Better Together Nature Positive Innovation Grant

The Better Together Nature Positive Innovation Grant program is administered by the PG&E Corporation Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, one of California’s largest utility providers and landowners. Given its extensive landholdings and operational footprint across the state, PG&E has a longstanding role in environmental stewardship. The Foundation’s grant program reflects a renewed commitment to protecting California’s natural environment, which faces increasing threats from climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource degradation. With approximately 30 percent of California’s species at risk of extinction, the program is positioned as a targeted investment in partnerships that support ecological resilience and sustainability across communities. The purpose of the grant program is to fund innovative projects that contribute to environmental stewardship across three key focus areas: land stewardship, air quality, and water stewardship. These areas reflect the most pressing environmental challenges affecting California’s ecosystems and communities. Funded projects are expected to support restoration, conservation, or improvement efforts that enhance habitat quality, protect biodiversity, or mitigate environmental risks. The program emphasizes both direct and indirect impacts of climate change, including effects on essential resources such as water availability, food systems, and ecosystem health. Funding for the program is structured as a competitive grant opportunity, with a total of 100000 dollars allocated in a prior cycle to support five projects, each representing one of PG&E’s five defined service regions. While specific award amounts per project are not explicitly detailed, the program is designed to support projects at various stages, including planning, design, construction, education, and coordination. This flexibility allows applicants to propose initiatives ranging from early-stage concept development to implementation and community engagement efforts. Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizational types, such as governmental entities, tribal governments, educational institutions, certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and public charities. However, applicants must apply directly as the grantee and are not permitted to act as fiscal sponsors for other organizations. Additionally, organizations that have received funding under this program in the previous three years are ineligible to apply. The program prioritizes projects that serve disadvantaged or vulnerable communities, aligning with broader equity and environmental justice goals. The application process requires submission through an online portal, with a strict deadline of July 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Applicants are advised to prepare their responses offline, as the system does not allow saving in-progress applications. Submissions must follow all provided guidelines and instructions, and applications submitted through alternative methods such as email will not be considered. Supporting materials such as application previews and FAQs are available to guide applicants, but only the official submission portal is accepted for final applications. Evaluation of proposals is based on the application questions and adherence to program guidelines. While specific scoring criteria are not detailed, the Foundation emphasizes compliance with instructions and alignment with focus areas. Projects are reviewed for their potential environmental impact, feasibility, and relevance to community needs. The Foundation also provides supplementary resources, including glossaries and sample materials, to assist applicants in preparing competitive proposals. The program operates on an annual cycle, with applications opening on May 27 and closing on July 3, followed by a review period and notification of selected grantees by October 2026. Each of the five PG&E regions will have one selected grantee, ensuring geographic distribution of funding. The initiative reflects an ongoing commitment to environmental investment and may continue in future cycles, although recurrence is not explicitly stated. The program ultimately seeks to foster collaborative, community-driven solutions that enhance environmental sustainability across California.

Prioritize alignment with land, air, or water stewardship focus areas and ensure strict adherence to submission instructions as non-compliant applications will not be reviewed