Environment Grants

The Vision Partnership Program (VPP) – Cash Grant is offered by Chester County to its municipalities and multi-municipal groups. Established in 1996, and revised in 2010 and 2019 to align with Landscapes and then Landscapes2 and Landscapes3, the program aims to improve planning efforts at the local level. This grant program is deeply aligned with Chester County's comprehensive plan, Landscapes3, by promoting consistency and implementation of its goals, objectives, recommendations, and map. The core mission of the VPP is to foster cooperation between local governments and the County to achieve impactful, lasting, and positive benefits through innovative municipal and multi-municipal planning. The VPP targets all Chester County municipalities that have endorsed or acknowledged Landscapes3, including single municipalities or multi-municipal groups. The program aims to achieve a variety of impact goals, such as advancing consistency with the county comprehensive plan, accomplishing positive benefits for municipalities through innovative planning, and addressing community concerns through new and revised municipal plans, ordinances, and planning studies. The program prioritizes projects enabled by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act 247, and also includes "Planning Studies" for projects not adopted under the MPC. The VPP focuses on a broad range of eligible projects. These include comprehensive plans, open space, park, and recreation plans, zoning and subdivision ordinances and amendments (covering topics like agriculture, historic resources, natural resources, housing, and traditional neighborhood development), official maps and ordinances, urban center revitalization plans, resource protection/stewardship plans, environmental and community sustainability/resilience plans, community design guides, village master plans, heritage interpretation plans, historic resource surveys, housing plans/studies, economic development studies, transportation corridor plans/studies, streetscape master plans, multimodal plans/studies, trail feasibility studies, and plans/ordinances that support the transition to renewable or alternative energy, as well as agricultural economic development plans. Expected outcomes of the VPP include the successful adoption of plans or ordinances, for which grants of $50,000 are provided, with an additional $10,000 for each additional municipality involved. For planning studies, the expected outcome is acceptance, with grants of $30,000 plus $5,000 for each additional municipality. The strategic priorities of Chester County, as evidenced by the VPP, are to support local governments in developing robust planning programs that align with the county's comprehensive vision, ultimately leading to well-planned, sustainable communities. The theory of change is that by providing financial incentives and guidance, municipalities will be empowered to implement the principles of Landscapes3, resulting in tangible community improvements and a coordinated approach to regional development.

This grant provides funding to farmers and ranchers for the cleanup and remediation of solid waste on their properties, helping to address illegal disposal issues and promote environmental sustainability.

This program provides financial support to municipalities, businesses, schools, healthcare institutions, and non-profits in Centre County, PA, to improve recycling education and material collection efforts.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that enhance the quality of life for residents in the Gert Town neighborhood of New Orleans through various community-focused initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to government entities and educational institutions in Georgia for implementing strategies outlined in the Regional Water Plans, requiring a matching contribution from applicants.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to schools and educators in Georgia to improve outdoor learning experiences for preK-12 students through various initiatives like professional development, schoolyard enhancements, and field trips.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in specific eastern U.S. states for projects that focus on human needs, environmental stewardship, education, and community vitality.

The City of St. Petersburg's Neighborhood Tree Matching Mini-Grant Program is offering up to $10,000 in funding to neighborhood and business associations for planting shade trees within the community. This initiative aims to increase the tree canopy, diversify tree species, and optimize tree locations in approved rights-of-way and street-facing front yards. The program aligns with Mayor Kenneth T. Welch's Environment, Infrastructure, and Resilience Pillar For Progress. Applications for this third funding cycle are open until September 9, 2024, with tree planting scheduled for October and November 2024. Eligible applicants must be registered associations in St. Petersburg with no outstanding grants from the City, except from round two of this program. Projects must be completed within 12 months and adhere to specific planting requirements.

This program provides funding for businesses, nonprofits, community groups, churches, and educational institutions to implement projects that enhance neighborhood beauty, foster community engagement, and celebrate local culture in Jackson.

