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 Grant Deadline Description Funding Amount Sort descending Geography Website
National Indoor Environments Program: Reducing Public Exposure to Indoor Pollutants EPA

This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities for demonstration, training, outreach and/or education cooperative agreements that will have a national scale impact to reduce exposure to indoor air contaminants and yield measurable environmental outcomes.

Categories: Air Pollution, public health

Up to $200,000 annually for up to 3 years Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest, US territories Link
EJ4Climate CEC

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: November 11, 2022. A grant program that supports underserved and vulnerable communities, and Indigenous communities, in Canada, Mexico, and the United States to prepare for climate-related impacts. EJ4Climate: Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience Grant Program. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is accepting applications for projects to fund under the EJ4Climate Grant Program. Proposals are due by 11 November 2022 and projects will start in March 2023. Initiated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CEC established this new grant program to fund grants and cooperative agreements that will work with underserved and vulnerable communities, and Indigenous communities, in Canada, Mexico, and the United States to prepare them for climate-related impacts. This program will provide funding directly to community-based organizations to help them develop community-driven solutions to adapt to the impacts of climate change. For this inaugural grant cycle, the CEC is calling for initiatives that will integrate community-led environmental education in support of environmental justice and community resilience to climate-related impacts to: Support community resilience to climate change and climate-related impacts; Benefit underserved and vulnerable communities, and/or Indigenous communities, and ensure the meaningful participation of local residents; Include a sound implementation plan, that identifies actors, actions, beneficiaries, goals, and tangible, measurable results; Create formal or informal partnerships, collaborations or linkages among relevant stakeholders. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: environmental justice, climate justice

Up to $200,000 CAD North America Link
EPA Brownfields Technical Assistance, Training, and Research EPA

Applications Accecpted Year-Round. The Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Communities Program helps communities, states, tribes and others understand risks associated with contaminated or potentially contaminated properties, called brownfields, and learn how to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse them. EPA funds three organizations—Kansas State University (KSU), the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR)—to serve as independent sources of technical assistance. Each of these TABs has an extensive network of partners, contractors and other contacts that provides services across the country. They help communities tackle a variety of challenges related to identifying, assessing, cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields. The technical assistance comes at no cost to communities. This makes the TAB program a great resource for small, underserved, rural and other communities that might otherwise struggle to address their brownfields.

Categories: Planning, Brownfields, Environmental Pollutants, Human Health, Infrastructure, Cleanup, Assessment, Urban Restoration

up to $200,000 per applicant National Link
ReConnect Loan and Grant Program

Deadline Passed 07/12/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The ReConnect Program is an innovative new pilot program that offers unique federal financing and funding options in the form of loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America that don’t currently have sufficient access to broadband. This pilot program will generate private sector investment to deploy broadband infrastructure to provide high-speed internet e-Connectivity to as many rural premises as possible, including homes, community facilities for healthcare and public safety, schools, libraries, farms, ranches, factories, and other production sites. For those who are applying for 100% loan, the deadline is July 12, 2019. 

Categories: broadband, rural areas, infrastructure, high-speed internet, capacity building

Up to $200,000,000 is available for loan/grant combinations. The maximum amount that can be requested in an application is $25,000,000 for the loan and $25,000,000 for the grant. Loan and grant amounts will always be equal. Rural Areas Link
TRIBAL WASTE MANAGEMENT CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING GRANT EPA

2017 deadline: June 15, 2017. Unknown for 2018. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals from eligible entities that will provide training, peer-to-peer technical assistance and travel scholarships to federally-recognized tribes in support of waste management capacity building on tribal lands. The recipient will conduct three training courses that will assist tribes in the development and implementation of sustainable waste management programs. The training will focus on implementing an Integrated Waste Management Plan (IWMP) through waste diversion programs such as recycling, composting, et al. The training courses should include tribal speakers that have developed and implemented successful waste diversion programs. In addition, the recipient will offer travel scholarships to support the trainings as well as provide travel scholarships to financially assist tribes that voluntarily participate in the EPA’s National Tribal Waste Management Peer Matching Program.

