Private Environment Grants

CHEJ's Small Grants Program for Tier 2 is designed for mid-sized grassroots organizations with annual budgets between $50,000 and $250,000. Grants available in this tier range from $5,000 to $10,000 and support projects that promote strategic environmental health efforts at the local or statewide level. This tier funds initiatives such as organizational development, strategic planning sessions, educational activities linked to environmental health, and community-specific campaigns, aiming to bolster the groups' influence and effectiveness in their advocacy and community engagement.

The 2025 Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Grant: Rural Health program, overseen by the Rural Maryland Council, aims to elevate the standard of living in rural Maryland to meet or exceed statewide benchmarks by 2030, while simultaneously preserving the unique cultural aspects of rural life. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to foster economic and community development through targeted investments and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation. The underlying theory of change is that by facilitating strategic investments and leveraging additional non-state resources, local and regional public and nonprofit organizations can achieve sustainable rural development objectives. The target beneficiaries of this grant are the residents of Maryland's rural areas, particularly those facing challenges in accessing adequate healthcare services. The program specifically seeks to address health workforce shortages in primary care, surgical specialties, dentistry, mental health, and other medical specialty areas. The impact goals are to improve overall health outcomes, enhance access to a variety of healthcare services, and reduce health disparities in rural populations. The program's priorities and focus areas are multifaceted, encompassing improvements in health and medical/dental/behavioral health care access, expansion of tele-medicine and telehealth networking, and the development of programs for healthcare planning and coordination. It also prioritizes addressing rural population health needs, ensuring health care insurance and treatment enrollment, and implementing components of the state’s rural health plan. Additionally, the grant focuses on rural nonemergency medical transportation, recruitment and retention of health care and public health professionals, and addressing behavioral and mental health issues such as substance use disorder, depression, and domestic abuse. Expected outcomes include improved access to health services, a stronger rural healthcare workforce through recruitment and residency programs, and enhanced behavioral and mental health support. Measurable results will likely involve metrics related to increased access to care (e.g., number of new patients served, reduction in travel distances for care), improvements in health outcomes (e.g., reductions in chronic disease prevalence, improved mental health indicators), and the number of healthcare professionals recruited and retained in rural areas. The program also anticipates better coordination of nonemergency medical transportation and a reduction in health impacts on minority populations.

Progressive Multiplier offers grants, loans, and resources to progressive nonprofits, supporting them in scaling their projects and revenue generation efforts, with a focus on issues like clean energy, climate change, economic justice, and various rights, while also encouraging outreach across political divides.

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is currently accepting applications for its Lillian Ashley Fund, a grant program established by Manchester, Tennessee native Lillian Ashley. This endowment reflects Lillian's desire to give back to her beloved community, focusing on areas close to her heart: children, animals, and environmental conservation within Coffee County. The program's core mission aligns with the foundation's broader goal of supporting community well-being by channeling resources to vital local initiatives. The primary beneficiaries of the Lillian Ashley Fund are the children, youth, and animals of Coffee County, as well as local environmental and conservation efforts. The fund aims to support the overall well-being of children and youth, provide for the care and welfare of animals, and bolster initiatives that protect and preserve the environment. The expected outcomes include improved quality of life for young residents, enhanced care and protection for animals, and a healthier, more sustainable environment within the county. The fund's strategic priorities are clearly defined: supporting the well-being of children and youth, ensuring the care and welfare of animals, and promoting environment and conservation efforts. These focus areas are intended to create a tangible impact on the community, addressing specific needs identified by the donor. While measurable results are not explicitly detailed in terms of specific metrics, the grant period of December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, suggests an expectation of progress within that timeframe, contributing to the broader theory of change that targeted funding can lead to significant positive community development in these key areas. Eligible organizations for this grant include 501(c)(3) public charities and governmental entities such as libraries or departments. Nonprofits can request grants up to a maximum of $15,000, with the overall fund size ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. This targeted approach allows the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, through the Lillian Ashley Fund, to strategically invest in local organizations that are directly addressing the program's goals and contributing to the sustained betterment of Coffee County's children, animals, and environment.

