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
Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program Department of Transportation

Most Recent Deadline: June 17, 2024. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $49 million in competitive grants under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program (ELEF) (Federal Assistance Listing #20.532). ELEF makes funding available competitively to assist in the financing of capital projects for the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferry vessels that reduce emissions by using alternative fuels or on-board energy storage systems and related charging infrastructure to reduce emissions or produce zero onboard emissions under normal operation. Eligible are capital projects that include the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferry vessels that reduce emissions by using alternative fuels or on-board energy storage systems and related charging infrastructure to reduce emissions or produce zero onboard emissions under normal operation.

Categories: Transporation, Electric Vehilces

Estimated Total Program Funding: $ 49,000,000
Award Ceiling: $49,000,000
National
Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program Department of Transportation

Most Recent Deadline: June 26, 2023. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $8.9 million in competitive grants for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Public Transportation on Indian Reservations (Tribal Transit) Program. As required by Federal public transportation law, funds will be awarded competitively for any purpose eligible under FTA’s Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program, including planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal public transit services in rural areas.  FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections. Applicants must provide transit service in a rural area with a population of less than 50,000.  A service area can include some portions of urban areas, as long as rural areas are also served.

Categories: public transit, BIL, infrastructure, rural

Varies National Link
Safe Streets and Roads for All Funding Opportunity Department of Transportation

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: July 10, 2023. Funds for the fiscal year 2023 SS4A grant program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians; bicyclists; public transportation, personal conveyance, and micromobility users; motorists; and commercial vehicle operators.

Categories: BIL, infrastructure, transportation

$100,000 - $25,000,000 National Link
Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program) Department of Transportation, Fedeal Transit Association

Deadline Passed 07/09/2019. Deadline Unknown 2020. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $5 million in funding provided by the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program (TTP)), as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1)(A), as amended by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST), Public Law 114-94 (December 4, 2015). This is a national solicitation for project proposals and includes the selection criteria and program eligibility information for Fiscal Year 2018 projects. The primary purpose of these competitively selected grants is to support planning, capital, and, in limited circumstances, operating assistance for tribal public transit services. Funds distributed to Indian tribes under the TTP should not replace or reduce funds that Indian tribes receive from states through FTA’s Section 5311 program.

Categories: transportation, roads and highways, accessability

up to $300,000 Link
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 13, 2023. The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) is a new competitive grant program created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work – urban and rural areas alike – in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). CFI Program investments will make modern and sustainable infrastructure accessible to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles. This program provides two funding categories of grants: (1) Community Charging and Fueling Grants (Community Program); and (2) Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $2.5 billion over five years for this program. This NOFO offers up to $700 million from Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities. Apply on Grants.gov here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=346798 

Categories: energy, electric vehicles, alternative fuels, infrastructure, BIL

$500,000 National, US territories Link
FY 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity; Low or No Emission Vehicle Program Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 13, 2023. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $1.22 billion in competitive grants under the Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No Program) for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. Funds remain available for obligation for four fiscal years. This includes the fiscal year in which the amount is made available or appropriated plus three additional years. Apply here.

Categories: carbon emissions, transportation, transit facilities, clean energy, IIJA

Varies National Link
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Tribal Grant Program DERA, EPA

This year the National Clean Diesel Campaign will issue a stand alone Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Tribal Competition Request for Proposals (RFP) for a total of up to $1 million. Proposals must be submitted electronically via www.grants.gov no later than 4 p.m. ET on July 15, 2015.

Categories: Diesel Emissions Reduction/Control, Carbon footprint

up to $1,000,000 National Link
Office of Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation Cooperative Agreement DHHS, IHS

Deadline passed on June 18, 2018. Next deadline unknown. The purpose of this Negotiation Cooperative Agreement is to provide Tribes with resources to help defray the costs associated with preparing for and engaging in Tribal Self-Governance Program (TSGP) negotiations. TSGP negotiations are a dynamic, evolving, and tribally driven process that requires careful planning, preparation and sharing of precise, up-to-date information by both Tribal and Federal parties. Because each Tribal situation is unique, a Tribe's successful transition into the TSGP, or expansion of their current program, requires focused discussions between the Federal and Tribal negotiation teams about the Tribe's specific health care concerns and plans. One of the hallmarks of the TSGP is the collaborative nature of the negotiations process, which is designed to: 1) enable a Tribe to set its own priorities when assuming responsibility for IHS Programs, Services, Functions and Activities (PSFAs), 2) observe and respect the Government-to-Government relationship between the U.S. and each Tribe, and 3) involve the active participation of both Tribal and IHS representatives, including the Office of Tribal Self-Governance (OTSG).

