WES LSP Practice Grant

Grant Program Overview

The Wesley E. Stimpson (WES) LSP Practice Grant honors the exemplary leadership, dedication, and service of Wesley E. Stimpson, PE, LSP to the LSP profession and LSPA. The purpose of this grant is to advance the professional practice of LSPs by supporting projects that generate practical, shareable resources for the LSPA membership and broader community involved in hazardous waste site cleanup under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan.

Grants may be awarded up to $7500 per award based on scope of work, level of effort, and available funding.

Application Timeline

Grant Application Opens: March 31, 2026
Grant Applications Due: July 1, 2026
Grants Announced: August 31, 2026
Grant Funding Awarded: December 31, 2026
Projects Completed/Grant Funding Used: December 31, 2027

Applications are reviewed by the LSPA WES LSP Practice Grant Review Committee.

Click here to apply for a 2026-2027 WES LSP Practice Grant
(Please review the full eligibility and application requirements on this page before applying.)

Grant Criteria

Applicant Eligibility: Applications can be submitted by individuals or teams. Regardless, applicants must:

Be a Full or Associate LSPA member (or at least one member of a project team must be a member).
Commit to providing in-kind contributions (e.g., time, services, or materials) of at least comparable value to the grant amount requested.

The LSPA encourages student-led projects that are sponsored by an LSPA member who commits to collaborating with the student.

Project Eligibility: Eligible projects must:

Advance the state of the practice of rendering LSP Opinions or the professionalism of LSPs participating in the MCP program; address a real, timely issue facing LSPs; and/or educate the public as to the contributions made by practicing LSPs about emerging technical issues, regulatory interpretation or implementation, or best practices or lessons learned in site cleanup.
Require effort beyond that which typically occurs from regular LSPA Committee or Board volunteer work.
Include specific, measurable project goals and timelines.
Result in a clearly defined, shareable product.
Be completed within the stated timeframe (by December 31, 2027). Longer projects will be considered on a case-by case basis.

Examples of Eligible Projects

The WES LSP Practice Grant supports projects that result in a tangible, shareable project, including, but not limited to:

Articles, white papers, or technical guidance documents
Research summaries or data analyses
Course presentations (live or on-demand)
Membership Meeting presentations
Educational resources

A list of past projects can be accessed here.

The WES LSP Practice Grant does not fund projects that are:

Routine work products associated with existing LSPA committee or Board service
Normal professional practice or client work
Marketing or business development
Firm-specific or proprietary research
Academic research that lacks a clear, practical application for LSP practice
Activities without a defined, shareable final product
Open-ended projects with no clear scope, timeline, or deliverables

In addition, grant funds cannot be used for overhead expenses, staff salaries, and/or benefits (this does not include paying an intern / volunteer to assist with work); volunteer transportation expenses (i.e., fuel, car or bus rental, etc.); food, gifts, or parties for staff or volunteers; fundraising activities; litigation; lobbying; and/or supplies used for activities outside LSPA’s focus areas.

Application Requirements

Applications must include:

Applicant Information: Applicant information and confirmation of LSPA membership status.
Project Description: Clear statement of the problem or opportunity being addressed, an explanation of how the project advances LSP professional practice, and a description of the final product(s).
Scope of Work & Timeline: Key tasks and milestones.
Budget & Funding Request: Total amount requested (up to $7500), description of how grant funds will be used, and description of in-kind contributions provided by the applicant(s).
Measurable Outcomes: Specific, measurable goals, and a description of how success will be evaluated.
Agreement of Grant Program terms and conditions: See below.

Grant Terms and Conditions

Applicants must agree to the following terms and conditions:

Applications must be submitted by the deadline date. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Grant awards are subject to execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between the LSPA and the Grantee, documenting approved use of funds, goals, and conditions.
Grant funds cannot be used for overhead expenses, staff salaries, and benefits; volunteer transportation expenses (i.e., fuel, car or bus rental, etc.); food, gifts, or parties for staff or volunteers; fundraising activities; litigation; lobbying; and/or supplies used for activities outside LSPA’s focus areas.
The Grantee grants the LSPA permission to share and distribute the project deliverables with LSPA members, with appropriate credit given.
Grant funds will be distributed by the LSPA to the lead Grantee named in the application.
A Grantee liaison must be designated to communicate project progress with the LSPA.
Grant-funded projects must be completed by December 31, 2027.
The LSPA reserves the right to award more than one grant per grant cycle, partially fund a proposal, or make no awards under this program.
The LSPA may publicize grant awards through its website, social media channels, marketing emails, and related materials.