The mission of OSI (Open Space Institute) is to partner with conservation organizations in the Northeast to create networks of protected lands that are most likely to preserve plant and animal diversity in a changing climate.
The Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund, launched in 2014, supports the Delaware River Watershed Initiative by offering grants aimed at safeguarding water quality through land acquisition and better land use planning across eight regions of the watershed. The fund operates with a clear goal: to maintain and enhance the purity of water that millions depend on for drinking, recreation, and economic activities. It does this by providing three types of grants, with a particular focus on Transaction Grants. These are designed to facilitate early-stage land conservation projects by covering costs associated with appraisals, environmental assessments, and the drafting of Farm Conservation Plans. Grant recipients are expected to progress these projects towards completion, applying for further capital grant support or securing alternative funding within a specified timeframe. The program also emphasizes a geographic focus, targeting land protection efforts in five designated watershed clusters, and offering up to $25,000 per Transaction Grant, subject to conditions and agreement with Fund staff.