Categories: health, self-governance, planning, collaboration

$48,000 National Link
Summer Research Experiences for Students and Science Teachers (Admin Supp) DHHS, NIEHS

Deadline Passed 01/31/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences hereby notifies Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) with R01, R21, R15, R35, R37, or P01 awards that funds are available for administrative supplements to support summer research experiences in environmental health science for high school students, college undergraduates, master’s degree candidates, medical students, secondary school science teachers, and science professors from R15/AREA grant eligible institutions. Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the original project.

Categories: environmental health, education, training, research experience

varies National Link
Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21) DHHS, NIH

Deadline passed 09/03/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is intended to support environmental health research in which an unpredictable event provides a limited window of opportunity to collect human biological samples or environmental exposure data. The primary motivation of the FOA is to understand the consequences of natural and man-made disasters or emerging environmental public health threats in the U.S. and abroad. A distinguishing feature of an appropriate study is the need for rapid review and funding (substantially shorter than the typical NIH grant review/award cycle) in order for the research question to be addressed and swiftly implemented. The shortened timeframe will be achieved by more frequent application due dates and expediting peer review, council concurrence and award issuance. The entire cycle, from submission to award, is expected to be within 3-4 months.

Categories: environmental health, research, disaster preparedness, environmental exposure, public health

The combined budget for direct costs for the 2-year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year. 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
FY17 WIC Special Project Grants Full Mini DOA- Food and Nutrition Service

Deadline passed as of September 11, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The purpose of the fiscal year (FY) 2017 WIC Special Project Grants is to help WIC State Agencies develop, implement, and evaluate new or innovative methods of service to meet the changing needs of WIC participants, with special attention to the improved delivery of program services and demonstrate national or regional significance.

Categories: food, nutrition, food security, food assistance, community health, wellness, diet, WIC,

Up to $500,000. National, United States Link
Coastal Resilience Networks (CRest) DOC

Grant Status Unknown. The purpose of this notice is to solicit grant proposals from eligible organizations to implement activities that enhance resilience of coastal communities to natural hazard and climate risks through a regional or national network. Proposals must leverage, enhance, or create a system in which one or more coastal hazard issues can be addressed through partnerships to improve coordination and collaboration throughout the region. Partnerships must include multiple institutions, disciplines, and sectors at the local, state, and federal level. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement should provide beneficial public outcomes for coastal communities to address existing and potential future climate and hazard risks to coastal infrastructure, local economies, vulnerable populations, and the natural environment.

Categories: Coastal, Conservation, Disaster, Research, Water

Individual awards of up to $100,000 Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, Pacific Islands, Coastal, National, International (US Territories) Link
Marine Mammal Commission Grants DOC

The Marine Mammal Commission carries out a small research program that supports projects aimed at meeting the conservation and protection goals of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Commission’s research program includes all relevant activities including basic and applied research, workshops, literature reviews, compilation of expert opinion, and drafting manuscripts.
The Commission encourages the submission of proposals for innovative and well-designed projects that address important conservation issues for marine mammals or marine ecosystems but that may be unlikely to obtain funding through traditional research agencies. On occasion, the Commission provides start-up or seed money for promising research projects that, once proven feasible, may be supported later by other federal agencies. The Commission encourages applicants to obtain additional support by collaborating with, or soliciting funds from, other institutions, organizations, or agencies.
The research program awards grants based on proposals submitted in response to general Requests for Proposals (RFPs), unsolicited proposals, and specific research topics identified by the Commission.

Categories: Natural Resources, Wildlife, Research, Education, Conservation, Coastal, Water

The amount of funds available varies from year to year, depending on the level of congressional appropriations. Since it was established in 1972, the Commission has supported more than 1,000 projects. Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
FY 2014 Economic Development Assistance Programs DOC

EDA (Economic Development Administration) solicits applications from applicants in rural and urban areas to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects under EDA's Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs. EDA's investment priorities are: Collaborative Regional Innovation, Public/Private Partnerships, National Strategic Priorities, Global Competitiveness, Environmentally-Sustainable Development, and Economically Distressed and Underserved Communities. Please note that there are multiple funding cycle deadlines: 3/14/14; 6/13/14; 10/17/14.

