Funding

Honor the Earth programs focus on nurturing resilience in indigenous communities who are faced with daunting environmental and social realities. Resilience theory is a discussion in academic and environmenal arenas about how communities and societies will adapt to climate change. Our Building Resilience in Indigenous Communities Initiative focuses on two areas: Food Sovereignty and Energy Justice. In specific, Honor the Earth will fund restoration of indigenous food systems in Native communities, and Energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Native communities. We work to support and forward the development of culturally-based, indigenous solutions to climate change and peak oil based on re-localizing food and energy economies. We also hope to foster restoration of traditional knowledge as a key adaptation and mitigation strategy to ensure a safe and healthy future for our children and the next seven generations. Honor the Earth is currently accepting applications on an ongoing basis.  Please check their site to ensure you the have the most up-to-date information. 

Categories: Environmental Justice, Energy, Adaptation, Agriculture, Mitigation, Health

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: August 26, 2022. In collaboration with Tahoma Peak Solutions, a Native woman-owned firm focused on empowering and building up communities in Indian Country, Newman’s Own Foundation has issued a request for proposals built on the strengths of Native communities to enhance nutrition security for Native youth. Examples of projects include but are not limited to: coalition building and goal setting; advocacy, education, and relationship building with key stakeholders and policy makers; gardens at youth centers and schools; youth culture camps focusing on traditional foods and/or gardening; educational sessions on traditional food cultures, harvesting, processing, and foodways; internship programs that develop Native youth leadership; support for Native youth attendance at relevant conferences or convenings; development of related programming at meetings or conferences; and films, storytelling, and art related to Native youth and food. The deadline to submit the eligibility quiz is August 26, 2022, with applications due September 15, 2022. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Agriculture, food security, traditional foods, youth

Deadline for 2018 past. Deadline for 2019 unknown. The 2018-2019 Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program grant cycle will give priority to applicants who request funding for outreach and education projects (i.e. Fire Adaptive Communities, Firewise, Ready, Set, Go) that encourage reducing wildfire risk on private lands and can show a direct benefit to BLM lands. The program is also encouraging CWPP updates for plans that are more than five years old. Requirements for CWPP updates are included with the program information. A limited number of hazardous fuel reduction projects will be considered and should focus on treatments to private lands with a direct benefit to BLM lands.

Categories: wildfire, risk reduction, BLM lands, education, hazards

Network for Landscape Conservation 2025 Catalyst Fund Request for Proposals. Most Recent deadline: May 16, 2025. The purpose of the Catalyst Fund is to accelerate the pace and practice of landscape conservation and stewardship across the United States. The Fund makes strategic investments in strengthening the collaborative capacity of place-based, community-grounded Landscape Partnerships. Through generous support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Catalyst Fund will distribute approximately $400,000 this year through competitive grants to Landscape Partnerships that stand at pivotal points in their development. Funded Partnerships will also be invited to participate in a two-year peer learning program.  A portion of the Catalyst Fund is dedicated to supporting Indigenous leadership in landscape conservation and stewardship. We especially invite Partnerships that are led by Tribes and/or Indigenous organizations and communities to apply. For more information, visit: https://landscapeconservation.org/catalyst-fund/

Categories: Landscape conservation, collaboration, capacity-building

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: May 16, 2023. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Preservation and Access is accepting applications for the Cultural and Community Resilience program. This program supports community-based efforts to mitigate climate change and COVID-19 pandemic impacts, safeguard cultural resources, and foster cultural resilience through identifying, documenting, and/or collecting cultural heritage and community experience. The program prioritizes projects from disadvantaged communities in the United States or its jurisdictions, and NEH encourages applications that employ inclusive methodologies. The deadline has been extended. Apply here.

Categories: cultural heritage, community, resilience

Most recent deadline: July 17, 2024. Applicants must first register before July 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. US CST to ensure a timely submission. Community Self-Determination Grants are intended to support community-based and community- driven sustainable solutions in all three of NDN Collective’s core strategies to Defend, Develop and Decolonize. Grants are intended to  support and invest in the long-term visions, sustainability, and power building of Indigenous Nations, communities and Indigenous-led organizations, fortifying the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples to create a just, equitable, and sustainable world for all people and the planet. Significant, flexible, multi-year funding will include the infusion of general operating support, power building, capital and holistic support for comprehensive initiatives and specific programs.

