The Tribal Climate Change Guide is part of the Pacific Northwest Tribal Climate Change Project (TCCP). The TCCP is part of the L.I.G.H.T. Foundation (LF), is an independent, Indigenous-led, conservation 501(c)(3) nonprofit established on the Colville Indian Reservation in the traditional territory of the Nespelem Tribe in present-day north central Washington State. LF supports the restoration and cultivation of native Plant and Pollinator Relatives and the culturally respectful conservation of habitats and ecosystems which are climate resilient and adaptive. For more information about LF, visit: https://thepnwlf.org/. For more information about the Tribal Climate Change Project, visit: https://tribalclimate.uoregon.edu/. If you would like to add information to this guide, please email kathy.lynn.or@gmail.com.

 

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.lynn.or@gmail.com. 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 Sort descending Organization Grant Deadline Description Funding Amount Geography Website
Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training Grants USDA Rural Development

Application Window is from October 1st - December 31st each year. This program helps qualified, private non-profits provide technical assistance and training to (a) identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems; (b) assist applicants in preparing applications for water and waste disposal loans/grants; and (c) assist associations in improving operation and maintenance of existing water and waste facilities in eligible rural areas.

Categories: Water, waste disposal, training

Varies National Link
Water Conservation Field Services Program (BOR) Bureau of Reclamation

Deadline Passed 06/01/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019.  FOA: BOR-UC-18-F001. The Bureau of Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region is requesting applications for the Water Conservation Field Service Program (WCFSP). Through the WCFSP, which is managed by each of Reclamation’s regional offices, Reclamation makes cost-shared financial assistance available for the development of water conservation plans and design of water management improvements, identifying water management improvements through System Optimization Reviews, and improving the understanding of water conservation techniques through demonstration activities.

Categories: Water Conservation, Water resources, Natural resources.

$25,000-$75,000 Colorado, Western United States Link
Water Conservation Field Services Program - Southern California Area Office BoR, DOI

The objective of this FOA is to invite irrigation and water districts, Indian Tribes, states, local governments, water providers, and other entities that have a tie to Reclamation projects to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on activities/projects that make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation and efficiency in the SCAO.

Categories: Water Conservation

$100,000 ceiling Northwest, Southwest, See application for more details Link
Water Conservation Field Services Program - Yuma Area Office BoR, DOI

The objective of this FOA is to invite irrigation and water districts, states, local governments, water providers, and other entities that have a tie to Reclamation projects to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on activities/projects that make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation and efficiency in the YAO Area of Responsibility. Eligibility includes Indian tribes.

Categories: Water Conservation

$100,000 ceiling Southwest, See application for more details Link
Water Conservation Field Services Program- Phoenix Area Office BoR, DOI

The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to invite irrigation and water districts, states, local governments, water providers, and other entities that have an association with a Reclamation project to leverage their money and resources, by cost sharing with Reclamation, on projects/activities that make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation and efficiency within the Phoenix Area Office boundaries. Eligibility includes tribes. R14SF32010.

Categories: Water Conservation

$25,000 ceiling Southwest, see application for details Link
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) EPA

Deadline Passed 07/31/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) established the WIFIA program, a federal credit program administered by EPA for eligible water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Categories: wastewater, infrastructure, energy efficiency, drinking water, drought prevention, mitigation

$5,000,000-$20,000,000 National Link
Water is Life Fund Grant Applications Dig Deep

Recent Deadline: 3/31/2021. The Water is Life Fund is a grant program focused on high-impact solutions to the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene access crisis in the United States, US territories, and sovereign tribal nations within US borders. Initiatives of interest should be unique, community-led, and long-lasting.

Categories: Water

$5,000 - $20,000 National Link
Water Management, Planning and Pre-Development (N34) (Water Management) and the Water Rights Negotiation/Litigation (R31) (Water Rights) Programs United States Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Northwest Regional Office

Deadline passed as of September 2, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. Programs support the litigation and negotiation of Indian water rights, studies to determine the quantity of surface and groundwater supplies, identify arable lands, determine historical water use, water requirements for resources such as fish and wildlife, and the amounts of water required for irrigates agriculture, and relates engineering and economic studies for water delivery.

Categories: water rights, irrigation, watershed, water health, water,

Award amount varies. National Link
Water Pollution Control (Section 106) Grants Environmental Protection Agency

Deadline varies based on individual grants. Section 106 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) authorizes EPA to provide financial assistance to states and eligible interstate agencies to establish and administer programs for the prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. In 1987, Congress amended section 518(e) of the CWA to include provisions that allow EPA to treat an Indian tribe in a manner similar to a state (i.e., treatment in a manner similar to a state, or TAS) for the purpose of providing Section 106 funding.

