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Grant

Our Commitment to Environmentally Focused Organizations

The Populus Stewardship Grant supports people and projects working across oceans, forests, food systems, built environments, and communities.

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The Populus Stewardship Grant

Areas of Focus

Along the Pacific Northwest, ecosystems are shaped not by control, but by rhythm. These are systems that resist force. What they require is stewardship—a long view that protects the conditions for life to adapt, layer, and endure.

Communities are no different. When we move with these patterns—rather than against them—we create space for continuity: waters that sustain, ecosystems that regenerate, trust that deepens over time. Stewardship is not about intervention. It’s about presence—staying close to what matters, paying attention to what’s changing, and supporting systems so they can renew themselves.

Forest Ecosystems

Food Systems

Place & Community

POPULUS STEWARDSHIP GRANT

Interested In Applying?

We welcome applications from individuals, small organizations, and informal groups based in our region. We’re especially interested in grounded, place-based work that supports ecological function and community life.

Applications are currently open through June 1st, 2026. Finalists will be selected by the staff at Populus Seattle through a team vote and will be notified.

Please send any grant-specific questions to:
stewardshipgrant@populusseattle.com

Photograph capturing the historic clock tower and facade of King Street Station, framed against a bright sky.

Grant Timeline

March 2026

Applications Open

June 1, 2026

Deadline to Apply

June 2026

Funds Awarded

Program FAQS

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from individuals, small organizations, and informal groups based in our region. We’re especially interested in grounded, place-based work that supports ecological function and community life. You do not need to be a nonprofit.

Can applicants re-apply each season?

Past applicants are welcome to apply again.

What should be submitted?

  1. *Project Overview (500–750 words)
    Describe your project, where it takes place, and what the funding would support.
  2. *Stewardship Narrative (up to 500 words)
    Reflect on how your work embodies long-term care—of land, systems, or relationships.
  3. *Budget Summary
    A simple breakdown of how you would use the funds. Labor, tools, and general support are all acceptable.
  4. *Community Reference
    A short note (250 words or less) from someone familiar with your work. No formal letter required.

 

*See application form

Please submit your applications by June 1st, 2026 to stewardshipgrant@populusseattle.com with the subject line “PSG Summer 2026 – Your Project Name”.

What is the selection criteria?

Projects will be chosen based on strength in one or more of the following:

  1. Stewardship of Forest Ecosystems
    Silviculture, forest restoration, and woodland care—work that supports long-term forest structure, biodiversity, and ecological function.
  2. Stewardship of the Food System
    Soil regeneration, agroecology, and sustainable food practices that reduce extraction and support resilience.
  3. Stewardship of Place and Community
    Efforts that reconnect ecological thinking with the built environment or strengthen community ties to land, water, and place.
  4. Personal Story
    Who are you? Why do you do what you do? What is your inspiration? What is your greatest failure and how have you overcome it?

After I apply, what are next steps?

Grantees will be invited to present their project to the Populus team. Presentations may be held in person or virtually. Finalists will be selected by the staff at Populus Seattle through a team vote and grantees will be notified two weeks after the presentation.

What is the ongoing relationship?

If you receive a grant, we’ll stay in touch. We’ll check in a few times over the year for a progress check in—not with formal reports, but through short updates, photos, or reflections on how things are going. We see this as a continuing relationship and want to help the work grow in ways that make sense to you. We do request permission to document and share your story publicly if selected.

What is the timeline?

Applications Open: Rolling bi-annually (March 1st through June 1st for Summer Cycle

and Sept. 1st through Dec. 1st for Winter Cycle)

Finalists Notified: 2-3 weeks after submissions

Virtual or In-Person Presentations: 2 weeks after notification

Selection: 3 weeks after presentations

Additional Stewardship Efforts

One Night, One Tree

At Populus, we have a deep reverence for nature. As stewards of the built environment, we believe we have a responsibility to offset our impact. That’s why, for every night you stay at our hotel, we’ll plant a tree.

Learn More