Dog Parks: The Nutro Company’s ROOM TO RUN Dog Park Appreciation Project is designed to enhance public dog parks and off-leash areas across the United States. In 2013, 30 grants of $2,000 each will be awarded to existing public nonprofit dog parks (run by townships, governments, or nonprofit organizations) to help fund enhancement efforts. Community members are encouraged to fill out a grant application to request support for their local dog parks by August 31, 2013; grant money will be provided directly to selected parks through September 2013. Visit the project’s website to review the application guidelines and instructions.

Conservation Grant: The Wallace Genetic Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations nationwide that believe in the long-term conservation of the soil and of the environment, rather than exploitation of natural resources for temporary profits. Specific areas of interest include the following: sustainable agriculture, protection of farmland, conservation of natural resources, biodiversity protection, reduction of environmental toxins, and global climate issues. Grants generally range from $25,000 to $40,000. Requests may be submitted throughout the year. Application guidelines and forms are available on the Foundation’s website.

One of the Merck Family Fund’s goals is to restore and protect the natural environment and ensure a healthy planet for generations to come. The Fund provides grants to nonprofit organizations that address one of the following four priority areas: The Promoting Energy Efficiency program supports state and regional policies in the Northeast and Southeast that provide incentives and subsidies for energy efficiency implementation. The Conserving Ecologically Valuable Land program provides grants for land conservation projects in the Southeastern U.S. The Urban Farming and Youth Leadership program supports initiatives in low-income urban areas in the Northeast that help young people to create urban farms and local markets. The Making Paper Production Sustainable program seeks to increase the rates of recycled paper in large paper sectors, reduce sourcing from endangered forests, and maximize clean production nationwide. Letters of inquiry may be submitted throughout the year. The upcoming deadline for invited proposals is August 1, 2013. Visit the Fund’s website to learn more about the program areas.