This grant provides funding for innovative research, education, and outreach projects that promote ocean exploration and enhance environmental literacy, particularly in diverse and hybrid learning environments.

The Energy Storage Pilot Demonstrations program, managed by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), supports pilot-scale demonstrations for non-lithium, long-duration energy storage solutions. The program aims to advance technical maturity, reduce uncertainty in cost and performance, generate operational datasets, and increase investor and end-user confidence. The total DOE funding available is up to $100 million, with project funding ranging from $5 million to $20 million DOE share, requiring a minimum of 50 percent non-Federal cost share. Projects must demonstrate long-duration (10 hour) discharge capabilities and have a clear path to commercialization.

The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District is offering a grant of $100,000 to $500,000 for public agencies and nonprofit organizations to acquire land for the creation or expansion of parks, wildlife corridors, trails, and access facilities, with a focus on high-need, rural, and regional areas.

Funding and Duration: Grant amounts for the conventional program range from $100,000 to $500,000. The maximum grant duration is two (2) years, eight (8) months, and grant funds cannot be expended before November 1, 2025, or after June 30, 2028.   Projects submitted through the Additional Assistance for Historically Underrepresented Organizations (Additional Assistance) Program will range from $100,000 to $250,000. Program requirements and submission deadlines differ for Additional Assistance Program applicants. Please reference the 2025 Request for Concept Proposals - Additional Assistance Program or email [email protected] for more information.   CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount different than the amount requested.    

The "Carbon Management" grant, offered by the Department of Energy, provides $78.4 million in funding for U.S. organizations to develop and test technologies for capturing, removing, converting, and storing carbon to combat climate change, with applications due by October 14, 2024.

The Gambrill Foundation focuses on supporting charitable causes that uplift and positively impact residents of Anderson County, South Carolina. Its mission aligns with organizations pursuing religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This broad scope allows the foundation to address a variety of community needs, with a clear geographic and impact-driven approach. The target beneficiaries are residents of Anderson County, South Carolina, with an emphasis on those served by libraries, churches, universities, and colleges. The foundation aims for a measurable impact within this area, benefiting a substantial number of residents. Grantmaking priorities reflect a strategic approach, favoring capital or special projects over general operational use, and prioritizing grants that can be matched by other funding sources. This indicates a desire for sustainable and leveraged impact. The foundation's program areas are diverse, encompassing arts, culture, and humanities, education, environment, animals, health, human services, public/society benefit, and religion. This wide array demonstrates a commitment to holistic community development. The average grant size ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, with an average total annual giving of $175,000, suggesting a focus on supporting multiple impactful initiatives rather than a few large-scale projects. Expected outcomes include the measurable improvement of the lives of Anderson County residents through supported programs and services. The foundation's theory of change appears to be rooted in empowering local organizations that are well-aligned with its mission and values, and that possess the financial ability to sustain funded programs. By prioritizing matched funds and capital projects, the foundation aims to maximize the long-term effectiveness and reach of its grants, thereby fostering a stronger, more vibrant community in Anderson County.