Grant Name: Teachers' Outdoor Environmental Education Fund Funding Organization: Wisconsin Conservation Foundation Contact Information: Lindsey Taylor, Conservation Programs Coordinator - Phone: (608) 409-3145 - Email: [email protected] Program Intent: The Teachers Outdoor Environmental Education Fund aims to provide meaningful outdoor environmental education learning experiences for public school students in Wisconsin. The program prioritizes projects that demonstrate a clear connection to classroom learning and standards, as well as those that have a significant component of outdoor activity. Award Details: Grants of up to $1,000 are available for eligible projects. A one-to-one match is required, which can include in-kind support such as volunteer hours or donated materials. Only one application per school per year will be accepted. The grant is renewed annually, with a deadline for applications on May 1st. Applicants will be notified within six weeks. Eligibility: - Applicants must be teachers at a Wisconsin public school (K-12). - Projects must address the grantmaking priorities and meet the eligibility requirements. - Proof of IRS tax-exempt status (IRS form 501c3 tax determination letter) or a letter of support from the school administration should be included with the application. To apply, complete the application form (paper copies not accepted) and submit all materials to Lindsey at [email protected] by May 1st. Note: This grant opportunity is specifically for nonprofits seeking funding for outdoor environmental education programs in Wisconsin public schools.

The Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF) is currently accepting applications for its fall grant cycle, inviting projects that aim to make a positive impact on Huron County, Michigan. As a nonprofit community corporation, HCCF's mission is deeply rooted in supporting the people of Huron County by fostering prosperity. This is achieved through a focus on Community & Economic Growth, aligning the grant program directly with the foundation's core purpose of enhancing the well-being and development of the region. HCCF's strategic priorities are designed to cultivate a thriving environment within Huron County. These include retaining and attracting a talented, trained workforce, creating vibrant and dynamic communities, and cultivating an environment conducive to business development. Projects addressing these areas are given preference for unrestricted grantmaking dollars. This focus reflects the foundation's theory of change, which posits that by investing in these key areas, they can catalyze broader community and economic growth, leading to a more prosperous future for all residents. Beyond the strategic priorities, the HCCF also encourages applications for projects that address numerous other interest areas, indicating a broad scope for potential beneficiaries. These areas include Arts and Culture, Education, Health & Medicine, Basic Needs Services, Beautification of Huron County, Natural Areas Preservation, Disadvantaged Youth, Recreation, and Women in STEM. This diverse range of focus areas ensures that a wide array of community needs and interests can be supported, reflecting a comprehensive approach to community development and impact. Applicants are required to submit a detailed project narrative, outlining the project's description and purpose, including its location and the number of people it will serve. This narrative should also address the project's long-term impact and measurable results, demonstrating how the grant from HCCF would be recognized. Furthermore, applicants must describe their evaluation methods to determine if their purpose was accomplished, and provide a budget with estimated income and expenses. These guidelines are designed to ensure accountability and to help the HCCF assess the potential effectiveness and sustainability of each proposed project, ultimately aiming for impactful and measurable outcomes that align with the foundation's mission.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Pennsylvania to create educational programs that promote fishing and boating, focusing on attracting new participants, retaining current ones, and reactivating former anglers and boaters.

