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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDPIR Program Nutrition Education Grants | FDPIR, USDA |
Deadline Passed April 30, 2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. Since 2008, FNS awards funding for nutrition education projects through Food Distribution Program Nutrition Education (FDPNE) grants each fiscal year. Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) and State agencies (SAs) that are current FDPIR allowance holders (have a direct agreement with FNS to administer FDPIR) are eligible to apply for funds to conduct projects that provide nutrition information and services to FDPIR participants. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 SNAP Education Plan Guidance is the basis for FDPNE nutrition, gardening, and physical activities |
food, nutrition, distribution. gardening | Ceiling $220,000 Floor $2,000 | National | Link | |
| Integrating Human Health and Well-Being with Ecosystem Services | EPA, Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC) Research Program |
Unknown for 2017. Specifically, this research examines how communities can integrate ecosystem services with human health and well-being to inform their decision making and management practices. This RFA aims to develop information that allows communities to integrate environmental, societal and economic information and to better manage multiple stressors and their cumulative impacts on humans and ecosystems. The ultimate goal is to help communities achieve their own objectives while taking advantage of more relevant and accessible information about ecosystem services. |
Community Development, Community Resilience, Climate Resilience, Public Health, Management, Ecosystem Services. | Up to a total of $600,000 for regular awards and $400,000 for early-career awards, including direct and indirect costs, with a maximum duration of three years. | National. | Link | |
| Village Safe Water Program/Alaska Native Village and Rural Communities Program | EPA, State-funded |
The Village Safe Water Program provides technical and financial support to communities to design and construct water and wastewater systems. It is meant to assist Alaska Native Villages and Alaska rural communities with the construction of new or improved drinking water and wastewater systems. This funding can also be used to provide training and technical assistance in the operations and maintenance of these systems. |
Water, Natural Resources, Education | Varies | Northwest, Alaska | Link | |
| Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program: Environmental Technology Developers | EPA, SBIR |
Deadline passed as of October 20, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) mission is to protect human health and the environment. EPA’s SBIR Program supports small businesses (500 or fewer employees) to develop and commercialize novel environmental technologies that support this mission. |
small business, economy, technology, development, information, | Approximately 18 Phase I firm-fixed price contract awards for $100,000 for "proof of concept" | United States | Link | |
| EPA Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program | EPA, NGO |
Smart Growth America and Global Green USA are soliciting applications for technical assistance, which is available under grants EPA awarded to these two organizations through the Office of Sustainable Communities' Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities grant program. (Listen to the November 6 webinar about both offerings.) Global Green USA's technical assistance is based on the LEED for Neighborhood Development standard, which provides a nationally recognized method for creating neighborhoods that are walkable, bikeable, resource-efficient, and equitable. At the conclusion of the assistance, the team will provide recommendations for both physical and policy changes that can enhance neighborhood sustainability. |
Sustainable Development, infrastructure, planning, policy, climate change | Grant provides assistance as opposed to cash | National, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, Midwest, Alaska | Link | |
| Tribal Training and Outreach Support for the American Indian Air Quality Training Program | EPA, AIAQTP, R&IEL |
Grant deadline unknown for 2016. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities to provide tribal training, technical and outreach support for the American Indian Air Quality Training Program. The American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) provides workshop training, internships and technical support to tribal governments seeking to investigate, develop and establish air quality management programs for lands under their jurisdiction and provides opportunity for American Indian students to pursue environmental careers in the field of air quality management. The Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center is a component of the AIAQTP, and is a partnership effort between the selected grant recipient and EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, hosted by the Radiation and Indoor Environments National (R&IEL) laboratory in Las Vegas, to provide a full spectrum of technical support to tribes undertaking air quality monitoring and related activities. |
workshop training, technical support, internships, Air Quality | Up to $1,600,000 | National, Las Vegas | Link | |
| Environmental Education Local Grants | EPA Region 10 |
Deadline Passed 01/06/2020. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The purpose of the Environmental Education Local Grants Program in Region 10 is to support locally-focused environmental education projects that increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental and conservation issues and provide the skills that participants in its funded projects need to make informed decisions and take responsible actions toward the environment. |
Environmental Education, stewardship, public awareness, conservation | $50,000-$100,000 | National. | Link | |
| Tribal Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program FY 2018 | EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality |
Deadline Passed 04/03/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) is soliciting proposals nationwide for 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 located in areas designated as having poor air quality. Further, priority for funding will be given to projects which result in outcomes that benefit affected communities, those that engage affected communities with respect to the design and performance of the project, and those which can demonstrate the ability to promote and continue efforts to reduce emissions after the project has ended. |
emissions, alternative energy, sustainability, climate adaptation, air quality | Awards will range from $0-$800,000. | United States | Link | |
| Fiscal Year 2014 Source Reduction Assistance Grant Program (USEPA) | EPA |
The EPA is funding SRA grants and/or cooperative agreements to fund projects supporting pollution prevention/source reduction and resource conservation. The five goals of the grant program are: 1. Reduce the generation of GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions to mitigate climate change; 2. Reduce the manufacture and use of hazardous substances to improve human and ecological health; 3. Reduce the use of water and conserve other natural resources to protect ecosystems; 4. Create business efficiencies that derive economic benefits and improve environmental performance while addressing goals 1, 2, or 3; and 5. Institutionalize and integrate pollution prevention practices by way of technical services, policies, and initiatives while addressing goals 1, 2 or 3. |
GHG Emissions Reduction, Hazardous Waste Reduction, Water Conservation, Business Efficiency, Sustainble Business, Pollution Prevention | $10,000-$147,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southesat, National, Alaska | Link | |
| EPA Region 4 Wetlands Program Development Grants | EPA |
Deadline unknown for 2017. Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) provide eligible applicants an opportunity to conduct and promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. All proposals submitted under this RFP must be for projects that build or refine state/tribal/local government wetland programs. Implementation of wetland protection programs is not an eligible project under this announcement |
Conservation, Wetlands, Scientific Data | $100,000-$250,000 | EPA region 4; South; Southeast | Link | |
| Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program | EPA | 04/10/2023 |
