Grow Grants

The Grow Grants program offered by the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund supports established grassroots groups in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It aims to help these community-rooted organizations sustain and deepen their environmental justice efforts. Eligible groups are those with some operational structure and community engagement experience, often volunteer-driven and with modest annual budgets (typically under $100,000). The Grassroots Fund interprets “environment” broadly and prioritizes equity, just transition, and shifting power to those most impacted by systemic environmental challenges. Grow Grants are intended to support ongoing projects or new expansions of previously successful work. Funding can be used for a variety of purposes, provided they align with the Fund’s guiding practices. However, funds cannot be used for lobbying, partisan politics, retroactive expenses, land acquisition, or publication efforts without action components. Notably, the program does not require applicants to have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor, but recipients must have a checking account in the group’s name to receive funds. The application process includes two primary sections—group information and project information—submitted through an online platform. Review is participatory and multi-layered, involving Community Grant Readers who evaluate applications using a standard rubric, staff interviews and assessments, and final determinations by a Grantmaking Committee composed of grassroots leaders. The Fund provides office hours for applicants and allows groups to reapply across grant rounds for distinct projects. Application deadlines fall on the third Tuesday of March and September annually. For 2025, those dates were March 18 and September 16. The Grassroots Fund is making adjustments ahead of the 2026 grant cycle. The application is expected to reopen by Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Prospective applicants can preview the most recent version of the application to better understand the types of questions and information typically required. Funding decisions are announced by late June for spring submissions and early January for fall. Once approved, grantees receive paperwork within three to four weeks, with funds disbursed approximately two to three weeks after paperwork completion. Groups may receive up to two Grow grants per year, provided each application supports a different project in a separate cycle. Similarly, groups may pursue Seed and Grow funding in the same year but not simultaneously. Reporting is required within one year or after all funds are expended, whichever comes first. Questions can be directed to Mary at [email protected], while Chetana handles reporting inquiries.

Aim for full $4,000 request if justified; demonstrate alignment with guiding practices (equity, community engagement, etc.); emphasize structure and community-rootedness.