Categories: pollution, human hazard, sustainability, conservation, planning, policy, management, waste, sanitation, infrastructure

Up to $200,000. National Link
Indigeous Environmental Network COVID-19 Emergency Mutual Aid Fund Indigenous Environmental Network

This rapid response support will be extended to community-based Indigenous peoples and organizations from the U.S. and Canada (Central and South America on a case-by-case basis), WHO EITHER ARE HELPING THE COMMUNITY WITH TRANSPORTATION AND ESSENTIAL NEEDS OR WHO HAVE LOST THEIR PRIMARY INCOME FROM A HOME BUSINESS. These small grants of UP to $2,000 are being offered to assist with the following 3 situations:
1. FOR GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS ONLY, WHO ARE HELPING OTHERS: Purchase of essential provisions: food, water, medication, diapers, cleaning supplies, pet food, etc.
2. FOR GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS ONLY, WHO ARE HELPING OTHERS- Support with transportation for essential needs and provisions, such as medical appointments and clinic/hospital visits, medication, groceries etc.
3. THIS IS THE ONLY GRANT AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS, THOSE WHO’S MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME IS THEIR HOME BUSINESS- Home business slowdowns in sales and other cash flow difficulties (maybe your supplier is shut down, or a big order for an event is canceled). For this support “home business” is referring to things like quilting, regalia making, bead and quill work, moccasin making, basket making, pottery, silversmithing, etc.

Categories: COVID-19

Up to $2000 National 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
Water Conservation Field Services Program Pacific Northwest Region BOR

Deadline Passed 12/31/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and nonFederal funding to work cooperatively with states, tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. Through the Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP), which is managed by each of Reclamation's regional offices, Reclamation makes cost-shared financial assistance available for the development of water conservation plans and design of water management improvements, identifying water management improvements through System Optimization Reviews (SOR), and improving the understanding of water conservation techniques through demonstration activities. 

Categories: water conservation, water management

up to $25,000 Pacific Northwest Link
Citizen Science Competitive Funding Program USFS

Deadline Passed 12/05/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The USDA Forest Service delivers world-class science, technology, and land management to sustain the Nation's forests and grasslands in collaboration with communities and our partners. In 2017, the agency launched the Citizen Science Competitive Funding Program (CitSci Fund) to support innovative projects that address science and resource management information needs while connecting people to the land and one another.

Categories: citizen science, forest management, grasslands, community building, healthy ecosystems

up to $25,000 National Link
Hawai‘i Sea Grant Pacific Islands Indigenous Science Competition Hawai‘i Sea Grant

Most Recent Deadline: October 20, 2023. The Hawai‘i Sea Grant Pacific Islands Indigenous Science Competition is seeking projects that center Indigenous methodologies, protocols, and values in research. The goal of this competition is to promote Indigenous science in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands by funding projects that support resource stewardship, empower community, and strengthen cultural practices. Project teams must be led by a nonprofit organization in Hawaiʻi or the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands and include at least one land steward or cultural practitioner. Statement of Interests are due September 1, 2023 at 5:00 pm HST and Full Proposals are due October 20, 2023 at 5:00 pm HST. While recognizing the value of partnership across Western and Indigenous sciences, this funding opportunity seeks to shift the focus and center Indigenous methodologies, protocols, and values in research. With this intention in mind, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will support between 2 and 4 projects, each in the $10,000 to $25,000 range, for a funding term of one year.

Categories: Resource Stewardship, Community, Culture, Research, TEK,

Up to $25,000 Pacific Islands/Hawaii Link
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Farmer/Rancher Grant Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

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

Up to $25,000 may be requested if one (1) Producer is involved. Proposals with three (3) or more Producers may request up to $29,900. Western US Link
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.

Categories: Emergency Management, Disaster, Adaptation, Health, Natural Resources

Up to $25,000 per incident Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Partners for Fish and Wildlife DOI

Deadline passed as of June 30, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknwon. Funding available for wetland and associated upland habitat restoration and enhancement projects for conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly migratory birds. Particularly in the Great Lakes area, but not limited to.

Categories: habitat, restoration, management, conservation, wetlands, marsh, swamp, estuary

Up to $25,000. Great Lakes, Minnesota Link
Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Technical Assistance NOAA, Department of Commerce

Deadline Passed. Most recent deadline: March 15, 2023. The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Competitive Research Program (CRP) [formerly Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean Program] is soliciting proposals for the Effects of Sea Level Rise Program (ESLR) Technical Assistance. The ESLR program name was shortened in 2020, and was formerly known as the Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Program (EESLR). ESLR is a multidisciplinary research program that emphasizes the use of integrated models and tools of dynamic physical and biological processes capable of evaluating vulnerability and resilience of our coasts under multiple sea level rise (SLR), inundation, and management scenarios to inform coastal restoration, land management, and planning activities.

