Grants for Nonprofits - Energy

The Anne Arundel County Government and Chesapeake Bay Trust have partnered to fund forestry projects and land protection in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This grant program, with a deadline of August 1, 2024, offers grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 for a duration of two years. The overarching goal is to implement cost-effective reforestation and greening initiatives while increasing protected forested land. This aligns with the Chesapeake Bay Trust's mission of restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay, as increasing tree cover and green areas directly contribute to improved water and soil quality, reduced erosion, and filtered airborne pollutants, all of which benefit the health of the Bay watershed. The program targets areas within Anne Arundel County, excluding the City of Annapolis. The primary beneficiaries are the residents and the natural environment of Anne Arundel County, as the projects aim to improve air and water quality, mitigate erosion, reduce summer temperatures and ozone pollution, and ensure valuable ecological services like habitat, water quality, and flood control for the future. The desired impact is a healthier, more sustainable environment through increased tree cover and protected forested lands. The program prioritizes reforestation/afforestation of protected lands, permanent protection of forested lands, and reforestation/afforestation and protection of uneased and unforested lands. Track 1 focuses on projects providing ecological benefits through riparian buffers, contiguous forest tracts, and wildlife habitat. Track 2 supports acquiring, executing, recording, and monitoring permanent conservation easements to protect existing tree canopy, particularly ecologically valuable sites. Track 3 allows for reforestation/afforestation on unprotected land, contingent on placing a permanent conservation easement, deed restriction, or long-term protective agreement. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in acres of reforested and protected forested land within Anne Arundel County. By expanding tree cover, the program anticipates a reduction in erosion, an improvement in water and soil quality, and a decrease in airborne pollutants such as particulates, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide. Additionally, the initiative is expected to lower summer temperatures, thereby reducing ozone pollution and energy consumption. The protection of forested lands will ensure long-term ecological services like wildlife habitat, sustained water quality, and effective flood control, contributing to the overall resilience and environmental health of the county.

The County of Maui's Green Grants program offers approximately $1.7 million in funding to support projects promoting sustainability. Managed by the Department of Environmental Management’s Environmental Protection & Sustainability Division (EP&S), the program aims to advance critical initiatives in environmental protection, restoration, and sustainable development across Maui County. This aligns with the broader mission of fostering a more resilient and environmentally conscious community. The grants target a wide range of beneficiaries, including individuals, non-profit organizations, and for-profit businesses. The program particularly encourages projects led by, or with a focus on, women, youth, and traditional native Hawaiian practices and approaches. The overall impact goal is to enhance environmental protection, restore wetlands, promote renewable energy, encourage green building, and facilitate the acquisition of essential equipment for sustainability initiatives, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable Maui County. The Green Grants program prioritizes several key areas through its distinct funding streams. These include the Environmental Protection Grant, which supports invasive species management, environmental restoration, conservation, and sustainability (with a specific allocation for Waikapū community beautification). The Wetlands Restoration Grant focuses on organizations dedicated to wetland restoration. The Renewable Energy Grant supports initiatives promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Green Building and Resilient Housing Grant encourages sustainable building practices, with a portion designated for Living Building Challenge participants. Finally, the Equipment Purchase Grant assists in acquiring necessary equipment for all sustainability and environmental initiatives. Expected outcomes include tangible improvements in environmental health, increased adoption of renewable energy, more sustainable building practices, and enhanced capacity for environmental initiatives through equipment acquisition. For instance, the Wetlands Restoration Grant aims to advance critical restoration efforts, while the Renewable Energy Grant seeks to enhance energy efficiency. The Green Building and Resilient Housing Grant promotes sustainable design and construction. Measurable results would include the number of restored wetlands, reduction in invasive species, new renewable energy installations, and the implementation of green building projects. The project period for grants is a full year, with options to align with either the Fiscal Year (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025) or Calendar Year (January 1, 2025–December 31, 2025) in 2025.