Categories: Development, Infrastructure

varies Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
FY 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity DOC

The Economic Development Administration intends to award investments in regions experiencing severe economic distress as a result of natural disasters, which are often exacerbated by climate change. The program supports development and implementation of regionally based, long-term economic development strategies in response to Federally Declared disasters. This opportunity stems from a $200 million investment to support communities that received a major disaster designation in Fiscal year 2011 (between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011). Applicants must demonstrate a clear nexus between the proposed project work and disaster recovery/resilience efforts.

Categories: Disaster Relief

Varies Northweest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, Alaska, National, Mdiwest Link
Accelerate R2 Network Challenge DOC

Deadline Passed. Most Recent Deadline: 3/11/2020. EDA, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), is seeking applications from eligible parties to create a strategic nationwide network of organizations working to address disaster response and resiliency (R2) challenges with innovative technologies. The Accelerate R2 Network Challenge seeks to create a nationwide network or networks that will enable and support innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors to bring transformative technologies into the response and resiliency markets.

Categories: disaster response, resiliency, network, technology, development

$400,000- $1,000,000 National Link
Climate Program Office FY 2020 DOC, NOAA

Deadline Passed 10/28/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. CPO’s strategy addresses challenges in the areas of: (1) Weather and climate extremes, (2) Climate impacts on water resources, (3) Coasts and climate resilience, (4) Sustainability of marine ecosystems, and (5) Changing atmospheric composition and its impacts. Making progress in addressing climate-related societal challenges, and realizing benefits for NOAA’s public and private partners, requires that these mission-focused capabilities be integrated across CPO to align research, applications, transitions, and operations, and to meet the information needs for a resilient society. Key components of this effort are annual Notice of Funding Opportunities, competitive grants programs and other types of support that advance and extend NOAA’s foundational capabilities and applications research. Proficiency in these core areas ensures that CPO’s infrastructure is always in place to meet the intelligence and resilience challenges of our changing climate.

Categories: climate administration, climate change, adaptation, climate science, planning, management

$50,000-300,000 National, United States Link
Fort Wainwright AK Climate Change Baseline Analysis DOD

Deadline passed as of March 6, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknonwn. The U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Wainwright, Alaska (USAG FWA) owns and manages approximately 1.6 million acres in Interior Alaska. The USAG FWA is requesting assistance to facilitate a climate change baseline analysis with requirements to analyze climate change effects and management strategies for Fort Wainwright and its Training Lands.

Categories: climate change, climate science, outcomes, policy, adaptation, mitigation, baseline, analysis, conservation,

$181,190 total for 1 available award. Alaska, Northwest Link
Regional Initiative to Accelerate CCUS Deployment DOE

Deadline Passed 06/03/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The primary objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to award projects that identify and address onshore regional storage and transport challenges facing commercial deployment of Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS). Projects will focus on Addressing Key Technical Challenges; Facilitate Data Collection, Sharing, and Analysis; Evaluate Regional Infrastructure; and Promote Regional Technology Transfer.

Categories: carbon storage, utilization, energy, storage, data collection, infrastructure, technology

up to $7,000,000 Link
Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment DOE

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: October 11, 2022. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced up to $13 million in funding for the Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment Funding Opportunity Announcement, which supports the development, design, and installation of community geothermal heating and cooling systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will also create related workforce training and identify and address environmental justice concerns. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Energy, Geothermal, Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Development, Environmental Justice

$300,000 – $13,000,000 National Link
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas DOE

Most Recent Deadline for Full Applications: June 26, 2023. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), authorizes DOE to invest $1 billion in energy improvements in rural or remote areas. DOE’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program will provide financial investment, technical assistance, and other resources to advance clean energy demonstrations and energy solutions that are replicable and scalable. ERA aims to fund clean energy projects with three specific goals:1. Deliver measurable benefits to energy customers in rural or remote areas by funding replicable energy projects that lower energy costs, improve energy access and resilience, and/or reduce environmental harm;2. Demonstrate new rural or remote energy system models using climate-resilient technologies, business structures that promote economic resilience, new financing mechanisms, and/or new community engagement best practices; and3. Build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance in rural America.OCED seeks to provide equal opportunity to qualified applicants from rural and remote areas of the United States, which for the purposes of this statutory section means areas of less than 10,000 people. OCED recognizes that potential applicants will come to this program with widely varying energy and resilience needs. To address this reality that one size does not fit all, OCED has organized this $300 million Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) into nine geographic regions, each with its own set of broad energy challenges that provide applicants the opportunity to propose creative solutions at a variety of sizes and scales to address those challenges. Depending on response, OCED may open up additional Funding Opportunity Announcements in the future.

