1) What exactly do you mean by engaging audiences?
TogetherGreen is all about people taking action to improve their communities and protect the environment. When thinking about your project, identify your target audiences and think about what you want them to know, feel, and do. With all audiences – from homeowners and politicians to farmers and consumers – it is important to identify the specific actions and behaviors that will help achieve your conservation targets. It might be helpful to think about the kinds of actions that are possible, such as:

• Taking consumer actions that will help the environment
• Educating yourself and others about the issues and how to take conservation action
• Providing financial support to conservation
• Taking direct environmental action, such as cleaning up a site, restoring habitat, improving water quality, or committing to drive less
• Engaging in education and public policy work. (As stated earlier, funds for this program can not be used for lobbying or electioneering; however, funds can be used to help people understand how they can get involved in effecting civic change.)

2) Can the funds be used to conduct conservation monitoring activities such as species census programs that do not achieve immediate conservation results but help monitor the conservation value of existing habitats?
Monitoring activities, linked to specific conservation goals, are fine, especially if they lead to the long-term protection of species and habitats. To be competitive, monitoring activities should involve diverse communities, engage large numbers of participants, or identify specific conservation targets. Projects funded in the past have combined monitoring activities with on-the-ground action, such as beach clean-ups or invasive species removal.

3) Will I be allowed to change my conservation goals and objectives after my proposal is submitted?
Yes. Although we encourage applicants to think through their goals and objectives, we understand that situations change and opportunities arise and we encourage grantees to perform adaptive management with their projects.

4) I’d like to apply for an Innovation Grant but I'm not sure I can commit to the June 26-29 grantee workshop. Can I still apply?
The grantee workshop is important and it’s also a great opportunity for high quality, free professional development. If you cannot attend, another key member of your team must attend the training.

5) What if my project is only meant to be a one-year project and is not meant to be sustainable?
Although we encourage sustainability, we realize that not all projects will meet this criterion. If your project meets the other criteria, your application will be competitive.

6) Can my organization apply for more than one grant at a time?
Yes. Each application will be reviewed independently based on the same criteria outlined in the Applications Guidelines. In each case, remember that you must have a partner outside the Audubon network (or inside the network if your organization is not part of Audubon) to be eligible.

7) Can my organization apply for a multi-year grant? Or can we receive more than one grant?
Projects should be completed within the one-year term of the grant, by June 2013. If you have already received an Innovation Grant, you may apply for a second year of funding, as long as additional funding will build on the success of the first year’s grant, reach a new audience, innovate, and achieve new conservation results. (One of the goals of the Innovation Grants program is to encourage as many new people as possible to take part in conservation projects.) Reviewers will also be looking to see whether you are innovating based on past project challenges and accomplishments. Only a limited number of projects will receive a second grant, and we are unable to award a third year of funding. Applicants are encouraged to seek matching funds to leverage TogetherGreen funding.

8) What do you mean by the Audubon network and can my organization apply if it's not part of the network?
The Audubon network includes certified Chapters, state and national programs, and Audubon Centers, as well as independent Audubon groups. If your organization is not part of the network, we encourage you to approach an Audubon state office, Center, or Chapter to explore a possible collaboration. (Find an Audubon group near you here.) If you can't find a group near you but still think your project is a great fit with the Innovation Grant guidelines, your organization may apply with partners of its own.

Individuals from outside of Audubon are also eligible to apply for the Conservation Leadership Program. See Fellows pages for more details.

9) Can the grant funds be used to buy land or purchase conservation easements on property?
No. Grant funds may not be used to buy land or purchase conservation easements on property. See Grant Restrictions (in the Application Guidelines section) for more details on funding restrictions.

10) Will we discuss evaluation strategies at the training session?
Yes. The external evaluation team will conduct sessions at the training focused on how to evaluate projects and the specific metrics that Audubon will be rolling up to assess the program’s success.

11) Are we required to fill out a logic model?
No, you do not need to fill out a logic model for your project during the application process. However, we believe the thinking process of doing a logic model will help you with the application process. We encourage you to read the W. K. Kellogg Foundation’s Logic Model Development Guide to find out how to create logic models for your project.