Categories: coasts, coastal inundation, sea level rise, infrastructure, ecology, adaptation, planning, modeling, evaluation

Up to $250,000 Coasts Link
Tribal Solar Gap Funding Grant Program GRID Alternatives

Deadline Passed. Most Recent Deadline July 14, 2023. The Tribal Solar Gap Funding Grant supports solar projects of any type that require a tribal cost-share (ex. Federal or State grant programs) or are leveraging funding from other grant opportunities or initiatives. Applicants may apply for gap funding up to $250,000. These projects should be positioned to deploy solar energy with an existing funding gap (cost share) which is preventing the project from being completed. With this round of gap funding TSAF aims to enhance and strengthen tribal solar energy development and infrastructure inclusive of other impactful renewable energy technologies (battery storage, clean mobility/charging stations etc.) and to provide funding toward larger scale solar projects that benefit a significant number of tribal community members.

Categories: solar, tribal energy, resiliency, tribal communities, education, training, workforce development

Up to $250,000 National Link
Solar Grant Program Washington Department of Commerce

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: May 25, 2022. Solar Energy grants provide competitive funding to install solar at public buildings and facilities, such as schools, hospitals, civic buildings and wastewater treatment plants, maximum award $250,000 per applicant. Projects must provide 50% of the total project cost, or 33% if developed by federally recognized Tribal Governments or located in highly impacted communities, lower income communities, rural communities. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Renewable energy, solar, Tribally-owned facilities, highly impacted communities, rural communities

Up to $250,000 ‎Washington Link
OIA Technical Assistance Program DOI

Deadline passed as of March 1, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The Technical Assistance Program (TAP) provides grant funding for short-term projects intended to meet the immediate needs of the insular areas. OIA's priorities are as follows: Climate change, accountability, financial management, economic development, training, education, energy, management control initiatives, safety, emergency, historical & cultural preservation, capacity building, health initiatives, and outdoor youth initiatives.

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

Up to $250,000. United States, International (US Territories) Link
Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program USDA, NIFA

Deadline Passed. Most recent deadline: 04/26/2022. This grant program supports: (1) training students for master's and doctoral degrees in food, agricultural and natural resource sciences; and (2) Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) for eligible USDA NNF beneficiaries. Awards are specifically intended to support traineeship programs that engage outstanding students to pursue and complete their degrees in USDA mission areas. Applicants provide clarity about the philosophy of their graduate training, and relevance to USDA mission sciences, NIFA priorities and national science education policies and statistics. Applications are being solicited from institutions that confer a graduate degree in at least one of the following Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas: 1) animal and plant production; 2) forest resources; 3) agricultural educators and communicators; 4) agricultural management and economics; 5) food science and human nutrition; 6) sciences for agricultural biosecurity; and 7) training in integrative biosciences for sustainable food and agricultural systems.

Categories: agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, training, animal and plant production, forest management, economics, education

up to $262,500 National Link
Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM) National Science Foundation

Deadline Passed 4/17/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM) funds research projects that identify (1) factors that are effective in the formation of ethical STEM researchers and (2) approaches to developing those factors in all the fields of science and engineering that NSF supports. CCE STEM solicits proposals for research that explores the following: ‘What constitutes responsible conduct for research (RCR), and which cultural and institutional contexts promote ethical STEM research and practice and why?' Factors one might consider include: honor codes, professional ethics codes and licensing requirements, an ethic of service and/or service learning, life-long learning requirements, curricula or memberships in organizations (e.g. Engineers without Borders) that stress responsible conduct for research, institutions that serve under-represented groups, institutions where academic and research integrity are cultivated at multiple levels, institutions that cultivate ethics across the curriculum, or programs that promote group work, or do not grade. Do certain labs have a ‘culture of academic integrity'? What practices contribute to the establishment and maintenance of ethical cultures and how can these practices be transferred, extended to, and integrated into other research and learning settings? Proposals for awards from minority-serving institutions (e.g. Tribal Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions), women's colleges, and institutions primarily serving persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged.