Categories: decolonization, resilience, sustainability, community, culture

NDN Collective Community Action Fund. Grant funds for 2025 have been expended and will re-open January 2026. The 2025 Community Action Fund Grant Cycle is Now Open! With grants up to $20,000 USD the Community Action Fund (CAF) grantsupports Indigenous-led direct actions and organizing efforts that are often urgent and time sensitive. The CAF prioritizes frontline, grassroots and community-based efforts that defend Indigenous Peoples’ rights, communities and Nations, including responses to climate disasters. https://ndncollective.org/community-action-fund/

Categories: climate justice, tribal sovereignty, community action

Deadline passed as of June 2, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS technical manuals and guides or to the private sector. CIG is used to apply or demonstrate previously proven technology in order to increase adoption with an emphasis on opportunities to scale proven, emerging conservation strategies. CIG promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations.

Categories: climate change, sustainability, conservation, management, prevention, restoration

Deadline Passed 10/31/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. Natural disasters have become more frequent in Indian Country over the past several years. Tribal nations and their citizens have endured tremendous loss of life, livelihood, and property. However, the federal government has restricted the avenues for tribal nations to access disaster relief funds. Even when tribal nations access disaster relief funds often they are not flexible enough to meet all of the tribal nation’s needs on the ground. The NCAI Disaster Relief Microgrants are shaped to flexibly cover the needs of tribal nations and/or tribal citizens (who live near their nations) that have been impacted by recent natural disasters such as, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, severe storms, severe winds, blizzards, etc. 

Categories: natural disasters, impacts, refleif funds

Indigenous Lifeways Fund. Most recent deadline: November 25, 2024. Indigenous Lifeways Fund, dedicated to supporting Indigenous-led projects that foster healing, promote environmental justice, and uplift traditional knowledge in our communities. Proposals accepted on a rolling basis. First round deadline to apply: Nov. 25, 2024. We welcome proposals for Indigenous-led projects in areas such as: Environmental Justice: Restoring ecosystems, improving water and air quality, and addressing pollution in frontline communities; Food Security and Sovereignty: Restoring traditional food systems, from gardening and hunting to seed saving and community food sharing; Green Infrastructure: Clean energy projects, composting, and other sustainable practices that protect Mother Earth; Youth Leadership: Initiatives that foster the transfer of Traditional Knowledge from elders to youth, ensuring our lifeways continue to thrive; MMIR (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives): Campaigns and educational projects raising awareness and supporting justice for MMIR. For more information, visit: https://naahillahee.org/indigenous-lifeways-fund/?blm_aid=1053448. The Indigenous Lifeways Fund seeks to support Indigenous-led projects and activities that:

• Promote healing and wellness in Indigenous communities
• Transfer Traditional Knowledge to future generations
• Address barriers to community-led problem-solving
• Advance environmental justice and regenerative economies                                                                                                                                   

Categories: Environmental justice, Indigenous lifeways, traditional knowledge

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: May 12, 2022. Na’ah Illahee Fund supports the development of strong Rights of Nature work led by Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest region who are the protectors of this land. The NIF grantmaking committee will select 5 individuals or groups to receive funding and participate in a series of online workshops to facilitate the advancement of community-led projects that advance Rights of Nature strategies. Awards are up to $20,000 (up to 5 awardees). Please contact joni@naahillahee.org with any questions. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Rights of nature, environmental stewardship, cultural teaching, community-led, innovation

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: October 7, 2022. The Natural Hazards Center, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Science Foundation, is calling for proposals focused on studying public health preparedness, response, and resilience to disasters in inhabited U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, tribal areas, and rural communities across the United States. Proposals can focus on one location or offer comparisons across regions. Learn more including the steps to apply here.

