Local Environment Grants

The Western Colorado Community Foundation's 2024 Community Grants, themed "Youth Outside and Offline," is designed to foster healthy development in young people by encouraging outdoor activities and promoting responsible technology use. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to support nonprofits and strengthen communities across its seven-county service area in Western Colorado by addressing critical community needs through targeted funding. The program primarily targets youth participating in after-school and out-of-school programs within Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and Rio Blanco Counties. The core impact goals are to get youth engaged in outdoor activities, teach healthy ways to use technology, reduce screen time, and ensure safe engagement with social media. This focus aims to counteract the potential negative effects of excessive screen time and encourage a balanced lifestyle for young individuals. The grant prioritizes programs that actively get youth outside, offering a variety of activities that promote physical activity and connection with nature. Simultaneously, a significant focus is placed on educating youth about responsible technology use, including strategies to reduce screen time and navigate social media safely. These dual priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to youth well-being in the digital age. Expected outcomes include an increase in youth participation in outdoor activities, improved understanding and adoption of healthy technology habits, and a measurable reduction in recreational screen time. Successful programs will also demonstrate an enhancement in youth's ability to engage with social media responsibly. The foundation's strategic priority through this theme is to invest in programs that build resilient, healthy communities by supporting the positive development of its youngest members, embodying a theory of change that posits that a balanced and informed approach to technology, combined with outdoor engagement, leads to healthier and more engaged youth. The Western Colorado Community Foundation awards approximately $100,000 annually in community grants, with individual grant sizes ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations or other qualified charitable entities, such as schools, churches, or government entities, serving the specified counties and registered in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State. This structured approach ensures that funding reaches credible organizations capable of delivering meaningful impact.

This grant provides funding to organizations that will educate students and families in the Poverty Bay Shellfish Protection District about reducing fecal pollution through community outreach and culturally relevant materials.

This funding opportunity supports businesses and non-profit organizations in Lewis County, NY, by providing financial assistance for creative projects that enhance their visibility in the community.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities in Benton County, Iowa, to support projects that enhance community life across various sectors such as arts, education, health, and environment.

The Accelerating Community Connections grant, funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce's Community Reinvestment Project (CRP), is a community-designed initiative to invest $200 million into communities across Washington State that have been disproportionately harmed by the historical design and enforcement of criminal laws and penalties for drug possession, often referred to as the “war on drugs.” The Spokane Workforce Council (SWC) is seeking proposals from organizations to increase access to workforce system resources, specifically the EcSA program and Career Accelerator Incentives, for historically marginalized groups. This grant aligns with a mission to rectify historical injustices and foster stronger relationships between communities and workforce development resources. The primary target beneficiaries for this grant are Black, tribal, and Latine communities in Spokane County. The program specifically seeks to serve organizations that are "By-and-For," meaning they are part of, rooted in, and defined by the identity of these communities, with leadership and staff from these populations. The impact goals are to increase access to workforce system resources, provide more culturally specific services, and enhance cultural competence within the workforce system. The grant prioritizes organizations that build trust, advocate, respond, and solve problems specific to these communities, and have a proven track record as change agents and providers of community services. The grant focuses on several key areas, including increasing access to the EcSA program and Career Accelerator Incentives for the target populations. It also emphasizes fostering stronger relationships, incorporating the "voice of the customer" in program design, and providing services that are culturally specific and competent. The strategic priority is to work with "By-and-For" organizations to ensure that the services are delivered in a way that is relevant, effective, and builds trust within the communities most affected by historical injustices related to the "war on drugs." This approach is rooted in a theory of change that by empowering and funding community-led organizations, the program can more effectively address systemic inequities and provide meaningful support. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the participation of Black, tribal, and Latine individuals in workforce system resources, improved access to employment opportunities, and enhanced career mobility. The program also aims to strengthen community ties, increase the cultural competence of the workforce system, and ensure that program designs are inclusive and responsive to the needs of the target populations. Organizations can apply for up to $30,000, and funding can be broadly used for personnel, occupancy, outreach, travel, training, supplies, and direct client costs like support services to remove barriers. Reimbursement contracts require organizations to incur costs and submit monthly invoices.

This program provides financial assistance to business owners and tenants in Newberry's historic downtown to improve the appearance of their building facades, promoting preservation and aesthetic enhancement.

