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 Geography Website
Tribal Organization Support for Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons- North Central, Midwest, Northeast/Southeast Bureau of Indian Affairs

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: December 17, 2021. The BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Program is pleased to announce the availability of funding to support the hiring of Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons in the North Central, Midwest and Northeast/Southeast regions of the DOI Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) through the BIA's Tribal Resilience Program (Program). Eligible applicants include tribal non-profit, non-governmental organizations and tribally-controlled colleges or universities (TCUs) that serve federally-recognized tribes. Other entities may participate as sub-grantees. The BIA is collaborating with the Department of Interior (DOI) Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) to continue supporting tribal climate resilience needs and selected tribal organizations will enter into cooperative agreements with the BIA. This provides a mechanism for the BIA to provide the selected Tribal organizations with non-recurring funding for mutually agreed upon tasks in keeping with the climate science needs of the BIA and all tribal communities in the North Central, Midwest, and Northeast/Southeast CASC regions. The solicitation is available on grants.gov, and named TCRP-16241: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=336222.

Categories: Tribal governance, climate resilience, scientific research

Award ceiling: $400,000. North Central U.S., Midwest, Northeast, Southeast Link
Science for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing research on science for sustainable and healthy tribes. This solicitation is focused on research to develop sustainable solutions to environmental problems that affect tribes. The objectives of the awards to be made under this solicitation are to improve understanding of: 1) the health impacts of climate change on tribal populations; and 2) the health impacts of indoor air pollution exposures that derive from or are directly affecting traditional tribal life-ways and cultural practices. In both cases, projects should focus on impacts to vulnerable sub-populations of the Tribal communities. Proposals should also consider sustainable, culturally appropriate and acceptable pollution prevention, and adaptation/mitigation strategies.

Categories: Tribal Health, Adaptation, Mitigation

The total funding available is $6 million; individual projects may be funded for up to $920,000 Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Tribal Public Health Capacity Building and Quality Improvement Umbrella Cooperative Agreement Department of Health and Human Services, CDC

Deadline Passed 4/24/2018. Deadline for 2019 Unknown. Funding Opportunity #: CDC-RFA-OT18-1803. CDC announces a new cooperative agreement (CoAg) for eligible federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribal nations and regional AI/AN tribally designated organizations to strengthen and improve the public health infrastructure and performance of tribal public health systems. The intent of this program is to assist in public health infrastructure improvement; workforce development; tribal data and information systems enhancement, including surveillance; and development and adaptation of evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions to increase the long-term sustainability of the collective tribal public health system. This program’s ultimate outcomes are 1) decreased morbidity and mortality among AI/ANs; 2) advanced capacity of Indian Country to identify, respond to, and mitigate public health threats; 3) improved capacity of the workforce to deliver essential public health services; 4) increased culturally-appropriate practice-based evidence programs and policies that are effective and sustainable throughout Indian Country; and 5) improved capacity to collaboratively and strategically address AI/AN health needs and advance health equity.

Categories: Tribal Health, public health, infrastructure, development, tribal data, adaptation, capacity building

$20,000-$500,000 National Link
Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Resilience Program Grants DOI, BIA

Deadline Passed 03/02/2020. Deadline Unknown for 2021. The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the Office of Trust Services, Tribal Resilience Program (Program) solicits proposals from federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations as defined at 25 U.S.C. section 5304(l) to receive grants to support tribal resilience and ocean and coastal management and planning. This program supports tribes preparing for extreme events and harmful environmental trends that impact tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, infrastructure, and human health and safety. There are seven total award categories including: Adaptation planning; ocean and coastal management planning; capacity building; relocation, managed retreat, or prtoect-in-place planning. View the notice of funding opportunity here: https://www.bia.gov/sites/bia.gov/files/assets/bia/ots/tcrp/FY20TRPAwar…

Categories: tribal resilience program, ocean management, planning, adaptation, capacity building, relocation, extreme events, traditional knowledge

There is a limit of one award per category per tribal organization, not to exceed two awards per tribal organization. There are six total award categories-
Adaptation Planning (Categories 1-3):
Category 1. Trainings and Workshops (maximum: $150,000);
Category 2. Adaptation Planning (maximum: $150,000);
Category 3. Travel Support for Adaptation Planning (maximum: $15,000);

