Pennsylvania Environment Grants

The Scranton Area Community Foundation is offering Community Needs Grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit organizations in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, to fund projects addressing community needs in areas such as education, arts, environment, human services, animal welfare, and civic affairs, with applications evaluated based on community impact, organizational capability, and project feasibility & sustainability.

The GIVE Washington County Fund Grants, offered by the Washington County Community Foundation in Pennsylvania, is inviting applications from eligible nonprofits, governmental or educational institutions for a flexible grant of up to $10,000, to be used in eight focus areas including animal welfare, arts, community improvement, conservation, education, health, human needs, and religion, excluding general operating or routine program support.

The Philadelphia City Fund is offering a one-year grant of $15,000 to Philadelphia-based organizations working towards long-term environmental justice and community resilience, with activities including community organizing, education, youth leadership, and project implementation, to be used within 12 months of being awarded.

The City of Philadelphia's Community Resilience and Environmental Justice (CREJ) Fund is offering $15,000 grants to 20 Philadelphia-based organizations working on long-term environmental justice projects, with the aim to support grassroots activism, community resilience, and the removal of environmental injustices.

Feet First Philly's Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant, ranging from $500 to $2000, supports projects that enhance walkability and safety in public spaces across Philadelphia, with applications open to organizations, businesses, and individuals, provided the enhancements are not used for financial gain.

The Vision Partnership Program (VPP) – Cash Grant is a grant available to Chester County municipalities and multi-municipal groups seeking to improve their planning programs while achieving consistency with and implementation of the goals, objectives, recommendations, and map of Landscapes3. Donor Name: Chester County State: Pennsylvania County: Chester County (PA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/25/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Program Purpose Recognizing the benefits of grant awards to municipal planning projects, the Chester County Board of Commissioners established VPP in 1996 to promote cooperation between local governments and the County while implementing Landscapes, the County’s Comprehensive Plan.  The program was revised in 2010 to reflect Landscapes2 and revised again in 2019 to reflect Landscapes3. The purpose of VPP is to advance consistency with and implementation of the county comprehensive plan while accomplishing impactful, lasting, and positive benefits for municipalities through innovative municipal planning; multi-municipal planning; and new and revised municipal plans, ordinances, and planning studies that address opportunities and issues of community concern. Funding Information Plans or Ordinances Adopt $50,000 plus $10,000 for each additional municipality. Planning Studies Accept $30,000 plus $5,000 for each additional municipality. Eligible Costs The following costs are considered eligible for reimbursement if they are included in and directly related to the project scope of work attached to the executed grant contract: Professional planning consultant fees; Data collection and analysis; Mapping and graphics; Monthly duplicating costs of deliverables; Mailing costs, such as for mailings to municipal residents, not to exceed five (5) percent of the total eligible costs for the project; Review of draft materials by non-planning professionals, such as attorneys or engineers, not to exceed ten (10) percent of the total eligible costs for the project (note: this must be described specifically in the project scope of work); Travel costs, such as mileage for required meetings, not to exceed two (2) percent of the total eligible costs for the project; and Publication of the adopted document, up to thirty (30) copies. Eligible Projects  Comprehensive Plan Open Space, Park, and Recreation Plan (to include a greenway plan) Zoning Ordinance and Amendments (to include amendments specific to topic areas such as agriculture, historic resources, natural resources, housing, traditional neighborhood development, form based code, transfer of development rights, and establishing mixed-use, diverse, walkable communities) Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and Amendments (to include amendments specific to topic areas such as bicyclist/pedestrian circulation, natural and cultural resource protection, woodland inventories, and forestation/woodland management plans) Official Map and Ordinance Urban Center Revitalization Plan Resource Protection/Stewardship Plan (addressing topics such as open space, natural resources, parks, scenic resources, historic and cultural resources) Environmental and Community Sustainability/Resilience Plan/Study (to include energy conservation, clean energy transition) Community Design Guide (addressing topics such as housing, historic resources, and villages) Village Master Plan Heritage Interpretation Plan (in accordance with Preserving Our Places, CCPC, 1998) Historic Resource Survey (in accordance with PHMC standards) Housing Plan/Study Economic Development Study Transportation Corridor Plan/Study Streetscape Master Plan Multimodal Plan/Study Trail Feasibility Study Plans/Ordinances that support transition to renewable or alternative energy Agricultural Economic Development Plan Eligibility Criteria  Meeting eligibility requirements is not a guarantee of grant funding under the Vision Partnership Program. Eligible Applicants  The VPP cash grant program is open to all Chester County municipalities which have endorsed or acknowledged Landscapes3. Eligible applicants include a single municipality or a multi-municipal group, which may consist of two (2) or more contiguous municipalities or two (2) or more municipalities when located in the same school district. The application shall identify and be submitted by a lead municipality in the case of a multimunicipal group application. To ensure proper grant administration and promote successful completion of projects, municipalities are encouraged to complete VPP projects funded under previous rounds before applying for additional VPP funding. However, the Chester County Planning Commission may consider approving municipalities to undertake more than one VPP funded project at a time on a case-by-case basis. Municipalities involved in a multi-municipal comprehensive plan shall not be eligible for VPP funding to undertake a full comprehensive plan update at the same time as the contract term of the multi-municipal plan. Partial updates to a specific comprehensive plan section, such as the historic resources plan, may be considered on a case-by-case basis. General Project Eligibility  The project shall advance one or more of the Landscapes3 goals and objectives, and implement one or more of the Landscapes3 recommendations at the municipal or multimunicipal level. Projects enabled by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act 247, as amended, such as comprehensive plans (or elements thereof) or ordinances, shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the MPC. Projects not adopted under the provisions of the MPC are defined as “Planning Studies” for the purposes of VPP. General project types that may be eligible include plans, ordinances, ordinance amendments, and planning studies. Projects shall be supported by a municipal or multi-municipal comprehensive plan that was adopted within the prior ten (10) years, unless the municipality has undergone the formal review process as outlined in Section 301(c) of the MPC or the applicant provides documentation identifying why the urgency of the proposed project supersedes the need for an update of their comprehensive plan. For more information, visit Chester County.

