AIMing for better wildfire outcomes before, during, and after a fire.
Grant Overview
Coalitions and Collaboratives Inc. (COCO), a Colorado-based nonprofit, started the Action, Implementation and Mitigation (AIM) Program to accelerate fire adaptation concepts and reduce the risk from wildfire across the U.S. by increasing capacity and on-the-ground work. Since inception in 2018, we have supported over 90 organizations. COCO hopes to increase community resilience, restore fire-adapted ecosystems and create safer conditions for residents and firefighters. This funding opportunity is open to organizations working to advance wildfire risk reduction.
The AIM grant is available for a wide variety of capacity-building activities, including personnel, planning efforts, and wildfire risk reduction work on non-federal lands.
COCO funds organizations across the country with a focus on programs and projects that increase communities’ ability to overcome barriers to successful community wildfire mitigation, multiply the efforts, achieve quantifiable outcomes, support equitable and inclusive community wildfire mitigation programs across the fence, and support place-based solutions.
The AIM grant is available for a wide variety of capacity-building activities, including personnel, planning efforts, and wildfire risk reduction work on non-federal lands.
COCO funds organizations across the country with a focus on programs and projects that increase communities’ ability to overcome barriers to successful community wildfire mitigation, multiply the efforts, achieve quantifiable outcomes, support equitable and inclusive community wildfire mitigation programs across the fence, and support place-based solutions.
COCO will be looking to fund a variety of different types of projects across the country. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal fits into the larger community wildfire strategy, including coordination with federal partners on nearby public lands. Applicants must contribute a 100% match (cash or in-kind match is eligible). Award funding may range from $10,000 – $75,000. Grants are contracted for a period of one year.
Scroll down to see eligibility requirements.
Who Is Eligible?
The organization must have a nonprofit (501c3) status or have a nonprofit or local government fiscal sponsor that may include:
- Conservation District
- Regional and local collaborative efforts
- Fire Safe Councils and/or Wildfire Councils
- Non-profit groups that promote hazardous forest fuel reduction treatment projects in partnership with local, state or private entities
- Fire departments
- Tribal authorities
- City or county government
Additional eligibility qualifications:
- Communities at high risk of wildfire in proximity to public lands
- Organizations or community groups currently conducting or planning pre-fire mitigation activities aimed at protecting their communities, watersheds, and ecosystems
- Groups seeking funding and/or mentorship to increase local capacity and conduct pre-fire mitigation/risk reduction activities
- Organizations willing to collaboratively work with COCO staff to develop their mitigation projects and proposal for funding
- Organizations willing to share their lessons, challenges, and successes with national, state, and/or local Fire Adapted Communities Networks
- Organizations that can provide match in the form of cash or in-kind services (including volunteer hours)
- Organizations must comply with all grant reporting requirements and meet project completion milestones and deadlines
Homeowner and Property Owner Associations (HOA/POA), Metro Districts, and other similar homeowner groups are not eligible to apply.
If you are a previously funded AIM grantee, please click HERE to view funding eligibility.
How to Apply
COCO will release the Request for Concept Papers for Spring 2023 funding on January 24, 2023. The AIM team will be reviewing Concept Papers in March and inviting organizations to the final application due in April. To review instructions and additional information, please see the links below. Please sign up for COCO’s newsletter below to be notified of future funding opportunities.
All applicants can expect to be notified of their project selection or non-selection no later than March 2023. Please see the ‘Funding Application Timeline’ below for important dates.
SPRING 2023 REQUEST FOR FUNDING HAS CLOSED.
The Spring 2023 AIM Grant Informational, Question, and Answer Webinar was hosted on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Click here to register your information and view the webinar recording. To be notified of the upcoming funding opportunity, as well as stay up-to-date on other COCO programs, please subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
Contracts are expected to be finalized in May 2023 and all organizations can expect to begin project spending upon contract completion.
Please see more information or examples of strategic value to aid in the completion of your application:
AIM Budget and Match Examples
Examples of Strategic Value
AIM Grant FAQs
Previous Webinar Q&A
Funding Application Timeline
The AIM Program is co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
