The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program uses words and phrases that may be unfamiliar to people who are new to state grants or environmental and natural resource projects.
This glossary provides plain-language explanations of terms used in Community Grant Program information, applications, and grant administration.
Terms are organized alphabetically to help applicants, grantees, and community partners find information and better understand program requirements.
Last updated: November 5, 2026
How to use this glossary
Browse the terms below to find definitions and explanations.
The glossary is a living resource. The Community Grant Program will review, clarify, and expand definitions as new questions arise, additional guidance becomes available, and the program develops.
Some terms have specific meanings under Minnesota law, grant policies, the current Request for Proposals (RFP), or an executed grant agreement.
The glossary is intended to explain these terms in plain language. It does not establish or change eligibility requirements, application instructions, evaluation criteria, deadlines, or other program rules.
For each funding opportunity, applicants should review the current RFP, applicable appendices, and any formal amendments before preparing or submitting an application. These documents establish the official requirements for that funding opportunity.
Definitions may be clarified or updated to improve understanding. Any change to a substantive competitive requirement must follow the formal amendment process established in the RFP.
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A
Adversely impacted community
A community experiencing environmental degradation or related health concerns. Projects applying under the adversely impacted communities activity area must meet the requirements in Appendix A of FY2027 RFP 01. Being located in an adversely impacted community does not automatically make a project eligible under this activity area.
Allowable cost
A project expense that may be paid with grant funds under the applicable requirements. An expense must meet the RFP, approved budget, grant agreement, and other applicable requirements to be allowable.
Applicant
The organization or governmental entity requesting funding through a grant application. For FY2027 RFP 01, each Concept Note must identify an eligible legal applicant.
Application deadline
The date and time by which an application must be submitted through the authorized application system. For FY2027 RFP 01, Stage 1 Concept Notes are due January 7, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Central.
Application system
The online platform used to submit grant applications. The Community Grant Program uses Foundant for FY2027 RFP 01. Applicants must submit through the authorized system unless the DNR formally approves another submission method.
C
Closeout
The process of completing the final administrative, financial, and reporting requirements of a grant. Closeout takes place after project implementation and must follow the grant agreement and applicable requirements.
Community engagement
Activities through which a project team communicates with, listens to, or works with people and communities connected to a proposed project. Community engagement may help identify environmental and natural resource needs, develop project ideas, and establish partnerships. The specific engagement requirements for a funded project depend on the RFP and approved project.
Competitive review
The process of evaluating eligible applications using published criteria to determine which applications may advance or receive funding. FY2027 RFP 01 uses competitive reviews at both Stage 1 and Stage 2.
Concept Note
A shorter application submitted during Stage 1 of the Community Grant Program’s competitive application process. A Concept Note allows applicants to explain their project ideas without preparing a complete Full Application.
Contingent selection
A preliminary funding selection that depends on the applicant completing required preaward and grant-development steps. Contingent selection is not an executed grant agreement and does not authorize grant-funded work to begin.
D
Deliverable
A specific product, service, activity, or other item that a grant-funded project is expected to complete or provide. Deliverables are generally identified in an approved project work plan or grant agreement.
E
Eligible activity area
One of the five categories of environmental and natural resource activities that may receive funding through the Community Grant Program. Each activity area has specific requirements described in an appendix to FY2027 RFP 01.
Eligible legal applicant
An organization or governmental entity that meets the requirements to apply for Community Grant Program funding and, if selected, can enter into a grant agreement with the DNR and accept legal and financial responsibility for the grant.
Eligible legal applicants may include nonprofit organizations, Tribal Nations and eligible Tribal governmental entities, and eligible local or regional governmental entities.
The eligible legal applicant may also be the substantive project lead. In that situation, the same organization develops the project, applies for funding, and plans to manage and carry out the work.
Alternatively, an eligible legal applicant may apply for a project developed and led by another organization or community group.
Example 1: The same organization performs both roles
A nonprofit organization identifies a need to restore wildlife habitat, develops a restoration project, applies for Community Grant Program funding, and plans to manage and implement the project activities.
The nonprofit is both the eligible legal applicant and the substantive project lead.
Example 2: Different participants perform the roles
A neighborhood group develops a project to restore a local natural area and plans to coordinate project activities. The group is not eligible to apply directly, so an eligible nonprofit organization agrees to submit the application and assume legal and financial responsibility for the grant.
The nonprofit is the eligible legal applicant, while the neighborhood group is the substantive project lead.
Important: The eligible legal applicant must be identified in the Stage 1 Concept Note and remains the applicant throughout the competitive process. If selected for funding, the organization or governmental entity becomes the grantee after completing applicable preaward requirements and executing a grant agreement.
The eligible legal applicant remains responsible for meeting the requirements of the grant agreement, even when another participant leads or manages project activities.
Related term: Substantive project lead
RFP reference: FY2027 RFP 01, Sections 7.1–7.3 and 8.1; Appendix F, Question F4-02.
Eligibility screening
The process of checking whether an application meets the published applicant and project eligibility requirements before competitive scoring. An application may be eligible without being selected to advance or receive funding.
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF)
A constitutionally established Minnesota fund supporting the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s environment and natural resources. The Community Grant Program is supported through appropriations from the ENRTF.
F
Feasibility
Whether a proposed project can realistically be carried out. Feasibility may involve project timing, access to a site, necessary permissions, technical requirements, partnerships, and other factors affecting implementation.
