Ohio Environment Grants

This funding opportunity supports community-driven projects that promote local engagement and environmental awareness through volunteer and grassroots initiatives.

The Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA), a department of the City of Gainesville, offers the "Downtown Event Program" to support event programming within Downtown Gainesville. This initiative aligns with the GCRA's mission to foster community engagement and economic vitality in the downtown area by providing financial assistance to organizations and businesses. The program aims to enrich the cultural landscape and draw visitors to the city center, contributing to the overall strategic plan for downtown development. The primary beneficiaries of this program are not-for-profit organizations and businesses actively planning and executing events within Downtown Gainesville. The impact goal is to facilitate a vibrant event scene that enhances public spaces and provides diverse cultural and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. The program specifically targets events held on publicly owned spaces such as parks and roads, ensuring accessibility and broad community benefit. Government entities are excluded to focus resources on private organizations and businesses. Key priorities for this grant include events that do not already receive direct financial funding from the City of Gainesville and those that align with the City's goals and core programs. The program prioritizes events that are not predominantly religious or political, and strictly prohibits those that involve discrimination, promote illegal activities, or contain obscene content. Funding can be used for various event-related expenses, including advertising, entertainment, equipment rental, facility rental, and security, with flexibility for other uses deemed in the program's spirit. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number and diversity of events held in Downtown Gainesville, leading to greater community participation and economic stimulation. Measurable results would involve tracking the number of funded events, the types of organizations supported, and potentially attendance figures for these events. The program's success will be evaluated by its ability to create a more dynamic and engaging downtown environment, contributing to the GCRA's broader strategic goal of sustainable urban development. This temporary program acts as a strategic initiative to bridge the gap until a permanent replacement program is established and approved by the City Commission. The maximum allocation for this program is $50,000, demonstrating a focused, short-term investment to maintain momentum in downtown event programming. The grant period is limited to events occurring between June 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, highlighting a deliberate and time-bound approach to achieving immediate impact while a more comprehensive, long-term strategy is developed.

This grant provides funding to municipalities, schools, nonprofits, and local agencies in Cuyahoga County to support projects that reduce waste, promote recycling and composting, and address illegal dumping.

This funding opportunity supports educational projects in Ohio that raise awareness and understanding of environmental issues, targeting schools, nonprofits, and local governments to engage diverse audiences in making informed environmental decisions.

This program provides financial assistance to local governments and organizations in Ohio for cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated properties to promote economic growth and environmental health.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Great Lakes states and tribes for collaborative projects aimed at preventing and managing aquatic invasive species across state and tribal boundaries.

This funding opportunity supports events and projects that boost tourism in Union County, Ohio, targeting both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, as well as municipalities, to enhance the area's appeal and economic impact.

The 501vc® Investment Fund is seeking to invest $200,000 to $300,000 in early-stage climate tech startups in the Greater Midwest region, focusing on sectors like advanced materials, renewable energy, and agriculture technologies.

This program provides financial support to businesses, nonprofits, and public entities in Ohio for energy efficiency projects that reduce energy costs and emissions while creating or retaining jobs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to government agencies and nonprofit organizations for urban forestry projects that benefit disadvantaged communities in Ohio by enhancing tree canopies and improving environmental quality.

The Morgan Community Fund, in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, is offering grants to nonprofits, schools, and public organizations for projects and programs that benefit residents and communities within Morgan County, Ohio. This grant initiative aligns with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio's broader mission to advance opportunities and unleash potential within the Appalachian region, specifically focusing on local community development. The program seeks to support efforts that address critical needs and foster growth in the county, reflecting a commitment to local empowerment and sustainable development. The target beneficiaries of this grant program include individuals of all ages within Morgan County. The program's impact goals are centered on creating opportunities, meeting pressing needs, and unleashing the potential within the community. Projects and programs that demonstrate a clear benefit to Morgan County residents and communities are prioritized, with an emphasis on those that can generate meaningful and lasting positive change. The fund encourages applications from organizations that are deeply rooted in the community and have a strong understanding of local challenges and opportunities. The grant program focuses on five key areas, known as the Pillars of Prosperity: arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services. These pillars represent the strategic priorities of the Morgan Community Fund and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, aiming to holistically address various facets of community well-being and growth. The fund particularly supports individuals who are leading initiatives in these areas, recognizing the importance of local leadership in driving change. Expected outcomes include tangible improvements in the quality of life for Morgan County residents, enhanced community resources, and increased opportunities across the five pillars. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, the emphasis on "advancing opportunities," "meeting pressing needs," and "unleashing potential" suggests a focus on quantifiable improvements in community indicators relevant to each pillar. Funding requests between $500 and $2,500 are common, though larger requests may be considered if they demonstrate significant potential impact, indicating a flexible approach to funding based on the scope and potential benefits of proposed projects.

This initiative provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal governments in coal-impacted communities to develop and scale innovative economic projects that create job opportunities and foster local economic transformation.

The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) offers the Environmental Sustainability Grant Program to support and enhance the environmental sustainability of the Greater Cincinnati region. This aligns with GCF's mission to increase accessibility and quality of greenspaces, conservation, horticulture, and nature education, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity for historically marginalized groups. The program aims to address environmental disparities and promote equitable access to nature's benefits. The primary beneficiaries of this program are organizations whose efforts are based in the Greater Cincinnati region, specifically within the counties of Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont in Ohio; Boone, Kenton, and Campbell in Kentucky; and Dearborn in Indiana. The program targets historically marginalized groups by prioritizing requests that connect them to the benefits of nature, including fresh food access and nature education, particularly for children and youth. The overarching impact goal is to foster a more environmentally sustainable and equitable region. The program prioritizes proposals that develop solutions with a racial equity lens, recognizing that environmental issues often disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Key focus areas include beautifying, creating, conserving, and restoring greenspaces, with a preference for those benefiting historically marginalized groups. Additionally, the program seeks to connect these groups to nature's benefits through various initiatives, such as increased fresh food access and nature education programming. Collaboration between well-aligned organizations is highly favored, as is an asset-based approach to the work. Expected outcomes include expanded or strengthened existing programs, successful capital improvements, the launch of new initiatives, and enhanced organizational capacity among grantee organizations. Proposals are expected to articulate clear and measurable outcomes, demonstrating how their efforts will contribute to the program's goals. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the general intent to increase accessibility and quality of greenspaces and nature education, the emphasis on "clear and measurable outcomes" suggests a commitment to tracking the tangible impact of funded projects. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in its preference for organizations demonstrating partnerships, community alignment, insights from past results, and an asset-based approach, all contributing to a theory of change that values collaborative, data-informed, and community-centric environmental solutions with a strong equity focus.

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 program provides funding for farmers and ranchers in the North Central region to develop and share sustainable agricultural practices through research and educational projects.

This funding opportunity supports organizations working to restore and sustain forests and freshwater habitats in Central Appalachia, benefiting native wildlife and engaging local communities in conservation efforts.

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and government entities in Ohio that are working to improve health equity and access to essential resources for underserved populations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profits, neighborhood associations, and community-focused organizations in Akron for projects that engage residents and improve local neighborhoods.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Toledo, Ohio, for community-based projects that enhance neighborhood quality of life, focusing on areas like land reuse, safety, and youth engagement.