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.

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 funding opportunity provides financial support to public entities and nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania for projects that enhance public access to waterways, ensuring they remain open and free for community use for 25 years.

The Pennsylvania Shooting Range Improvement Grant Program is designed to provide financial support to Pennsylvania’s aging shooting range infrastructure. Donor Name: Pennsylvania Game Commission State: Pennsylvania County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 5-10 Years Details: The purpose of the SRIP grant is to bring life into aging infrastructure while creating opportunities for more access for new members. The PGC is proud of state’s hunting and shooting heritage and is here to work together to ensure the future is bright for the next generation. Many states have been leaders in the development of ranges on state-owned properties for several years. According to those states, agency range development has been beneficial in many ways including: Increased use of state lands. Decreased firearms-related vandalism in those areas with developed and accessible ranges. Local citizen support and appreciation. Increased generated funds. Enhanced user support of the hunting and shooting sports. Program Goals Increase public access to private and club-type facilities. Enhance shooting range facility availability or quality to the public. Enhance public safety and environmental stewardship. Enhance facilities available for the Pennsylvania Hunter-Trapper Education Program. Provide funding to shooting facilities that have not received grants previously. Program Tiers The Shooting Range Improvement Program will have a tier structure within the application for funding of projects after completion of the one-year pilot program. It will include three separate tiers based on the grant amount and useful life of the project for providing deliverables. Tier One Projects (Pilot year 2024, Max $30,000) will be a grant amount up to $50,000 with a useful life of five years. Deliverables for tier one: PGC signage of program funding  One youth field day per year or two hunter/shooter education classes 10 public days per calendar year (matches, tournaments, sight in days, open house event) Tier Two Projects will be a grant amount between $50,000 to $250,000 with a useful life of 10 years. Deliverables for tier two: PGC signage of program funding. One youth field day per year or two hunter/shooter education classes. 20 public days per calendar year (matches, tournaments, sight in days, open house event). Tier Three Projects will be a grant amount of $250,000 and up with a useful life of 15 years. Deliverables for tier three: PGC signage of program funding. One youth field day. Minimum 3 hunter/shooter education. 25 public days per calendar year (matches, tournaments, sight in days, open house event). Eligible Projects Projects for rifle, handgun, shotgun, skeet, and trap ranges should be designed to standards found in National Rifle Association (NRA) Range Source Book, a Guide to Planning and Construction or the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) website. For archery ranges, design information is available on websites for the Archery Trade Association, the National Field Archery Association, and other organizations. Design may also mirror PGC state game land ranges. Eligibility Criteria  Applicants who are eligible to apply for SRIP grants are existing shooting ranges, shooting clubs, recreational shooting organizations, archery clubs, and education groups. Applicants must demonstrate public use of current facilities. Examples of public use of facilities include public range times, educational outreach/trainings, or organized shooting competitions. Retail ranges are not eligible to apply for this program. For more information, visit Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The William Penn Foundation is seeking applications for its Climate, Environmental Justice, and Infrastructure Grants to support efforts to access available federal funding for climate, environmental justice, and infrastructure for the Philadelphia region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties). Donor Name: William Penn Foundation State: Pennsylvania County: Bucks County (PA), Chester County (PA), Delaware County (PA), Montgomery County (PA), Philadelphia County (PA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/01/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The Foundation is focusing solely on efforts to access federal funding for climate, environmental justice, and infrastructure. With that understanding, there are few limitations on the project designs or applicants’ approach to securing such funding. For example, proposals may focus on project development, engaging technical or legal assistance, communications, or other ways to advance the objective. Proposals may seek to make change on a regionwide or more localized scale. Funding Information WPF has allocated up to $3.5 million to award to organizations that respond to this RFP. There is no minimum that organizations may request. The maximum that organizations can receive from WPF through this RFP is $1,000,000. Funding Information 2 years. Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)3 public charities or operate under a public charity fiduciary. Public charities include community-based organizations, schools and educational institutions, and other types of public-serving groups. Government entities are also eligible to apply. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply for funding. Applicants do not need to be physically located in the Philadelphia region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties) but the work proposed must aim to access federal funding for the Philadelphia region.  Organizations with a current WPF grant that is funding work related to this RFP are not eligible to apply for more funding for the same project(s). For more information, visit WPF.

