Georgia Environment Grants

This fully-funded program empowers Georgia-based entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders from underserved communities by enhancing their leadership skills and providing resources to scale their ventures and create local economic impact.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is inviting proposals for its Cumberland Plateau Stewardship Fund, aiming to restore and enhance critical forest, grassland, and freshwater habitats within the Cumberland Plateau region. This initiative aligns with NFWF's broader mission to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. The program's core strategy involves increasing the voluntary adoption of conservation practices on working agricultural lands, which contributes to NFWF’s strategic priority of supporting wildlife and improving ecological health through sustainable land management. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are the diverse habitats and species within the Cumberland Plateau, as well as landowners and communities in the region who will adopt conservation practices. The impact goals are multifaceted, seeking to improve soil health, water quantity and quality, and carbon sequestration. Ultimately, the program aims to foster resilient ecosystems that support both wildlife and sustainable human activities. The foundation's theory of change is predicated on the idea that by providing financial and technical assistance, they can incentivize conservation practices that lead to measurable environmental improvements and long-term ecological benefits. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly outlined through its program strategies. These include restoring previously mined lands, increasing the adoption of conservation practices on grazing and croplands, establishing, enhancing, and maintaining forest habitats, and restoring instream habitats to support aquatic species. A significant focus is also placed on expanding and coordinating technical assistance and outreach to landowners, recognizing the importance of local engagement and support for successful implementation of conservation efforts. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in acres of restored habitats, improved water quality metrics, enhanced soil health, and greater carbon sequestration. The program anticipates awarding approximately $2.8 million in grants in 2024, with individual grant awards ranging from $250,000 to $750,000. Projects are expected to have a completion time of 24-48 months. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations, state and local governments, Tribal Governments, and educational institutions, with a preference for projects within identified focal areas of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. The program’s success will be measured by the extent to which these conservation practices are adopted and the subsequent environmental benefits realized across the Cumberland Plateau.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is seeking proposals for its Southeast Aquatics Fund to voluntarily conserve aquatic habitats in the southeastern United States and Texas. This grant program directly aligns with NFWF's mission to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, and plants. The fund's priorities are informed by the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, adopted in 2018 and updated in 2023, which aims to conserve the extraordinary biodiversity across the Southeast. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are aquatic ecosystems and the diverse array of species that inhabit them, particularly those identified as focal species in the Conasauga River (GA) and Middle Coosa (AL) watersheds. These include various endemic and native fishes like the Alabama shiner, banded sculpin, blue shiner, and trispot darter. The impact goal is to advance specific goals and objectives of the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan and other relevant conservation plans, ultimately leading to healthier aquatic habitats. The program prioritizes work in northern Alabama and Georgia due to measurement and monitoring constraints, with funding available for a wide range of activities in the Conasauga River (GA) and Locust Fork and Middle Coosa (AL) watersheds. Projects benefiting the focal species in these areas will receive priority. The strategic priorities of the NFWF, as evidenced by the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, emphasize a suite of aquatic species as indicators of healthy aquatic habitats in prioritized watersheds, reflecting a theory of change that by protecting these indicator species, the broader ecosystem health will improve. Expected outcomes include the conservation of aquatic habitat, the advancement of specific goals outlined in the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, and positive impacts on focal species populations. While not explicitly detailed as "measurable results" in the provided text, the focus on indicator species suggests that the health and population trends of these species would serve as key metrics for success. Projects are anticipated to have a completion time of 24–36 months, with grant awards ranging from $150,000 to $500,000 from approximately $8.45 million available in 2024.

