[Chesapeake Bay Foundation](https://www.cbf.org)

December 2025 (Application) | March 2026 (Award notification)

$5,000 per award; awarded annually to a Maryland land trust on behalf of an individual

Recognizes and supports outstanding leadership in Maryland land conservation by individuals affiliated with land trusts.

Only Maryland land trusts with a current Cooperative Agreement with MET are eligible to nominate.

--- ## Description The Aileen Hughes Award is an annual grant designed to honor individuals representing Maryland land trusts who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and collaboration in land conservation. The award, named after a pioneering conservation leader, celebrates excellence in protecting Maryland’s natural and cultural resources. Funding is provided to the land trust in recognition of the individual’s achievements, supporting further conservation efforts within the state. --- ## Due Dates - **Application Deadline (Anticipated):** December 2025 - **Award Notification (Anticipated):** March 2026 (Keep Maryland Beautiful Day) - **Grant Funds Disbursed (Anticipated):** April 2026 - **Final Grant Report Due (Anticipated):** February 2027 *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - **Award Amount:** $5,000 per recipient - **Number of Awards:** One award annually - **Funding is provided to the land trust on behalf of the nominated individual.** - **No matching funds required.** - **No final report required.** --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible Applicants:** - Maryland land trusts in good standing with the State of Maryland. - Land trusts must have a current Cooperative Agreement with the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), dated on or after November 2, 2020. - **Nomination Details:** - Maryland land trusts may nominate an individual from their own or another Maryland land trust. - The nominee must have completed a significant conservation project within the last 2–3 years (project must be paid in full). - Eligible projects include land transactions, community outreach, education, fundraising, stewardship, or legislative achievements. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Applications must be submitted through the [Chesapeake Bay Trust’s online grant portal](https://www.grantrequest.com/SID_1520?SA=SNA&FID=35750). - **Required Materials:** - Details about the nominee and nominating organization. - Explanation of how the nominee meets criteria: leadership, innovation, high performance, and/or partnership. - Upload a screenshot of the organization’s SDAT page as proof of good standing (certificate not required). - Optional supporting documents. - Agreement to program terms and conditions. - (Optional) Demographic and DEIJ information. - **Selection:** Applications are reviewed by a committee of MET staff and board members, with final approval by the MET Board of Trustees. --- ## Additional Information - **No match required.** - **No final report required.** - **Award supports the land trust in recognition of the individual’s work.** - **Winners are announced publicly on Keep Maryland Beautiful Day (March).** - **See past awardees and projects for inspiration and guidance.** --- ## External Links - [Program Overview & Application Portal](https://cbtrust.org/grants/keep-maryland-beautiful/) - [2025 Request for Applications (PDF)](https://cbtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/Aileen-Hughes-Grant-RFA-FY25-2-1.pdf) - [Certificate of Good Standing Tutorial (PDF)](https://cbtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/KMB-GoodStandingTutorial-FY25.pdf) - [Maryland SDAT Entity Search](https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/EntitySearch) - [Awarded Projects List (2025)](https://dnr.maryland.gov/met/Documents/2025_KMB_Award_Winners_Projects_LIST.pdf) - [Impact Map of Funded Projects](https://cbtrust.org/impact-of-our-work/) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role | Email | Phone | |-----------------|--------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------| | Julian Segovia | Program Officer, Outreach & Education | [jsegovia@cbtrust.org](mailto:jsegovia@cbtrust.org) | 410-974-2941 x 140 | | Chesapeake Bay Foundation | General Inquiries | [Contact Form](https://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/contact-us.html) | 888-728-3229 | ---

Aileen Hughes Award Program

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