Rivers Community Action Mini-Grant Program

The West Virginia Rivers Community Action Mini-Grant Program, operated by the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, aims to support grassroots advocacy and community-led initiatives focused on environmental justice and clean water across West Virginia. Since its inception in 2019, this program has awarded over $78,000 to fund 46 projects aimed at improving water quality, raising awareness, and promoting civic engagement around environmental challenges in the state. This initiative is backed by several philanthropic organizations, including The Cloud Mountain Foundation, The Justice and Peace Fund, The Heinz Foundation, Erol Foundation, and Beyond Petrochemicals, with additional support from individual donors. The mini-grant program prioritizes community-based projects that aim to influence policy, raise public awareness, and build collective power around environmental and health-related concerns. Typical funded efforts include marches, educational programs, advocacy campaigns, environmental monitoring, and community clean-ups. Examples of past grants include PFAS testing, climate education, mural painting, policy summits, and pipeline resistance advocacy. Funding also supports projects led by systemically underrepresented communities and collaborative efforts involving multiple groups or organizations. Eligibility for funding is limited to organizations, not individuals, and includes grassroots groups with a preference for those operating in directly impacted West Virginia communities. Applicants must be able to present a clear advocacy component in their proposal. Groups with annual budgets under $50,000 are preferred, although organizations with budgets between $75,000 and $100,000 may also be considered. Applications lacking essential information, or those that request support for personal expenses, general operations, political campaigns, private enterprise, or legal fees, will not be considered. Applications are reviewed five times a year, with proposals due in January, March, June, August, and October. For 2025, the next submission deadline is June 15, with decisions made by June 30. All grant recipients are required to submit a W-9 form and an MOU before funds are released, and must complete a final report within 30 days of project completion. The reporting process is designed to be straightforward, focusing on the project’s outcomes, challenges, and fund utilization. WV Rivers also provides additional support to grantees through peer learning cohorts, technical and scientific guidance, assistance with community organizing and advocacy planning, and communication resources. This robust support system is designed to enhance the success of funded projects and strengthen environmental leadership across the state. For rapid response projects or urgent funding needs, WV Rivers encourages direct contact to explore expedited support. For assistance with the application process or further information, applicants are encouraged to contact the Community Engagement Team via email at minigrant@wvrivers.org or by phone at 304-637-7201.