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) Education Grants program is designed to fund education and outreach activities that benefit the sustainable agriculture community. This grant directly aligns with SSARE's mission to promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, agricultural diversification, and best management practices. The core objective is to support projects that develop sustainable agriculture systems or move existing systems towards sustainability. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are farmers and farming communities, including those involved in indigenous agriculture producing for community food systems. Academic institutions, non-profits, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), 1890 land-grant university faculty/extension cooperators, 1862 land-grant universities, other colleges and universities, and government agencies are eligible to apply, acting as facilitators for these educational initiatives. The impact goals are centered on fostering a more sustainable, resilient, and economically viable agricultural sector through knowledge dissemination and practical application. Education Grants prioritize projects that clearly articulate what is being taught, to whom, and how the goals will be accomplished. Focus areas include experiential learning (demonstrations, on-farm tours, field days, workshops), integrative approaches (conferences, seminars, course curriculum), and reinforcement methods (fact sheets, bulletins, videos, online technologies). SSARE also encourages proposals on quality of life topics, such as heirs property, farmers’ markets, food hubs, local/regional processing, and urban agriculture systems, emphasizing the social health of farming systems. Expected outcomes include the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, enhanced farmer innovation, increased community resilience, improved business success for agricultural enterprises, and greater agricultural diversification. Projects should yield results that are realistic, acceptable to farmers, logical, and capable of leading to tangible actions and benefits described in the proposal. The grant projects are strictly focused on education and outreach, with no research component, and are paid by reimbursement of allowable expenses. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in the grant requirements, which mandate that project outcomes focus on sustainable agriculture systems and clearly demonstrate how education and outreach efforts will be implemented and evaluated. The theory of change underpinning this program is that by providing targeted education and outreach, knowledge and best practices will be transferred to farmers and communities, leading to the development and widespread adoption of sustainable agricultural methods and improved quality of life within farming systems. Project maximums are $50,000, with a duration limited to two years. Applicants from the Southern region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are eligible. Farmers involved in these projects must have farming/ranching as their primary occupation or part-time farming with at least $1,000 of documented annual income from their operation, with exceptions for indigenous agriculture.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects that provide employment and training for young adults and veterans, helping them gain experience in environmental stewardship and resource management on public lands.

This grant provides funding for research institutions to study the endangered Everglade snail kite's demographics, movement, and habitat in relation to water management practices in Florida's Everglades ecosystem.

This funding opportunity is designed for organizations in specific CESU regions to assist the U.S. Army in managing and rehabilitating training lands at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia, while promoting environmental sustainability and military readiness.

This program provides funding to support tree planting and urban forestry projects in disadvantaged communities across Georgia, promoting long-term environmental benefits.

The 2025 Community Grants program, offered by the Community Foundation for the CSRA, invites applications from organizations dedicated to serving individuals in specific counties of Georgia and South Carolina. This program directly aligns with the Foundation's mission to support various community needs, encompassing arts/culture/history, education/youth enrichment, health/environmental, and people in need. The Foundation seeks to foster innovative and high-quality programs that deliver positive, tangible impacts within these strategic areas, ultimately aiming for community betterment and individual empowerment. The target beneficiaries for this grant program are individuals residing in Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina, and Burke, Columbia, Richmond, and McDuffie counties in Georgia. The Foundation aims to achieve significant impact goals, such as enhancing cultural and historical engagement, providing educational and enrichment opportunities for disadvantaged children, youth, and adults, improving health and environmental outcomes, and offering essential human services to vulnerable populations. Through these grants, the Foundation intends to address critical community challenges and improve the quality of life for residents in its service area. The program prioritizes several key areas. In arts, culture, and history, it encourages innovative and high-quality initiatives. For education and youth enrichment, the focus is on programs that provide educational opportunities and skills training for disadvantaged individuals, including job skill training, after-school programs, leadership development, tutoring, GED, and literacy initiatives. Within health and environmental, the Foundation supports areas such as environmental research, animal services, sustainable gardens, medical clinics, drug rehabilitation, and programs for individuals with disabilities and mental illness. Finally, the "People in Need" category broadly supports human service programs, including those addressing hunger, housing insecurity, financial assistance, homelessness, and re-entry programs for recently incarcerated individuals. The expected outcomes of the Community Grants program include a measurable increase in access to educational resources, improved health indicators, enhanced cultural participation, and greater support for vulnerable populations. For instance, educational programs are expected to lead to improved literacy rates or job placement success. Health initiatives anticipate better access to medical services or environmental conservation efforts. Programs for people in need are expected to provide stable housing, food security, or financial independence. The Foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in these critical areas through local organizations, it can foster a stronger, more resilient, and equitable community for all residents within its geographic focus. Requests for funding should not exceed $15,000 to maximize the reach of the grants.

