Funding
The Tribal Climate Change Funding Guide is intended to provide up-to-date information on grants, programs and plans that may assist tribes in addressing climate change through a broad range of sectors. We will update this guide regularly, so please check back often. If you have questions or updates for this guide, email: kathy@uoregon.edu. Please note that for entries that are accepting applications continuously, the grant deadline column will list "12/31/2024" as the grant deadline. This ensures that those grants will appear immediately after those grants with a set deadline.
Title | Organization Sort ascending | Grant Deadline | Description | Funding Amount | Geography | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Individual Water & Wastewater Grants | USDA | Applications accepted continuously. The purpose of this grant is to provide water and waste disposal facilities and services to low income rural communities whose residents face significant health risks. Every effort is made to identify and fund the neediest projects. This program is only eligible in states with Colonias, and those are Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Categories: Adaptation, Water, Health, Natural Resources |
Generally, applicants are expected to borrow as much as they can afford to repay, as in the regular loan program. However, water and waste disposal systems can obtain up to 100 percent grants to construct basic drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste disposal and storm drainage to serve the residents. | Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas | Link | |
Alaska Native-Service and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program | USDA | Deadline Passed. Latest deadline: March 28, 2023. The purpose of this program is to promote and strengthen the ability of Alaska Native-Serving Institutions and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs in food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines. Priority will be given to those projects that enhance educational equity for underrepresented students; strengthen institutional educational capacities; prepare students for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States; and maximize the development and use of resources to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs. Learn more here. Categories: Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, agricultural sciences, career development, equity, youth |
$150,000 - 1,000,000 | Alaska, Hawaii | Link | |
Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants | USDA | Rolling deadline. Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. This program helps increase American energy independence by increasing the private sector supply of renewable energy and decreasing the demand for energy through energy efficiency improvements. Over time, these investments can also help lower the cost of energy for small businesses and agricultural producers. Categories: rural development, infrastructure, renewable energy, sustainable |
Unrestricted Grants (up to $500,000) | National | Link | |
Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Applications accepted continuously. Provides grants to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects. Grant recipients supervise groups of very-low- and low-income individuals and families as they construct their own homes in rural areas. The group members provide most of the construction labor on each other’s homes, with technical assistance from the organization overseeing the project. Funds may be used to:Give technical and supervisory assistance to participating familiesHelp other organizations provide self-help technical and supervisory assistanceRecruit families, help them complete loan applications and carry out other related activities that enable them to participate Categories: housing, rural areas, low-income communities, technical assistance |
varies | Rural Areas | Link |
Rural Business Development Grants | USDA | Deadline Passed. Most Recent Deadline February 28, 2024. Application deadlines vary by state. Check with your local program staff. RBDG is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or opportunity type grant activities. Categories: small business, rural business, family-owned, private business, rural communities |
Grants range from $10,000 up to $500,000. | United States | Link | |
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program | USDA | Deadline passed as of June 28, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area RFA focuses on the societal challenge to adapt agroecosystems and natural resource systems to climate variability and change and implement mitigation strategies in those systems. In the Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area RFA, specific program areas are designed to achieve the long-term outcome of reducing the use of energy, nitrogen, reducing GHG emissions from practices, and water in the production of food, feed, fiber, and fuel; reduce GHG emissions from these agroecosystems; and increase carbon sequestration. Project types supported by AFRI within this RFA include multi-function integrated research, education, and/or extension projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Categories: Education, Natural Resources, Research, Adaptation, Mitigation, Land, Health, Energy, Water |
Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
Local Food Purchase Assistance Program | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 5, 2022. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will establish cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments for the purpose of supporting local, regional, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers through food purchasing under the Build Back Better Initiative. These cooperative agreements will allow for entities to procure local, domestic foods that are unique to their geographic area and meet the needs of the populations. In addition to increasing local food consumption, funds are expected to help build and expand economic opportunity for local and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers. Learn more and apply here. Categories: Food assistance, economic opportunity, food storage, food distribution |
National | Link | ||
