Healthy Environment for All Act Community Capacity Grants

The Healthy Environment for All Community Capacity Grant is administered by the Washington State Department of Health as part of the state’s implementation of the Healthy Environment for All Act, which was enacted in 2021. The Act is designed to reduce environmental and health disparities and improve overall public health outcomes across Washington state, particularly for communities that have historically experienced disproportionate environmental burdens. The program is funded through Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, a cap-and-invest system that generates revenue to support climate resilience, emissions reduction, and environmental justice initiatives. This grant program focuses on strengthening the capacity of community-based organizations and Tribal entities to engage in environmental justice activities and decision-making processes. Its primary purpose is to support communities most impacted by environmental hazards in collaborating with state agencies on environmental health policies, programs, and data tools. Target populations include Native Nations, urban Native populations, Black and other BIPOC communities, rural populations, youth, low-income individuals, unhoused individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities, and others vulnerable to climate-related impacts. The funding structure includes two main types of awards: project funding and passthrough funding. Project funding awards of 100000 dollars were provided to support specific initiatives that enable organizations to contribute input on Environmental Justice Council implementation, updates to the Environmental Health Disparities Map, and agency-level implementation of the HEAL Act. Passthrough funding awards of 500000 dollars were granted to selected organizations that distribute subawards to smaller community-based groups, thereby expanding reach and engagement across impacted populations. These funds are intended to support equitable engagement, capacity building, and participation in environmental justice processes. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations and Tribal entities, with Tribal governments receiving access to funding through a separate non-competitive application process. The Tribal application process remains open through June 30, 2026. While the competitive awards for community organizations have already been distributed for the current cycle, the structure of the program suggests ongoing or recurring funding opportunities tied to legislative appropriations and Climate Commitment Act revenues. The application and selection process for competitive awards involved a review by a community advisory committee, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and alignment with environmental justice priorities. Applicants were permitted to apply individually or in partnership with other organizations. For passthrough funding recipients, additional responsibilities include administering subawards and maintaining oversight to ensure equitable distribution and compliance with program goals. Although detailed submission components and evaluation scoring criteria are not explicitly outlined in the provided material, the program clearly prioritizes community engagement, collaboration with state agencies, and contributions to environmental justice planning and implementation. Awardees are expected to work closely with Department of Health staff throughout the funding period to ensure alignment with program objectives and reporting requirements. The program operates on a multi-year funding cycle, with the current award period covering 2025 through 2027. While exact future deadlines for competitive applications are not specified, the presence of an open Tribal application deadline and legislative backing indicates the likelihood of recurring funding opportunities. Interested organizations are encouraged to monitor Department of Health communications and engage with passthrough recipients for additional subgrant opportunities.

Focus on demonstrating community engagement, alignment with environmental justice priorities, and ability to collaborate with state agencies