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 descending | Grant Deadline | Description | Funding Amount | Geography | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Water for Agriculture Challenge Area | USDA | Deadline passed as of August 4, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. This AFRI Challenge Area addresses critical water resources issues such as drought, excess soil moisture, flooding, quality and others in an agricultural context. Funding will be used to develop management practices, technologies, and tools for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and managers, public decision makers, public and private managers, and citizens to improve water resource quantity and quality. The long-term goal of the AFRI Water for Agriculture Challenge Area is to tackle critical water issues by developing both regional systems for the sustainable use and reuse, flow and management of water, and at the watershed and farm scales, water issues focused on production and environmental sustainability efforts. Project types supported within this Challenge area are multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects and Food and Agricultural Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Categories: Water Resources, Drought, Flooding, Water Quality, Agriculture |
varies, total program funding $10,700,000 | National | Link | |
FY 2019 Farm to School Grant | USDA | Deadline Passed 12/04/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) established aFarm to School program in order to assist eligible entities, (schools, school districts, agricultural producers, Indian tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, state agencies and local agencies), through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm toschool programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools Categories: Health, food security, local economy, agriculture, school health, public |
$20,000-$100,000 | United States | Link | |
Water & Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Applications accepted year round. This program assists low-income communities with initial planning and development of applications for USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal direct loan/grant and loan guarantee programs. The area must also have a median household income below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income Categories: water, waste disposal, planning, development, infrastructure, rural communities |
Maximum of $30,000 or 75 percent of the predevelopment planning costs. | Rural Areas, Tribal Lands | Link |
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Applications accepted continuously. This program provides grants to assist rural communities that have had a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water. Grant may fund waterline extensions from existing systems, construction of new water lines; repairs to existing systems, construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and other water sources. Priority is given to areas with less than 10,000 people, low-income areas, and communities facing imminent decline and shortage of water. Categories: Water, Natural Resources, Health, Emergency |
Individual awards range from 150,000 to $500,000 depending on the severity of decline in quantity or quality of water. | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | 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 |
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 |
Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Rolling Deadline. The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility is responsible for repayment to USDA. Categories: Economic Development, Rural Development, Grants and Loans |
See description. | 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 | |
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: Feburary 25, 2022. The purpose of this program is to establish an Extension presence and support Extension outreach on Federally Recognized Indian Reservations and Tribal jurisdictions of Federally-Recognized Tribes. This program seeks to continue the Land Grants mission of inclusion - providing education and research-based knowledge to those who might not otherwise receive it. Learn more and apply here. Categories: Land Grant, education, outreach, research, Tribal youth development, economic and workforce development, food sovereignty, Native language and culture preservation |
Up to $360,000 | National | Link | |
High Energy Cost Grants (USDA) | USDA | Deadline passed. Latest deadline: July 6, 2021. The USDA Rural Development High Energy Costs Grant assists energy providers and other eligible entities in lowering energy costs for families and individuals in areas with extremely high per-household energy costs (275 percent of the national average or higher.) The funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of facilities serving eligible communities. NOTE: Program details may change over time. Before you begin an application, please confirm you have the most current information by emailing Rural Electric Program staff or consulting the program instructions listed in the section above titled "What Governs this Program?" Categories: Energy conservation, Infrastructure, Community development |
$100,000-$3,000,000 | National | Link | |
Northwest Climate Hub | USDA | Deadline passed as of December 5, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown.Contingent upon available funds the Northwest Climate Hub requests proposals to support our mission to serve farms, forests and rangelands in a changing climate. An estimated amount of $350,000 is available for approximately 5-10 projects. There are additional funds available (at least $50,000) to fund one proposal that is designed to assist the NW Climate Hub in serving Alaska, such as efforts focused on Alaska meeting its food security needs under climate change. Categories: Alaska, agriculture, wilderness, climate change, adaptation, mitigation |
Varies. 5-10 intended awards with up to $350,000 total program funding. | Alaska, Pacific Northwest, Unties States, West Coast | 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 |
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 |
Broadband Technical Assistance | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 20, 2023. The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications for Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. Broadband Technical Assistance provides competitive cooperative agreement funding to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training that promotes the expansion of broadband into rural areas. Examples of broadband technical assistance projects may include conducting feasibility studies, completing network designs, and developing broadband financial assistance applications.The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure;Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs and benefits from RD funded projects; andReducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.In addition, the Agency encourages applicants to work with the Rural Partners Network. The Rural Partners Network is an all-of-government program that demonstrates to rural America that the federal government can work differently to serve their unique needs in a way this is community-centered and locally-driven. RPN is a recognition by the Biden Administration that it is time to do more for rural communities. Applicants to this funding opportunity are encouraged to include RPN Community Networks in their proposals by identifying Community Networks as collaborative partners or recipients of service. Categories: rural, broadband, pollution, internet, technical assistance, training |