Ocean and Coastal Management Planning (Categories 4-5):
Category 4. Ocean and Coastal Management Planning: ($150,000);
Category 5. Travel Support - Ocean & Coastal: ($15,000);

Capacity Building (Category 6):
Category 6. Capacity Building for Scoping Efforts to Support Development of future;
Category 2 Proposals: (maximum: $50,000);
National Link
FY 22 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program USDA Forest Service

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 13, 2022. The Forest Service is seeking to create a national innovative messaging for the Urban and Community Forestry Program that raises awareness of the critical and urgent need to plan, grow, and manage our urban forests to benefit all. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Urban forestry, community forestry, management, innovation

$100,000 - 500,000. National Link
TD Green Streets Program TD Banks and Arbor Day Foundation

Deadline Passes December 11, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. TD Bank and the Arbor Day Foundation are accepting applications to TD Green Streets, an annual program that supports innovative urban forestry initiatives in low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods. Ten $20,000 grants will be awarded for the purchase of trees, tree planting and maintenance, and educational activities. Up to 50 percent of the proposed funding can be used to purchase new trees. To be eligible for a TD Green Streets grant, qualified municipalities must be a current Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA-designated community within TD Bank's U.S. footprint. In addition, the trees must be planted in neighborhoods identified as low-to-moderate-income. Municipalities are encouraged to apply in partnership with community partners such as nonprofit organizations, schools, businesses, etc.

Categories: urban forestry, tree planting, forestry education

$20,000 National Link
National Urban and Community Forestry Cost Share Grant Program USFS

Most Recent Deadline: 3/30/2020. The U&CF program requests innovative proposals that strengthen urban and community forest resiliency and align with the goals in the National Ten Year Urban Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026). Collaborative solutions may include but are not limited to: research; prevention; planning; policy; preparedness; implementation; best management practices; recovery; and reforestation that promotes the resilience of our Nation's urban and community forests. 

Categories: Urban Forests, Community Forests Assessment, Planning, Resilience, Forest Management, Natural Disasters, Prevention, Collaboration

$100,000-$300,000 National Link
Alaska State's First Lady Volunteer Awards State-funded

Deadline Passed. Most recent deadline: March 13, 2023. First Lady Rose Dunleavy invites Alaskans to recognize their fellow citizens who have performed extraordinary volunteer service by nominating them for the First Lady’s Volunteer of the Year Awards. The annual awards recognize volunteers who engage in unpaid charitable activities, demonstrate personal commitment to long-term volunteer services, and make a significant impact for Alaskans. An executive committee, comprised of Alaskan community members, will select award recipients to be recognized for their outstanding volunteer contributions.

Categories: Volunteer Recognition

unknown Alaska Link
Climate Commitment Act Tribal Carbon Offset Assistance Grants State of Washington Department of Ecology

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: July 18, 2023. This is a competitive grant program for Tribes to design, assess the feasibility of, and implement carbon offset projects within Washington State. These funds are intended to increase the number of offset projects developed on tribal land within the state. Up to $5,000,000 is available for the 2023-2025 biennium. Per the CCA, offsets can make up 8% of compliance obligation through 2026. Of that 3% must be on tribal lands. After that it is reduced to 6% and 2%, respectively, through 2030.

Categories: Washington Climate Commitment Act, assessment, carbon offset

Varies Washington state Link
Tribal Cultural Affairs Program Grant Funding Opportunity for Washington Federally Recognized Tribes.

Most Recent Deadline: February 29, 2024. In 2023, the Washington State Legislature allocated funding to ArtsWA (Washington State Arts Commission) to bolster arts and culture in Washington Tribal Communities. This funding can be utilized for a wide range of artistic and cultural endeavors. For instance, it can be used to enhance cultural teachings within a community, support the artistic practices of community members, procure necessary supplies, promote creative entrepreneurial opportunities for tribal individuals or groups within the creative economy, and support other arts or cultural initiatives suitable for each particular community. Each Tribe has the opportunity to submit one application, which can cover multiple projects if needed. For this cycle, the maximum funding amount per application is $18,000. The application provides space for each Tribe to indicate any additional funding requests. These requests will be evaluated if further funding becomes available or if some Tribes do not apply. Any funding that remains unrequested by the closing date will be reallocated as additional funding to those who have applied, amending their original funding. Comments and questions? Please contact Cheryl Wilcox, Tribal Cultural Affairs Manager, via email at cheryl.wilcox@arts.wa.gov. For more information, visit:

Categories: Washington State, Culture, cultural initiatives, art

Washington 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.