Categories: BIL, energy, infrastructure, community engagement, clean energy, rural

$5,000,000 - $100,000,000 National, Rural Link
Small Innovative Projects in Solar 2022- Concentrating Solar Thermal Power and Photovoltaics DOE

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: March 21, 2022. The DOE will invest up to $400,000 in the large-scale development and deployment of solar technologies for a decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and decarbonized energy sector by 2050. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Solar technologies, renewable development, decarbonized energy, emission reductions

$250,000 - 400,000 National Link
First Steps toward Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on Tribal Lands – 2016 DOE

Deadline passed as of October 20, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. Under the planned FOA, the Office of Indian Energy intends to solicit applications from Indian Tribes (including Alaska Native regional corporations and village corporations) and Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations under the following topic areas: (1) Conduct energy options analyses (Topic Area 1); (2) Establish baseline energy use (Topic Area 2); (3) Develop energy organizations (Topic Area 3); (4) Conduct climate resiliency planning (Topic Area 4); (5) Establish policy, regulations, and codes to reduce energy use or promote energy develop (Topic Area 5); and, (6) Obtain skills and training related to energy use and development (Topic Area 6). It is expected that proposed activities will result in specific measurable results or end-products that will lead to the development and deployment of energy solutions, and/or build knowledge or skills necessary to implement successful strategic energy solutions.

Categories: climate change, carbon emissions, clean energy, sustainable energy, energy planning

DOE currently anticipates making eight to twenty grant awards in amounts ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on Congressional appropriations. National Link
DOE Office of Indian Energy : On-Request Technical Assistance DOE 12/31/2024

Rolling Deadline. Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages can apply annually to receive on-request technical assistance with energy planning; housing, building energy efficiency, and resilience; project development; village power; and policy and regulation. Assistance is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy and its national laboratories, along with other partnering organizations, at no cost.

Categories: sustainability, climate change, energy, emissions, infrastructure, development, planning, policy, technical assistance

Varies. National Link
FY 2017 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program DOE

Deadline Passed 12/08/2017. Deadline for 2018 Unknown.The Office of Science (SC) of the Department of Energy hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving grant applications for support of work in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, and Nuclear Physics

Categories: energy, science, environmental science, research, technology, physics

Varies. National Link
Energizing Rural Communities Prize DOE

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: May 24, 2023. The $15 million Energizing Rural Communities Prize challenges individuals and organizations to develop partnership plans or innovative financing strategies to help rural or remote communities improve their energy systems and advance clean energy demonstration projects. This prize is part of the $1 billion Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program, created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). The ERA Program supports projects that improve the resilience, reliability, safety, availability, and environmental performance of energy systems in rural or remote areas of the U.S. with populations of no more than 10,000 people.

Categories: BIL, innovation challenge, rural energy, infrastructure

up to $100,000 National 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
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants DOE

The Energy and Environmental Block Grant program assists local, state and tribal governments in developing and implementing strategies to help the nation meet its energy and climate goals. The purpose of the program is to help eligible entities reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce the total energy use of eligible entities and improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other sectors. Of the $3.2 billion in total program funds, $2.8 billion will be allocated as authorized in Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. An additional $400 million will be available in competitive grants.

Categories: Energy, Regulation, Adaptation, Mitigation, Research

Individual awards usually range between $50,000 and $200,000 per year, with some exceptions for larger awards. Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Communities LEAP Program DOE

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: December 17, 2021. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched an opportunity announcement for the Local Energy Action Program (Communities LEAP) - an initiative designed to help environmental justice communities and communities with historical ties to fossil fuel industries take direct control of their clean energy future. The Communities LEAP pilot program provides supportive services valued at up to $16 million to help communities develop locally-driven energy plans to more effectively leverage public and private sector resources to reduce local air pollution, increase energy resilience, lower utility costs and energy burdens, and create good-paying jobs. This opportunity is specifically open to low-income, energy-burdened communities (including Tribes) that are also experiencing either direct environmental justice impacts, or direct economic impacts from a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels. Tribes must register in order to apply for this opportunity.

Categories: Clean energy, technical assistance, environmental justice, resilience, emissions, infrastructure, development

Technical assistance services valued at up to a total of $16 million National Link