$50,000 - $1,000,000 | National | Link | |
Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: May 23, 2022. The Agency will make grants to public bodies and private nonprofit corporations, (such as States, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations) to provide associations Technical Assistance and/or training with respect to essential community facilities programs. The Technical Assistance and/or training will assist communities, Indian Tribes, and Nonprofit Corporations to identify and plan for community facility needs that exist in their area. Once those needs have been identified, the Grantee can assist in identifying public and private resources to finance those identified community facility needs. Categories: community facilities, infrastructure, planning, training, technical assistance |
up to $150,000 | National | Link | |
SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Rolling deadline. This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects. Categories: water, waste disposal, rural |
Varies | Rural areas with a population of 2500 or less | 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 | |
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (2501 Program) | USDA | Deadline passed as of July 29, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. The 2501 Program provides funding to eligible organizations for training and technical assistance projects designed to assist socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers in owning and operating viable agricultural enterprises. The 2501 Program extends USDA's capacity to work with members of farming and ranching communities by funding projects that enhance the equitable participation of socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers in USDA programs. It is OAO's (Office of Advocacy and Outreach) intention to build lasting relationships between USDA, awardee organizations, and socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers. Categories: agricultural, food security, veterans, ranching, environmental justice, technical assistance, business, |
Award amounts vary; total program funds $8.4 million. | National, Rural | Link | |
Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Applications accepted continuously. Meant to fund water and waste disposal systems in rural Alaskan Villages. Funds must be used for development and construction of water and wastewater systems to correct dire health and sanitation conditions in those villages. Many communities in remote rural Alaska, where villages are accessible by plane or boat only, are essentially inaccessible during the long, hard winters. They lag far behind the lower 48 States in having safe and dependable drinking water and suitable waste disposal systems available. Construction costs are extremely high. This is due in part to the severe weather conditions, which makes laying pipe difficult, if not impossible. These conditions also require the use of insulated pipe, or in areas of permafrost, above ground utilidors, often with heat traced insulated pipe. The vast distances from the transportation hub of Anchorage to a village increases costs substantially as the material must be delivered by barge or air. Categories: Adaptation, Emergency Management, Water, Health, Natural Resources |
The maximum grant is 75 percent of the project cost. | Alaska, Coastal | 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 |
Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) | USDA | Deadline Passed 2/24/2020. Deadline Unknown for 2021. The purpose of this program is to support research, education/teaching, and extension projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in STEM. NIFA intends this program to address educational needs within broadly defined areas of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human (FANH) sciences. WAMS-funded projects improve the economic health and viability of rural communities by developing research and extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations. Categories: women, minorities, STEM, rural, food security, sustainability, agriculture, natural resources, education, economic health |
Up to $400,000 | National | Link | |
Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program | USDA | 12/31/2024 | Rolling Deadline. This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. Categories: housing, infrastructure, facilities, rural |
Grants and Loans available. Award amount varies. | United States | Link |
Pandemic Support for Certified Organic and Transitioning Operations | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: February 4, 2022. The USDA has extended the deadline for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program. This extension is eligible for expenses in 2020 and 2021. Organic farming may help farmers prepare for a changing climate, as organic practices can increase soil water-holding capacity, which can help crops grow in drought years. Learn more and apply here. Categories: Agriculture, organic, certification, education, pandemic |
25% of a certified operation’s eligible certification expenses, up to $250 per certification category; 75% of a transitional operation’s eligible expenses, up to $750, for each year; OTECP covers 75% of the registration fees, up to $200, per year, for educational events | National | 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 | |
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 | |
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 |
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 | |
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 | |
National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program | USDA | Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: 9/9/2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the availability of up to $17 million in funds in the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) to support projects in topic areas including, but not limited to: Develop, enhance, and exercise state and Tribal animal disease outbreak emergency response plans; Support livestock and poultry biosecurity; enhance animal disease traceability for a disease outbreak; Support outreach and education on animal disease prevention, preparedness, and response topics. Learn more and apply here. Categories: Agriculture, livestock disease preparedness, education |
Varies. | National | Link |
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