The U.S. Embassy Kyiv announces the 2024 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program (PDSG) – EDUCATION, an open competition for Ukrainian non-government, non-profit organizations (NGOs). The program’s central objective is to strengthen Ukraine’s educational system, supporting its post-war restoration and development. This aligns with the U.S. Government’s Public Diplomacy goals to support Ukraine’s modernization and foster enduring relationships, specifically by encouraging collaboration and partnerships between U.S. and Ukrainian organizations, including the implementation of U.S. concepts and utilization of U.S. experts. Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate clear, sustainable results and strengthen US-Ukraine people-to-people ties or show potential for lasting engagement between institutions. The primary target beneficiaries of the projects are social groups most affected by the war, including veterans, individuals with disabilities, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), alongside key Ukrainian stakeholders and decision-makers in education who possess the power to influence the sector's response to post-war recovery. The impact goal is to pragmatically address the challenges of the post-war period, increase the employability of vulnerable populations, facilitate social cohesion and reintegration of citizens, and ultimately support regional economic recovery and growth. Project activities must take place in Ukraine. The grant program specifies four thematic priorities. The first focuses on collaboration between educational institutions, employers, and government entities to produce a qualified workforce for economic recovery, connecting the educational system to labor market demands, often leveraging U.S. examples and experience. The second priority centers on developing training opportunities and programs for individuals with disabilities, veterans, and IDPs to increase their employability, supporting re-integration into the labor market through initiatives like piloting centers for veteran or disability services focusing on entrepreneurship and vocational retraining. The third priority addresses supporting optimization as part of educational reform in response to war and post-war reconstruction challenges, considering the optimization efforts initiated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. This includes enhancing teaching in priority fields and ensuring access to high-quality education for students in war-affected areas. The fourth priority concentrates on developing civic education programs for Ukrainian students and adults to facilitate social cohesion and the reintegration of citizens from occupied territories and IDPs, potentially connecting with Ukrainians sheltered abroad through educational projects in history, culture, and citizenship. Expected outcomes must be clearly defined and measurable. All proposals must include a monitoring and evaluation plan with specific indicators to track the realization of project goals. Successful projects are expected to yield clear and sustainable results, such as new study programs adjusted to employer needs, successful piloting of veteran/disability service centers at universities, development of strategies for educational optimization, and enhanced social cohesion through civic education. Awards range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $50,000 USD, with a performance period of six to twelve months, funded by FY24 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds.

The Region 8 Sustainable Materials Management Grant is a funding opportunity aimed at promoting the reduction, reuse, and market development of sustainable materials, with a specific focus on areas such as the built environment, construction debris, electronic recycling, and food.

The "Vermont NRCS FY24 Conservation Solutions Through Strategic Partnerships Announcement for Funding" is a funding opportunity by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, offering up to $1.2 million to local governments, tribal governments, non-profits, and educational institutions in Vermont for projects that enhance natural resource management, increase conservation delivery, and support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through strategic partnerships.

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is offering the Charles F. Flinn and Walker B. Tilley Fund for Sustainable Forestry, a grant program designed to support the economic, social, and environmental values of Mendocino County's working forests and rangelands. The foundation's primary mission, as aligned with this grant, is to make grants to nonprofit organizations that assist public and small private (non-industrial) forest owners. This initiative reflects the foundation's strategic priority to foster sustainable practices within the region's vital natural resources. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit organizations working with public and small private forest owners in Mendocino County. The overarching impact goal is to enhance the long-term sustainability and health of these working forests and rangelands, ensuring they provide ongoing economic benefits, social value, and ecological integrity. The foundation's theory of change posits that by supporting these organizations, it can empower forest owners to adopt best management practices and implement projects that directly contribute to these multifaceted goals. The program prioritizes a range of key activities. These include research and demonstration projects, particularly those involving re-measurement of plots, and public and youth education and outreach focused on the economic production of forests, rather than solely conservation. Education on best management practices is also a core focus. Furthermore, the fund supports restoration efforts for forests and watersheds, with a preference for forest restoration projects over stream restoration, as well as the removal of invasive species and mitigation of forest road impacts. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved forest health, increased adoption of sustainable forestry practices, enhanced economic viability for small forest owners, and greater public understanding and engagement with sustainable forest management. Specific activities like fire management, including Tan-Oak management, and fish and wildlife habitat protection and enhancement, are also key areas of focus. The foundation anticipates that these investments will lead to a more resilient and productive forest ecosystem within Mendocino County, demonstrating tangible progress in sustainable land management.

This funding opportunity supports research, education, and innovative projects that enhance understanding and management of ocean resources, targeting a wide range of eligible applicants including universities, nonprofits, and governments.