New York Environment Grants

The Northeast SARE Professional Development Grant program aims to advance sustainable agriculture practices by enhancing the knowledge, awareness, skills, and attitudes of agricultural and other service providers. This directly aligns with the foundation's mission to support sustainable agriculture through education and professional development. The grant focuses on empowering professionals who work with farmers, enabling them to teach, advise, or assist in the adoption of sustainable methods. The program seeks to create a ripple effect, where trained service providers then apply their learned expertise to help farmers improve their agricultural practices, fostering a more sustainable food system within the Northeast region. The primary beneficiaries of this program are agricultural service providers, including those in non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, Cooperative Extension, and other entities that serve the farming community. Additionally, the program extends its reach to other service providers such as real estate agents, bankers, and attorneys, who can indirectly influence farmers. The overarching impact goal is to cultivate a more resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape in the Northeast by equipping these professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge. Expected outcomes include increased adoption of sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices by farmers, improved ecological and economic resilience to climate change, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The program prioritizes a wide array of topics, encompassing marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, social sustainability, urban and Indigenous agriculture, and traditional ecological knowledge. A significant focus is placed on climate-smart agriculture practices, which are intended to improve ecological, social, and economic resilience to climate change. This includes practices such as reduced and no-till farming, cover cropping, prescribed grazing, ruminant feed management, manure management, fertilizer management, and on-farm energy efficiency. The program's strategic priorities are clearly aligned with addressing contemporary agricultural challenges through education and practical application. Northeast SARE actively encourages projects from, or in collaboration with, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Furthermore, it encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions and other organizations in the Northeast that work with historically underserved communities, demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusivity in agricultural development. The theory of change behind these priorities is that by supporting a diverse range of voices and institutions, the program can foster more innovative and equitable solutions for sustainable agriculture, leading to broader and more effective adoption of sustainable practices across the region. The expected measurable results include an increase in the number of service providers trained in sustainable agriculture, a documented increase in farmers adopting climate-smart practices, and the successful implementation of projects that demonstrate improved ecological, social, and economic resilience. Awards typically range from $30,000 to $150,000, with project lengths usually spanning 2 to 3 years, and a maximum allowed duration of 3.5 years. The program's geographical focus is exclusively on the Northeast region, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., ensuring targeted and localized impact within this specific area.

This funding opportunity supports community service programs in New York State that address local needs in areas such as education, public health, and environmental conservation through AmeriCorps initiatives.

The Seeds of Sustainability Grant Program, offered by the Western New York Foundation, aims to bolster nonprofit organizations working within the food system. This program aligns with the foundation's mission by supporting efforts to improve organizational capacity and drive transformative work. Through this initiative, the foundation seeks to empower nonprofits to achieve their objectives and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system in the region. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are small to mid-size nonprofit organizations with budgets between $100,000 and $6,000,000, operating within Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, and Wyoming counties in New York. The program's impact goals center on enhancing the operational effectiveness and sustainable growth of these organizations. It seeks to equip them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to amplify their impact on local and regional food systems. The program prioritizes several key areas to achieve its objectives. These include supporting strategic leadership development, fostering collaboration among community stakeholders, strengthening communication efforts to raise awareness and attract resources, expanding resources to stabilize financials, promoting programming excellence, and enhancing overall operational effectiveness. These focuses are designed to address the multifaceted needs of nonprofits and build a robust foundation for long-term success. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved board and staff leadership, stronger community engagement and expanded services through collaborative efforts, increased awareness and resource attraction due to enhanced communications, greater financial stability and long-term sustainability, more effective program delivery and evaluation, and improved day-to-day operational productivity in areas such as administration, grant management, finance, human resources, technology, and facility management. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are evident in its commitment to capacity building, believing that by strengthening the internal capabilities of nonprofits, they can more effectively drive transformative change in the food system. To be eligible, applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, demonstrate a commitment to transformative change in the food system, and have three years of 990 filings. The program's detailed approach, from leadership support to operational enhancements, reflects the Western New York Foundation's comprehensive strategy for fostering sustainable growth and impactful work within the vital food sector of the region.