The Philip S. Miller Resource Grant Program (PSMRGP), funded by the Philip S. Miller Trust Fund, is dedicated to supporting social and human services within Castle Rock. This program aligns with its foundation's mission by addressing fundamental community needs through targeted grant funding. The Town of Castle Rock serves as the donor for this grant, demonstrating a local commitment to enhancing the well-being of its residents. The program's primary beneficiaries are organizations that provide essential necessities of life to the community. The impact goal is to ensure that these vital services, specifically water, energy, food, and shelter assistance, are accessible to those in need. The grant seeks to strengthen the capacity of qualifying organizations to deliver these critical resources, thereby fostering a more stable and supportive environment in Castle Rock. The PSMRGP prioritizes funding requests that directly address at least one of the listed necessities: water, energy, food, or shelter assistance. While the grant duration is not specified, the funding information indicates that the Town has budgeted $45,000 for up to five organizations this year. This strategic allocation aims to distribute resources effectively among multiple organizations, maximizing the program's reach and impact within the community. Eligibility for the grant is restricted to organizations that have been approved and operating for a minimum of five years, pursuant to the terms of the Internal Revenue Code as either 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) entities. This criterion ensures that funding is directed towards established, legitimate organizations with a proven track record of service. The expected outcome is a sustained and enhanced provision of crucial social and human services, contributing to the overall welfare and resilience of Castle Rock.

This grant provides funding for high school teams to create innovative plans that promote clean energy initiatives in their schools and communities, while connecting students to future career opportunities in the clean energy sector.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses in Portland that have suffered from break-ins or vandalism, helping them cover repair costs and improve security measures.

This funding opportunity supports Tribal Nations and collaboratives in enhancing their involvement and capacity in offshore wind energy projects, including site assessments and environmental compliance, while integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that develop and demonstrate innovative carbon capture technologies at existing industrial and power facilities, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy solutions.

This funding opportunity supports research and development of sustainable bio-based chemicals and renewable propane, targeting collaboration among universities, businesses, and government entities to promote clean energy and economic growth in rural communities.

The Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program offers progressive courses with one-on-one coaching to help clean energy contractors to develop a business plan. It provides operational support grants, tailored business coaching, mentorship, access to Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program services, assistance with certifications and vendor status, support in preparing bids, networking opportunities, and access to financial development assistance programs, including zero-interest and low-interest loans.

This funding opportunity supports research and development of advanced transportation technologies, prioritizing projects that improve vehicle efficiency and battery technology while benefiting underserved communities across the U.S.

This program provides funding to community-based nonprofits and accredited colleges in Illinois to help develop clean energy contractors and support workforce growth in economically challenged areas.

This initiative provides $10 million in funding to support solar developers in creating community-focused solar projects that benefit underserved populations through economic and environmental improvements.

This program provides $20 million in funding to support the development of innovative recycling technologies and processes for materials used in wind turbines, targeting universities, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is offering the Community Tree Planting Program, funded by the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) through the 2008 State Legislature. This grant program is administered by the Division of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Program. The core mission of this grant is to increase the tree resource base in cities and towns across Tennessee, focusing on the functional benefits of urban trees rather than solely on beautification. The primary beneficiaries of this program are communities and local units of government, non-profit organizations, and elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions within Tennessee. The impact goal is to enhance the state's urban tree resources to provide direct cost-saving benefits to communities. These benefits include energy savings through shading, storm water mitigation, rain interception, and improved air quality through filtration and absorption. The program's priorities and focuses are explicitly not beautification but rather the practical, environmental services that trees provide. It emphasizes that trees are "work horses for communities." Recommended goals and objectives for applicants include statements about urban trees providing cooler temperatures, cleaner air, reduced flooding and erosion, improved human health, and food and shelter for wildlife. Expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around the increase in the tree resource base and the subsequent realization of the aforementioned environmental and economic benefits. While specific metrics are not detailed in the provided text, the focus on quantifiable benefits like energy savings and storm water mitigation implies an expectation of measurable improvements in these areas. The grant contracts will run from December 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, suggesting that the initial outcomes will be assessed within this timeframe. Eligible applicants can apply for grants ranging from $500 to $20,000, which further indicates a focus on smaller, community-level projects with clear, achievable objectives.

