HEAL Capacity Building Grants

The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Capacity grant program, administered by the Washington State Department of Health, aims to empower community-led decision-making for environmental justice (EJ) and climate resilience. This initiative is directly aligned with the state's broader mission to combat climate change and its disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities. The program is a direct outcome of the Legislature's mandate to the Department of Health, based on recommendations from the Environmental Justice Council (EJC) Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding. By focusing on capacity building, the grant seeks to strengthen the ability of communities to engage meaningfully in environmental health decisions, reflecting a strategic priority to foster equitable participation and ownership in addressing environmental challenges. The target beneficiaries of the HEAL Capacity grant program are communities most impacted by environmental hazards. This includes, but is not limited to, Native Nations, Black communities, rural communities, youth, low-income individuals, unhoused populations, disabled individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities. The program's impact goals are to equip these communities with the necessary resources to collaborate effectively with state agencies on environmental health decisions, ultimately advancing environmental justice and building climate resilience. This directly supports a theory of change that by empowering those most affected, more equitable and effective environmental and climate solutions can be developed and implemented. The program offers two distinct funding opportunities: Pass-through funding and Project funding. Pass-through funding invites community-based organizations to sub-grant funds to other community-based organizations working with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations across Washington State. This prioritizes equitable community engagement and participation in HEAL activities. Project funding allows organizations to apply for funds to build organizational and community capacity to provide guidance and input to the Environmental Justice Council on HEAL Act implementation, the Department of Health on environmental health disparities map updates, and state agencies on various HEAL Act implementations, including environmental justice assessments and Tribal engagement. These focuses underscore the program's commitment to both direct community support and systemic influence. Expected outcomes and measurable results include enhanced community-led decision-making, increased capacity of community-based organizations to engage in HEAL activities, and improved collaboration between communities and state agencies on environmental health decisions. The program, supported by Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, also aims to reduce climate pollution, create jobs, and improve public health, reflecting the broader goals of the CCA. With a total funding amount of $11.6 million and estimated awards ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000, the program seeks to make a significant, measurable impact on environmental justice and climate resilience across Washington State.