Request for Proposals for Restoration Site Visits
Request for Proposals for Restoration Site Visits
hosted by the Healing Our Waters- Great Lakes Coalition
Deadline for submissions: March 28, 2025
Register for the information session: March 12, 3 PM Eastern HERE
Apply to host a Site Visit HERE
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (HOW Coalition, or the Coalition) consists of 185 environmental groups, conservation associations, outdoor recreation organizations, zoos, aquariums and museums representing millions of people whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. The Coalition was formed to represent the collective voice of the Great Lakes community and has focused for more than a decade on implementing the comprehensive restoration plan for the Great Lakes ecosystem and advocating for the federal funding to execute it.
The Coalition is seeking to highlight the success of federally funded restoration projects in the Great Lakes Region. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) program is one of the nation's largest freshwater ecosystem restoration efforts. Since 2010, the GLRI has enabled Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and federally recognized Tribes to invest in restoring the region's waters after decades of environmental damage threatened public health and the regional economy. The Coalition is soliciting proposals for Restoration Site Visits that showcase GLRI investments and successful projects in the Great Lakes region. The goal is to raise awareness of the impact of the GLRI among the public, elected officials, business, and community groups.
2025 Restoration Site Visit Request for Proposals
The Coalition invites you to submit a proposal for a site visit to showcase restoration successes in the Great Lakes and help educate local decision makers on the impact of federal funds. The Coalition seeks applications from individuals and local, tribal, state, regional, and national organizations and government working on issues of relevance to Great Lakes restoration. The site visits can showcase one project or many based on the proximity of projects. Projects of all sizes and locations within the region are encouraged. The Coalition has compensation of $5,000-$10,000 for organizations whose applications are accepted.
We strongly encourage the following projects and applicants to apply –
Rural projects
Those representing culturally and racially diverse communities
Groups or individuals representing or supporting work in work in communities most impacted by pollution and environmental harm throughout the Great Lakes region
Projects that have engaged multiple, diverse perspectives and partners
Restoration Site Visits
Restoration site visits should include experts who are able to talk about the restoration process and ecological impact of the project, local business owners who can demonstrate the economic impacts of the project, and other community partners that have been impacted. Restoration site visits will address many of the critical issues and challenges facing the Great Lakes. The Coalition aims to provide site visit attendees with engaging educational opportunities to learn about the impacts of restoration investments.
Intended Audience
Applicants should plan site visits as educational opportunities for partner organizations and agencies involved in restoration work. This includes, but is not limited to:
Local community partners/organizations
National, regional and local agencies (DNR, EPA, USDA, etc.)
Members of Congress and local/regional decision makers and/or their staff
Academic researchers or regional educators
Media and press
Budget Guidance
The Coalition can provide financial support to accommodate a budget for restoration site visits. This can include:
Transportation to and from restoration sites
Boxed lunches/refreshments for site visit attendees
Day passes/admission to restoration sites or parks
Staff time to prepare and host the event
Staff time for media and outreach
Site Visit Submission Information and General Instructions
Submissions must be received no later than March 28, 2025
Restoration Site Visits cannot be used to market products or services.
Grantee is responsible for designing the tour, securing permission (if necessary) to visit site(s); securing speakers for the tour; crafting invitee list and maintaining RSVP list of attendees.
Preference will be given to site visits that showcase restoration sites in small to mid-sized cities, and rural areas. Site visits will be held between the months of May and August.
Site visits will take place between 8:30 am and 4 PM (local time zone), and hosts should ideally plan to visit multiple sites in the area, where applicable.
The Coalition’s communications staff can assist with communications around the event (e.g., preparing a press release, managing reporters, graphic design), but will also work in partnership with the lead organizations(s) on this work.
Registered lobbyists cannot plan, organize, arrange or request travel for Members of Congress or their staffs. Lobbyists can attend events, but only if de minimus. Site visits should be organized by non-lobbyists and ideally organizations that don’t employ lobbyists.
Apply to host a site visit HERE
We encourage you to contact Sophee Langerman at LangermanS@nwf.org if you have questions or register to join the informational webinar on March 12, 3 PM Eastern HERE.