Intermediary Relending Program | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Applications accepted year round. This program provides 1 percent low-interest loans to local intermediaries that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create jobs in rural communities. Categories: rural communities, local economy, jobs, development |
$250,000; or 75 % of the total cost of the ultimate recipient's project for which the loan is being made, whichever is less. | Rural Areas | Link |
Conservation Stewardship Program | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Applications accepted continuously. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance—the higher the performance, the higher the payment. Categories: Stewardship, Conservation, IRA |
Varies | All 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean and Pacific Island areas. | Link |
Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 8, 2022. The Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program provides funds for improving the farm management knowledge and skills of agricultural producers by maintaining and expanding a national, publicly available farm financial management database to support improved farm management. Learn more and apply here. Categories: Farm business, agriculture, financial management |
Up to $500,000 | National | Link | |
Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 3, 2023. This program assists in the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies for the development of Advanced Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, and Biobased Product Manufacturing by providing loan guarantees for up to $250 million. Categories: biofuels, renewable chemicals, biobased products, renewable energy, manufacturing, development |
Varies | National | Link | |
Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) FY 2019 | USDA | Deadline Passed 06/10/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Rural Housing Service (Agency), an Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program. Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the Federal grant. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development that will support the community. Categories: rural development, tribal housing, facilities, development projects, non-profit housing, economic development, infrastructure, capacity building |
$50,000-$250,000 | United States | Link | |
USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans | USDA | The USDA Rural Business Cooperative-Service Agency is accepting applications for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans to assist agricultural producers and rural small businesses with evaluating energy efficiency and the potential to incorporate renewable energy technologies into their operations. Categories: Renewable energy, Agriculture, small businesses |
Unknown | National, agriculture & small rural business | Link | |
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Applications are accepted year round. Provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:Provide microloans to help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving FundProvide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs Categories: business development, rural areas, microenterprise |
Up to $50,000 | Rural Areas | Link |
AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities | USDA | Last deadline: January 19, 2023. The AgrAbility program increases the likelihood that farmers, ranchers, farm workers and farm family members with disabilities will experience success in agricultural production. The program supports projects between State Cooperative Extension System and private, non-profit disability organizations who work in partnership to provide agricultural education and assistance directed at accommodating disability in farm operations for individuals with disabilities, and their families, who engage in farming and farm-related occupations. Categories: agriculture, equity, inclusion, social justice, disability services |
$150,000 - $180,000 | National | Link | |
Business and Industry Loan Guarantees | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Rolling Deadline. This program bolsters the availability of private credit by guaranteeing loans for rural businesses. Categories: Rural areas, business development, credit, local economy |
Up to $25 million | Rural Areas | Link |
USDA Housing Preservation Grants | USDA | Deadline Passed. Latest Deadline: July 11, 2022. The USDA is seeking applications for grants to preserve and repair housing for very-low- and low-income families living in rural areas. The funds are being made available through USDA Rural Development's Housing Preservation Grant program. USDA does not provide funding directly to homeowners under this program. Categories: Infrastructure, public health, rural housing |
Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for FY22 (Alaska) | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 11, 2022. This funding seeks to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in the state of Alaska. A total of up to $415,000 is available for the Alaska (State) CIG competition in FY 2022. Learn more and apply here. Categories: Conservation, innovation, Alaska, technology |
$5,000 - 415,000 | Alaska | Link | |
Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program | USDA | Deadline passed. Modt recent deadline: June 6, 2022. The Rural Cooperative Development Grant program helps improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping non-profit corporations or higher education institutions in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through cooperative development. Categories: Rural Development, Economic development, Business Development, Community Development, management, infrastructure, local economy, |
Maximum Grant Amount up to $200,000 | National | Link | |
Risk Management Education Partnership Program | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 24, 2023. The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to deliver crop insurance education and risk management training to U.S. agricultural producers to assist them in identifying and managing production, marketing, legal, financial, and human risk. Categories: climate change, human health, sustainability, agriculture, economy, management, planning, policy |
$5,000 - $300,000 | National | Link | |
Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans | USDA | Applications accepted year round. This program provides competitive financing for affordable multi-family rental housing for low-income, elderly, or disabled individuals and families in eligible rural areas. This program assists qualified applicants that cannot obtain commercial credit on terms that will allow them to charge rents that are affordable to low-income tenants. Categories: housing, rural communities, multi-family housing, improvement, development |
varies | Rural Areas | Link | |
Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP) | USDA | The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP) encourages private landowners to voluntarily make their land available to the public for wildlife-dependent recreation. States and tribes approved for funding of this Farm Service Agency (FSA) program use the funds as incentives to encourage private landowners of farms, ranches, and forests to make that land available to the public for wildlife-dependent recreation. This may include hunting or fishing. The overall goal of VPA-HIP is to enhance wildlife habitat and management and to boost local economies through activities that attract wildlife enthusiasts. Categories: Conservation, recreation |
varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
USDA Community Connect Grants | USDA | Deadline passed. The next application window expected to open early 2023. The Community Connect program serves rural communities where broadband service is least likely to be available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for citizens. The projects funded by these grants will help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the Internet. Categories: Development, Internet |
varies | National, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, Alaska | Link | |
Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees | USDA | 12/31/2024 | This program accepts applications on a continuous basis. The program works with qualified private-sector lenders to provide financing to qualified borrowers to increase the supply of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in eligible rural areas and towns. Construction, improvement and purchase of multi-family rental housing for low to moderate income families and individuals is the primary objective for this program. Funding may also be available for:Buying and improving landProviding necessary infrastructureFor a complete list see Code of Federal Regulations, 7CFR Part 3565.205 Categories: housing, rural communities, development, infrastructure |
varies | Rural Areas | Link |
USDA Local Foods, Local Places Program (Obama Admin Archives) | USDA | Grant deadline unknown for 2016. Communities are invited to apply for assistance from Local Foods, Local Places, a new program supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) to help create more livable places by promoting local foods. Priorities given to communities within Appalachia and surrounding regions, see application for more details. Categories: public health, Agriculture, food justice, sustainability, human health, disease, local, economy |
Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
Rural Housing Site Loans | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Applications accepted year round. Rural Housing site loans provide two types of loans to purchase and develop housing sites for low- and moderate-income families:Section 523 loans are used to acquire and develop sites only for housing to be constructed by the Self-Help method. Refer to RD Instruction 1944-I for more information about the Self-Help programSection 524 loans are made to acquire and develop sites for low- or moderate-income families, with no restriction as to the method of construction. Low-income is defined as between 50-80% of the area median income (AMI); the upper limit for moderate income is $5,500 above the low-income limit Categories: housing, rural communities, development |
Varies | Rural Areas | Link |
REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Rolling Deadlines. REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program.Refer to Application Package AND Application Instruction links to obtain all necessary forms for a complete application Categories: Renewable energy, Infrastructure, Development, IRA |
Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | Link |
Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee | USDA | Deadline Passed 09/30/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program (Broadband Program) furnishes loans and loan guarantees to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide service at the broadband lending speed in eligible rural areas. For more information on other programs administered by RUS Telecommunications please visit : http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/telecom-programs. Broadband loans provide funding on a technology-neutral basis for financing:The construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities required to provide service at the broadband lending speed including facilities required for providing other services through the same facilitiesThe cost of leasing facilities required to provide service at the broadband Lending speed if such lease qualifies as a capital lease under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)An acquisition, under certain circumstances and with restrictionsFor additional detail see 7 CFR 1738 Categories: broadband access, internet, implementation, development, rural communities |
varies | Rural Areas | Link | |
USDA Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants | USDA | The USDA Rural Business Cooperative-Service Agency is accepting applications for Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance grants to establish programs to assist agricultural producers and rural small businesses with evaluating energy efficiency and the potential to incorporate renewable energy technologies into their operations. Categories: Renewable energy, Agriculture, small businesses |
Unspecified | National | Link | |
Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Applications accepted year round. This program provides financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas. For more information on other programs administered by RUS Telecommunications please visit : http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/telecom-programs Categories: telecommunications, infrastructure, development, broadband, construction, rural communities |
varies | Rural Areas | Link |
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