Community Grants Program

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I), led by the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), administers the Community Grants Program as part of its mission to make New York more sustainable for workers, communities, and the environment. Funded by the Environmental Protection Fund through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, NYSP2I collaborates with academic partners including Binghamton University, Clarkson University, Cornell University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as well as the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership, to expand the reach of pollution prevention solutions across the state. The Community Grants Program supports projects that promote pollution prevention (P2) awareness, understanding, and implementation at the local level. Pollution prevention, in this context, involves reducing or eliminating waste at the source by improving production processes, adopting non-toxic materials, enhancing resource efficiency, and reusing materials instead of discarding them. The goal of the program is to generate measurable community-level improvements in environmental quality, public health, and economic vitality through actionable and impactful projects. Eligible applicants include New York State-based community organizations, tribal nations and indigenous governance bodies, and local government agencies. Community organizations are broadly defined and may include nonprofits, academic institutions, neighborhood associations, environmental justice groups, community development corporations, public benefit corporations, unions, health centers, and others conducting the majority of their work within the state. Local agencies may include departments of public works, schools, libraries, planning boards, and tribal governments with jurisdiction over New York State land. Project proposals must meet several eligibility criteria. They must align with the definition of pollution prevention and include a direct implementation component beyond general awareness-building. Eligible implementation activities may include behavioral interventions, institutional or procurement policy changes, pilot programs, and service delivery initiatives that produce tangible outputs and measurable community impact. Projects must also include a well-defined plan, specific deliverables, and a clear timeline showing progress toward outcomes within the grant period. Planning-only projects are not eligible unless tied directly to actions during the grant term. Typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $30,000, with a maximum award of $30,000 per project. Funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis. While applicants may submit more than one proposal, each must represent a distinct project. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, though applicants are encouraged to collaborate with other organizations to broaden community impact and improve replicability. Funds may not be used for general planning without implementation or for recycling activities, which fall outside the pollution prevention definition. The application deadline for the 2026–2027 cycle is April 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Proposals will be evaluated based on clarity of goals and objectives, definition of outputs and outcomes, feasibility of the project plan and budget, and qualifications of the project team. The program provides resources to assist grantees, including invoicing guides and FAQs. Questions received during the application period will be addressed through publicly posted responses. For more information, applicants may contact Ambika Walker at apwgis@rit.edu or call 585-475-2512.

Clearly define goals, outputs, and metrics; ensure project feasibility and budget clarity; articulate team qualifications persuasively.