Focus
The National Forest Foundation Community Capacity and Land Stewardship Program (CCLS) provides funding to increase the capacity of organizations implementing large scale restoration projects that benefit National Forests and Grasslands.
Program partnership
Funding for CCLS is currently provided by the US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region and Alaska Region, and coordinated with multiple additional regional leadership partners.
Desired Outcomes
As a whole, CCLS seeks to help community-based and collaborative organizations remove barriers to watershed and/or landscape scale restoration projects, and help facilitate job creation and retention and business development in their region. Each regional program offered has specific, unique desired outcomes.


Geography
CCLS is limited in scope to projects that benefit National Forests and Grasslands in Oregon/Washington (USFS Region 6), and the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska (USFS Region 10).
Frequency
The NFF holds one competitive CCLS round for each of the eligible Forest Service regions each year. Organizations may have only one CCLS award open at a time.
Proposal Deadlines and Requests for Proposals
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Oregon/Washington
Deadline: December 5, 2018 at 10:59 pm PST
Funding Source: USFS Pacific Northwest Region
An informational Webinar for Oregon/Washington CCLS Program was held on November 7, 2018.
Southeast Alaska
Deadline: May 1, 2019 at 9:59 pm ADT
Funding Source: USFS Alaska Region
2019 RFP COMING SOON
2019 Informational Webinar for Southeast Alaska CCLS Program date TBD.
Eligibility
501(c)3 nonprofits, universities, and Native American tribes are eligible to receive CCLS grants. If an organization does not meet this eligibility requirement, it must utilize an eligible fiscal sponsor, in compliance with the NFF Policy on Fiscal Sponsorship.
Funding Restrictions
Applications will not be considered from:
- Federal agencies;
- Regional, state or local governmental entities; (Except Alaska)
- For-profit organizations;
- Consultants;
The following project types are not eligible for funding:
- Funding for outreach and/or education as a primary project component;
- Funding for any form of advocacy or litigation;
- Funding provided to the U.S. Forest Service or any other federal entity.

Match Requirements
CCLS does not require a cash or in-kind match, but all contributions should be documented to show project leverage.
Letters of Support
All applications must include a letter of support from the Forest Supervisor of each National Forest or Grassland unit included in a proposal. Do not submit letters from District Rangers or any additional letters of support.
Application Process
Application submission is via an electronic submission process. Submission instructions are listed in the RFP.
Funding Type
CCLS awards federal funds provided through cooperative agreements from individual U.S. Forest Service regions. CCLS award funds cannot be used to meet the matching requirements of any federal award program.

Typical Awards (2017)
Average Request: $22,489
Median Request: $23,996
Average Award: $18,820
Median Award: $20,000
% of Proposals Funded: 50%
% of Dollars Requested Funded: 42%
PUBLIC IMPACT REPORT
A public impact report for the CCLS program in Oregon and Washington was recently completed, showcasing the outcomes from 2011-2014.
Contact information
If you have questions not answered on this website or in available CCLS Request for Proposals, please feel free to contact Adam Liljeblad, Director, Conservation Awards at 406.830.3357406.830.3357 or aliljeblad@nationalforests.org.