024. Applications must be received by 5PM on Tuesday, March 26 in order to be considered. 

Applicants will be notified of grant decisions by the end of April. Grant funds cannot cover activities that have already taken place; please keep the notification timeline in mind as you prepare your application.

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 preview a sample of the 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.