Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund 2027 Letter of Interest

2027 Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund Review Panel

Letters of Intent Evaluation Criteria

For the LOIs, we have established a four-point system, as described in the RFA:

1 – Fails to meet program goals and priorities and/or does not contain one or more required elements – non-qualifying application.   

2 – Adequately meets program goals and priorities but needs strengthening – qualifying application. 

3 – Meets program goals and priorities well – qualifying application. 

4 – Strongly meets program goals and priorities – outstanding project potential. 

2027 Review Framework  

LOIs and Full Proposals will be reviewed utilizing six major criteria: (Refer to scoring and evaluation documents in the additional resources section of the LISCIF27 RFA Page: https://estuaries.org/liscif/)

1. Potential Impact: Alignment with LISCIF priorities and the potential of the proposal to have a significant positive impact on the Long Island Sound’s coastal and watershed ecosystems, including water quality, either directly (for example, through on-the-ground improvements) or indirectly (for example, through plans or studies that enable subsequent action).  

2. Applicant & Team Capability: The potential of the applicant to successfully complete the project, as indicated by technical and administrative capacity, experience and past performance of the applicant, and the quality and mix of the project partnership. Priority will be given to projects that establish or strengthen cross-cutting or regional partnerships among multiple organizations.

3. Capacity-Building: The potential of the proposal to significantly advance regional knowledge and practice to restore, protect, and understand Long Island Sound’s coastal ecosystems, by building either technical or institutional capacity. Projects that develop or build upon watershed plans or other comprehensive approaches are encouraged.  

4. Cost Effectiveness: Cost-effectiveness of the proposal relative to expected results; fiscal performance and capacity of the applicant; quality of budget proposal, with sufficient detail, solid cost justification, and realistic cost expectations.  

5. Mix of Awards: RAE will select among qualified applicants to achieve the desired outcomes of the LISCIF program. For example, RAE will target geographic distribution of current LISCIF investments to ensure representation of communities across the Long Island Sound region and that LISCIF builds capacity across the region. As part of achieving region-wide impact, RAE will continue to develop a broad portfolio of LISCIF projects by funding various kinds of organizations and types of projects, including organizations, areas, and project types that have not been funded in previous rounds. RAE intends to allocate 2027 grant funding approximately equally between Connecticut and New York, and will balance considerations of geographic diversity, diversity of technical approaches, balance of CCMP goals, and the quality of proposals received in selecting proposals for funding. 

LISCIF’s funding priorities are aligned with the CCMP themes and Actions:  

For 2027, LISCIF’s main funding themes are:   

• Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds
• Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife 
• Sustainable and Resilient Communities  
• Informed and Engaged Public 

LISCIF aims to build capacity for organizations located in communities affected by environmental and human health risks. The Fund seeks to provide technical assistance for communities and support proposals which ultimately improve access to the Long Island Sound, while reducing overall environmental health risks. Eligible projects and activities will be community-driven and address one of the funding priorities below:  

Funding is available for:  

• Projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention or reduction.  

• Restoring habitat within the Important Coastal Habitat Types targeted by LIS Partnership.

• Projects that foster a diverse balance and abundant populations of fish, birds, and wildlife

• Public engagement, knowledge, and stewardship. 

• Projects that enhance community resilience and sustainability.  

• Planning and design that set-the-stage for implementation of water quality projects,

eligible habitat restoration projects, and resilience projects.  

• Community-based science projects. 

• Data management and integration projects.  

• Other similar activities that the applicant proposes, and EPA approves, that are consistent with Section 119 of the Clean Water Act. 

Each successful LOI must demonstrate how the proposal will affect one or more of these priorities.  

We have established the following guidelines to provide some additional structure to decision making: