The District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) has announced the Small and Accessible Sustainability (SAS) Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025, aimed at reducing waste and supporting urban agriculture in the District. The program focuses on achieving the city’s broader sustainability goals, especially in the areas of zero waste and food equity. Through the SAS program, DOEE will fund one grantee to manage a subgrant program targeted at small, new, and historically-excluded entities (SNHEs), including nonprofits, small businesses, and schools, to foster environmentally beneficial community projects.
The SAS Grant Program will distribute $190,000 over three years. Year 1 allocates $20,000 for pre-award activities including outreach and RFA development; Year 2 allocates $150,000 for subgrant distribution and project execution; and Year 3 allocates $20,000 for final reporting and project close-out. The selected grantee will both administer the subgrants and support community-based applicants through training and assistance in grant-seeking and grant management.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits, faith-based organizations, educational institutions, private enterprises, and government agencies operating in the District. Applicants must demonstrate experience with subgrant administration, familiarity with urban agriculture and donation/reuse initiatives, and the ability to support SNHEs. Applications must be submitted via DOEE’s Grants Management System by May 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
Applicants must provide a detailed project narrative, budget, work plan, and various organizational documents including proof of nonprofit status, financial statements, and compliance certifications. The scoring criteria assess experience, administrative capacity, timeline, budget justification, support plans for subgrantees, and commitment to equity. The grant allows for reimbursement-based funding, though limited advance payments may be approved for subgrant disbursements only—not for administrative costs.
The awarded grantee will be required to submit quarterly and final reports, track subgrantee outcomes and deliverables, and maintain thorough documentation of all grant-related activities. DOEE reserves the right to extend the project for two additional years (through FY2029) based on performance and funding availability.