Categories: public health, resilience, disaster preparedness, research

Most Recent Deadline: June 28, 2024. Native Voices Rising (NVR) is a project of Common Counsel Foundation and Native Americans in Philanthropy. NVR provides general operating support grants that are intended to strengthen Native-led organizations that are building community leadership and power to improve the wellbeing of their communities. Eligible organizations are rooted in a Native community, led by Native people, hold a vision for change that improves the lives of Native community members, engage large numbers of community members to take action together and seek to improve the policies and rules that impact the community.

Categories: community building, development, community health, community engagement

Deadline Passed 09/01/2018. On October 2, 2017 (The Trust Effective Date, or TED), the United States District Court approved the final Mitigation Trust Agreements, completing the settlement with automaker Volkswagen AG (VW), to resolve allegations that VW violated the Clean Air Act (CAA) by selling diesel-engine cars that produced excess emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The Mitigation Trust Agreements are designed to reduce NOx emissions from other diesel engine vehicles, thereby mitigating the effects of the VW violations. All 567 federally-recognized Tribes can apply for beneficiary status.

Categories: NOx emission reduction, mitigation

Deadline Passed. Most recent deadline: January 23, 2024. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) is a $3 billion program, from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, to support Tribal governments bringing high-speed Internet to Tribal lands, including telehealth, distance learning, affordability, and digital inclusion initiatives. The program seeks to improve quality of life, spur economic development, and create opportunities for remote employment, online entrepreneurship, remote learning, and telehealth by expanding broadband access and by providing digital training and inclusion programs to Native American communities. This second round of funding from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program will make approximately $980 million available on Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian lands for deployment of Internet infrastructure, affordability programs, telehealth and distance learning initiatives.

Most recent deadline: March 22, 2024. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) is a $3 billion program, from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, to support Tribal governments bringing high-speed Internet to Tribal lands, including telehealth, distance learning, affordability, and digital inclusion initiatives. The program seeks to improve quality of life, spur economic development, and create opportunities for remote employment, online entrepreneurship, remote learning, and telehealth by expanding broadband access and by providing digital training and inclusion programs to Native American communities.

Categories: Broadband, communications, internet

Recent Deadline: 03/05/2021. Build and Broaden 2.0 is designed to support fundamental research in the SBE sciences by scholars at minority-serving institutions (MSIs). Proposals are invited from single Principal Investigators based at MSIs and from multiple co-investigators from a group of MSIs. Principal Investigators who are not affiliated with MSIs may submit proposals, but must collaborate with PIs, co-PIs, or Senior Personnel from MSIs and describe how their project will foster research partnerships or capacity-building with at least one MSI as a primary goal of the proposed work. Proposals may address any of the scientific areas supported by SBE.

Categories: scholars, science, STEM,

Deadline Passed 08/19/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences program supports scientific research directed at increasing the understanding and effectiveness of decision making by individuals, groups, organizations, and society. Disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, doctoral dissertation research improvement grants (DDRIGs), and workshops are funded in the areas of judgment and decision making; decision analysis and decision aids; risk analysis, perception, and communication; societal and public policy decision making; management science and organizational design. The program also supports small grants that are time-critical (Rapid Response Research - RAPID) and small grants that are high-risk and of a potentially transformative nature (EArly-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research - EAGER).

Categories: research, decision making, public policy, science

Deadline Passsed 09/26/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Humanity is reliant upon the physical resources and natural systems of the Earth for the provision of food, energy, and water (FEW). It is becoming imperative that we determine how society can best integrate across the natural and built environments to provide for a growing demand for food, water and energy while maintaining appropriate ecosystem services. The overarching goal of INFEWS is to catalyze the well-integrated interdisciplinary research efforts to transform scientific understanding of the FEW nexus in order to improve system function and management, address system stress, increase resilience, and ensure sustainability. This interagency cooperation allows the partner agencies - National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) - to combine resources to identify and fund the most meritorious and highest-impact projects that support their respective missions.