Categories: waste management, food waste, waste diversion, recycling, composting, public health, BIL

Up to $1,500,000 National Link
Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program Environmental Protection Agency, Indian Health Service (IHS) 12/31/2024

Submissions accepted on a rolling basis. The Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Grant Program (CWISA) provides funding to Indian tribes and Alaska Native Villages for wastewater infrastructure. The CWISA program is administered in cooperation with the Indian Health Service (IHS). The CWISA program provides funding for wastewater infrastructure to American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. Funds may be used for planning, design, and construction of wastewater collection and treatment systems. The CWISA program is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in cooperation with the Indian Health Service (IHS) Sanitation Facilities Construction program. To be considered for CWISA program funding, tribes must identify their wastewater needs to the IHS Sanitation Deficiency System. EPA uses the IHS Sanitation Deficiency System priority lists to identify and select projects for CWISA program funding.

Categories: waste water infrastructure, monitoring, infrastructure

Varies National 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.

Categories: wastewater, infrastructure, energy efficiency, drinking water, drought prevention, mitigation

$5,000,000-$20,000,000 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
Water Conservation Field Services Program- Phoenix Area Office BoR, DOI

The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to invite irrigation and water districts, states, local governments, water providers, and other entities that have an association with a Reclamation project to leverage their money and resources, by cost sharing with Reclamation, on projects/activities that make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation and efficiency within the Phoenix Area Office boundaries. Eligibility includes tribes. R14SF32010.

Categories: Water Conservation

$25,000 ceiling Southwest, see application for details Link
Water Conservation Field Services Program - Yuma Area Office BoR, DOI

The objective of this FOA is to invite irrigation and water districts, states, local governments, water providers, and other entities that have a tie to Reclamation projects to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on activities/projects that make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation and efficiency in the YAO Area of Responsibility. Eligibility includes Indian tribes.

Categories: Water Conservation

$100,000 ceiling Southwest, See application for more details Link
Water Conservation Field Services Program - Southern California Area Office BoR, DOI

The objective of this FOA is to invite irrigation and water districts, Indian Tribes, states, local governments, water providers, and other entities that have a tie to Reclamation projects to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on activities/projects that make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation and efficiency in the SCAO.

Categories: Water Conservation

$100,000 ceiling Northwest, Southwest, See application for more details Link
Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency Grants BoR, DOI

Deadline unknown for 2017. The objective of this FOA is to invite Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts and other organizations with water or power delivery authority located in the state of California to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on projects that save water, improve water management, create new supplies for agricultural irrigation, improve energy efficiency, and benefit endangered species. Projects should also increase the capability or success rate of on-farm water conservation or water use efficiency projects that can be undertaken by farmers and ranchers through irrigation system improvements and irrigation efficiency enhancements.

Categories: Water Conservation, Agriculture

varies Northwest, Southwest, California 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
Water Conservation Field Services Program (BOR) Bureau of Reclamation

Deadline Passed 06/01/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019.  FOA: BOR-UC-18-F001. The Bureau of Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region is requesting applications for the Water Conservation Field Service Program (WCFSP). Through the 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, and improving the understanding of water conservation techniques through demonstration activities.

Categories: Water Conservation, Water resources, Natural resources.

$25,000-$75,000 Colorado, Western United States Link
WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants DOI, BOR

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: July 28, 2022. The WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants Reclamation provides 50/50 cost share funding to irrigation and water districts, tribes, states, and others with water or power delivery authority. This funding opportunity invites eligible applicants to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with reclamation on projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Water efficiency, irrigation, renewable energy, conservation

Up to $5,000,000 Western United States or United States Territories Link
WaterSMART Grants: Small Scale Water Efficiency Projects DOI, BOR

Deadline Passed 03/18/2021. Deadline Unknown for 2022. Through Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects, Reclamation provides assistance to states, tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other entities with water or power delivery authority to undertake small-scale water efficiency projects that have been prioritized through planning efforts led by the applicant. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply reliability in the western United States.

