Pennsylvania Environment Grants

This program provides funding to schools, organizations, and agencies to support youth-led environmental education projects and professional development for educators focused on local environmental issues.

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.

This program provides financial assistance to low-income families to improve their homes' energy efficiency, helping them save on energy costs while ensuring their health and safety.

This funding opportunity supports a variety of organizations in Pennsylvania to develop environmental education projects that promote stewardship and awareness of natural resources, particularly focusing on climate change, water quality, and environmental justice.

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.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Allegheny County to hire consultants for projects that strengthen their capacity and enhance their impact through collaboration.

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 Bunbury Fund supports non-profit organizations making significant impacts across central New Jersey, and most specifically Mercer County, to strengthen their capacity to effectively advance their missions toward sustainable, organizational maturity. Donor Name: Princeton Area Community Foundation State: New Jersey, Pennsylvania County: Bucks County (PA), Burlington County (NJ), Huntingdon County (PA), Mercer County (NJ), Middlesex County (NJ), Somerset County (PA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/05/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The Bunbury Fund’s mission is to strengthen the ability of nonprofit organizations to do their best work. They refer to this work as capacity building. It is work that helps your organization deliver its mission with greater confidence. They respect that what an organization might need in terms of capacity building is best identified by its staff and board. The Bunbury Fund Advisors strongly support and encourage projects and organizations that embrace and promote anti-racism strategies and conduct projects that place racial equity at the core of their work. Funding Information One year capacity-building grants: up to $50,000 Strengthening the board governance Succession planning for board and staff leadership Developing strategic partnerships and program collaborations Strategic and scenario planning Systems upgrades to improve service delivery and measurement Embracing practices that support racial equity and inclusion Supporting the strategic and capacity building needs of start-ups and newly launched initiatives Strengthening Human Resources systems Improving technology/communications Multi-year capacity building grants: up to $150,000 and up to three years Foundation will also review proposals for multi-year projects that focus on developing organizational effectiveness over a period of up to three years. This is work that might be accomplished in phases where the completion requires more than one year. Planning Grants: up to $10,000: A planning grant helps an organization evaluate the resources required to undertake a more comprehensive capacity-building project. This is often an initial step in determining the needs and viability associated with a larger capacity building project. Eligibility Criteria  An applicant must have tax-exempt status under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code, be a publicly supported charity under Section 509, and be registered with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs as a charity in good standing. Applications will be accepted from organizations that operate and provide services within the geographic region covered by the Princeton Area Community Foundation, defined as follows: Mercer County Eastern Bucks County, PA, including New Hope, Morrisville, Washington Crossing and Yardley Northern Burlington County, including Bordentown and Bordentown Township Southern Hunterdon County, including Lambertville, West Amwell, adjacent parts of East Amwell Southern Middlesex County, including Plainsboro and Cranbury Southern Somerset County, including Montgomery, Rocky Hill, and adjacent sections of Franklin Twp. For more information, visit PACF.

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 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 Pennsylvania Water Trails Program Mini Grant, overseen by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) in partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the National Park Service, aims to address urgent issues on designated water trails that compromise safety or access. With a total of $2000 available, this grant supports projects that can quickly resolve situations like storm-induced damage, navigational obstructions, or critical sign destruction that impedes safe water trail access. Eligible projects must match the grant 1:1 with cash or in-kind services. The grant serves as a last-resort funding source for unforeseen issues affecting Pennsylvania's 28 designated water trails, emphasizing safety and accessibility while fostering recreational opportunities and sustainable natural resource use. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until September 30, 2024, with awards based on urgency and committee discretion.

The Research and Education Grant program funds projects that result in gains in farmer knowledge, awareness, skills, and attitudes that are then applied to make measurable on-farm changes leading to greater sustainability. Donor Name: Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 4 Years Details: The focus on farmer behavior change is a key requirement of this grant program. A wide variety of topics can be funded by Northeast SARE, including marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, social sustainability, urban and Indigenous agriculture and much more. Other aspects of projects funded through the Northeast SARE program include those that address climate-smart agriculture practices intended to improve ecological, social, and economic resilience to climate change; increase carbon sequestration; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-smart practices include reduced and no-till, cover crops, prescribed grazing, ruminant feed management, manure management, fertilizer management, and on-farm energy efficiency. In addition, projects may address traditional ecological knowledge. Funding Information Awards typically range from $30,000 to $250,000. Grant Period Typical project length is 2 to 3 years. The maximum project length allowed is 3.5 years. Geographical Focus  The Northeast region includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. Eligible Applicants Research and Education Grants are open to anyone who works with farmers, including personnel at nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, Cooperative Extension, municipalities, tribal governments, state departments of agriculture, federal agencies, research farms and experiment stations, for-profit business entities (such as private consultants, farmers and veterinary practices), etc. Northeast SARE encourages projects submitted from or in collaboration with women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Additionally, they encourage projects submitted from or in collaboration with Minority Serving Institutions (including 1890s and other historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and tribal colleges and universities) and other organizations in the Northeast that work with historically underserved communities. Your organization must have the legal structure and financial capacity to receive and implement a Northeast SARE contract, including expending funds needed for the project prior to receiving reimbursements from Northeast SARE; advance payments are not possible. Projects must take place within the Northeast region. Applicants and host organizations may be located outside of the Northeast region if the project activities and the farmers served are located within the Northeast region. For more information, visit Northeast SARE.

The Franklin County Community Foundation (FCCF), a regional foundation of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), conducts an annual competitive grantmaking program for nonprofit organizations serving Franklin County. Donor Name: Franklin County Community Foundation State: Pennsylvania County: Franklin County (PA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Priorities FCCF’s strategic grantmaking focus is to invest in innovative, collaborative approaches and solutions to community problems, and to support projects that demonstrate achievable outcomes, the potential for replication as a model program, and plans for sustainability beyond the grant term. The overarching goal is to fund programs and services that have the potential for the greatest impact on the quality of life and positive outcomes for individuals and families living in Franklin County. CCF requires that applicant organizations be aligned with one or more of the following funding priorities: Arts & culture Community development Education Environment Health & human services FCCF’s additionally pleased to welcome grant applications that address: Programs & projects in the field of music & the arts Health services with particular emphasis on cancer Services for the in-need, elderly, & people with special needs Programs that benefit children with special needs or accessibility needs Programs & projects that focus upon or nurture access to early childhood education Funding Information Up to $7,000 Proposed projects may take place at any time during the grant year beginning September 1, 2024 and ending August 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria This opportunity is available to nonprofit organizations serving Franklin County. Applicants must either be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or have a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization act as a fiscal sponsor for the proposed project. Grants cannot be fund Advertising Capital campaigns Direct lobbying to influence legislation or funding appropriations Individuals National and statewide umbrella organizations that cannot demonstrate a local presence New staff positions without a substantial plan for sustainability Religious organizations for religious purposes Retroactive projects For more information, visit TFEC.

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.

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 grassroots watershed organizations in Western Pennsylvania for projects focused on water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, and community outreach to protect and restore local watersheds.

This program provides free technical assistance to small Pennsylvania businesses to help them improve their operations and competitiveness by connecting them with expert resources and solutions for specific technical challenges.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations in Pennsylvania for projects aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution and improving water quality in impaired watersheds.

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 funding opportunity provides financial support for the development, maintenance, and educational initiatives related to motorized trails in Pennsylvania, targeting a wide range of applicants including government agencies, nonprofits, and for-profit entities.