The York County Community Foundation is offering a three-year grant of $100,000 to $500,000 for municipalities, county agencies, school districts, and non-profit organizations in York County, Pennsylvania, to preserve and protect open spaces, natural habitats, and waterways through land acquisition, planning studies, and ordinance assistance, with a focus on public access, recreational opportunities, and natural resource protection.

Applications are now being accepted for the Joe DeMott Port Allegany Community Development Fund. Donor Name: McKean County Community Foundation State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The fund supports projects that encourage the arts, community development, education, environment, or health and social services within the Port Allegany School District. Funding Information Maximum grant is $1400. Eligibility Criteria Grants from this fund are available to 501c3 organizations, schools, municipalities, or religious organizations that serve the public.  For more information, visit McKean County Community Foundation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is seeking applications for its Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants. Donor Name: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection State: Pennsylvania County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/28/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: AFIG has approximately $5 million in funding available to school districts, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses in Pennsylvania that want to transition to cleaner fuel transportation. Supported alternative fuels include electricity, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, hydrogen, hythane, biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, and other advanced biofuels. Grant funding covers: Incremental costs related to retrofitting vehicles to operate on alternative fuels; Incremental costs to purchase alternative fuel vehicles; Cost to purchase and install the necessary fleet-refueling or home-refueling equipment for alternative fuel vehicles; Cost to perform research, training, development, and demonstration of new applications or next-phase technology related to alternative fuel vehicles. Priorities Businesses whose headquarters or principal place of business are located in Pennsylvania; Zero emission vehicle projects; Medium-duty and light-duty fleet refueling infrastructure projects; Renewable natural gas vehicle and infrastructure projects; Projects located in or predominantly serving environmental justice areas; Minority-, veteran-, or woman-owned businesses. Funding Information Applicants will be eligible for a maximum grant award across all applications of $500,000. Individual application awards are still capped at $300,000. Eligibility Criteria DEP will award at least 20% of AFIG funding to the following entities, depending on applications received: Counties, townships, municipalities, or municipal authorities; Public school districts, including brick and mortar charter schools; Organizations registered as a 501(c)3 that provide services to seniors, low-income individuals and families, individuals with disabilities, veterans, or medical services of any type; Businesses that are registered with the Commonwealth as a Small Diverse Business or registered with one of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services approved third-party certifications; and Organizations that are county/local government supported or contracted to provide services to seniors, low-income individuals and families, individuals with disabilities, veterans, or medical services of any type. For more information, visit DEP.

