Parties eligible to receive grant application technical assistance include Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Tribes, Tribal-led organizations, and small non-profit 501(c)3 organizations that work locally in the Bay Area and Delta with underserved communities in the environmental and/or climate space. We define small non-profits as organizations with an operating budget of less than $3 million but will consider rare exceptions for organizations that can make their case for limited capacity in the Intake Form (see Process). Local governments, special districts, and lobbying/advocacy organizations (501c4s) are not eligible to participate in this program.  

The Estuary Partnership can provide up to 20h of grant support during the application stage. The services the Estuary Partnership can provide include but are not limited to the following:  

• Review and analysis of identified funding opportunities 

• Identify and outline necessary application components to ensure successful submittal  

• Be a thought partner in project conceptualization, development, or strategic visioning 

• Develop workplans and schedules 

• Create a budget 

• Assist with writing and reviewing narrative sections  

• Research and limited GIS support 

• Grant administration planning during application stage 

The following are the steps for applying for the Technical Assistance Program:  

Intake

1. Applicant fills out the Intake Form.  
2. Ideally, Intake Forms will be filled out at least one month prior to the deadline for grant proposals (see Process), and longer for more involved assistance.  
3. The Estuary Partnership reviews Intake Form for eligibility and adherence to the conditions noted below (“Conditions”). 
4. Based on applicant eligibility, staff capacity, and prioritization of TA requests (see Condition 6), the Estuary Partnership may schedule an initial meeting (“Preliminary Meeting”) with the Applicant to develop a plan for how best to provide support. 

Preliminary Meeting & Scoping Services

1. Applicant attends Preliminary Meeting 
2. During the Preliminary Meeting, the Estuary Partnership and the TA Applicant will discuss what assistance is needed, what stage of the solicitation process an Applicant is in (if applicable), the Applicant’s timeline, and other details. 
3. After the Preliminary meeting, Estuary Partnership staff will assess the needs and scope of work and outline an agreement that proposes the hours (up to 20) and types of services available to support the Applicant. 

Sign Agreement

1. Applicant reviews the written agreement (“Agreement”).  
2. This Agreement will detail the hours and services available to the Applicant.  
3. The conditions of this agreement can be reviewed in the Conditions section below. 
4. Both parties must approve the Agreement to move forward with TA.  
5. When the Agreement is in place, the Applicant will become a Participant in the TA program and parties will move forward with the first TA session. 

Technical Assistance

1. Participant attends kick-off session. 
2. The Estuary Partnership and the Participant will establish a schedule for TA and regular check-ins. 
3. The Estuary Partnership and the Participant will develop a timeline/roadmap with defined milestones and feedback points. 
4. Participant attends ongoing sessions 
5. The Estuary Partnership will provide the support detailed in the Agreement. 
6. The Estuary Partnership will continue to check in to ensure the TA Participant’s needs are being met and that the parties have aligned expectations.  
7. Conclusion of TA Support 
8. The Estuary Partnership cannot provide post-award support. Participants should incorporate post-award administration planning into their grant application process.  

Listed here are the expectations and limitations of the Agreement between the Estuary Partnership and the TA Participant to participate in the program. 

1. TA Participants must be eligible to participate in this program (see Eligibility). 
2. The proposed project must have a clear connection to the goals, objectives, actions, or tasks of the Estuary Blueprint. 
3. The Estuary Partnership cannot provide TA for grant applications for San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority (SFBRA) funding. Interested applicants for Restoration Authority Measure AA funding should see SFBRA’s Community Grants for support.  
4. The Estuary Partnership is prohibited by Clean Water Act section 320 from conducting any political advocacy or action; therefore, TA Participant projects for which the Estuary Partnership provides assistance must not support political advocacy or action. 
5. TA Participants’ intellectual property is confidential within the TA Program, but communications with the Estuary Partnership are subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Public Records Act (PRA) requests. The Estuary Partnership will not share, retain, or otherwise use Participants’ intellectual property or the information shared in the grant assistance process outside of responding to mandatory FOIA/PRA requests. If FOIA/PRA requests are received, the Estuary Partnership will work with the ABAG/MTC legal team to redact intellectual property or information that is considered sensitive.  
6. Though the Estuary Partnership intends to assist as many Participants as possible, staff capacity to provide TA is limited. If prioritization of TA requests is necessary due to limited staff capacity, requests will be prioritized based on alignment with the Estuary Blueprint, with preference given to projects that advance nature-based solutions and/or provide service to vulnerable, underserved, and marginalized communities and Tribes. SFEP will also consider submittal timelines, Participant capacity, SFEP staff capacity, and the order in which requests are received. 
7. Participants will be offered a set number of hours for work with Estuary Partnership staff (up to 20 hours) depending on Participant need and staff capacity as determined based on the introductory meeting and outlined in the agreement. These hours include both face-to-face time between the Participant and the Estuary Partnership and all prep-work and communications required by Estuary Partnership staff, excluding meetings and communications which occur prior to signing the TA Agreement.  
8. The Estuary Partnership may support other Participants and/or may be a competitor in the same grant. The Estuary Partnership will disclose if another participant and/or if the Estuary Partnership itself is applying for the same grant but cannot provide any additional details. Partnership Staff are committed to providing the highest level of technical assistance possible to all Participants. 
9. Participants will be required to indemnify and waive any claims it may have against the Estuary Partnership related to receiving the grant and participating in the program. 
10. The Estuary Partnership cannot guarantee that the TA Participant will receive any amount of funding.  

Applicants must have a funding opportunity identified to be eligible for TA. Explore funding opportunities through suggested databases below:

Coastal Quest Funding Database

San Francisco Bay Joint Venture Funding Opportunities