The 2025 Community Grants program, offered by the Community Foundation for the CSRA, invites applications from organizations dedicated to serving individuals in specific counties of Georgia and South Carolina. This program directly aligns with the Foundation's mission to support various community needs, encompassing arts/culture/history, education/youth enrichment, health/environmental, and people in need. The Foundation seeks to foster innovative and high-quality programs that deliver positive, tangible impacts within these strategic areas, ultimately aiming for community betterment and individual empowerment. The target beneficiaries for this grant program are individuals residing in Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina, and Burke, Columbia, Richmond, and McDuffie counties in Georgia. The Foundation aims to achieve significant impact goals, such as enhancing cultural and historical engagement, providing educational and enrichment opportunities for disadvantaged children, youth, and adults, improving health and environmental outcomes, and offering essential human services to vulnerable populations. Through these grants, the Foundation intends to address critical community challenges and improve the quality of life for residents in its service area. The program prioritizes several key areas. In arts, culture, and history, it encourages innovative and high-quality initiatives. For education and youth enrichment, the focus is on programs that provide educational opportunities and skills training for disadvantaged individuals, including job skill training, after-school programs, leadership development, tutoring, GED, and literacy initiatives. Within health and environmental, the Foundation supports areas such as environmental research, animal services, sustainable gardens, medical clinics, drug rehabilitation, and programs for individuals with disabilities and mental illness. Finally, the "People in Need" category broadly supports human service programs, including those addressing hunger, housing insecurity, financial assistance, homelessness, and re-entry programs for recently incarcerated individuals. The expected outcomes of the Community Grants program include a measurable increase in access to educational resources, improved health indicators, enhanced cultural participation, and greater support for vulnerable populations. For instance, educational programs are expected to lead to improved literacy rates or job placement success. Health initiatives anticipate better access to medical services or environmental conservation efforts. Programs for people in need are expected to provide stable housing, food security, or financial independence. The Foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in these critical areas through local organizations, it can foster a stronger, more resilient, and equitable community for all residents within its geographic focus. Requests for funding should not exceed $15,000 to maximize the reach of the grants.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is offering a grant of $2000 for projects that address urgent, unforeseen situations on designated water trails, with the aim of creating recreational opportunities, supporting sustainable use of natural resources, and improving access to Pennsylvania Water Trails.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that support underrepresented populations in the commercial real estate sector through employment training, entrepreneurship resources, and investment education.

This track supports projects that examine the impact of climate change on communities within Massachusetts, highlighting local knowledge, experiences, and strategies for resilience. Offering up to $20,000, the grant focuses on narrative projects that use humanities methodologies to discuss climate-related changes and challenges. Projects should not include capital projects, feasibility studies, or collections preservation. Applicants must demonstrate how their work contributes to a broader understanding of climate impacts on local communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Maryland schools, nonprofits, and community organizations to enhance environmental education and engage students in hands-on learning experiences that promote environmental stewardship.

The Longleaf Fund, established by The Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama (CFNEA), is designed to create a sustainable pool of charitable dollars to invest in community projects or initiatives within its nine-county region. This unrestricted fund aims to align with the foundation's mission by addressing the constantly changing needs and strengths of the community through strategic investments. It serves as a mechanism for individuals and families to support responsive and impactful local endeavors. The primary target beneficiaries are 501(c)(3) qualified public charities or governmental/state/county agencies operating within Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, Randolph, Saint Clair, and Talladega counties in Alabama. The impact goal is to strengthen these communities by providing financial support for various charitable purposes, fostering growth, and addressing identified needs through a flexible funding approach. The fund prioritizes organizations with a minimum one-year operating history that possess a board-approved strategic plan covering at least 24 months, including a mission statement and measurable objectives. Financially, organizations with revenues over $200,000 must submit an audited financial statement, while those between $50,000 and $199,999 need to submit an audit review or compilation. Organizations with operating budgets below $50,000 are exempt from audited documents. These requirements ensure that grants are directed towards well-established and accountable organizations. Expected outcomes include the successful implementation of diverse community projects or initiatives across the nine-county region, leading to tangible improvements in various charitable areas. Measurable results will likely be derived from the strategic goals and objectives outlined in the grantee organizations' plans, as well as the impact reported in their final grant reports. The grant duration for supported activities is one year, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. For awards over $3,000, 100% of the amount is disbursed upon signing the grant agreement, facilitating immediate project commencement.

This funding opportunity supports Maryland-based public and nonprofit organizations in their efforts to engage communities and implement projects that protect and restore local natural resources, particularly in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays.

