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 Organization Sort descending Grant Deadline Description Funding Amount Geography Website
Volkswagen (VW) Clean Air Act Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund National Tribal Air Association

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

National Link
Native Voices Rising Native Americans in Philanthropy, Common Counsel Foundation

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

Varies National Link
Public Health Disaster Research in U.S. Territories, Tribal Areas, and Rural Communities Natural Hazards Center, CDC, National Science Foundation

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

$15,000 to $50,000 National, International (US Territories) Link
Indigenous Lifeways Fund Na’ah Illahee Fund

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

Tiers of Funding:

Type 1: $1,000-$10,000 for costs associated with short-term needs such as community outreach, a gathering, etc.

Type 2: $10,000-$25,000 up to 1-yr general operating support for new or existing projects.

Type 3: $25,000-$50,000 up to 1-year green infrastructure or restoration projects
Northwest Link
Rights of Nature Cohort Na’ah Illahee Fund

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

Up to $20,000 Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia Link
Availability of Disaster Relief Microgrants NCAI

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

$70,000 total
Individual grants capped at $10,000
National Link
Colorado Conservation Innovation Grant NCRS

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

Up to $75,000. Colorado Link
Community Self Determination Grant NDN Collective

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

up to $250,000 over two years National, US territories, Canada, Mexico Link
Community Action Fund NDN Collective

Most recent Application Deadline: October 31, 2024. The Community Action Fund Grant supports efforts that include community organizing, amplification of community voices, and utilize a wide variety of tactics imperative to shifting the political and financial systems that are impacting our communities. The Grant is available on an ongoing basis as funds are available.Areas of emphasis may include: climate justice and racial equity efforts, challenging the extractive industry, accelerating the just energy transition in Indigenous communities, healing justice work within the movement, and training the next generation of community organizers.  Direct expenses may include funding for travel, supplies, equipment, consultants, contractual services and staff that support various forms of NVDA (non-violent direct action), i.e.;  marches, camps, boycotts, prayer vigils as a form of resistance, organizing or protest to affect change.  Action may also include community-based response to climate events such as flooding, fires, earthquakes.

Categories: climate justice, tribal sovereignty, community action

$15,000 to $40,000 North America Link
Climate Smart Humanities Organizations NEH

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: September 14, 2023. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Office of Challenge Programs is accepting applications for the Climate Smart Humanities Organizations program. This program supports comprehensive assessment and strategic planning efforts by humanities organizations to mitigate physical and operational environmental impacts and adapt to a changing climate. Projects will result in climate action and adaptation planning documents or similar detailed assessments including prioritized, measurable actions and their expected outcomes. Proposals must address how strategic planning for climate change will increase the organization’s resilience and support its work in the humanities over the long term. Projects are financed through a combination of federal matching funds and gifts raised from third-party non-federal sources.

Categories: humanities, hazard mitigation, energy audits, risk assessment, infrastructure

Up to $300,000 National Link
Cultural and Community Resilience NEH

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

Maximum $150,000 National Link
Network for Landscape Conservation Catalyst Fund Network for Landscape Conservation

Deadline: April 26, 2024. The Network for Landscape Conservation is pleased to share the 2024 Request for Proposals for the Catalyst Fund, which is made possible through the generous support of the Doris Duke Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The Catalyst Fund strives to accelerate the pace and practice of collaborative landscape conservation and stewardship across the United States by investing in Landscape Partnerships. The Fund couples financial support (through a competitive grant program) with capacity building support (through in-depth Peer Learning) to catalyze Partnership efforts to achieve long-term conservation and stewardship goals. A portion of the Fund is reserved specifically to advance Tribal-led Partnerships. For more information, visit:

Categories: Landscape conservation, collaboration, capacity-building

Partnerships may request a one or two-year grant of up to $25,000 National Link
Wildfire Risk Reduction Program for Rural Communities New Mexico Counties

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

up to $50,000 New Mexico Link
Nutrition Security for Indigenous Youth Newman's Own Foundation

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

$20,000 to $50,000 National Link
Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development NGO

RFP closed for 2016. The Seventh Generation Fund is an Indigenous non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native peoples throughout the Americas. It offers an integrated program of advocacy, small grants, training and technical assistance, media experience and fiscal management, lending its support and extensive expertise to Indigenous grassroots communities. Its Sustainable Communities Program Area provides seed money, organizational support and technical training to Native grassroots community-based projects striving for holistic community health and renewal. It supports traditional agricultural methods, renewable forms of energy and sustainable strategies for development that preserve or restore traditional life-ways for future generations.

