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 "12/31/2023" as the grant deadline. This ensures that those grants will appear immediately after those grants with a set deadline.
| Title |
Organization |
Grant Deadline | Description | Category | Funding Amount | Geography | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tribal Solid Waste Management Assistance Project | EPA |
The Tribal Solid Waste Interagency Workgroup was created to coordinate federal assistance to tribes to help them comply with the municipal solid waste landfill regulations. Successful proposals should characterize/assess open dumps, develop integrated waste management (IWM) plans, develop and implement alternative solid waste management activities/facilities; or develop and implement cleanup, closure, and post-closure programs for open dumps in Indian Country. Each proposal must address only one of the four proposal categories described above. |
Water, Regulatory, Research | 10 Individual awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | Link | |
| FY 2019 National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Solicitation Notice | EPA |
Deadline Passed 04/08/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The EPA Exchange Network Grant Program is soliciting project proposals that use the Environmental Information Exchange Network (EN) to:
|
Regulatory, Research, Environmental Data, Decision Making | Up to $400,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | Link | |
| Pollution Prevention Grant: Environmental Justice in Communities | EPA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 6, 2023. The purpose of the Pollution Prevention Grant: Environmental Justice in Communities is to provide technical assistance to businesses (e.g., information, training, expert advice) on source reduction, also known as pollution prevention (P2). Grantees must demonstrate that the project will improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by implementing P2 approaches. This grant is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. |
BIL, pollution, community health, technical assistance, Justice40 | $100,000 to $800,000 for the individual grant awards, or up to $1.2 million for multi-state or multi-tribal projects | National, US territories | Link | |
| Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program - Middle and Upper Columbia | EPA |
Deadline Passed 12/20/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 (EPA), is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA) from eligible entities to improve water quality in the Middle and Upper Columbia River Basin, through specific actions to reduce toxics, increase monitoring, and/or increase public education and outreach. The Columbia River Basin Restoration Program (CRBRP) will assist tribal, state and local governments; nongovernmental entities, and others as they implement the Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan and the Lower Columbia River Estuary Plan - Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and conduct activities to support EPA national goals for the Columbia River Basin. |
water quality, public education, outreach, restoration, management, Columbia river basin | $60,000-$200,000 | Columbia River Basin | Link | |
| Air Climate and Energy (ACE) Centers | EPA |
Deadline Unknown. Closed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications for Air, Climate and Energy (ACE) Centers. EPA is interested in supporting research on the development of sound science to systematically inform policy makers at the state and local levels regarding the development of innovative approaches to enable effective implementation of air pollution control strategies to achieve the greatest public health benefits by reducing exposure to harmful air pollution |
Research, Air Pollution Control, public health | Up to $10,000,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program- Tribal Program Implementation | EPA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: January 31, 2023. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 (EPA), is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA) from eligible Columbia River Basin tribal governments to improve water quality in the Columbia River Basin, through specific actions to reduce toxics, and/or increase public education and outreach. The Columbia River Basin Restoration Program (CRBRP) will assist tribes as they implement the Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan and the Lower Columbia River Estuary Plan - Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and conduct activities to support EPA national goals for the Columbia River Basin. Learn more here. |
water quality, monitoring, public education, restoration, management, Columbia River Basin, pollution, toxins | $750,000 - $2,000,000 | Columbia River Basin | Link | |
| Local Governments Reimbursement Program | EPA | 12/31/2024 |
Rolling Deadline. In the event of a release (or threatened release) of hazardous substances, EPA may reimburse local governments for expenses related to the release and associated emergency response measures. The Local Governments Reimbursement Program provides a "safety net" of up to $25,000 per incident to local governments that do not have funds available to pay for response actions. |
Emergency Management, Disaster, Adaptation, Health, Natural Resources | Up to $25,000 per incident | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | Link |
| EPA 2022 Tribal EJ Small Grants Opportunity | EPA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: May 19, 2022. EPA has announced the availability of up to $1.6 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to support Tribal government efforts to establish or modify programs on environmental justice, water and air quality issues. Congress made up to $1.6 million in ARP funding available to Tribes, recognizing the importance of supporting Tribal public engagement programs and related priorities that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. EPA anticipates awarding 16 to 20 grants nationwide in amounts of up to $100,000 per award. Applicants should plan for projects to begin on 1 October 2022. Learn more and apply here. |
Environmental justice, water quality, air quality, public engagement, COVID-19 | Applicants may request up to $100,000. | National | Link | |
| National Clean Diesel Funding Tribal Assistance Program | EPA |
EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality is soliciting proposals nationwide for Tribal projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced by diesel engines and diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas. |