The City of Bellevue is requesting proposals for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, estimated at $1,000,000 in PY2025 funds. This program seeks to support non-construction Capital projects, such as architectural and engineering costs, single-family home rehabilitation, weatherization, acquisition or pre-acquisition costs, and Economic Development projects, specifically microenterprise business assistance. The program aligns with a mission to improve community infrastructure and economic opportunities, while not focusing on public services like homeless services or food banks at this time. The target beneficiaries include residents and businesses within Bellevue who would benefit from improved housing, community facilities, and economic development opportunities, particularly through microenterprise support. The impact goals are to enhance the physical and economic well-being of the community through strategic investments in capital projects and business development. This contributes to the broader community development objectives set forth by the City of Bellevue and HUD. The City's priorities include funding projects that comply with U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) CDBG program regulations (24 CFR Part 570). Specific focuses include the acquisition of real property, pre-acquisition costs, design-related and other soft costs for non-construction projects, acquisition/rehabilitation of public facilities, home repair/rehabilitation, maintenance, weatherization activities, and microenterprise business assistance and development. Nonprofit organizations or public agencies are eligible to implement these projects, with a preference for those with a verifiable history of receiving and administering funds from HUD. Expected outcomes include improved housing conditions for single-family homes through rehabilitation and weatherization, enhanced public facilities, and increased economic stability through microenterprise development. Measurable results could include the number of homes rehabilitated, public facilities improved, new microenterprises supported, and jobs created or retained through economic development initiatives. The City makes no guarantees regarding funding availability, as it is dependent on the 2025 federal CDBG budget and other factors. Projects selected will be part of the 2025-2029 CDBG Consolidated Plan, indicating a long-term strategic approach to community development.

The Climate Solutions & Equity Grant program, initiated by Drawdown Georgia, is designed to accelerate the organization's core mission: to advance achievable climate solutions while prioritizing equity across the state of Georgia. This grant directly aligns with Drawdown Georgia's broader strategic priorities by focusing on tangible, scalable climate actions that simultaneously address social disparities. The program's theory of change posits that by investing in and empowering under-invested BIPOC communities, climate solutions can be effectively scaled, leading to both environmental improvements and enhanced community well-being. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are under-invested Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in Georgia. The program explicitly recognizes the present-day legacy of enslavement and colonialism in the state, and therefore strongly encourages applications from and for Black and Indigenous communities. The impact goal is to fund projects that not only scale climate solutions but also actively prioritize equity, ensuring that these historically disinvested communities benefit directly from the proposed work and are centered in its implementation. The grant prioritizes projects that will focus on 10 specific climate solutions: Alternative Transportation, Composting, Climate Smart Agriculture, Energy Efficiency Improvements, Food Waste Reduction, Large Scale Solar, Plant Based Diet, Rooftop Solar, Tree planting, and Wetlands Protection. These solutions were selected based on their fit with the capabilities, budgets, and social capital of nonprofit organizations and networks that the grant aims to support. The program seeks to fund a cohort of projects from across Georgia that demonstrate a commitment to these communities and have BIPOC leadership within their staff, programs, and/or board of directors. Expected outcomes include the scaling of climate solutions within under-invested BIPOC communities across Georgia, leading to measurable environmental benefits and improved social equity. The grant anticipates funding up to five two-year projects, with individual grants potentially reaching up to $100,000 per year. Measurable results will be tied to the implementation and success of projects centered around the 10 identified climate solutions, with an emphasis on how these initiatives directly benefit the target communities.

This grant provides funding and technical assistance to organizations that help state, local, and Tribal governments improve their planning and permitting processes for large-scale renewable energy projects.