Formal amendment
An officially issued change to a published Request for Proposals. Material changes to eligibility, scoring, deadlines, or other substantive competitive requirements must be made through the applicable formal amendment process.
Full Application
The more detailed application submitted during Stage 2 by applicants invited to continue after Stage 1. A Full Application includes additional information about project design, implementation, budget, results, and other requirements.
Funding round
A specific opportunity to apply for grant funding under a published set of requirements and deadlines. FY2027 RFP 01: Community Impact Funding Round is the Community Grant Program’s first funding round.
G
Grant agreement
A legally binding agreement between the granting agency and the grantee establishing the terms and conditions of a grant. It identifies requirements such as the approved work, budget, grant period, payment arrangements, reporting, monitoring, and closeout.
Grantee
An organization or governmental entity that receives a grant through an executed grant agreement. A selected applicant does not become authorized to begin grant-funded work merely because it has been notified of a funding decision.
M
Matching funds
Money or other qualifying contributions from sources other than the grant that a funding opportunity may require an applicant to provide. Matching funds are not required for FY2027 RFP 01.
Monitoring
The process by which the DNR reviews a grant-funded project’s implementation and compliance with grant requirements. Monitoring may include reviewing progress reports, financial records, project activities, performance information, and other required documentation.
O
Outcome
A change or benefit that a project is intended to achieve. For example, a project may seek to improve habitat condition, increase environmental knowledge, or reduce a particular environmental problem. An outcome is different from simply completing an activity.
P
Preaward review
The review of applicable requirements and risks before a grant agreement is executed. Depending on the grant and applicant, preaward review may include financial, organizational, administrative, legal, and project-specific considerations.
Primary eligible activity area
The eligible activity area that best describes the main purpose of the work for which an applicant is requesting funding. A project may involve more than one activity area, but the applicant must select one primary area for its Stage 1 Concept Note.
Project activities
The actions or work a project proposes to carry out using grant funding. Activities should connect to the project’s purpose and intended environmental or natural resource benefits.
Project partner
An organization, community group, governmental entity, or other participant that contributes to a proposed project. A project partner is not necessarily the eligible legal applicant or the organization responsible for the grant agreement.
R
Reimbursement
A payment method in which a grantee incurs and documents allowable project costs before requesting payment from the granting agency. Reimbursement is the standard payment method for FY2027 RFP 01, subject to any other payment arrangements authorized under the RFP and grant agreement.
Request for Proposals (RFP)
The official document describing a funding opportunity. An RFP establishes requirements such as applicant and project eligibility, allowable activities, application instructions, evaluation criteria, funding conditions, and deadlines.
Results
The changes, benefits, or accomplishments a project expects to produce. Applicants should explain the results they expect from their proposed project and how those results relate to the identified environmental or natural resource need.
S
Scoring criteria
The published standards used to evaluate eligible applications during competitive review. FY2027 RFP 01 establishes separate scoring criteria for Stage 1 Concept Notes and Stage 2 Full Applications.
Stage 1
The first competitive application stage. Applicants submit a shorter Concept Note. Eligible Concept Notes are scored and considered for advancement under the published RFP requirements.
Stage 2
The second competitive application stage. Only applicants invited to continue after Stage 1 may submit a Stage 2 Full Application. Stage 2 is a separate competitive review. Advancing from Stage 1 does not guarantee funding.
Substantive Project Lead
The person, group, or organization principally responsible for the project idea, relevant community or place-based relationships, and the proposed environmental or natural resource work.
The substantive project lead generally provides leadership for the project and may coordinate or manage its implementation, including organizing activities, working with project partners, and helping ensure that the proposed work is carried out.
The substantive project lead may be the same organization as the eligible legal applicant, or the roles may be held by different participants.
The substantive project lead does not necessarily perform every project activity personally. Other organizations, contractors, or partners may help carry out the work.
Example 1: The same organization performs both roles
A nonprofit organization identifies a water-quality problem, develops a project to address it, submits the grant application, and plans to manage and carry out the activities.
The nonprofit is both the substantive project lead and the eligible legal applicant.
Example 2: Different participants perform the roles
A community group identifies a need to restore a neighborhood lake, develops the project idea, engages local residents, and plans to coordinate the restoration activities.
An eligible nonprofit organization agrees to apply for the grant and accept legal and financial responsibility.
The community group is the substantive project lead, while the nonprofit is the eligible legal applicant.
Important: Each Stage 1 Concept Note must identify one substantive project lead.
For FY2027 RFP 01, a substantive project lead may submit no more than two distinct Stage 1 Concept Notes, and only one Concept Note associated with that lead may advance to Stage 2.
These limits apply even if different eligible legal applicants are involved.
The substantive project lead is not automatically the party legally responsible for the grant agreement. That responsibility belongs to the eligible legal applicant, which becomes the grantee following successful preaward review and execution of the grant agreement.
Related term: Eligible legal applicant
RFP reference: FY2027 RFP 01, Sections 8.1, 8.2, and 9.1–9.2; Appendix F, Questions F4-04 through F4-06.
Official requirements and additional assistance
This glossary is an informational resource.
For the complete requirements of FY2027 RFP 01, review the official funding opportunity, applicable appendices, and any formal amendments.
Looking for answers to common questions? Visit the Funding Opportunities