POISE Foundation is accepting Letters of Intent for its Community Impact Grants to assist the Black community in achieving self-sustaining practices through strategic leadership, collective giving, grantmaking, and advocacy. Donor Name: Poise Foundation State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Through the Community Impact Grants, the Foundation provides small grants to nonprofit organizations located in the Pittsburgh Region that provide services, and seeks to bring change to the Black community which leads to empowerment and self-sufficiency.  In general, grants are one year in duration. POISE typically provides grants to Black-led, Black serving nonprofit organizations offering programs and services that fit within one or more of their Priority Areas: Community & Economic Development Programming that helps community leaders, residents and their communities build capacity to engage in civic participation, to collaborate, to make decisions and to advocate for the well-being of Black communities and the residents that live there.  These types of programs also seek to  engage community members in learning about and understanding community issues, and the economic, social, environmental, political, psychological, and other impacts on their way of life.  In addition, these programs should aim to foster pathways from poverty to prosperity for individuals and families in Black communities.  They also look for programming that encourages diverse and robust neighborhood and community economies. Education Programming that supports and advances the Educational achievement of Black youth in the Pittsburgh Region. They also invest in programming that offers innovative approaches to learning experiences that engage families and communities in the academic and social success of Black youth. Entrepreneurial Activities Programming that advances the creation and development of Black businesses and cooperatives in the Pittsburgh Region. Young Ladies Programming that supports and advances the well-being of young ladies in preparation for future endeavors in the Pittsburgh Region. Strengthening Black Families Through Strengthening Black Families, they can envision a region where the Black Family is restored a core institution that is actively thriving and engaged in the re-development and transformation of Pittsburgh’s Black community.  The Foundation will invest in programs and activities that build, strengthen, and support Black families. Priority will be given to programs and projects that focus on: being family-driven; building, strengthening, and supporting family development; increasing family time, interaction, engagement and communication; being culturally and contextually responsive in approach; assisting families with building authentic support networks with other families; providing families with tools and opportunities to build the skills necessary to advocate for their needs; and promoting and supporting family healing and wellness. Funding Information Grants are typically between $1,000-$5,000. Eligibility Criteria Only organizations classified as one of the following are eligible for grants from the Foundation: A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity Organizations/Groups with a Fiscal Sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity Churches seeking support for non-religious activities (i.e. food banks, after school programs, etc.) They do not give grants to individuals or for-profit organizations. Preference will be given to organizations that are Black-led meeting two of the three following criteria: Executive Director is Black and/or African American 50% of Board is Black and/or African American 75% of community served is Black and/or African American For more information, visit POISE Foundation.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania that focus on charitable, educational, religious, or scientific initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Bucks County, PA, for projects in areas such as arts, education, health, and human services.

The Fund for Women & Girls, a special initiative of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, is to broaden the awareness of and response to issues affecting women and girls through the power of collective philanthropy. Donor Name: The Fund for Women & Girls State: Pennsylvania County: Cumberland County (PA), Dauphin County (PA), Franklin County (PA), Lebanon County (PA), Perry County (PA), York County (PA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Created in 2000, The Fund for Women & Girls has been working for nearly two decades to and continues to strengthen its primary goals: To recruit 1,000 individuals to join the Dream Team by each making a gift of $1,000 which will be used to create a lasting endowment of $1 million to support women and girls now, and far into the future. Make grants annually to local nonprofit organizations that focus on bettering the lives of women and girls in the South Central PA counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, and Perry, and the Dillsburg Area. Funding Priorities To further its mission, The Fund for Women & Girls utilizes four Funding Priorities which seek to support projects that advance the lives of women and girls by: Providing opportunities to address basic needs or develop economic self-sufficiency. Providing opportunities to strengthen and address health and safety needs. Providing opportunities for education. Providing opportunities to invest in systems and sustainable change efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion The Fund for Women & Girls is seeking proposals that are change making for local women & girls. Proposed projects may seek to strengthen and/or sustain existing programs, expand existing programs or be brand new Proposals must be focused on service to women, service to girls, service to women & girls or service to those who identify as such Proposals must have lasting value and provide a plan for sustainability beyond the grant term. Funding Information Up to $15,000. Eligibility Criteria  The Fund for Women & Girls will make grants to programs/initiatives that serve women and girls in the South Central PA counties of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry, and the Dillsburg Area of York County. All money must be distributed through nonpro.t organizations federally determined as 501(c)(3) entities. Applicants without 501(c)(3) status may engage a Fiscal sponsor to administer their grant funds. For more information, visit TFEC.

This program provides funding to Pennsylvania school districts, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to help them transition to cleaner transportation through projects like purchasing alternative fuel vehicles and installing refueling equipment.

This funding opportunity supports projects aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution in Pennsylvania's watersheds, particularly in Environmental Justice Areas, by improving water quality through initiatives like agricultural runoff control and urban stormwater management.