All proposed projects must meet certain guidelines to be eligible for funding. The ultimate criterion used to select projects is the anticipated benefit to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Projects must identify a significant, tangible ecological outcome and a pragmatic plan to achieve it. Projects must also lead to benefits for the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. The Fund prefers to support projects that take concrete actions to achieve basin-wide ecological results. The search image for candidate strategies includes opportunities that:

• Can reframe a key issue or behavior,
• Are actionable,
• Have a path to scale,
• Can harness big changes underway in society, the economics of the activity, or the underlying science involved. 

Support for activities such as conferences, environmental education, and basic scientific or policy research will be considered for support only when they are part of a broader, regional action strategy that is designed to impact the entire ecosystem. 

Projects must supplement existing efforts to protect and restore the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Fund will not support projects that duplicate ongoing initiatives or replace government funds. 

The Fund also considers the following principles when evaluating requests for support:  

• Projects should be driven by environmental results, take concrete actions and have system-wide impact.   
• Projects should be collaborative in nature and create partnerships that reflect the range of interests in the Great Lakes basin.   
• Projects should anticipate and prevent impacts on the health of the ecosystem, rather than attempt to correct environmental problems only after they have occurred.  
• Projects should develop solutions that improve both the environmental and economic health of the basin ecosystem. The Fund is interested in supporting efforts that promote both environmental and economic sustainability.   
• Projects should show that the proposed work has clear public benefit and that any related financial benefits will accrue to the public good.  
• Projects must be based on sound science, should utilize the results of existing research, and apply the skills of the basin's scientific community. Just as the Fund will not support basic research that is not a part of an action strategy, the Fund will not support actions that are not based in rigorous, scientific analysis.   

The Fund does not provide general operating support and does not support lobbying or litigation. Government agencies must show that Fund support is not being used to replace or duplicate public funds.  

The Great Lakes Protection Fund can support a wide variety of applicants. Non-profit organizations (including environmental organizations, trade associations, and universities), for-profit businesses, government agencies, and individuals are eligible for Fund support. Successful applicants must maintain open access to certain project data, records, and information.   

Refer also to our Frequently Asked Questions.