Environment Grants

The farmland preservation grant program provides funding to buy development rights on farmlands to ensure they remain available for farming in the future. Grant recipients also may use some of the funding to restore natural functions to improve the land's viability for farming. The program is part of the larger Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, which was created in 1990 to buy land for outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation, to keep pace with a growing population. In 2005, the state Legislature expanded the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to include preservation of significant farmland.

This program provides bicycle racks at little to no cost for commercial property owners in Palm Desert, promoting cycling and supporting local businesses while enhancing community infrastructure.

This funding initiative provides financial support to independently owned commercial businesses in Wheat Ridge for implementing environmentally sustainable improvements that reduce their ecological footprint.

This program provides financial support to residents and community groups in Papillion, Nebraska, for projects that strengthen neighborhood connections and improve local spaces.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) makes funds available to drinking water systems to pay for infrastructure improvements. This program is funded through federal and state money and subject to state laws and additional federal regulations. The program provides: Low-interest construction loans to publicly (municipal) and privately owned drinking water systems. These loans cover capital improvements that increase public health and compliance with drinking water regulations. Construction loan repayments can range from 20 to 30 years. In some cases, partial loan forgiveness is offered. Planning and engineering loans to cover preconstruction work and activities such as water system plans, engineering designs, and cultural reviews. Consolidation Feasibility Study grants allow larger Group A community water systems such as cities, town, counties, public utility districts, and water districts to determine feasibility and capital improvements needed to consolidate smaller or struggling water systems into their service area.

Progressive Multiplier offers grants, loans, and resources to progressive nonprofits, supporting them in scaling their projects and revenue generation efforts, with a focus on issues like clean energy, climate change, economic justice, and various rights, while also encouraging outreach across political divides.

This grant provides financial support for community-focused projects in Fulton County, Indiana, aimed at improving quality of life across various sectors such as education, health, and recreation.

We offer post-cleanup grants to local governments who independently clean up contamination under the Voluntary Cleanup Program. The purpose of Independent Remedial Action Grants (IRAGs) is to encourage and expedite cleanups and decrease the associated costs of cleanup for ratepayers and taxpayers. IRAGs are grants offered to local governments that independently clean up contamination under the Washington State Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) Voluntary Cleanup Program. These grants encourage and expedite cleanups, and decrease the associated costs of cleanup for ratepayers and taxpayers. Local governments are welcome to apply for this funding if they have 1) completed an independent cleanup through the Voluntary Cleanup Program, and 2) have received a determination of No Further Action from Ecology. IRAGs are just one of several “remedial action” grants and loans provided to local governments by Ecology. The grants and loans are used to investigate and clean up contaminated sites under Washington state’s environmental cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).

LIHEAP provides energy assistance to households in Washington through a network of community action agencies and local partners. These local organizations will help determine your eligibility and how much assistance you might receive. If you qualify, your local LIHEAP agency will send a payment directly to your energy utility on behalf of your household. LIHEAP primarily assists households by making an energy assistance grant directly to the energy provider on behalf of the eligible household. LIHEAP may also help repair or replace an unsafe, dysfunctional, and inoperative heating or cooling system in some situations. Households eligible for LIHEAP may also qualify to have their homes made more energy efficient through the Weatherization Program. The amount of money awarded to your household will depend on multiple factors. For example, each household’s size, income and annual heat cost will affect the amount of their LIHEAP grant. You’ll have to schedule a LIHEAP appointment with the provider in your community to find out how much you could receive.

This program provides funding to neighborhood groups in Ann Arbor for community-driven projects that promote sustainability and support the city's climate action initiatives.

City of Kettering’s Demolition Grant Program in Ohio offers financial assistance to commercial and residential property owners for the demolition of structures and clearance of sites to support redevelopment, economic development, removal of non-conforming structures, and elimination of blight. The program aims to remove blighting influences and their impact on adjacent properties, promote property maintenance responsibility, encourage sustainable property reuse, and ensure compliance with the city's Zoning Code.

This grant provides funding to small grassroots nonprofit organizations in Vermont, North Carolina, Southwest Virginia, and New York City that are focused on creating equitable solutions to social and environmental challenges.

Forestland preservation grants provide funding to lease or buy voluntary land preservation agreements (also called conservation easements) for forests to ensure they remain available for timber production in the future. Grant recipients also may use some of the funding to restore habitats in forests. The program is part of the larger Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, which was created in 1990 to conserve land for outdoor recreation and wildlife, to keep pace with a growing population. In 2016, the Legislature expanded the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to include preservation of forestland with the goal of supporting working forests that also provide habitat for wildlife, environmental benefits, and public access.

NBForward! is a small business assistance program administered by the New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC). It aims to help businesses navigate the challenges of the pandemic recovery phase while preparing for future growth. The program offers grants of up to $20,000, which must be matched with an NBEDC loan ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 with deferred payments for three months. In addition to financial assistance, technical support such as business planning and resource guidance is provided. Eligible applicants are for-profit businesses that have a physical location in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and have been in operation since at least January 1, 2020. Businesses must demonstrate continued adverse effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. Chains, franchises, liquor stores, tobacco shops, pawn shops, adult entertainment establishments, passive real estate investments, and businesses not complying with all local, state, and federal laws are ineligible.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations focused on education in the areas of art, culture, technology, and the environment, helping to develop the skills needed for the future workforce.

This program provides small grants to organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire that focus on improving community wellness, education, clean energy, diversity, equity, inclusion, and economic development.

This funding opportunity supports K–12 schools and nonprofit organizations in Emmet County, Michigan, by providing resources for nature-based educational experiences that connect students with the local environment.

This grant provides Virginia landowners who harvest timber with a tax credit for preserving streamside forest buffers, promoting water quality protection while incentivizing sustainable forestry practices.

This grant provides funding to established nonprofit organizations across the United States that focus on improving culture, education, health, and social services for diverse communities.

The Scherman Foundation's Core Fund for Strengthening New York Communities focuses on challenging inequities and improving the conditions of New York City communities in need. The grant program supports housing justice, equitable economic development, gender equity, worker rights, immigrant community challenges, sustainable development, and police and carceral system reform. It also provides support for policy reform organizations collaborating with neighborhood-based groups. The Foundation prioritizes general operating support for smaller neighborhood groups and offers project-specific support for larger and policy-focused organizations or collaborative campaigns.