This funding opportunity supports local artists in Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga Counties to create new public art projects that engage and involve their communities.

The Berkeley FILM Foundation (BFF) has launched its inaugural short fiction film grant program, designed to support narrative short film projects through pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution stages. This initiative aligns directly with BFF's mission to foster creative, thoughtful, and innovative storytelling, particularly films with strong themes of social or environmental justice. The foundation aims to empower filmmakers who can use the medium to address critical societal issues, thereby contributing to a more just and aware community. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are individual filmmakers—specifically directors, co-directors, producers, or co-producers—who are at least 18 years of age and reside or work in specific Bay Area cities: Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, Oakland, or Alameda. Organizations are not eligible to apply. The impact goals are to support the creation of high-quality short fiction films that embody the organization's commitment to social justice and inspire other funding bodies to support creative projects. The program prioritizes short, fiction films (40 minutes or less) that demonstrate originality, imagination, and technical skill. A significant focus is placed on narratives that explore social or environmental justice themes, reflecting the foundation's strategic priority to leverage film as a tool for advocacy and community engagement. The grants are divided into two tiers: General Grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, and the prestigious Saul Zaentz Awards, offering two separate $25,000 grants for films that most powerfully embody the foundation's mission. Expected outcomes include the successful completion and distribution of impactful narrative short films that raise awareness and stimulate dialogue around social and environmental issues. Measurable results will be determined by the number of films funded, their artistic merit, their alignment with social justice themes, and their potential to inspire further funding and public engagement. The foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in filmmakers who produce compelling, socially conscious narratives, they can contribute to cultural enrichment and foster positive societal change.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to public and private primary and secondary schools in New York City to promote hands-on gardening and farming education for students.

The Air Products Greater Massena Community Fund, administered by the Northern New York Community Foundation, offers financial assistance to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations and local governing bodies. Its primary mission is to enhance the quality of life for residents within the Greater Massena community. This aligns with the foundation's broader goal of supporting community needs, as evidenced by its commitment to programs that benefit areas such as health and wellness, arts and culture, human services, education, families, youth and/or elders, environment and conservation, community development, and recreation. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are residents of the Greater Massena community, particularly those in disadvantaged communities within St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties. The impact goal is to improve various aspects of community life through diverse programs and initiatives. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed for each category, the evaluation process emphasizes the potential impact on the Massena community, especially its support for disadvantaged populations. The grant program's priorities and focuses are broad, encompassing a wide array of community needs. These include, but are not limited to, health and wellness, arts and culture, human services, education, families, youth and/or elders, environment and conservation, community development, and recreation. Each grant request undergoes an evaluation based on its potential impact, the amount of available funding, and the quality of the applicant's planning, leadership, and proposal support. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are centered on fostering positive community development and improving the quality of life through targeted financial support. By providing grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with an upper limit of $7,500 per application, the fund aims to empower local organizations and governing bodies to address pressing community needs. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2024, indicating a structured approach to funding cycles. More information can be found by visiting the Northern New York Community Foundation.