The Crookston Area Community Fund (CACF), under the umbrella of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, offers grants to support charitable, educational, and public purpose projects. These projects are specifically designed to enhance or improve the quality of life for both residents and visitors within the Crookston area. This grant program aligns directly with the foundation's mission to foster community well-being and development in Northwest Minnesota. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit organizations and public agencies operating in the Crookston area. The program aims to support projects that address key community needs and contribute to a better quality of life. Impact goals include fostering improvements in education, stimulating economic development, bolstering healthcare services, protecting the environment, enhancing recreational opportunities, and supporting cultural and community service initiatives. The CACF prioritizes projects that fall under specific topics: education, economic development, healthcare, environment and recreation, and cultural and community service. These focus areas represent critical sectors where strategic investment can lead to significant community benefits. The selection process considers how effectively proposed projects address these areas and their potential for positive, tangible outcomes. Expected outcomes include measurable improvements in the quality of life across the Crookston area. Projects should demonstrate clear objectives and the potential for a positive impact on the community. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided text, the emphasis on enhancing and improving quality of life suggests that successful projects will lead to concrete benefits, such as improved access to educational resources, new economic opportunities, better health outcomes, or increased engagement in cultural and recreational activities. The program plans to award a total of $25,000 in this grant round, with individual grants ranging from $500 to $10,000.

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.

The Entergy Charitable Foundation, in partnership with the NFL Foundation and other key organizations, is spearheading the Super Bowl LIX Legacy Program, "Impact 59 Powered by Entergy." This initiative aims to leave a lasting legacy of philanthropy and economic impact within the Greater New Orleans community, aligning with Entergy's broader mission of community support and development. The program's strategic approach focuses on fostering positive change through collaborative efforts with local nonprofit partners, reflecting a commitment to leveraging significant events like the Super Bowl for long-term community benefit. The primary target beneficiaries of the "Impact 59" grants are underserved populations within ten specific parishes in Louisiana: Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Plaquemines, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington. The program aims to achieve significant impact in several key areas, including Youth Development, Workforce Training, Education, Health & Wellness, and Equity & Inclusion. The overarching goal is to enhance the quality of life, increase opportunities, and promote a more equitable environment for marginalized individuals and groups within these communities. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly defined. In Youth Development, the emphasis is on mentoring, physical and mental well-being, and engaging youth through sports, health clinics, and specialized training. Workforce Training focuses on increasing employability for underserved populations, including the formerly incarcerated, to secure living wage jobs. Education seeks to improve access to quality education through contemporary learning programs. Health & Wellness aims to enhance access to services for underserved communities, supporting health, nutrition, and food programs. Finally, Equity & Inclusion is dedicated to improving experiences for marginalized individuals and guaranteeing fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all. Expected outcomes include a minimum of $3 million in grants distributed to local nonprofit partners. Grants will range from $25,000 to $250,000, with smaller organizations (under $500,000 annual budget) eligible for $25,000 to $50,000, and larger organizations receiving up to $250,000. Measurable results will stem from the impact of funded programs in addressing the identified focus areas, contributing to a legacy of improved community well-being and economic empowerment. The foundation's theory of change posits that by strategically investing in these critical areas through local nonprofits, they can create a ripple effect of positive societal transformation, ultimately building stronger, more resilient communities in the Greater New Orleans area.

The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Research and Education (R&E) Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity offering $100,000 to $500,000 for up to 3 years to researchers, educators, and organizations exploring sustainable agriculture, with the aim of improving economic viability, environmental quality, and quality of life in the North Central Region's agricultural sector.

This grant provides funding for community organizations and local governments to engage in environmental outreach, education, and restoration projects aimed at improving water quality and ecological health in the Jones Falls watershed of Maryland.

This grant provides funding to local nonprofit organizations in Georgetown, Texas, to address health needs and promote health equity for residents facing economic and social challenges.