Categories: Education, Energy, Environmental Justice, Health, Research

Individual awards of up to $5,000 Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Midwest, Alaska Link
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation NGO

Applications accepted continuously. This foundation offers grant assistance in 6 major program areas. Two such areas are the “Public Understanding of Science,” and the “Basic Research” areas. Through these programs, the foundation offers grants for high-quality, original STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) research that benefits the scientific community, as well as increases the public understanding of relevant and complex scientific issues. A grant applicant must first submit a letter of inquiry that outlines the idea of the grant, since the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. If accepted, the applicant will receive notice to submit a full proposal for evaluation.

Categories: Research

Varies Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
LOUISIANA SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM NGO

SoI is required and due by 5 pm on Friday, March 3, 2017. Full Proposals: Full Proposals will only be accepted on May 22, 2017 if a SoI was submitted. For this funding opportunity, Louisiana Sea Grant seeks responsive research that provides scientific and socioeconomic information, design innovation, as well as policy guidance, for fisheries management, climate change adaptation, resilient communities, and ecosystem restoration in coastal systems and communities in Louisiana. Coastal Louisiana offers a laboratory of restoration, protection, and adaptation projects that together with laboratory studies, field investigations, models, and/or socioeconomic tools and synthesis products, offer innovative opportunities for research projects that should improve understanding of coastal ecosystem function and help predict the responses of ecosystems and communities to a changing climate and/or planning activities. SoIs must include an outreach plan that demonstrates a connection with user groups, such as resource managers, communities, and/or informal and formal learners. Proposed projects should be for a 24-month maximum duration (but may be less than 24 months). PIs should focus on outcomes that can be achieved during this timeframe.

Categories: climate change, marine, fisheries, aquaculture, commercial, industrial, ocean, health, adaptation, mitigation, estuary

Varies. Louisiana, Delta Link
Indigenous Voices Fund NGO 12/31/2024

Rolling Deadline. Alaska Conservation Foundation’s Indigenous Fund (previously called the Travel Fund) supports conservation organizations on the ground addressing critical conservation issues. The current focus of the Indigenous Voices Fund is protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Bristol Bay, the Tongass National Forest, and efforts to prevent hardrock mining across Alaska. The Indigenous Fund enables key staff to travel to hearings, testify in front of decision-makers, and reach important audiences that require travel to/from Alaska, including rural Alaska, as well as Washington DC.

Categories: Environmental Justice, travel

Varies Alaska Link
Russell Family Foundation NGO

The Russell Family Foundation aims to protect and restore Puget Sound by supporting an environmental education program. They support organizations that provide opportunities for outdoor environmental education experiences throughout Puget Sound. These organizations deliver outdoor experiential learning to students in 5th through 12th grade who live in urbanized areas.

Categories: Restoration, Conservation

Previous round of awards were ~$43,000 Puget Sound, Washington, Northwest Link
Climate Solutions University NGO

Applications accepted throughout the year. CSU aids local rural communities, connected through a peer learning network, by offering training, expertise, and support in climate adaptation planning. Through this training, expertise, and support, CSU strengthens local leadership, public engagement, and ecosystem protection efforts in rural communities.

Categories: Adaptation

Each participating community receives $100K in training, mentoring, and access to tools/resources Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Hewlett Foundation Grants NGO

Applications Accepted Continuously. The Hewlett Foundation’s Environment Program is committed to reducing these emissions to avoid the most severe effects of climate change. We pursue our goal with strategies in the following areas: Clean Power--Increase renewable energy and energy efficiency while reducing fossil fuel development and use for electricity generation.Clean transportation--Increase fuel efficiency and access to transit, biking and walking options, while constraining the growth of high-carbon fossil fuels for transportation. Building broad support--Engage diverse members of the public. The Hewlett Foundation also has a grant program dedicated to conserving land in the US West.