This program provides financial support to individual artists from the Bronx across various disciplines, encouraging their creative work and community engagement through public service activities.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals for the Northeast Forests and Rivers Fund (NEFRF), a program dedicated to restoring and sustaining healthy rivers, forests, and grasslands to provide habitat for diverse fish and wildlife populations. This initiative aligns with NFWF's broader mission to protect and restore native wildlife species and their habitats, leveraging public and private funding to achieve significant conservation outcomes. The NEFRF, formerly known as the New England Forests and Rivers Fund, represents a strategic investment in the ecological health of the Northeast region, fostering biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. The program's target beneficiaries include various fish and wildlife populations such as river herring, Atlantic salmon, brook trout, wood turtles, golden-winged warblers, New England cottontails, and bobolinks. Beyond wildlife, the program also aims to benefit agricultural producers, particularly those in Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories, by helping them design and implement conservation practices. The impact goals are centered on improving habitat quality and connectivity, enhancing forest conditions, and promoting hayfield management conducive to successful grassland bird breeding. NEFRF's priorities and focuses are outlined in NFWF’s Northeast Watersheds Business Plan (March 2023), specifically targeting strategies for Stream and Riparian Habitat, and Upland Forests and Grasslands. Key implementation strategies for 2024 include restoring stream and riparian habitats, improving forest management for age and structural diversity, and promoting hayfield management. A significant portion of funding, approximately $625,000, is set aside for projects that assist agricultural producers in adopting conservation practices beneficial to target species like northeast turtles and golden-winged warblers, while also increasing Farm Bill program participation. Additionally, the program encourages projects that involve community outreach, engagement, collaborative management, and the incorporation of traditional knowledge and community input. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved habitat for specific fish and wildlife species, enhanced age and structural diversity in forest blocks, successful grassland bird breeding, and increased participation of agricultural producers in conservation programs. Projects are expected to contribute to measurable conservation benefits through community input, co-design processes, and engagement with community-level partners (e.g., municipalities, NGOs, community organizations, community leaders) to ensure project design, implementation, maintenance, and long-term sustainability post-grant award. The grant duration is three years, with projects expected to start no later than six months after the award date. The NFWF's strategic priorities for the NEFRF reflect a theory of change that posits by investing in targeted habitat restoration, improved land management, and community engagement, ecological health will be restored and sustained, benefiting both wildlife and human communities. Funding is provided by a consortium of partners including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Zoetis Foundation, and Sylvamo, underscoring a collaborative approach to conservation. The program encourages a holistic view of conservation, integrating scientific best practices with local community needs and traditional knowledge to achieve robust and lasting environmental improvements across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and parts of New York.

This grant provides $8,000 in unrestricted funds to support individual artists and collaborative groups in New York State or Tribal Nations, allowing them to pursue their creative vision without project-specific requirements.

This funding opportunity supports not-for-profit organizations and local governments in New York to create community gardens that provide fresh food and nutrition education to low-income populations eligible for SNAP benefits.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to not-for-profit organizations to enhance the training and technical assistance capabilities of local health departments across New York State, focusing on improving public health outcomes and vaccination equity.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and individual artists in Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga Counties to create public art projects that engage the community and enhance arts participation.

This grant provides financial support to primary and secondary schools in New York City to create gardening projects that promote hands-on learning and environmental awareness among students.

This program provides funding for community-based arts projects in Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga Counties, aimed at enhancing public engagement and accessibility to the arts.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for K-12 schools, nonprofits, and local governments in the Delaware Bay watershed to implement hands-on environmental education programs that promote student engagement and community involvement.

The Land Trust Alliance, with support from Governor Kathy Hochul, the New York State Legislature, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, is pleased to announce a third round of competitive land trust grants through the Forest Conservation Easements for Land Trust Program. This new public-private partnership is funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund and administered by the Alliance, in coordination with the DEC. Up to $1.35 million in funding is available through the 2024 grant round which will be awarded in the fall of 2024. Grant awards are contingent upon the receipt of state funds. The program has a two-step application process which includes a preapplication and a full application. Preapplications are now being accepted and are due by May 10. Full applications are by invitation only. Applicants invited to submit a full application will be notified by June 14. Full applications will be due July 29. Preapplications and full applications must be completed through our online application and reporting system. Complete details about this grant opportunity including eligibility requirements and other program elements can be found below. Please review carefully as you evaluate whether your project is a potential fit. Visit the FCELT webpage for more information including: • 2024 Roundtables Schedule • Resource Guide • Frequently Asked Questions The Alliance reserves the right to amend the request for applications specifications to correct errors or oversights, or to supply additional information, as it becomes available. Preapplications due by 05/10/2024, Full applications due by 07/29/2024

The Northern New York Community Foundation is accepting applications for the Dr. D. Susan Badenhausen Legacy Fund, offering grants between $10,000 to $100,000 to charitable organizations in St. Lawrence County that work in arts and culture, conservation and wildlife preservation, education, and health and well-being, with a deadline of October 18, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofits, municipalities, and educational institutions to improve public access to the Hudson River estuary, focusing on recreational activities and climate resilience, particularly for disadvantaged communities.

This funding opportunity provides $7.34 million to nonprofit organizations in New York that are working to address environmental issues and promote community health and development through research-based projects.