Virginia Diversity Equity and Inclusion Grants

This fellowship program supports entrepreneurs in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area who are developing innovative solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.

The Community Climate Collaborative Energy Efficiency Grants program offers funding to small businesses for upgrades aimed at improving energy efficiency. This includes enhancements to appliances, lighting, and heating/cooling systems. The program's core objective is to facilitate emissions reductions and generate financial savings for businesses through strategic capital investments. While not explicitly stating the "foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change" in a separate section, the program's focus on emissions reduction directly aligns with a broader mission of combating climate change, which is implicitly the strategic priority of an organization named "Community Climate Collaborative." The target beneficiaries of this grant program are small businesses operating within the City of Charlottesville or Albemarle County, Virginia. Specifically, eligible businesses must hold a business license in one of these locations and qualify as a Microbusiness according to Virginia SBSD criteria, meaning they have 25 employees or fewer. The program also prioritizes Woman- or Minority-owned Businesses, as defined by Virginia SBSD criteria, and encourages SWaM certification or equivalent documentation. This focused approach aims to empower local, smaller enterprises in their transition to more sustainable operations. The program's priorities and focuses are squarely on tangible energy efficiency upgrades that yield demonstrable savings in energy usage and/or a reduction in emissions. This indicates a results-oriented approach where the proposed upgrades must show a clear environmental benefit and potentially economic advantage for the grantee. The maximum grant amount of $2,000 per project highlights an emphasis on supporting numerous smaller-scale, impactful interventions rather than fewer large-scale projects, making the grants accessible to a wider range of microbusinesses. The expected outcomes and measurable results of these grants include both environmental and economic benefits. On the environmental front, the primary outcome is the reduction of emissions, contributing to local climate goals. Economically, businesses are expected to achieve financial savings due to decreased energy consumption. The requirement for proposed upgrades to have "demonstrable savings of energy usage and/or reduction of emissions" signifies a commitment to measurable impact, ensuring that the allocated funds lead to verifiable improvements. The program's design implicitly supports a theory of change where targeted financial assistance for energy efficiency upgrades directly leads to reduced environmental impact and improved economic resilience for small businesses in the local community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Washington, D.C. area to promote economic independence through education and development initiatives.

The Accelerating Community Connections grant, funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce's Community Reinvestment Project (CRP), is a community-designed initiative to invest $200 million into communities across Washington State that have been disproportionately harmed by the historical design and enforcement of criminal laws and penalties for drug possession, often referred to as the “war on drugs.” The Spokane Workforce Council (SWC) is seeking proposals from organizations to increase access to workforce system resources, specifically the EcSA program and Career Accelerator Incentives, for historically marginalized groups. This grant aligns with a mission to rectify historical injustices and foster stronger relationships between communities and workforce development resources. The primary target beneficiaries for this grant are Black, tribal, and Latine communities in Spokane County. The program specifically seeks to serve organizations that are "By-and-For," meaning they are part of, rooted in, and defined by the identity of these communities, with leadership and staff from these populations. The impact goals are to increase access to workforce system resources, provide more culturally specific services, and enhance cultural competence within the workforce system. The grant prioritizes organizations that build trust, advocate, respond, and solve problems specific to these communities, and have a proven track record as change agents and providers of community services. The grant focuses on several key areas, including increasing access to the EcSA program and Career Accelerator Incentives for the target populations. It also emphasizes fostering stronger relationships, incorporating the "voice of the customer" in program design, and providing services that are culturally specific and competent. The strategic priority is to work with "By-and-For" organizations to ensure that the services are delivered in a way that is relevant, effective, and builds trust within the communities most affected by historical injustices related to the "war on drugs." This approach is rooted in a theory of change that by empowering and funding community-led organizations, the program can more effectively address systemic inequities and provide meaningful support. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the participation of Black, tribal, and Latine individuals in workforce system resources, improved access to employment opportunities, and enhanced career mobility. The program also aims to strengthen community ties, increase the cultural competence of the workforce system, and ensure that program designs are inclusive and responsive to the needs of the target populations. Organizations can apply for up to $30,000, and funding can be broadly used for personnel, occupancy, outreach, travel, training, supplies, and direct client costs like support services to remove barriers. Reimbursement contracts require organizations to incur costs and submit monthly invoices.

This funding opportunity provides $2 million over two years to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Washington region that are dedicated to improving maternal and infant health equity for low-income and marginalized communities by addressing systemic barriers such as healthcare access, economic instability, and food insecurity.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit arts organizations in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church to create innovative projects that enhance community access to the arts and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This grant provides financial support to artists and arts organizations in the City of Fairfax to create inclusive and accessible cultural projects that enhance community engagement and artistic expression.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in targeted Houston neighborhoods to support community-led projects that enhance civic engagement, collaboration, and local leadership.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Northern Virginia focused on improving health and health equity, particularly for low-income and underserved communities, by strengthening their internal capacity and organizational development.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, local governments, and public schools in selected states to implement sustainability initiatives, workforce development, and community resilience programs that enhance the quality of life and economic vitality in their communities.

This program provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and local governments in the Mid-Atlantic region to host live performances and community engagement activities featuring artists, with a focus on accessibility and geographic diversity.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Richmond, Virginia area for projects in healthcare, education, human services, arts, culture, and religion.

This program provides financial support to colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations to promote outdoor recreational activities and engage diverse communities in nature experiences.

This funding opportunity supports projects in Virginia that tackle health inequities by fostering community engagement and collaboration to address systemic barriers and social determinants of health.

This grant provides unrestricted funding to small, BIPOC-led nonprofits in the Greater Washington region to promote financial security and support communities affected by racial and economic injustice.

This funding opportunity supports Virginia-based nonprofit organizations working on projects that enhance community well-being, safety, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Norfolk, Virginia, to promote diversity and access in the arts through expanded programming, educational initiatives, and performances at the historic Attucks Theatre.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit arts organizations in Augusta County, Virginia, to enhance community arts initiatives that engage diverse and underrepresented audiences.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for community groups and organizations in Arlington County to host activities and projects that foster neighborhood connections, promote diversity, and encourage civic engagement.

This grant provides funding for organizations to engage youth in environmental education and stewardship projects throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, focusing on hands-on learning and community action.