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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KENDEDA FUND: Grants for Climate Change | KENDEDA FUND |
Complex global challenges like climate change should become the drivers for solutions-based, equitable decision-making. We help young people and community leaders gain the skills and knowledge to become active participants in addressing these challenges. Our People, Place, and Planet work aims to address social and ecological challenges through community-based solutions and leadership. |
climate change, conservation, sustainability, social justice | Varies. | International | Link | |
| KR Foundation Funding for Sustainable Behavior and Sustainable Finance | KR Foundation |
Deadline Passed as of 1/31/2018. Deadline for 2019 Unknown. KR Foundation address root causes of climate change and environmental degradation, and safeguard the planetary boundaries. The mission of KR Foundation is to help provide answers to, stimulate mind shifts about, and encourage action on, the long-term challenges faced by current and future generations living on a planet with finite resources, fragile ecosystems, and climate change. Read more about our mission here. As a philanthropic foundation, KR Foundation typically engages in areas where neither governments nor markets actors seem to have incentives to act. Not restricted by short-term considerations and profit concerns, KR Foundation engages in non-profit activities with long-term impact on our climate and environment. KR Foundation prioritises communication and advocacy activities within our program areas but will also consider proposals in other areas with a high potential for impact that meet our general criteria for funding. Please contact the Foundation prior to submitting a proposal that does not match the Foundation’s program areas. Please note that KR Foundation does not fund local and community-based activities unless they are truly scalable and have a clear international perspective. Proposals focusing on local development activities will not be considered. |
non-profit, international, climate change, awareness | $300,000- $800,000 | International | Link | |
| Kresge Foundation | kresge foundation |
Funding opportunities take three forms: Open on an ongoing basis, without deadlines. Open for a limited time, with specific deadlines. By invitation from a Kresge program officer. |
Climate change, environment, social justice, food justice, agriculture, sustainability, conservation, carbon, emissions, adaptation, mitigation | Varies. | National | Link | |
| Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations | DOI |
Deadline Passed 09/30/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Secretary of the Interior established the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program, Program) to implement the land consolidation provisions of the Cobell Settlement Agreement, which provided $1.9 billion to consolidate fractional land interests across Indian country. The Buy-Back Program allows interested individual owners to sell their land for immediate transfer to the recognized tribe that exercises jurisdiction. This effort will strengthen tribal sovereignty and put decision-making in the hands of the tribal government, freeing up resources that have been locked-up as land interests that have fractionated over time. The Buy-Back Program has announced 105 locations where land consolidation activities such as planning, outreach, mapping, mineral evaluations, appraisals or acquisitions are scheduled to take place through the middle of 2021. The Buy-Back Program is interested in partnering with the eligible tribes that have jurisdiction over these 105 locations, as well as any locations that may be added to the implementation schedule, to gain their direct participation in land consolidation efforts given the tribes’ unique qualifications to perform land consolidation activities for their reservations. Consequently, the Program intends to, whenever feasible and practical, enter into single source cooperative agreements with these eligible tribes to not only capitalize on their unique knowledge of their reservations but also to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the Program. Eligible tribes will be given the opportunity to apply for a cooperative agreement, whenever feasible and practical, prior to the implementation of the Buy-Back Program at the location under their jurisdiction. |
sovereignty, jurisdiction, reclamation, administration, management, self-determination | Land-based. | United States | Link | |
| Land Defenders and Water Protectors | Seventh Generation for Fund for Indigenous Peoples, Inc. |
Deadline Passed 10/11/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples is inviting proposals for the Land Defenders and Water Protectors Program: supporting Indigenous community-based organizations protecting Earth’s natural systems and ability to nurture and sustain life. Upholding Indigenous territorial sovereignty and self-determination, Native land stewardship practices, and the defense of sacred lands, waters and species. Potential projects may include:
|
land, water, conservation, indigenous, community-based, sovereignty, stewardship, defense | $500-$10,000 | National | Link | |
| Landscape Scale Restoration RFA 2020 | USFS |
Deadline Passed 10/10/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The purpose of this competitive grant program is to encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes and further priorities identified in the State’s Forest Action Plans. |
landscape restoration, forest management, coordination | $25,000-$600,000 | National | Link | |
| Local Food Promotion Program | USDA, AMS |
Deadline Passed for 2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) offers grant funds with a 25% match to support the development and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets. There are two types of project applications: planning grants and implementation grants. LFPP Planning Grants are used in the planning stages of establishing or expanding a local and regional food business enterprise. LFPP Implementation Grants are used to establish a new local and regional food business enterprise, or to improve or expand an existing local or regional food business enterprise. |
