Vermont Environment Grants

The Arts Operating Grant provides financial support to arts organizations in Vermont, aimed at those offering year-round, high-quality arts programs and services that align with the mission of advancing arts and creativity throughout the state. This initiative supports Outcome Three of the Arts Council's Strategic Framework, focusing on building vibrant and creative communities through organizations and artists. For FY2025, the grant offers one-year operating funds to eligible organizations demonstrating significant community involvement and partnerships with civic, non-arts, and educational entities to ensure broad access to arts and creativity. Applicants must choose between applying for an Arts Operating Grant or an Arts Project Grant and cannot be current three-year operating grantees. Grant renewed every year.

The Cultural Facilities Grants are designed to support Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities in enhancing, creating, or expanding the capacity of existing buildings to offer cultural activities to the public. These activities broadly include artistic, creative, aesthetic, historic, or scholarly events such as performances, exhibits, readings, film screenings, workshops, and more. Eligible projects may involve improvements to wiring, heating, lighting, plumbing, accessibility features, stage enhancements, permanent display installations, environmental controls, hazard mitigation, and energy efficiency upgrades. The grant period is set from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, and includes a mandatory match on a 1:1 basis with specific requirements for cash and in-kind contributions. Applications are encouraged from entities that own a facility in Vermont that has been in existence for at least ten years.

The Town of St. Johnsbury is accepting applications for its 2024-25 Rental Housing Improvement Program. Donor Name: Town of St. Johnsbury State: Vermont Town: St. Johnsbury Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The purpose of the Rental Housing Improvement Program is to encourage landlords to improve rental housing in St. Johnsbury resulting in more livable, sustainable, and marketable rental units for everyone. Universal Design, energy efficiency improvements, and Fire Life and Safety improvements are strongly encouraged.  Program Features A reimbursement grant is provided to landlords who complete capital improvement projects that result in more livable, sustainable, and marketable rental units for everyone. The maximum grant amount is $6,000 per unit, and a budget with supporting estimates must be submitted at the time of grant application. A 1:1 cash match is required (e.g., a grant of $6,000 requires at least a $6,000 cash match from the property owner), and the grant is reimbursement for funds spent. Grant funds must be used for capital improvements to real property. Please NOTE: Personal property, such as appliances, may be used as matching funds provided that the personal property purchased supports Universal Design Modifications and energy efficiency. The program is managed by the Town. Program Requirements Property must be an existing residential rental housing unit or result in a newly registered rental-ready unit in St. Johnsbury by June 1st , 2025. Property owner must have an up-to-date rental housing registration for all existing rental properties owned in St. Johnsbury; the property must be available for occupancy by June 1st; the property owner must not have any outstanding health or safety violations; and the property for which a grant is sought must have been inspected by the Town Code Compliance Officer. Property owner must be current on all property taxes (and/or agreements), water-sewer bills, civic fees and fines, and parking fees & fines. The Town of St. Johnsbury must review all cost estimates and approve the budget for the project. Finished work must be inspected and approved by the Code Compliance Officer before grant money is released. One grant award per rental housing unit. A single property owner is eligible for a maximum of three awards per award year. In the event that all funding has not been utilized, this restriction may be waived. For more information, visit Town of St. Johnsbury.

The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation is requesting applications for its Equity & Justice Grant. Donor Name: Ben & Jerry’s Foundation State: Vermont County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Each summer, the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation offers grants of up to $15,000, with an average grant size of $10,000, to Vermont-based, Vermont-focused, non-profit organizations working to address racial, economic, social, and environmental disparities and injustice in Vermont. They will seek out innovative programs that are working toward fundamental change in Vermont and that approach their work through the lens of social justice and equity. Priorities  Funding preference will be given to organizations whose areas of interest may include, but are not limited to: Equity in education and early childcare Equity in access to safe and affordable housing Criminal justice reform Workers’ rights and Equity in access to healthy and affordable food. Eligibility Requirements  To be considered for funding, each applicant organization must be: Located in Vermont. A Non-Profit 501(c)3 organization. Represented by a fiscal agent with 501(c)(3) status. Organizations with Total Annual Operating Budgets under $350,000. Ineligibility  Unfortunately, they cannot consider requests for: Programs that solely provide direct services to individuals Discretionary or emergency requests Schools Colleges or universities Individuals or scholarship programs Research, litigation or legal expenses Capital or endowment campaigns State agencies or government-sponsored programs Businesses or business associations Religious activities One time events Other foundations or regranting organizations Organizations or programs that are focused or based outside the state of Vermont. For more information, visit BJF.

This grant provides funding to nonprofits and community initiatives in Vermont that aim to improve economic equity, education, health, and community leadership to help close the opportunity gap.

The Green Mountain Fund was established at the Vermont Community Foundation in 1993 to support charitable activities with a special interest in education and the children and families of Lamoille County. Grantmaking has since been expanded to include the neighboring communities of Craftsbury, Greensboro, and Hardwick. What We Fund The Green Mountain Fund’s areas of interest include: children, elderly and family services, education, environment, sustainability, and the arts. The Fund is interested in opportunities where a modest grant will have impact by leveraging a new idea or other dollars, or by making possible something that will benefit the children and families in the grantmaking region. The Fund supports projects in Lamoille County and the neighboring communities of Craftsbury, Greensboro, and Hardwick.