The Climate Solutions & Equity Grant program, initiated by Drawdown Georgia, is designed to accelerate the organization's core mission: to advance achievable climate solutions while prioritizing equity across the state of Georgia. This grant directly aligns with Drawdown Georgia's broader strategic priorities by focusing on tangible, scalable climate actions that simultaneously address social disparities. The program's theory of change posits that by investing in and empowering under-invested BIPOC communities, climate solutions can be effectively scaled, leading to both environmental improvements and enhanced community well-being. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are under-invested Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in Georgia. The program explicitly recognizes the present-day legacy of enslavement and colonialism in the state, and therefore strongly encourages applications from and for Black and Indigenous communities. The impact goal is to fund projects that not only scale climate solutions but also actively prioritize equity, ensuring that these historically disinvested communities benefit directly from the proposed work and are centered in its implementation. The grant prioritizes projects that will focus on 10 specific climate solutions: Alternative Transportation, Composting, Climate Smart Agriculture, Energy Efficiency Improvements, Food Waste Reduction, Large Scale Solar, Plant Based Diet, Rooftop Solar, Tree planting, and Wetlands Protection. These solutions were selected based on their fit with the capabilities, budgets, and social capital of nonprofit organizations and networks that the grant aims to support. The program seeks to fund a cohort of projects from across Georgia that demonstrate a commitment to these communities and have BIPOC leadership within their staff, programs, and/or board of directors. Expected outcomes include the scaling of climate solutions within under-invested BIPOC communities across Georgia, leading to measurable environmental benefits and improved social equity. The grant anticipates funding up to five two-year projects, with individual grants potentially reaching up to $100,000 per year. Measurable results will be tied to the implementation and success of projects centered around the 10 identified climate solutions, with an emphasis on how these initiatives directly benefit the target communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to government entities and educational institutions in Georgia for implementing strategies outlined in the Regional Water Plans, requiring a matching contribution from applicants.

The Clayton County Tourism Authority (CCTA) FY24 Tourism Grant Program is designed to bolster visitor and tourism promotional efforts and enhance tourism product development within Clayton County, Georgia. This grant program is administered by the CCTA, utilizing funds derived from a portion of the local hotel/motel tax. The core mission alignment is to foster local economic impact by increasing tourism, specifically through heightened visitation from outside the Clayton County area and by elevating the county's appeal as a destination. The program targets entities such as not-for-profits, governmental, or quasi-governmental organizations that have demonstrated at least one year of fiscal operation and represent ongoing, sustainable operations. Beneficiaries must be located in Clayton County, or if a festival/event, it must take place within the county. The primary impact goal is to increase the number of overnight visitors to Clayton County from outside the area, thereby generating economic benefits and enhancing the county's destination appeal. The grant program prioritizes initiatives that support Clayton County's key tourism drivers, which include African American History and Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, the local and international Culinary Scene, and Film Festivals. Special consideration is given to projects that align with these drivers and the CCTA's strategic priorities and target audiences. Allowable expenses cover the development of new events or major exhibits, out-of-market tourism advertising and marketing (considered 50+ miles outside Clayton County), production costs for media advertising, photography, videography, website and social media development, and professional marketing services, with a cap of 10% on postage expenses. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in tourism and visitor engagement, leading to enhanced local economic impact. The CCTA's strategic approach is to fund marketing, product development, and other qualified expenses that directly contribute to attracting more external visitors. This theory of change posits that by investing in targeted promotional activities and tourism product enhancements, the county will become a more attractive destination, resulting in greater visitation and sustained economic growth. Applicants are expected to demonstrate the ability to execute their projects and provide a sponsorship benefits package equivalent to the grant funds received, ensuring a reciprocal benefit for the CCTA.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

The Greenville Zoo Conservation Grants program is designed to support and promote conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all living things, directly aligning with the foundation's mission of promoting conservation and sustainability, seeking knowledge through science, and collaborating to maximize impact. This program is funded through the “Quarters for Conservation” initiative and supports both local conservation projects in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, as well as national and international endeavors. The target beneficiaries are free-ranging wildlife and their habitats, as well as communities and individuals who can be educated or empowered in conservation. The program aims for several impact goals, including the long-term survival of species in natural ecosystems, increased public awareness and appreciation of wildlife conservation issues, and the transfer of conservation skills and technology. Expected outcomes include a reduction in human-wildlife conflict, successful reintroduction programs, improved water quality, and the creation of new conservation leaders. The program prioritizes projects focusing on Field Conservation, Conservation Research, and Conservation Education. Local projects receive preferred funding, and greater weight is given to applications addressing species and habitats at risk. This strategic focus ensures that resources are directed to areas with the most urgent needs and potential for significant impact, reflecting the zoo's commitment to protecting vulnerable ecosystems and species. The funding structure includes a New Grants Program for first-time applicants, offering $300 to $1,500, and a Continuing Grants Program for established partners, providing up to $3,500. This tiered approach supports both emerging and ongoing conservation initiatives, fostering long-term relationships with successful grantees. The overall theory of change is that by investing in scientific research, education, and direct field action, the program can collectively contribute to a more sustainable future for wildlife and natural habitats.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. states, territories, and eligible Indian tribes for implementing approved plans to prevent and manage invasive aquatic species.