Emissions Reduction, Clean Energy, Transportation Infrastructure, Mitigation | Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Clean Air Act Grants under the Inflation Reduction Act | EPA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 17, 2023. EPA's Office of Air and Radiation is announcing approximately $25,000,000 in Clean Air Act (CAA) grants under section 60105(f) "Funding to Address Air Pollution: Clean Air Act Grants" of the Inflation Reduction Act. These funds will supplement annual funding for air pollution control agencies in support of activities under Clean Air Act Section 103. The funds will support efforts by air pollution control agencies and other organizations to partner with EPA to deliver cleaner air through programs that address air quality, transportation, indoor air, and climate change. Other activities may include planning and preparation for implementing other Inflation Reduction Act provisions. EPA regional offices will contact eligible entities about how to apply via Grants.gov. |
air quality, pollution, non-competitive, IRA, transportation, GHG emissions | Varies | National | Link | |
| Healthy Places for Healthy People | EPA |
Deadline passed as of November 6, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. Healthy Places for Healthy People will provide selected communities with expert planning assistance that centers around a two-day community workshop. A team of experts will help community members develop an implementable action plan that will focus on health as an economic driver and catalyst for downtown and neighborhood revitalization. |
community, neighborhood, infrastructure, economy, urban | unknown | National, Appalachia | Link | |
| Tribal and Insular Area Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) | EPA |
Most Recent Deadline: 7/09/2021. EPA anticipates awarding approximately $5 million in DERA funding under this announcement. A total of $4.5 million will be made available to tribal governments (or intertribal consortia) and Alaska Native villages, and $500,000 will be made available to insular area governments. EPA anticipates awarding five to ten cooperative agreements to tribal governments (or intertribal consortia) and Alaska Native villages and two to four cooperative agreements to insular area governments. This year's Request for Applications (RFA) has no mandatory cost share requirement and sets funding limits to $800,000 for tribal applicants and $250,000 for insular area applicants. Each applicant may submit up to two applications. Although funding for both tribes and insular areas is planned under this single RFA, the applications will be competed separately. Tribal applications will be reviewed, ranked and selected by one review panel, and insular area applications will be reviewed, ranked and selected by a separate review panel. EPA's ten regional offices will manage awards. The number and size of cooperative agreements made under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds, the quality of applications received, and other considerations. |
Emissions Reduction, Mitigation, Energy efficiency | up to $800,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Cool & Connected | EPA |
Deadline passed as of November 6, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. Through Cool & Connected, a team of experts will help community members develop strategies and an action plan for using broadband service to promote smart, sustainable community development. Broadband access can provide new opportunities for people and businesses. A growing number of communities have combined broadband service with other local assets such as cultural and recreational amenities to attract and retain investment and people, including young people. This can help diversify local economies. Such efforts typically require planning among community leaders, businesses, and internet service providers. The Cool & Connected program will provide assistance to this end, helping communities take advantage of broadband service to create walkable, connected, economically successful main streets and small-town neighborhoods. |
internet, urban, infrastructure, technology, economic development | Unknown | National | Link | |
| Hazardous Waste Management Grant Program for Tribes | EPA |
Deadline Passed 08/01/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from federally-recognized tribes or intertribal consortia for the development and implementation of hazardous waste programs and for building capacity to address hazardous waste management in Indian country. In accordance with the EPA Indian Policy of 1984, EPA recognizes tribal governments as the primary parties for managing programs for reservations. To maximize the benefits to tribes from the limited funding to support the Hazardous Waste Management Grant Program for Tribes, EPA has reassessed the criteria used to evaluate Applications submitted for funding through this grant program beginning in FY 2015. The goal of this effort is to provide technical assistance to a greater number of tribes for activities that involve hazardous waste management on tribal lands. |
Hazardous Waste Management | up to $98,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Smart Growth Information Clearinghouse Grants | EPA |
Under this solicitation, EPA intends to fund further development and ongoing maintenance of a web-based national information clearinghouse focused on smart growth. This clearinghouse will be designed to support communities by providing timely information that supports local decision-making that delivers better environmental and public health outcomes from growth and development |
Development, Database, Smart Growth | varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Region 9 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program | EPA |
Most recent deadline: 1/14/2021. EPA provides GAP financial and technical assistance to tribal governments and intertribal consortia to assist tribes in planning, developing, and establishing the capacity to implement federal environmental programs administered by the EPA and to assist in implementation of tribal solid and hazardous waste programs in accordance with applicable provisions of law, including the Solid Waste Disposal Act (commonly known as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA). As described in the GAP Guiding Principles, this support promotes tribal government efforts to develop core environmental program capacities (administrative, financial management, information management, environmental baseline needs assessment, public education/communication, legal, and technical/analytical) and baseline capacities for media-specific programs (e.g., ambient air quality, water quality, managing waste, and other EPA-administered statutory programs). |
Adaptation, Regulatory, Environmental Justice, Natural Resources, Conservation, Health | $75,000 for first-time applicants. Total Funding will be determined after EPA receives its full budget from Congress. | Pacific Southwest | Link | |