Categories: food, energy, water, natural resources, environmental health, resilience, sustainability

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: 10/12/2021. The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) seeks to support bold, ground-breaking, and potentially transformative projects addressing systemic racism in STEM. Proposals should advance racial equity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development through research (both fundamental and applied) and practice. Core to this funding opportunity is that proposals are led by, or developed and led in authentic partnership with, individuals and communities most impacted by the inequities caused by systemic racism. https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/racial-equity-stem-education…

Categories: Equity, STEM

Deadline Passed 4/17/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM) funds research projects that identify (1) factors that are effective in the formation of ethical STEM researchers and (2) approaches to developing those factors in all the fields of science and engineering that NSF supports. CCE STEM solicits proposals for research that explores the following: ‘What constitutes responsible conduct for research (RCR), and which cultural and institutional contexts promote ethical STEM research and practice and why?' Factors one might consider include: honor codes, professional ethics codes and licensing requirements, an ethic of service and/or service learning, life-long learning requirements, curricula or memberships in organizations (e.g. Engineers without Borders) that stress responsible conduct for research, institutions that serve under-represented groups, institutions where academic and research integrity are cultivated at multiple levels, institutions that cultivate ethics across the curriculum, or programs that promote group work, or do not grade. Do certain labs have a ‘culture of academic integrity'? What practices contribute to the establishment and maintenance of ethical cultures and how can these practices be transferred, extended to, and integrated into other research and learning settings? Proposals for awards from minority-serving institutions (e.g. Tribal Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions), women's colleges, and institutions primarily serving persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged.

Categories: STEM, culture, research, development, underrepresented groups, integration

Most Recent Deadline: June 1, 2024. The Confronting Hazards, Impacts and Risks for a Resilient Planet Program (CHIRRP) invites projects focusing on innovative and transformative research that advances Earth system hazard knowledge and risk mitigation in partnership with affected communities. Hazards compounded by changing climates, rising populations, expanding demands for resources, aging infrastructure, and increasing reliance on technology are putting our economy, well-being, and national security at risk.

CHIRRP projects will demonstrate convergence of three essential elements: (1) Equitable Community Partnerships; (2) an Earth System Science approach to advance knowledge of hazards, impacts, and risks and (3) Actionable Solutions that increase resilience.

Categories: Earth system hazards, risk mitigation

Deadline passed as of November 3, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. 2017 Preservation Technology and Training Grants (PTT Grants) are intended to create better tools, better materials, and better approaches to conserving buildings, landscapes, sites, and collections. PTT Grants will support the following activities: Innovative research that develops new technologies or adapts existing technologies to preserve cultural resources (typically $25,000 to $40,000). Specialized workshops or symposia that identify and address national preservation needs (typically $15,000 to $25,000). How-to videos, mobile applications, podcasts, best practices publications, or webinars that disseminate practical preservation methods or provide better tools for preservation practice (typically $5,000 to $15,000).

Categories: historic preservation, cultural preservation, curator, conservation

Deadline passed on January 26, 2018. Deadline for 2019 Unknown. The Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (SWBRPP), located within the National Park Service (NPS) Intermountain Regional Office in Denver, provides financial assistance to NPS units, as well as educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and local and state agencies to improve resource stewardship, achieve international cooperation, provide meaningful interpretation and conduct scientific research, which will lead to increased appreciation and understanding of our shared natural and cultural heritage along our international border with Mexico. Several National Parks located along the U.S. border with Mexico have recently experienced serious resource damage due to illegal cross border activities including drug traffickers and undocumented persons traversing the parks. Other national park units within the desert southwest have also experienced impacts to their natural and cultural resources. Thousands of miles of unauthorized roads and trails have been created, major ecological processes and the migration patterns of wildlife have been disrupted, important historic sites have been vandalized, and archaeological sites have been looted. Program funding is available for conducting scientific research and monitoring of species, as well as conservation, interpretation and preservation projects designed to help protect and preserve natural and cultural resources located near or along our international border. Applicants are strongly encouraged to work closely with at least one of ten NPS units located near the international border in the formulation of the project. These parks include Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Big Bend National Park, Amistad National Recreation Area, Palo Alto National Historic Site, Padre Island National Seashore, Saguaro National Park, Tumacacori National Historical Park, Chamizal National Memorial, Coronado National Memorial, and Chiricahua National Monument. The projects and activities will be individually authorized by separate awards, with each project or activity having a separate work plan and budget developed cooperatively between the NPS and the cooperator.