Categories: Conservation, Energy efficiency, Sustainable Development

Varies Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest Link
Best Climate Practices- Local Resilience to Climate Disaster Risk NGO

Deadline passed as of May 21, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. Floods, drought, heat waves and other extreme weather events pose potential losses to persons and communities: losses in life and health, economic damages, displacement, and reduced access to basic needs and services, such as water, food, energy, and education. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) entails systematic efforts to reduce those factors in our societies that amplify the impacts of natural hazards. It includes such actions as building more resilient infrastructures, investing in disaster preparedness and in early warning systems, developing new tools such as micro insurances and nature-based solutions, among many others. Disaster risk reduction, with its aim to strengthen the resilience of communities to all hazards, is an essential piece of the sustainable development agenda.

Categories: climate change, management, planning, policy, conservation

Varies. 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
Green Neighborhoods Grant Program NGO

Deadline Passed 8/15/2016. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The Affordable Green Neighborhoods Grant Program will award grants and provide educational resources to affordable housing developers and related public agencies who choose to pursue LEED 2009 for Neighborhood Development certification. Preference will be given to qualifying projects that meet additional goals, including the redevelopment of infill and previously developed sites, effort to strengthen the surrounding neighborhoods, commitment to engage stakeholders in the development process, and the provision of green housing for a range of income levels.

Categories: Energy

Individual awards of $25,000 Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Funders' Network Local Sustainability Matching Fund NGO

The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) announces round 3 of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund. The Matching Fund is intended both to support significant urban sustainability projects and to build bridges between public sector sustainability leaders and local foundations. The Fund will provide matching investments from national foundations on a competitive basis to build partnerships between sustainability directors and local place-based foundations to advance discrete sustainability initiatives that demonstrate broad-based community support and engagement.

Categories: Development, Sustainability

$25,000-75,000 Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Environmental Solutions for Communities Grants Program NGO

RFP closed. Expect Announcement before Winter 2016. Wells Fargo and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation seek to promote sustainable communities through Environmental Solutions for Communities by supporting highly-visible projects that link economic development and community well-being to the stewardship and health of the environment. Funding priorities include 'greening' traditional infrastructure and public projects such as storm water management and flood control, urban forestry, and education and training of community leaders on sustainable practices.

Categories: Economic development, Sustainable Development

Varies National, Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, Alaska, Midwest, Please see website for more details as within regions priority is given to projects from certain areas Link
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation NGO

This foundation supports environmental action according to a four part main strategy (see weblink for more).The foundation’s Environmental Program strives to meet its main strategies through grant awards. The Environment Program awards grants through invited proposals and the occasional funding competition. Funding opportunities may also be available through organizations administering re-granting programs supported by the foundation.

Categories: Conservation, Clean Energy

Varies Tri-State Area, Northeast Link
Honor the Earth Grant Programs NGO

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

$1,000-$5,000 Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, International (Canada) Link
Rockefeller Family Fund NGO

Applications accepted continuously. This foundation focuses on public education of the risks of global warming, conservation of natural resources, protection of health as affected by the environment, meaning implementation of environmental laws, and public participation in national environmental policy debates. Grant applicants must submit a letter of inquiry online. If accepted, the applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal for evaluation.

Categories: Climate Change Impacts, Conservation, public health

$25,000-30,000 National Link
Surdna Foundation NGO

Applications continued continuously; see website for more information.This foundation invests in projects that support their program areas of Sustainable Environments, Strong Local Economies, Thriving Cultures, Community Revitalization, and Effective Citizenry. Organizations are eligible for a max of three consecutive years of funding. Grants are assessed three times a year (February, May, and September), and must be submitted three to four months prior to staff review.

Categories: Sustainable Environments

Varies National Link