food security, local foods, agriculture, farm and ranch operations, development, food business enterprise | Planning grants: $25,000 - $100,000 Implementation grants: $100,000 - $500,000 | National | Link | |
| Local Food Purchase Assistance Program | USDA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 5, 2022. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will establish cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments for the purpose of supporting local, regional, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers through food purchasing under the Build Back Better Initiative. These cooperative agreements will allow for entities to procure local, domestic foods that are unique to their geographic area and meet the needs of the populations. In addition to increasing local food consumption, funds are expected to help build and expand economic opportunity for local and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers. Learn more and apply here. |
Food assistance, economic opportunity, food storage, food distribution | National | 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 | |
| Local Governments Reimbursement Program | EPA | 12/31/2023 |
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 |
| Long Term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB) | NSF | 12/31/2023 |
Rolling Deadline. The Long Term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB) Program supports the generation of extended time series of data to address important questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science. Research areas include, but are not limited to, the effects of natural selection or other evolutionary processes on populations, communities, or ecosystems; the effects of interspecific interactions that vary over time and space; population or community dynamics for organisms that have extended life spans and long turnover times; feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes; pools of materials such as nutrients in soils that turn over at intermediate to longer time scales; and external forcing functions such as climatic cycles that operate over long return intervals. |
Environmental Biology, Scientific Research, Ecosystem Science, Community Research, Feedbacks. | Awards are not to exceed $90,000 total per year and $450,000 over a five-year effort. The foundation anticipates making six awards annually, pending availability of funds. The solicitation outlines renewal procedures following the initial award. | National | Link |
| LOUISIANA SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM | NGO |
SoI is required and due by 5 pm on Friday, March 3, 2017. Full Proposals: Full Proposals will only be accepted on May 22, 2017 if a SoI was submitted. For this funding opportunity, Louisiana Sea Grant seeks responsive research that provides scientific and socioeconomic information, design innovation, as well as policy guidance, for fisheries management, climate change adaptation, resilient communities, and ecosystem restoration in coastal systems and communities in Louisiana. Coastal Louisiana offers a laboratory of restoration, protection, and adaptation projects that together with laboratory studies, field investigations, models, and/or socioeconomic tools and synthesis products, offer innovative opportunities for research projects that should improve understanding of coastal ecosystem function and help predict the responses of ecosystems and communities to a changing climate and/or planning activities. SoIs must include an outreach plan that demonstrates a connection with user groups, such as resource managers, communities, and/or informal and formal learners. Proposed projects should be for a 24-month maximum duration (but may be less than 24 months). PIs should focus on outcomes that can be achieved during this timeframe. |
climate change, marine, fisheries, aquaculture, commercial, industrial, ocean, health, adaptation, mitigation, estuary | Varies. | Louisiana, Delta | Link | |
| Marine Debris Removal | NOAA |
Most recent deadline was September 30, 2022. The overall objective of this $28 million funding opportunity is to make tangible, beneficial impacts to coastal and marine habitats and communities across a broad geographic scale, through a variety of marine debris removal methods. While there are a number of effective ways to address the sources and impacts of marine debris, this funding opportunity focuses on two distinct priorities aimed at making the largest measurable impact: 1) the development of large scale and high-value marine debris removal programs (hereafter “partnerships”) that can be responsive to local and regional marine debris removal needs, with a focus on large marine debris; and 2) the implementation of projects that use proven interception technologies that capture marine debris at or close to known marine debris sources or pathways. Learn more and apply here. |
Marine conservation, debris removal, technological solutions, innovation, coastal restoration | $100,000 - $15,000,000 | National | Link | |
| Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program (NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service) | NOAA |
RFP closed in Feb 2016. Projects are being solicited to improve communication, education, and training on marine resource issues throughout the region and increase scientific education for marine-related professions among coastal community residents, including indigenous Pacific islanders, Native Hawaiians and other underrepresented groups in the region. |
Education, communication, training, Marine | Up to $15,000 | Coastal communities, Hawaii, Pacific Islands | Link | |
| Marine Mammal Commission Grants | DOC |
The Marine Mammal Commission carries out a small research program that supports projects aimed at meeting the conservation and protection goals of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Commission’s research program includes all relevant activities including basic and applied research, workshops, literature reviews, compilation of expert opinion, and drafting manuscripts. |
Natural Resources, Wildlife, Research, Education, Conservation, Coastal, Water | The amount of funds available varies from year to year, depending on the level of congressional appropriations. Since it was established in 1972, the Commission has supported more than 1,000 projects. | Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska | Link | |
