2025 Community Directed Grant Program

The Whitebark Institute’s Community Directed Grant Program provides funding to support community-led projects across Inyo and Mono Counties in California. This grant program empowers local residents and organizations to identify regional challenges and propose tangible, practical solutions that benefit the broader community. Funded projects are intended to strengthen community bonds, foster shared responsibility, and address important local issues such as wildfire prevention, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. The 2025 application window opens on February 12, 2025, and closes on March 12, 2025. The program is supported by Edison International, which has provided $65,000 to fund 13 individual grants. Each grant is valued at $5,000. Eligible applicants include local organizations, community groups, and individuals with community-based project proposals that align with the program’s goal of fostering collective action and improving community resilience. The types of projects funded vary widely but must demonstrate clear local benefits. Past projects have ranged from environmental conservation work to disaster preparedness initiatives. The program emphasizes the power of collaboration and shared community responsibility, encouraging applicants to propose projects that engage community members and address locally identified needs. To apply, applicants must submit their proposals during the open application window via the Whitebark Institute website. The Institute provides additional information about the program, past grantees, and funded projects through an interactive project map on its website, which highlights the diversity and impact of previously funded work. For additional questions or application support, interested applicants can contact the Whitebark Institute via email at administrator@whitebarkinstitute.org. The Whitebark Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Mammoth Lakes, California. The organization’s mission is to foster collaborative solutions to environmental, climate, and community resilience challenges in the Eastern Sierra region.