The Middle South Georgia Conservation District, a legal subdivision of the state of Georgia established in 1945, offers the Environmental and Agricultural Education Grant to promote education related to agriculture and natural resources within its nine-county service area. The grant supports educators from Pre-K to 12th grade and agricultural or natural resources-based entities in Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties. Applicants can request up to $1,000 for projects including tools, books, software, lab equipment, field trips, and the development of natural resource areas. Applications are due by September 30, 2024.

The CIG Program is a competitive pass-through subgrant program made possible by a grant to Georgia DNR from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through Congressional funding pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act. These subgrants may be awarded to qualified county and municipal governments, regional commissions, state-affiliated research or educational institutions, or state agencies (except GDNR), provided the project takes place entirely within the eleven-county service area of the program. The CIG Program service area includes Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Charlton, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne counties.

The Richard C. Munroe Foundation Grant Program is currently accepting applications, with a deadline of August 15, 2024. This program, offered by The Richard C. Munroe Foundation, provides grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, although typical grants are between $3,000 and $15,000. The foundation's mission aligns with supporting specific project or capital need expenses, rather than operating expenses, emphasizing a strategic use of limited funds and a preference against guaranteed future participation. The foundation primarily targets small organizations or programs with a minimum of three years of operational history. Beneficiaries include those involved in human services, particularly programs for at-risk youth and the impoverished, as well as arts programs that aid the at-risk population, and environmental initiatives. The foundation aims for the grants to serve as leverage, enabling recipients to successfully solicit funds from larger charitable organizations, thereby maximizing their impact. Geographically, the Richard C. Munroe Foundation prefers to focus on the metro Atlanta area to facilitate monitoring of recipients, unless a board member has specific information regarding an organization requesting a grant outside this area. This strategic focus ensures closer oversight and more effective deployment of resources. The grant's specific focus areas are human services, arts, and environment, all with an underlying goal of aiding vulnerable populations and fostering community well-being. Expected outcomes include the successful completion of specific projects or capital improvements by recipient organizations. While not explicitly detailed as measurable results, the foundation's preference for funding tangible needs suggests an expectation of observable progress and sustained impact within the communities served. By supporting smaller, established organizations, the foundation seeks to empower them to grow and attract further funding, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

This funding opportunity is designed for organizations in specific regions to conduct research and monitoring of wood stork reproduction in the Everglades, focusing on the impacts of hydrological changes on their populations.

The Youth Climate Action Fund, sponsored by the City of Atlanta in partnership with 21st Century Leaders, aims to activate young people aged 15-24 to develop, implement, and govern climate solutions within their communities. This initiative aligns with the city's broader sustainability, clean energy, and climate resilience goals, emphasizing youth leadership and innovation in addressing urgent environmental challenges. The program seeks to foster a generation of climate-conscious leaders by providing them with the resources and opportunities to create tangible impact. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are Atlanta youth between 15 and 24 years old, who can apply individually or as groups. The program's impact goals are centered on empowering these young individuals to become active participants in climate action, leading to a more sustainable and resilient city. Through their projects, the fund aims to increase climate awareness, promote adaptation and mitigation efforts, and encourage co-governed climate action plans that integrate youth perspectives into policy and decision-making processes. The program prioritizes projects that demonstrate youth-led innovations in several key areas. These include awareness, education, research, and development initiatives such as climate education programs, hackathons, surveys, and public art campaigns. It also focuses on youth-driven climate mitigation and adaptation projects like community gardening, tree planting, waste reduction programs, and disaster preparedness workshops. Furthermore, the fund supports co-governed youth climate action plans, fostering partnerships between city leaders and youth groups to inform climate-related policy and establish youth climate ambassadors or advisory boards. Expected outcomes include a significant increase in youth engagement in climate solutions, with tens of thousands of young people participating in designing and governing projects. Measurable results will stem from the microgrant program, awarding grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to eligible projects. The success of the program will be evaluated by the demonstrated impact of these youth-led initiatives on local sustainability, clean energy, and climate resilience goals, as well as the development of youth-focused activities like a youth climate action summit. The fund's strategic priority is to integrate youth voice and action into the core of Atlanta's climate strategy, embodying a theory of change where empowered youth are catalysts for meaningful and lasting environmental improvements.