Categories: water quality, water quality standards, water quality monitoring, pollution, source water

Varies National Link
Water Resources Drought Response Grants (Washington) Department of Ecology, State of Washington

Deadline Passed 10/02/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. Washington Governor Jay Inslee expanded the state’s drought emergency, which now includes 27 watersheds — nearly half the state. On June 4, the Washington State Department of Ecology began accepting applications for grants to help those experiencing hardships related to the drought emergency.Here's the latest as of June 19: Looking at the 7-day average, more than half of the rivers in the state are showing streamflows in the bottom 10 percent of flows measured for this time of year. Daytime temperatures in the Yakima River are reaching 80 degrees F., which becomes a thermal block for fish movement.

Categories: drought, emergency response

$350,000 Washignton State Link
Watershed Implementation DOI, BOR

Deadline Passed as of 3/1/2018. Deadline for 2019 Unknown. Funding Opportunity #: BOR-MP-18-F004. The Bureau of Reclamation intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), for grants/cooperative agreements for the following program: The Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), 1992, Public Law 102-575, Title 34, 3406 (b)(1) and 3406 (b)(23) . The main objectives of the CVPIA for Fiscal Year 2018 is to be able to demonstrate a high probability of contributing to recovery of anadromous species, especially through mitigation of existing threats or factors inhibiting recovery of the species. Open announcement of grants/cooperative agreements opportunities through the CVPIA would facilitate meeting these objectives. Additional, information about the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) can be found online at: http://www.trrp.net. Successful applicants will enter into a financial assistance agreement with Reclamation. Period of Performance will not exceed 5 years from date of issuance. 

Categories: anadromous species, mitigation, restoration

Texas Link
WATERSHEDS SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM Pierce County

Most recent deadline: May 1, 2024. Grants are available to projects within the Key Peninsula-Gig Harbor-Islands Watershed Council (KGI) which focus on drainage, water quality, and habitat issues within the WRIA15 watershed. Successful projects align with the current Action Agendas (or workplans) of the watershed councils and may include activities such as riparian plantings, invasive species removal, community clean-up events, nature-based education programs, and rain garden installations. 

Categories: Watershed, drainage, water quality, and habitat issues

Applications for individual grants up to $2,500 ($3,000 for the KGI Watershed) are now available. Northwestern Washington Link
WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I for Fiscal Year 2023 DOI Bureau of Reclamation

Most recent deadline: September 3, 2024. The objective of this NOFO is to invite states, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, local governmental entities, non-profit organizations, Existing Watershed Groups, and local and special districts (e.g., irrigation and water districts, conservation districts, natural resource districts) to submit proposals for Phase I activities to develop a watershed group, complete watershed restoration planning activities, and design watershed management projects. See Section C.4. Eligible Projects for a more comprehensive description of eligible activities.A “watershed group,” as defined in Section 6001(6) of the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (see Section A.1. Authority for full citation) is a grassroots, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed, is capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources in the watershed, makes decisions on a consensus basis, and represents a diverse group of stakeholders, including hydroelectric producers, livestock grazing, timber production, land development, recreation or tourism, irrigated agriculture, the environment, municipal water supplies, private property owners, Federal, state and local governments, Tribes, and disadvantaged communities. 

Categories: watershed, water resources

$10,000 - $300,000 National Link
WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects 2024 DOI Bureau of Reclamation 3/11/2025

The United States Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of DOI’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, Reclamation leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. This Environmental Water Resources Projects NOFO provides funding for water conservation and efficiency projects, water management and infrastructure improvements, and river and watershed restoration projects and nature-based solutions that provide significant ecological benefits, have been developed as part of a collaborative process, and help carry out an established strategy to increase the reliability of water resources.Reclamation’s WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects provide support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and is aligned with other priorities such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. The Environmental Water Resources Projects also support the goals of the Interagency Drought Relief Working Group established in March 2021 and the National Drought Resiliency Partnership.11 For more information, see E.O. 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (January 27, 2023), https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tacklin…; Justice40 Initiative, https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/; Addendum to the Interim Implementation Guidance for the Justice 40 Initiative, M-21-28, on using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), M-23-09, (January 27, 2023), https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CE….

Categories: water supply, nature-based solutions, drought

National Link
WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2024 DOI Bureau of Reclamation

Most recent deadline: 11/4/2024. This Water and Energy Efficiency Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides funding for projects that result in quantifiable water savings, implement renewable energy components, and support broader sustainability benefits. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of renewable energy; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States. 