Categories: STEM, culture, research, development, underrepresented groups, integration

Up to $275,000 National Link
Novel and Enabling Carbon Capture Transformational DOE Office of Fossil Energy

Recent deadline: 11/22/2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to research, develop, and validate carbon dioxide capture transformational materials, processes, and enabling technologies at bench scale for pulverized coal or natural gas fired power plants that enable step change reductions in current CO2 capture cost and energy penalties in support of DOE’s Carbon Capture Program goal.

Categories: transformational technologies, carbon emissions

Up to $3,000,000 Link
WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects DOI, Bureau of Reclamation

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 5, 2023. WaterSMART’s Environmental Water Resources Projects provide support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, and is aligned with other priorities such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. The Environmental Water Resources Projects also support the goals of the Interagency Drought Relief Working Group established in March 2021 and the National Drought Resiliency Partnership. The funding opportunity supports water conservation, water management, and restoration projects that result in significant benefit to the ecosystem or watershed health. The projects must also be part of a collaborative process to increase water resource reliability. Learn more about WaterSMART here.

Categories: watershed, water management, conservation, restoration, infrastructure

Up to $3,000,000 National Link
2022 Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: July 6, 2022. The BIA Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience (Branch, TCR) is excited to announce the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Annual Awards Program Request for Proposals (RFP). The Branch will release approximately $46 million in funding through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and FY 2022 annual appropriations. Please visit the TCR main homepage for more information and download the full solicitation here. For further questions about the 2022 Request for Proposals, please find your regional Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison here, or email Resilience.Funding@bia.gov for National and/or technical questions about the application process.

Categories: Climate resilience, planning, internship, trainings and workshops, youth engagement

Up to $3,000,000, depending on project category. National Link
Small Grants Competition GLISA

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 30, 2023. The Great Lakes Integrated Sciences + Assessments (GLISA) is accepting letters of intent for projects to advance equitable climate adaptation in the Great Lakes region. Access the Call for SOI here.

Categories: climate adaptation, equity, DEI

Up to $30,000 per year, 2 years Great Lakes Region Link
Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund NOAA, DOC

Deadline Passed. Most recent deadline: March 6, 2023.  Congress established the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) to reverse the decline of West Coast salmon. This competitive grants program provides funding to States and Tribes to protect, conserve, and restore these populations. Read more about this funding opportunity here.

Categories: habitat conservation, protected species, sustainable fisheries, salmon, recovery

Up to $30,000,000 Northwest, Southwest, Coastal, Alaska 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.

Categories: riparian ecosystem, conservation, climate resiliency, salmon, flooding, erosion

Up to $30,000,000 Puget Sound, Washington Link
WaterSMART: Drought Resiliency Project Grants for Fiscal Year 2015 Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Interior) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program

The Nation’s largest wholesale water supplier, Reclamation, is supporting their customers, stakeholders, and partners by building resiliency to drought and climate change throuigh the implmentation of this Drought Resiliency program. The program seeks to assist in proactive drought response, resiliencey, adaptation, and more.

Categories: Natural Resources, Resiliency, Development, Responsiveness

Up to $300,000 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
Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant NOAA Fisheries

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: October 31, 2022. NOAA Fisheries is accepting applications for the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Competition. This funding will support the promotion, development and marketing of U.S. fisheries. Awards maximum is $300,000. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Fisheries development, aquaculture, community participation, sustainability

Up to $300,000 National 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
Native Arts Initiative First Nations Development Institute

Last deadline: 10/19/2017. Deadline unknown 2019. First Nations (First Nations) Development Institute has launched a new Supporting Native Arts grant opportunity under its Native Arts Initiative (formerly known as the "Native Arts Capacity Building Iniative" or NACBI). First Nations will award about 15 Supporting Native Arts grants of up to $32,000 each to Native-controlled nonprofit organizations and tribal government programs that have existing programs in place that support Native artists and the field of traditional Native arts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to increasing the inter-generational transfer of knowledge of traditional Native artistic practices and perpetuation and proliferation of traditional Native arts.

Categories: Native Artists, Native Arts, non-profit organizations, tribal, capacity building, stewardship

Up to $32,000 Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Upper Midwest Link