Categories: water efficiency, projects, environment, cultural resources, water delivery, hazard mitigation

$0 - $75,000 National Link
Region 9: Water Pollution Control Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Recent Deadline: 2/01/2021. The Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106 – Water Pollution Control Program assists federally-recognized Indian tribes with achieving environmental results by developing institutional capacity for administering water quality programs to protect, improve and enhance natural resources.

Categories: Water Pollution, Clean Water

$40,000-$200,000. First-time eligible applicants may receive grants for $40,000. Pacific Southwest 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.

Categories: water quality, monitoring, public education, restoration, management, Columbia River Basin, pollution, toxins

$750,000 - $2,000,000 Columbia River Basin 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.

Categories: water quality, public education, outreach, restoration, management, Columbia river basin

$60,000-$200,000 Columbia River Basin Link
Water Pollution Control (Section 106) Grants Environmental Protection Agency

Deadline varies based on individual grants. Section 106 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) authorizes EPA to provide financial assistance to states and eligible interstate agencies to establish and administer programs for the prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. In 1987, Congress amended section 518(e) of the CWA to include provisions that allow EPA to treat an Indian tribe in a manner similar to a state (i.e., treatment in a manner similar to a state, or TAS) for the purpose of providing Section 106 funding.

Categories: water quality, water quality standards, water quality monitoring, pollution, source water

Varies National Link
Water & Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees USDA 12/31/2024

Applications accepted year round. This program helps private lenders provide affordable financing to qualified borrowers to improve access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses in rural areas. Funds may be used to Construct or improve facilities for:Drinking waterSanitary sewersSolid waste disposalStorm water disposal facilities

Categories: water quality, water quantity, waste disposal, rural communities, business, development

varies Rural Areas Link
WaterSMART Applied Science Grants for Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative LCC, BoR, DOI

Deadline passed as of May 16, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. Through this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), Reclamation is providing cost-shared funding on a competitive basis for applied science projects within the Desert LCC in fiscal year (FY) 2014. In general, this FOA provides funding for projects to analyze the impacts of climate change to natural or cultural resources that affect or are affected by water resources, and to develop tools to address those impacts within boundaries of the Desert LCC. More specifically, the funding categories in this FOA are based on two Critical Management Questions (CMQs) developed by the Desert LCC, including: (1) how to incorporate climate change information in the development of environmental flow needs for riparian species and habitat; and, (2) how changing wildfire regimes may impact the sensitive ecosystems within the Desert LCC.

Categories: Water Resources, Cultural and Natural Resource Management

up to $100,000. Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, International (Northern Mexico) Link
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Water for Agriculture Challenge Area USDA

Deadline passed as of August 4, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. This AFRI Challenge Area addresses critical water resources issues such as drought, excess soil moisture, flooding, quality and others in an agricultural context. Funding will be used to develop management practices, technologies, and tools for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and managers, public decision makers, public and private managers, and citizens to improve water resource quantity and quality. The long-term goal of the AFRI Water for Agriculture Challenge Area is to tackle critical water issues by developing both regional systems for the sustainable use and reuse, flow and management of water, and at the watershed and farm scales, water issues focused on production and environmental sustainability efforts. Project types supported within this Challenge area are multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects and Food and Agricultural Enhancement (FASE) Grants.

Categories: Water Resources, Drought, Flooding, Water Quality, Agriculture

varies, total program funding $10,700,000 National Link
Water Management, Planning and Pre-Development (N34) (Water Management) and the Water Rights Negotiation/Litigation (R31) (Water Rights) Programs United States Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Northwest Regional Office

Deadline passed as of September 2, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. Programs support the litigation and negotiation of Indian water rights, studies to determine the quantity of surface and groundwater supplies, identify arable lands, determine historical water use, water requirements for resources such as fish and wildlife, and the amounts of water required for irrigates agriculture, and relates engineering and economic studies for water delivery.

Categories: water rights, irrigation, watershed, water health, water,

Award amount varies. National Link