Categories: energy efficiency; renewable energy

National Link
WaterSMART Planning and Project Design Grants U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Reclamation may reduce or waive the non-Federal cost share requirement upon request by the applicant if an overwhelming Federal interest and a significant financial need are identified.

Funding Available: Water Strategy and Project Design Grants: Maximum Award: $400,000.00 Minimum Award: $100,000.00 Drought Contingency Planning: Maximum Award: $400,000.00 Minimum Award: $25,000.00 

Types of Projects: Technical Analyses to Identify Problems, Needs and Opportunities; Water Marketing and Water Rights Analyses; Research of Legal and Institutional Requirements; Decision Support Tools; Development and Comparison of Project Alternatives

Categories: Technical Analyses to Identify Problems, Needs and Opportunities; Water Marketing and Water Rights Analyses; Research of Legal and Institutional Requirements; Decision Support Tools; Development and Comparison of Project Alternatives

Funding Available: Water Strategy and Project Design Grants:
Maximum Award: $400,000.00
Minimum Award: $100,000.00
Drought Contingency Planning:
Maximum Award: $400,000.00
Minimum Award: $25,000.00
National Link
WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects For Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 DOI Bureau of Reclamation 1/14/2025

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply sustainability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. WaterSMART provides support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (E.O. 14008) and aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (E.O. 13985). The WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects also support the goals of the Interagency Drought Relief Working Group established in March 2021 and the National Drought Resiliency Partnership. These grants will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative. Established by E.O. 14008, the Justice40 Initiative has it made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. Federal agencies are using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool to help identify disadvantaged communities. The objective of this NOFO is to invite States, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on small-scale on-the-ground projects that seek to conserve, better manage, or otherwise make more efficient use of water supplies. Proposed projects that are supported by an existing water management and conservation plan, System Optimization Review, or other planning effort led by the applicant are prioritized. This prioritization will help ensure that projects funded under this NOFO are well thought out, have public support, and have been identified as the best way to address water management concerns. Reclamation has simplified the evaluation criteria and streamlined the application process for this category of WaterSMART Grants to ensure that the process works for smaller entities. Simplified evaluation criteria are intended to provide each applicant with an opportunity to succinctly explain how the proposed project would meet a defined need identified through a prior planning effort

Categories: water management, water efficiency

National Link
WCS Graduate Scholarship Program NGO

Deadline Passed April 2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The WCS Graduate Scholarship Program (GSP) is part of a WCS strategy to invest in developing individual conservation leaders around the world. The GSP provides access to international graduate education opportunities (masters or doctoral programs) to exceptional conservationists from Asia/Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and North American indigenous groups. Scholars are nominated by WCS global conservation staff and are selected based on their exceptional abilities and potential to become leaders of the conservation movement in their home countries. The short-form deadline will be April 2019. Applicants who are approved at this stage will be asked to fill out a full application, with a deadlin of June 2019. Completed nominations/ applications should be submitted electronically to kmastro@wcs.org 

Categories: climate change, scholarship, school, funding, conservation, environment, science, humanities

$30,000-$36,000 toward tuition, board, and fees. United States, International Link
Weatherization Formula Grants DOE

Program to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential expenditures, and improve their health and safety. The priority population for the Weatherization Assistance Program is people who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and households with high energy burden.

Categories: Energy, Health

Varies Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Western Alaska Landscape Conservation Cooperative Coastal Systems FY17 DOI

Deadline passed as of July 20,2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. Our mission is to promote coordination, dissemination and development of applied science to inform landscape level conservation, including terrestrial-marine linkages in the face of a changing climate and related stressors. Congress provides seed funding for our LCC through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Service administers these funds through financial assistance on a competitive basis for projects, studies, and events that advance the scientific and public community's understanding of large-scale changes in landscape characteristics and the impacts of these changes on important species.

Categories: climate change, adaptation, mitigation, public, community, wildlife, biodiversity, sustainability, conservation, landscape, policy, management

$60,000-$90,000. Alaska, Alaska CSC Link
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program Western SARE, Montana State University

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: 05/20/2021.The Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program announces the Call for Pre- proposals for Research & Education grants for 2022. With a Research and Education grant, a researcher and at least three (3) Producers work together to develop a proposal to conduct both research and education on a sustainable agriculture topic. Outreach activities may include on-farm/ranch demonstrations, farmer-to-farmer educational activities, and other approaches to assist producer adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. The goal of this program is to achieve results that can be communicated to producers and professionals; sustain and improve the environmental quality and natural resource base on which agriculture depends; improve the profitability of farmers/ranchers and associated agricultural businesses; and enhance the quality of life for farmers/ranchers in their local communities.