| Mary A. Crocker Trust | NGO |
The Mary A Crocker Trust is a charitable foundation located in San Francisco, CA. The Trust’s Environment program area focuses support on the areas of waste management and recycling, water quality, land use management, and sustainable agriculture and forestry. The Trust is primarily interested in Bay Area programs, with an annual award budget of approximately $500K. Typical award amounts range between $10K and $25K. |
Conservation, Waste management | $10,000-$25,000 | Northwest, San Francisco area | Link | |
| Matching Awards Program | National Forest Foundation | 05/18/2023 |
Deadline: May 18, 2023. The National Forest Foundation is pleased to announce that it is currently soliciting proposals for its Matching Awards Program (MAP). MAP is a national, competitive grant program that provides federal funds for on-the-ground projects benefiting America's National Forests and Grasslands. The program supports action-oriented projects that enhance outdoor experiences, forest and ecosystem health, and engage local communities in caring for their public lands. The MAP Round 2 will be released in March, 2023. Learn more and apply here. |
National forests, restoration, impacts, forest health, civic engagement, community involvement | In recent years, NFF has considered applications ranging from less than $5,000 to over $60,000. New applicants to MAP are encouraged to submit applications requesting under $30,000. | National | Link |
| Matching Fund Opportunity for Hydrographic Surveys and Request for Partnership Proposals | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. |
Most Recent Deadline: 2/26/2021. This notice announces a pilot program to assess whether there is sufficient stakeholder interest in matching funds with Coast Survey to partner on ocean and coastal hydrographic surveys. Proposals will be evaluated and prioritized for funding based on submitted justifications. Coast Survey will select proposals using the review process and criteria evaluation described in section IX of this notice. If there is sufficient interest in the pilot program, Coast Survey plans to increase its allocation for matching funds in future years, as appropriations allow. The goal of this pilot program is to leverage NOAA and partner funds to acquire more coastal and ocean mapping data to a consistent standard for projects during FY2022. If appropriated funds are available, NOAA will match funds contributed by selected entities for hydrographic surveys. Coast Survey will receive the contributions through memoranda of agreement using the authority granted to NOAA under the Coast and Geodetic Survey Act of 1947 to receive and expend funds for collaborative hydrographic surveys (33 U.S.C. 883e). |
National | Link | |||
| Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21) | DHHS, NIH |
Deadline passed 09/03/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is intended to support environmental health research in which an unpredictable event provides a limited window of opportunity to collect human biological samples or environmental exposure data. The primary motivation of the FOA is to understand the consequences of natural and man-made disasters or emerging environmental public health threats in the U.S. and abroad. A distinguishing feature of an appropriate study is the need for rapid review and funding (substantially shorter than the typical NIH grant review/award cycle) in order for the research question to be addressed and swiftly implemented. The shortened timeframe will be achieved by more frequent application due dates and expediting peer review, council concurrence and award issuance. The entire cycle, from submission to award, is expected to be within 3-4 months. |
environmental health, research, disaster preparedness, environmental exposure, public health | The combined budget for direct costs for the 2-year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year. | National | Link | |
| Microgrid 2014 MVP Challenge | DOE |
DOE is accepting applications for the Microgrid 2014 MVP Challenge, a competition to support resiliency and adaptation in communities across the nation. Entries will be judged according to four criteria: resiliency, clean energy system, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. |
Clean Energy, Energy efficiency, Infrastructure | $100,000 | National, Alaska, Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, Midwest | Link | |
| Mini Grant Application for Partners for Places – Round 2. | The Funders Network (TFN) and The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) |
Most Recent Deadline: 7/30/2020. The Funders Network (TFN) and The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) offer the Partners for Places (P4P) fund to create or improve collaborative partnerships between local government leaders, place-based funders , and frontline community-led group(s). This grant opportunity intends to build these partnerships, so that the these groups can connect and align to produce work that advances an equitable sustainability project. The purpose is to address frontline community priorities and apply a racial equity approach to both collaboration and project planning / implementation. Review the most recent P4P invitation to apply here. Follow-on funding to awarded mini grants is competitive and not guaranteed. Mini grants strengthen the relationship between the applying partners in order to aid in the joint development of a full P4P application. Mini grant requests can be up to $10,000. For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.fundersnetwork.org/partners-for-places/. |
Up to $10,000 | National | Link | ||
| Mini-Award for Climate and Health Communication | National Indian Health Board (NIHB), Center for Disease Control (CDC), Climate Ready Tribes (CRT) |
Deadline Passed 11/08/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) will provide small grants and technical assistance for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes that would like to determine how to conduct local work related to the health impacts of climate change. The goals of the Climate Ready Tribes initiative are: -To reduce climate‐related morbidity and mortality in Tribal nations and communities -To build capacity to identify and assess climate‐related health threats to Tribes -To build climate and health adaptation capacity within Tribal governments -To increase collaboration and data sharing among the Tribes, the federal government, state/local governments, and other partners on issues of climate and health -To increase communication and information sharing about the health effects of climate change |