| EPA Indoor Air and Climate Change Funding Opportunity | EPA |
This RFA seeks to understand the health effects from climate change mediated by indoor environments. A specific interest is the evaluation of adaptation guidelines, such as energy-saving building modifications, from a health perspective. Additional optional goals are 1) the understanding of behavioral adaptations, e. g. time spent outdoors, or use of natural ventilation and 2) extension of building ventilation models to newer energy-efficient buildings and evaluation of existing models against independent data sets. |
Health, Infrastructure, Research | $500,000-$1,000,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Drivers and Environmental Impacts of Energy Transitions in Underserved Communities | EPA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 28, 2022. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing community-engaged research that will address the drivers and environmental impacts of energy transitions in underserved communities. For purposes of this competition and the evaluation of applications, “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, including people of color, low income, rural, tribal, indigenous, and other populations that may be disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks. Learn more and apply here. |
Energy transitions, community-engaged research, underserved communities, environmental justice | Up to a total of $1,125,000 per regular award, and up to a total of $650,000 per early career award, including direct and indirect costs, with a maximum duration of four years. | National | Link | |
| Environmental Justice Governemnt to Government (EJG2G) Program | EPA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 14, 2023. The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) program provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and Tribal level to support government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms. Model EJG2G programs should leverage existing resources to develop processes or tools that integrate environmental justice considerations into governmental decision-making at all levels. Applications submitted in response to this funding opportunity that will receive must address one of the following five broad categories:
Apply here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=345311 |
public health, air pollution, climate mitigation, adaptation, toxins, community | up to $1,000,000 | National, US territories | Link | |
| Region 10 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program | EPA |
Recent Deadline: 1/29/2021 EPA provides GAP financial and technical assistance to tribal governments and intertribal consortia to assist tribes in planning, developing, and establishing the capacity to implement federal environmental programs administered by the EPA and to assist in implementation of tribal solid and hazardous waste programs in accordance with applicable provisions of law, including the Solid Waste Disposal Act (commonly known as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA). As described in the GAP Guiding Principles, this support promotes tribal government efforts to develop core environmental program capacities (administrative, financial management, information management, environmental baseline needs assessment, public education/communication, legal, and technical/analytical) and baseline capacities for media-specific programs (e.g., ambient air quality, water quality, managing waste, and other EPA-administered statutory programs). |
Adaptation, Regulatory, Environmental Justice, Natural Resources, Conservation, Health | $75,000 - $125,000 per year. Tribes with large reservations may request a higher level of funding. | Northwest, Alaska | Link | |
| Climate Pollution Reduction Grants | EPA | 05/01/2024 |
Phase II Deadline for General Competition: April 1, 2024. Deadline for Tribes and Territories Only Competition: May 1, 2024. EPA has announced two competitions for CPRG implementation grants – a general competition for applications from states, municipalities, tribes, tribal consortia, and territories, and a competition only for tribes, tribal consortia, and territories. These competitions are open to entities that received planning grants to develop Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) under phase 1 of the CPRG program, as well as entities that did not directly receive a planning grant that are applying for funds to implement measures included in an applicable PCAP. Eligible applicants may only apply for funding to implement measures contained in an applicable PCAP. For the general competition, EPA anticipates awarding individual grants between $2 million and $500 million, with funding tiers allowing comparably sized projects to compete against one another. For the competition for tribes and territories, EPA anticipates awarding individual grants ranging between $1 million to $25 million. |
pollution, IRA, greenhouse gas, air quality, health | Varies | National, US territories, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico | Link |
| Smart Growth Implementation Assistance (SGIA) Program | EPA |
Communities receive direct technical assistance from team of national experts in one of two areas: policy analysis (e.g., reviewing state and local codes, school siting guidelines,transportation policies, etc.) or public participatory processes (e.g., visioning, design workshops, alternative analysis, build-out analysis, etc.). The assistance is tailored to the community's unique situation and priorities. EPA provides the assistance through a contractor team –not a grant. Through a multiple-day site visit and a detailed final report, the multi-disciplinary teams provide information to help the community achieve its goal of encouraging growth that fosters economic progress and environmental protection. |
Infrastructure, Smart Growth | Competitive program in which awardees receive technical assistance from experts; no funds dispersed | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | Link | |
