The Mountaineer Foundation supports grants for relatively small, short-term projects covering the gamut of environmental issues. Several times each year, the Community Grants Committee reviews and prioritizes grant applications and provides funding based on a number of factors outlined in their public grant guidelines. Funded projects have addressed a wide range of environmental issues, from wildlife crossings to climate protection, and in a wide variety of ways, including education, research, preservation, and more.

The Foundation offers two levels of grants:

Level 1: Community Conservation Education Grants are limited to no more than $5000 and are meant to support modest, short-term projects related to conservation education and consistent with the Foundation's vision and mission. The Level 1 grants will be offered twice during the 2015 calendar year, with grant application deadlines on February 1st and May 1st.
Level 2: The Paul Wiseman Conservation Education Grant will be approved at a $30,000 limit. The program will welcome substantial projects that envision significant environmental education benefits with carefully articulated goals and outcomes. These grants should have a high impact or visibility and could span multiple years. The deadline for this grant application is October 1st.

The Mountaineers Foundation promotes the study of the mountains, forests and streams of the Pacific Northwest, and contributes to preserving its natural beauty and ecological integrity. They fund projects consistent with those purposes.

The Mountaineers Foundation Supports:

• selected projects of 501(c)(3) or of other non-profit organizations and of certain agencies such as libraries and schools;
• projects that preserve and protect environments of the Pacific Northwest through active programs that involve a variety of community organizations
• direct educational programs and materials related to environmental conservation
• lectures, conferences, seminars
• written or audiovisual awareness materials
• curriculum or other instructional materials

The Foundation is Unable to Support:

• for-profit organizations
• regular operating expenses (e.g. overhead, ongoing or administrative salaries)
• projects that include legislative lobbying or support candidates for office
• commercial ventures or feasibility studies that might lead to commercial products or programs
• fund drives
• projects that could harm the environment
• memberships in organizations
• projects that have no start/end dates
• projects that repeat established and/or verified studies