Categories: research and education, agriculture, sustainability farming, natural resources, ranching

Projects may be one to three years in length. Total funds requested may not exceed $350,000 over the entire budget period.
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Farmer/Rancher Grant Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: November 1, 2021. With the support and guidance of a technical advisor, farmers and ranchers will integrate research and education to conduct on-site/on-farm experiments to improve production, marketing, and the environment. Learn more and apply here.

Up to $25,000 may be requested if one (1) Producer is involved. Proposals with three (3) or more Producers may request up to $29,900. Western US Link
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Professional Development Grant Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: November 10, 2021. This grant program focuses on training agricultural professionals to help them spread knowledge about sustainable agriculture concepts and practices. Learn more and apply here.

Funding limit is $100,000 per project. Western US Link
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Research to Grassroots Grant Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: November 17, 2021. These projects take research results from previously funded SARE projects and bring those results into the field through education to agricultural professionals and producers. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Agriculture, research, education, sustainability, outreach

Funding limit is $100,000 per project. Western US Link
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Sabbatical Research and Education Grant Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: November 18, 2021. These grants provide an opportunity for faculty around the world to partner with farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals, and researchers of the Western U.S. region for conducting research, education, and extension activities. Projects focused on unexplored topics in underserved communities and understudied geographic locations are of special interest. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Agriculture, research, education, sustainability

Grants cannot exceed $75,000 Western US Link
Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Fisheries Restoration Opportunities DOI-FWS

Deadline passed as of August 31, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. Proposals will only be considered for project locations within western Washington State, specifically for: Chehalis River watershed in southwest Washington State. Proposals may include but are not limited to: fish passage, in-stream and riparian habitat restoration, introduced species management (including aquatic invasive species), or education and outreach, Lake Sammamish specifically related to kokanee restoration and monitoring, Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO) employment at Makah and Quinault National Fish Hatcheries, Analysis of migratory patterns in bull trout in western Washington, Status assessments of Olympic mudminnow, or Analysis of scales and bony structures from anadromous fish.

Categories: fisheries, wetlands, restoration, hatcheries, aquatic resources, conservation, research, salmon, habitat

Up to $100,000. Washington state Link
Wetland Reserve Easements U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service 1/1/2025

Funding Available: Natural Resources Conservation Service offers technical & financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. Land eligible includes privately held wetlands that were previously degraded due to agricultural uses and can be restored. 

Types of Projects: To enroll land through wetland reserve easements, NRCS enters into purchase agreements with eligible private landowners or Indian tribes that include the right for NRCS to develop and implement a Wetland Reserve Plan of Operations (WRPO).

Wetland Reserve enrollment options include:

  • Permanent Easements – Permanent easements are conservation easements in perpetuity. NRCS pays 100 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 75 to 100 percent of the restoration costs.
  • 30-year Easements – 30-year easements expire after 30 years. Under 30-year easements, NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.  
  • Term Easements - Term easements are easements that are for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws. NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the term easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
  • 30-year Contracts – 30-year contracts are only available to enroll acreage owned by Indian tribes and program payment rates are commensurate with 30-year easements.

Categories: Easement

Varies National Link
Wetlands Mitigation Banking Program (NRCS) NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service), USDA

RFP Closed for 2016. Expect Announcement Winter of 2016-17. The purpose of this notice is to announce the availability of Wetland Mitigation Banking Program grant funds for the development and establishment of mitigation banks and banking opportunities solely for agricultural producers with wetlands subject to the Wetland Conservation Compliance provisions of the 1985 Food Security Act (as amended).

Categories: Eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

Up to $1,000,000 per award. National. Link
White House Champions of Change Award Nominations US White House

Funding unknown for 2017. President Obama has challenged us all to help win the future by out-educating, out-innovating, and out-building our competitors in the 21st century. Know someone who is doing extraordinary things to make a difference in your community? Nominate them to be a Champion of Change. We’ll consider your nominations as we feature people who are bringing about change in their communities on the White House website to share their ideas on how to win the future.

Categories: Leadership, Award, Climate Initiatives

See Description National Link
White-Nose Syndrome Research Grants FY18 DOI, FWS

Deadline Passed 09/30/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. FO#: F18AS00119. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the availability of research funding in 2018 to investigate issues related directly to the management of white-nose syndrome (WNS). The WNS Program provides financial and technical assistance to non-governmental, university, and private researchers, as well as state and local governments, Native American tribes, and federal agencies, for the management of WNS and conservation of bats. Funded projects will investigate priority questions about WNS to improve our ability to manage the disease and implement management actions that will help to conserve affected bat species.

Categories: bats, white-nose syndrome, research, management, implementation

$35,000-$1,500,000 Inernational Link