Mission Statement
The purpose of the Miller Fund is to protect and conserve open space and the environment in Chester County. An annual Miller Fund Challenge Grant is available to support a non-profit organization which provides creative solutions to open space preservation and the wise use of environmental resources. The challenge portion of this grant can be met in different ways, such as in-kind donations, volunteer support, and/or receiving new grant dollars. A Miller Fund Grant can be used for the following: the creation of a park, trail, or recreation area; a public or school-based environmental education effort; research and publication about an important environmental issue; volunteer and leadership development; a demonstration project with wide-use application.
Grant Application Guidelines
Download a copy of the Marjorie L. and Arthur P. Miller Grant Guidelines by clicking here.
About the fund
The Millers established their fund at the Community Foundation to award an annual grant in perpetuity which encourages communities and nonprofits to preserve and protect natural resources such as their streams, woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife areas. The focus of the Fund’s grant is to provide nonprofits with the resources to complete a project that is specific, tangible in nature, and that provides “a measurable sense of accomplishment” for their efforts. The Millers believe that seeing a project come to fruition substantiates an organization, its members and volunteers, their hard work, and provides evidence of tangible success.
About the Millers
The Millers are the authors of seven books on environmental and historic topics, and are active on many area non-profit boards and in local community groups. Marge served for many years on the Chester County Parks and Recreation Board, Chester County 2020, and Maysie’s Farm and currently serves on the boards of Green Valleys Watershed Association and the American Red Cross Retiree Association to name a few. Art has served on the board of the Delaware County Press Club and currently serves on the Lower Providence Township Library Board. They have been frequent lecturers at Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) programs, speaking on Trails Across America and the national scenic and historic trails. Marge and Art have been active with the Main Line School Night Hiking Club, leading hikes throughout the Delaware Valley.
Marjorie L. & Arthur P. Miller Fund for Open Space & the Environment
Donor Advised Fund of Chester County Community Foundation
Established October 1995 — $2,500 challenge grants awarded in October-November
2000 Camphill Village-Kimberton Hills
Cleared pollution & debris from overgrown tributary of French Creek & planted native vegetation to establish free-flowing stream
2001 Green Valleys Association
Signage & educational brochure for new Interpretive Trail at Welkinweir
2002 Maysie’s Farm Conservation Center
SAITA (Sustainable Agriculture Intern Training Alliance) – hands-on educational program for interns at eight farms to learn about organic farming and sustainable agriculture
2003 Red Clay Valley Association
Red Clay Greenway– planting, seeding, and mulching of new Red Clay Greenway Trail along East Branch of Red Clay Creek in Kennett Square
2004 Chester County Community Gardens
New plantings & support for neighbors gardening together at Coatesville Habitat for Humanity site
2005 Kennett Township Land Trust
Create wildlife sanctuary for school groups & general public use for scientific research, nature study, and scenic enjoyment.
2006 Maysie’s Farm Conservation Center
Farm & School Partnership with Montgomery School – farm visits, introduce locally grown food into school menus, develop farm & school committee, demonstration school garden
2007 Green Valleys Association
Educational materials (permanent display, power point and website presentations) for global climate change program at Welkinweir
2008 Jenkins Arboretum — $2,000
Support the construction of water recycling component of planned new Educational Facility
Green Valleys Association — $1,000
Support the second Chester County Solar Tour
2009 Community Gardens of Chester County
Exton Elementary School garden project – three raised-bed vegetable gardens, one raised to be accessible for those with physically disabilities and/or autism, includes planning, planting, hands-on gardening, harvesting.
2010 Kennett Township Land Trust
Environmental education programming at new Stateline Woods Nature Preserve for elementary school groups, teachers, decision making officials, general public
2011 Willistown Conservation Trust
Construct and equip a shelter for the Trust’s bird banding station and associated
educational activities
2012 West Pikeland Land Trust
Public ¾ mile trail, nature loop, fishing access to Pickering Creek, trail signage, printed trail map, trail-head information kiosk, plant 200 trees along Pickering Creek as riparian restoration, develop environmental education program for children attending annual 5-week day camp at Pickering Grove
2013 Okehocking Nature Center
Trail marker posts and directional signage for self-guided, interpretive hiking and understanding of unique ecosystems within Okehocking Preserve
2014 Brandywine Conservancy
Design, construction, and installation of interpretive kiosks at two locations (West Bradford Township & South Coatesville) along existing trail entrances to the Brandywine Creek Greenway
2015 French & Pickering Creek Trust
ADA-compliant park and fishing pier on an 8.7 acre French Creek waterfront parcel in East Vincent Township, on the site of former Tri-Town Sportsmen’s Club camp on Exceptional Value French Creek.
2016 The Land Conservancy of Southern Chester County
Educational interpretive signage, tree identification signage, native plantings, & bicycle racks at the new 45-acre Chandler Mill Preserve and Interpretive Center
2017 Chester County Open Lands Conservancy
Remove 1.75 acres of phragmites invasive grass and restore area by planting 750 native tree seedlings — $2,500
Brandywine Conservancy
Construction and installation of interpretive kiosk and canoe/kayak
Storage rack in Kerr Park in Downingtown — $1,000
2018 Green Valleys Watershed Association
Expand Schuylkill Water Steward program by 25 new trained volunteers to become “water quality ambassadors”, who commit to a minimum of 20 hours of outreach service, and increase awareness & action to protect watersheds — $2,500
Signage for Lundale Farm to increase farm visibility and effectively direct guests to appropriate parking, education, and recreation areas — $1,000
($50,000.00 — Grant Total)