East Oakland Air Quality Fund Grant

The East Oakland Air Quality Fund, administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, supports projects that address the health and environmental impacts of hazardous air pollution in East Oakland, California. This grant program was established as part of a legal settlement between the State of California and McWane, Inc., related to toxic emissions from the now-closed AB&I Foundry, which was located near the Oakland Coliseum. The fund is available until the allocated settlement monies are exhausted. Grants of up to $50,000 are available for projects that align with the goals of reducing exposure to air pollution and improving community health. Priority is given to initiatives that demonstrate strong community support and involvement, particularly those benefiting disadvantaged and environmental justice communities in East Oakland. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, fiscally sponsored projects, local governmental entities, and tribal entities. Applicants must show prior experience with similar work or demonstrate sufficient capacity to carry out the proposed project. The eligible geographic area must correspond to neighborhoods in East Oakland or northern San Leandro with CalEnviroScreen 4.0 scores of 75 or higher. Projects should relate directly to the former AB&I Foundry’s pollutant legacy, either by physical proximity or by addressing similar hazardous substances (e.g., benzene, cadmium, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, and hexavalent chromium). Applicants located outside of East Oakland may still apply if the project will demonstrably benefit affected communities. Eligible project types include public health initiatives, pollution prevention or reduction, environmental education and compliance training, community air monitoring, and emergency planning and preparedness. Public health projects may involve data collection, diagnostics, treatment, or therapy, and must primarily support communities harmed by the AB&I Foundry. Other categories include structural interventions, outreach efforts, and community readiness in the face of pollution-related emergencies. Projects that attempt to bring organizations into compliance with regulations are not eligible. Applications are due by 5 PM on May 30, 2025. The application process involves creating an online account, completing an eligibility review, and submitting an application that includes a project description, goals, objectives, budget, and attachments. Applicants must also submit organizational documents such as IRS determination letters and financial statements. For questions or support, applicants can contact Aurora Heying at aheying@rosefdn.org or Jodene Isaacs at jisaacs@rosefdn.org. This grant program is funded by enforcement actions of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and is dedicated to environmental justice, community resilience, and reducing air pollution harms in historically burdened neighborhoods.