| Consumer Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program | EPA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: February 15, 2023. The EPA is seeking applications proposing projects that inform the public about new or existing residential or community recycling programs; provide information about the recycled materials that are accepted as part of a residential or community recycling program that provides for the separate collection of residential solid waste from recycled material; and increases collection rates and decreases contamination in residential and community recycling programs. Projects will improve consumer recycling education with the goal of achieving separate collection of recycled material across the nation, maximizing the efficient reuse of materials, and identifying strategies that otherwise result in an increase in volume of recyclable materials. The EPA also recognizes and encourages applications that demonstrate evidence-based messaging and strategies associated with effective communication campaigns designed to increase prevention, reuse, repair, remanufacture, recycling, anaerobic digestion, and composting in communities and/or decrease contamination in the recycling stream. This approach to community-informed messaging goes beyond education only by emphasizing researching the audience, building trust, and reducing audience barriers while emphasizing benefits for desired action. In addition, the EPA is seeking applications for recycling education and outreach projects that address environmental justice concerns and focus predominantly on addressing the disproportionate and adverse human health, environmental, climate-related and other cumulative impacts, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts, resulting from industrial, governmental, commercial and/or other actions that have affected and/or currently affect people/communities of color, low income, tribal, and indigenous populations, and if applicable, other vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Apply here. |
education, public health, social justice, recycling, waste management, BIL | up to $2,000,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Coastal, Alaska | Link | |
| Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia | EPA |
Deadline passed. Latest deadline: April 4, 2023. SWIFR Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia will provide funds for tribes and intertribal consortia to develop or update plans focused on encouraging environmentally sound post-consumer materials management; establish, increase, or expand materials management infrastructure, utilize funds for equipment and construction related costs as part of their implementation plans, and identify, establish, or improve end-markets for the use of recycled materials. Materials and waste streams within scope of this funding opportunity include: municipal solid waste, including plastics, organics, paper, metal, glass, etc. and construction and demolition debris. In addition, materials and waste streams considered include the management pathways of source reduction, reuse, sending materials to material recovery facilities, composting, industrial uses (e.g., rendering, anaerobic digestion), and feeding animals. Apply here. |
waste management, food waste, waste diversion, recycling, composting, public health, BIL | Up to $1,500,000 | National | Link | |
| The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program | EPA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 30, 2023. The new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) Program is a competition to select multiple Grantmakers around the nation to reduce barriers to the federal grants application process communities face and increase the efficiency of the awards process for environmental justice grants. Grantmakers will design competitive application and submission processes, award environmental justice subgrants, implement a tracking and reporting system, provide resources and support to communities, all in collaboration with EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. Apply on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=346337 |
competition, environmental justice, community, IRA | Up to $50,000,000 | National, US territories | Link | |
| Puget Sound Action Agenda – Climate Resilient Riparian Systems Lead | EPA |
Deadline Passed. Most recent deadline: March 31, 2023. This RFA announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible applicants that are interested in acting as the Puget Sound Climate Resilient Riparian Systems Lead. The overall goal is to establish an innovative and collaborative riparian conservation program that provides financial incentives for landowners to set aside and restore riparian areas important for salmon recovery, while successfully implementing approaches to climate resiliency and riparian conservation that become a robust and sustainable program. |
riparian ecosystem, conservation, climate resiliency, salmon, flooding, erosion | Up to $30,000,000 | Puget Sound, Washington | 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. |
wastewater, infrastructure, energy efficiency, drinking water, drought prevention, mitigation | $5,000,000-$20,000,000 | National | Link | |
| Tribal Clean Air Act | EPA |
Deadline passed as of March 3, 2023. EPA Region 9 anticipates awarding approximately 30 grants to federally-recognized tribes within the Region 9 geographic area for funding tribal air pollution control programs, air quality education and assessment projects, and the development of tribal air program capacity. |
clean air, air pollution, education | It is expected that the awards will range from $50,000 to $120,000. | Pacific Southwest | Link | |
| Environmental Justice Small Grants Program | EPA |
Deadline extended: 6/1/2021. The EJSG program awards grants that support community-driven projects designed to engage, educate, and empower communities to better understand local environmental and public health issues and develop strategies for addressing those issues, building consensus in the community, and setting community priorities. The EJSG program will award approximately $2.8 million nationwide for this competitive opportunity. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 56 grants ( about 5 per EPA region) of up to $50,000 each. These grants are for one-year projects. This opportunity places special emphasis on projects focusing on COVID-19 impacts, as well as climate and disaster resiliency. Additionally, EPA is emphasizing projects addressing diesel pollution in underserved communities living near ports and railyards as part of EPA’s Ports Initiative. Finally, to promote equitable accessibility to EPA grant funding and to assist small entities, approximately half of the total available funding under this announcement is intended to be reserved for small non-profit organizations as defined in the announcement. |
community-based organizations, underserved communities, environmental issues, health issues, environmental justice | up to $50,000 | United States | Link | |
| Building the Capacity of Tribes to Address the Health Impacts of Climate Change | EPA |
Deadline passed as of July 15, 2016. Deadline for 2016 unkown. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals to enable tribal climate change and health impacts curriculum development and training, web communications, and outreach. |
Curriculum Development, Climate Impacts, Training, Outreach, Climate Education, Capacity Building | $600,000 total funding available | National | Link |