The Opelousas Downtown Development District (ODDD), with support from the City of Opelousas and Opelousas Main Street (OMS), is launching the fifth round of funding for its Building Improvement Grant (BIG) program. This program is a grant/reimbursement initiative designed to empower property and business owners in rehabilitating commercial buildings. The overarching mission alignment for this program is to create a positive visual impact within the city, stimulate private investment, and diligently preserve Opelousas' historic identity and cultural assets. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are property and business owners within the Opelousas Downtown Development District who own commercial buildings. The core impact goals are to foster economic development through private investment, enhance the aesthetic appeal of the downtown area, and ensure the safeguarding of the city's rich historical and cultural heritage. The program directly supports the revitalization of commercial spaces, which, in turn, contributes to a more vibrant and economically robust downtown. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly on tangible and permanent building improvements. Eligible uses of funds are comprehensive, including restoration and renovation of buildings, installation of awnings (without signage), brick cleaning or re-pointing, accent lighting, removal of deteriorating or inappropriate materials visible from the street, and restoration of windows, doors, and original exterior/interior architectural features. Additionally, interior work related to ceiling repair, electrical, and plumbing is covered, as well as work on roofs, cornices, gutters, downspouts, and the cleaning, preparation, and painting of walls and trim. These priorities are aimed at holistic improvement of commercial properties. The expected outcomes include a noticeable improvement in the visual appeal of downtown Opelousas, an increase in private investment in commercial properties, and the successful preservation of historic buildings. While not explicitly stated as "measurable results" in the traditional sense, the program's structure and goals imply that the number of rehabilitated buildings, the amount of private investment stimulated, and the visible improvements in the downtown area would serve as key indicators of success. The program offers a total of $200,000 in grant funds, with a maximum application amount of $10,000 per project, providing a clear framework for financial allocation and impact tracking.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in Maui County, with a focus on initiatives led by women, youth, and traditional native Hawaiian practices.

The Denver Business Journal's 2024 Fast 50 Awards program aims to recognize and celebrate the fastest-growing private companies in the Denver metropolitan region. This initiative aligns with the implicit mission of the Denver Business Journal to support and highlight local business success, fostering economic growth and entrepreneurial spirit within the community. The awards serve as a platform to honor companies that demonstrate significant financial achievement and contribute to the region's vibrant business landscape. The primary target beneficiaries of this awards program are privately held, for-profit companies headquartered in the 7-county metro Denver region (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, or Jefferson counties). The program's impact goal is to publicly acknowledge and reward these companies for their substantial revenue growth, thereby inspiring continued economic development and providing valuable recognition that can enhance their market presence and attract further investment or talent. The program's core focus and priority is to identify companies based on their percentage of growth in annual revenue over the past three fiscal years (2021 to 2023). Specific eligibility criteria include having a 3-year financial history with revenue gains from 2022 to 2023, an average of at least $1 million in revenue during the three most recent years, and no less than $200,000 in revenue in 2021. Companies must also be independently owned without a parent company and approve the publishing of their financial information. The expected outcomes of the Fast 50 Awards include increased visibility for the recognized companies, enhanced local business pride, and a benchmark for other businesses striving for growth. Measurable results will be the publication of the "Fast 50" list in a special section of the Denver Business Journal on October 20, 2023, and a special awards celebration on October 24, 2024, where finalists and winners will be honored. The verification of reported gross revenues by an independent accounting firm ensures the credibility and accuracy of these results. While the Denver Business Journal's strategic priorities are not explicitly detailed as a "foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change," it can be inferred that their strategy revolves around promoting local commerce, offering valuable insights, and creating networking opportunities for the business community. The Fast 50 Awards program serves as a key mechanism within this strategy, operating on the theory that publicly celebrating business success will stimulate further economic activity and engagement within the Denver metro area. The requirement for a C-level executive to attend the event on October 24, 2024, further emphasizes the importance of executive-level participation and recognition.