The City of Evanston's "Sustain Evanston" Incentive Program is a funding tool designed to empower small business owners to implement sustainability measures. This initiative directly aligns with the City’s Climate Action & Resilience Plan, serving the foundational mission of fostering a more sustainable community. By offering financial assistance, the program aims to reduce operating costs for businesses while simultaneously enhancing their service to customers through environmentally friendly practices. This strategic alignment underscores the city's commitment to both economic vitality and ecological responsibility. The primary beneficiaries of this program include commercial property owners, tenants of commercial buildings, business districts, and coalitions of businesses within the City of Evanston. The impact goals are centered on improving the environmental footprint of local businesses, promoting sustainable infrastructure, and encouraging eco-conscious operations. Through these efforts, the program seeks to create a more resilient and environmentally sound local economy, benefiting both businesses and residents. The program prioritizes a broad range of sustainability measures, categorized into capital projects, equipment, services, and education materials. Key focuses include the adoption of heat pumps, EV charging infrastructure, solar PV, waste collection enclosures, green infrastructure like green roofs, and energy-efficient upgrades such as insulation and windows. Equipment priorities involve reusable containers, energy-efficient lighting, and appliances. Services like composting, recycling, energy/water benchmarking, and consulting are also emphasized, alongside educational signage and labels. These priorities reflect a holistic approach to sustainability, addressing various facets of business operations. Expected outcomes include a significant reduction in the operational costs for participating businesses due to increased energy efficiency and waste reduction. Measurable results will likely involve the number of businesses implementing sustainable upgrades, the amount of energy saved, the volume of waste diverted from landfills, and the expansion of green infrastructure within the city. The program's strategic approach is to incentivize tangible changes that collectively contribute to the City’s broader Climate Action & Resilience Plan, acting as a catalyst for widespread sustainable practices within the business community. This aligns with a theory of change where financial incentives drive behavioral and infrastructure changes, leading to a more sustainable and resilient urban environment.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities that aim to improve the quality of life for residents in Kossuth County, Iowa, through various community-focused projects.

The Ohio Animal Foundation is currently accepting applications for its grant program, which aims to support animal welfare initiatives across the state. While the foundation's overarching mission isn't explicitly detailed, the focus of this grant program on rescue and shelter services, as well as wildlife protection, education, and rehabilitation, strongly indicates an alignment with improving the lives of animals and protecting wildlife within Ohio. The target beneficiaries for this grant program are Ohio-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that are in good standing, specifically those involved in animal rescue, shelter services, or wildlife programs. The program intends to support services for domestic, companion, and farm animals, as well as feral and community cats. It also extends its reach to wildlife protection, education, and rehabilitation efforts. The impact goals are to provide essential funding to these organizations, enabling them to continue their vital work in animal care and protection. The priorities and focuses of the grant program are clearly defined. A significant emphasis is placed on "Rescue and Shelter Services," which includes a broad spectrum of animal care, from domestic animals to feral cat programs. Additionally, "Wildlife Protection, Education and Rehabilitation Programs" are a key area of interest, highlighting the foundation's commitment to both domesticated and wild animal populations. The typical grant range of $250-$500 suggests a strategy of providing smaller, impactful grants to a wider array of organizations. While specific expected outcomes and measurable results are not explicitly stated, it can be inferred that the foundation aims to see improvements in animal welfare metrics such as increased adoptions, successful rescue operations, effective rehabilitation of injured wildlife, and enhanced public education on animal care and protection. The modest grant size suggests a focus on supporting operational costs or specific, smaller-scale projects that can demonstrate tangible benefits within these fields. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change appear to center on empowering local Ohio-based nonprofits to directly address animal welfare needs. By providing financial assistance to established 501(c)3 organizations, the Ohio Animal Foundation likely believes that it can most effectively leverage existing infrastructure and expertise to achieve its goals. The exclusion of funding for individuals further supports this approach, focusing resources on organizations with a proven capacity for impact.

This grant provides financial support to San José-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that promote community engagement and contribute to the city's cultural vitality through diverse artistic programming.

The Charles County Forestry Grant Program, offered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust in partnership with Charles County, aims to implement cost-effective reforestation and afforestation projects. The program seeks to increase tree canopy, create forest habitat, improve water quality, and provide ecosystem services such as potable water and air quality. Eligible projects should be in Charles County, Maryland, and must place reforested areas under an easement for protection in perpetuity. Applicants can request up to $20,000, with typical requests being less than $4,500 per acre. Matching funds are encouraged but not required.

This grant provides funding to educators in Miami County, Ohio, for environmental education programs focused on solid waste issues, including recycling and waste reduction activities.

This grant provides funding to local nonprofit organizations and government entities in Grundy County to support projects that improve community life in areas such as arts, education, health, and environmental welfare.

The Coastal Conservancy funds a wide variety of projects along the California coast, San Francisco Bay, and in coastal watersheds to increase availability of beaches, parks and trails for the public, protect and restore natural lands and wildlife habitat, preserve working lands, and increase community resilience to the impacts of climate change. The Conservancy will fund most stages of a project including: pre-project feasibility studies, property acquisition, project planning including community involvement, design, environmental review, permitting, construction, and project-related monitoring. We do not fund operation and maintenance activities. Most Conservancy grants are awarded through this rolling pre-application solicitation. This includes Climate Ready, Wildfire Resilience, and all regional grant programs.  Explore the Coast, Coastal Stories, and some other grant programs are NOT awarded through this rolling process.

This funding opportunity provides up to $5,000 to non-profit organizations in Portland for projects that address climate change while promoting racial and social justice.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local organizations and communities in Boulder County to implement innovative projects that promote resource conservation and advance circular economy practices, ultimately helping to combat climate change.

This funding opportunity provides financial and technical support for installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure in multifamily buildings across Washington, D.C., with a focus on underserved communities.

This grant provides funding for nonprofit organizations and community groups in Anne Arundel County to implement projects that improve water quality and reduce pollution in local waterways.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to eligible nonprofit organizations in Cheyenne to assist low- and moderate-income residents through projects focused on housing, infrastructure, and essential services.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, and local businesses in Bloomington to support projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility and promote active transportation in the community.