health, capacity, collaboration, climate change, readiness | $5,000 | Nationwide | Link | |
| Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program | Department of Energy |
Deadline Passed 02/15/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) within the Department of Energy’s (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Science, Academic Alliances and Partnerships subprogram funds academic programs to develop NNSA’s next-generation technical workforce. NNSA funds scientific academic programs to develop the next generation of highly trained technical workers able to support its core mission and to ensure there is a strong community of technical peers, external to the NNSA national laboratories, capable of providing peer review and scientific competition to strengthen the basic fields of research relevant to the NNSA. MSIPP aligns investments in university capacity and workforce development with DOE/NNSA mission areas to develop the needed skills and talent for DOE/NNSA’s enduring technical workforce at the laboratories and production plants, and to enhance research and education at under-represented colleges and universities. |
education, minority serving institutions, energy, science, academic research | $500,000-$1,000,000 | National | Link | |
| Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans | USDA |
Applications accepted year round. This program provides competitive financing for affordable multi-family rental housing for low-income, elderly, or disabled individuals and families in eligible rural areas. This program assists qualified applicants that cannot obtain commercial credit on terms that will allow them to charge rents that are affordable to low-income tenants. |
housing, rural communities, multi-family housing, improvement, development | varies | Rural Areas | Link | |
| Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees | USDA | 12/31/2023 |
This program accepts applications on a continuous basis. The program works with qualified private-sector lenders to provide financing to qualified borrowers to increase the supply of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in eligible rural areas and towns. Construction, improvement and purchase of multi-family rental housing for low to moderate income families and individuals is the primary objective for this program. Funding may also be available for:
|
housing, rural communities, development, infrastructure | varies | Rural Areas | Link |
| Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants | USDA | 12/31/2023 |
Applications accepted continuously. Provides grants to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects. Grant recipients supervise groups of very-low- and low-income individuals and families as they construct their own homes in rural areas. The group members provide most of the construction labor on each other’s homes, with technical assistance from the organization overseeing the project. Funds may be used to:
|
housing, rural areas, low-income communities, technical assistance | varies | Rural Areas | Link |
| National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program | USDA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: 9/9/2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the availability of up to $17 million in funds in the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) to support projects in topic areas including, but not limited to: Develop, enhance, and exercise state and Tribal animal disease outbreak emergency response plans; Support livestock and poultry biosecurity; enhance animal disease traceability for a disease outbreak; Support outreach and education on animal disease prevention, preparedness, and response topics. Learn more and apply here. |
Agriculture, livestock disease preparedness, education | Varies. | National | Link | |
| National Center for Sustainable Water Infrastructure Modeling Research (USEPA) | EPA |
The US Environmental Protection Agency, as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking initial applications proposing the creation of a National Center for Sustainable Water Infrastructure Modeling Research that facilitates technology transfer of open source water infrastructure models and shares green infrastructure tools and research advancements with local communities and stakeholders. |
Research, Water, Infrastructure | Up to $4 million | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southesat, National, Alaska | 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 | |
| National Coastal Resilience Fund | National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, NOAA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 21, 2022. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Defense, Occidental, Shell and TransRe, and with additional support this year from the Bezos Earth Fund, is now soliciting Pre-Proposals for the 2022 National Coastal Resilience Fund. The Request for Proposals is available here. NFWF will award up to $140 million in grants to create and restore natural systems in order to increase protection for communities from coastal hazards, such as storms, sea- and lake-level changes, inundation, and coastal erosion, while improving habitats for fish and wildlife species. NFWF prioritizes projects that are community led or incorporate direct community engagement and benefit underserved communities facing disproportionate harm from climate impacts. Pre-proposals must be submitted through NFWF’s Easygrants system no later than Thursday, April 21, 2022. For more information or questions about this RFP, please contact Jessica Grannis (Jessica.Grannis@nfwf.org) or Arielle Mion (Arielle.Mion@nfwf.org). |
Coasts, resilience, habitat restoration, extreme weather events, mitigation, community preparedness | Projects involving Community Capacity Building and Planning, Site Assessment and Preliminary Design, and Final Design and Permitting are expected to be in the range of $100,000 to $1,000,000. For Restoration Implementation Projects, NFWF expects the average awards to be in the range of $1,000,000 to $10,000,000. | Coasts | Link |