Categories: resource stewardship, research, natural resources, cultural resources, monitoring, conservation, preservation, wildlife, habitat

Most recent deadline: May 4, 2024. Sea Grant FY 2024 National Aquaculture Initiative: Enhancing Production of Coastal, Marine, and Great Lakes Aquaculture Species. Deadline: April 3, 2024. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Sea Grant FY 2024 National Aquaculture Initiative: Enhancing Production of Coastal, Marine, and Great Lakes Aquaculture Species is now live. Subject to the availability of funding, Sea Grant anticipates $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 will be available for research projects and programs that will develop and refine methods, protocols, techniques, and/or strategies to enhance the production of one or more life stages of aquaculture species (described below) with the overall goal of improving the efficiency, output, and profitability of commercial coastal, marine, or Great Lakes region aquaculture businesses. Proposals are sought that will support broad, non-proprietary research to address issues and/or barriers to aquaculture production; make that information available to aquaculture businesses; and preferably include participation and involvement of Sea Grant extension personnel and industry stakeholders. This opportunity is open to: any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any Sea Grant College, Sea Grant Institute or other institution); or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof. Applications require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects. Please carefully review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific instructions on how to apply for the competition via grants.gov.

Categories: aquaculture, coastal, marine, great lakes, sea grant

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: November 18, 2021. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Program Office is soliciting applications for eight individual competitive research programs through which high-priority climate science, assessment, decision support research, outreach, education, and capacity-building activities are funded to advance our understanding of the Earth’s climate system. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Climate, natural resources, outreach, education

Most Recent Deadline: December 18, 2023. The objective of the Marine Debris awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA) is to further DEIJA initiatives to address and investigate the adverse impacts of marine debris by supporting marine debris prevention, research, monitoring, detection, response, removal, and coordination activities. The Foundation anticipates funding 10-15 implementation projects for 1 year. Potential projects can include support for marine debris removal events, curriculum development, small-scale removal of marine debris, coordination activities, and more.

Categories: ocean, community impact, pollution, education

Full applications due December 9, 2024. This competition seeks projects focused on improving drought indicator performance to account for non-stationarity with the goal of more accurate drought assessments that support communities in preparing for, mitigating, and responding to drought. 

In Fiscal Year 2025, approximately $2 million will be available for the first year of funding for up to 8 new awards, pending budget appropriations. It is anticipated that most awards will be at a funding level between $50,000 and $250,000 per year over 2 years for a total of up to $500,000. 

Register for an informational webinar on August 22, 10am Pacific - NIDIS Coping with Drought Information Webinar: Competition Overview. 

An additional webinar will be held on October 23, 10am Pacific - NIDIS Coping with Drought Information Webinar: LOI Feedback & Application Requirements.

Categories: drought, research, impacts, decision-making, water utilities

Deadline Passed 11/28/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The CRT Initiative Mini-Award for Climate and Health Communication offers a small amount of funding to conduct low-cost, local work, such as creating brochures/posters, writing newsletters, exhibiting at a health fair, conducting internal training for staff, or hosting a meeting with community partners or community members to discuss climate change and health in some capacity. This opportunity may be a better fit for Tribes who are interested in smaller projects, or do not have staff/time to conduct larger and more complex projects right now. 

Categories: climate change, health, tribal communities, adaptation, planning

Most Recent Deadline: September 29, 2023. The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is now accepting applications for a funding opportunity for emergency mitigation planning. NIHB is offering funding for federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Tribal organizations to conduct local work related to Tribal climate resiliency. The subawards will be used to support projects focusing on Tribal emergency mitigation plans related to extreme weather, coastal erosion, or other impacts of climate change. NIHB will provide up to 6 subawards to 6 different Tribes/Tribal organizations. The project period will run for 8 months, from November 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.

Categories: hazard mitigation plan, emergency planning, climate resilience