Deadline: April 10, 2023. The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPS) Cooperative Agreement Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues in their communities, using EPA's "Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model." The CPS Program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships to help them understand and address environmental and public health concerns in their communities. Applications submitted in response to this funding opportunity must address one of the following five broad categories:
|
Environmental Justice, Environmental Health, public health, collaboration, non-profit organizations, air pollution, climate resiliency, adaptation, | up to $500,000 | National, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, Midwest, Alaska | Link |
| Clean Diesel Tribal Grants | EPA |
Deadline Passed 04/03/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality is soliciting applications nationwide for Tribal projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions and diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets located in areas designated as having poor air quality. EPA anticipates $2 million will be awarded to eligible Tribal applicants. |
air quality, fuel, diesel, reductions, | $2 million dispersed among applicants | National | Link | |
| Human and Ecological Health Impacts Associated with Water Reuse and Conservation Practices (USEPA) | EPA |
The US Environmental Protection Agency, as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications to conduct research on and demonstration of human and ecological impacts of treated wastewater applications (reclaimed water and wastewater reuse), and water conservation practices including the use of non-traditional water sources as well as more comprehensive long-term management and availability of water resources. |
Resesarch, Wastewater, water quality, Water Conservation | Up to $750,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | Link | |
| Urban Waters Small Grants | EPA |
EPA’s Urban Waters Program helps local residents and their organizations, particularly those in underserved communities, restore their urban waters in ways that also benefit community and economic revitalization. One of the ways the Urban Waters Program is accomplishing this mission is through the Urban Waters Small Grants Program. This program recognizes that healthy and accessible urban waters can help grow local businesses and enhance educational, recreational, social, and employment opportunities in nearby communities. |
Water, urban communities, community revitalization | Up to $60,000 per award | Unknown | Link | |
| FY20 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants | EPA |
Deadline Passed 12/03/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended by the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (BUILD) Act (P.L. 115-141), requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish guidance for grants to assess and clean up brownfield sites. EPA’s Brownfields Program provides funds to empower states, communities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse brownfield sites. This guidance provides information on applying for Assessment Grants. |
Health | up to $600,000 | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National | 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. |
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 Support for Participation in the National Environmental Information Exchange Network | EPA |
Deadline Passed 02/22/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible organizations to provide the outreach and technical assistance necessary to increase tribal participation in the National Environmental Exchange Network (EN), which is an element of E-Enterprise for the Environment (EE). The EN is an Internet-based system used by state, tribal and territorial partners to securely share environmental and health information with one another and EPA. The objective of the cooperative agreement is to strengthen the data and information technology (IT) management skills of tribes so they can fully participate in innovative technology efforts of the EN, and incorporate data schema, software, and services developed by EN partnerships into their environmental management programs. |
technical assistance, information exchange, environment, health, information technology, management | up to $1,500,000 | 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 | |
| Local Foods, Local Places | EPA |
Past Deadline: November 13, 2020. The Local Foods, Local Places program will provide selected communities planning assistance that centers around a two-day community workshop. At the workshop, a team of experts will help community members develop an implementable action plan that promotes local food and neighborhood revitalization. Eligible applicants include local governments, Indian tribes, and nonprofit institutions and organizations proposing to work in a neighborhood, town, or city of any size anywhere in the United States. We expect that many of the communities we select will be economically challenged and in the early phases of their efforts to promote local foods and community revitalization. |
Economic development, accessibility, farmers, infrastructure development | Unknown | National | Link | |
| Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program FY 2019 | EPA |
Deadline Passed March 26, 2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality is soliciting applications nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions, particularly from fleets operating at or servicing goods movement facilities located in areas designated as having poor air quality. Further, priority for funding will be given to projects which result in outcomes that benefit affected communities, those that engage affected communities with respect to the design and performance of the project, and those which can demonstrate the ability to promote and continue efforts to reduce emissions after the project has ended. |
Energy, Diesel | Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | 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 | |
| EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Grant | EPA |
RFP closed for 2016. The EPA is seeking applications for a noncompetitive $50 million grant program to establish and enhance state and tribal response programs. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 128(a) response program grants are funded with State and Tribal Assistance Grant (STAG) appropriations. Generally, these response programs address the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfields sites with actual or perceived contamination. |
Response program, assessment, redevelopment, cleanup | EPA will consider funding requests up to a maximum of $1.0 million per state or tribe for FY2015. | National | 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 | |
| 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 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 | |
| EPA Workforce Development and Job Training Grants | EPA |
Deadline passed on September 22, 2020. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to deliver Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training programs that recruit, train, and place local, unemployed and under-employed residents with the skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field. While Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants require training in brownfield assessment and/or cleanup activities, these grants also require that Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training be provided to all individuals being trained. EPA encourages applicants to develop their curricula based on local labor market assessments and employers’ hiring needs, while also delivering comprehensive training that results in graduates securing multiple certifications. |
Job program, training and development | up to $200,000 | National | 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 | |
| Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia | EPA | 04/04/2023 |
Applications Due: 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 |
| Pollution Prevention Information Network Grant Program (PPIN) | EPA |
RFP Closed for FY 2016. The PPIN grant program funds grants/cooperative agreements that support a national network of P2 information centers that coordinate training and information resources across the nation to minimize any duplication of effort among state programs. The centers offer training and promote new P2 technologies. |
Pollution, Mitigation | $60,000 - $110,000 | 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 |
