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
Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) USDA

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 19, 2022. The USDA has opened up grant applications to the RISE program, which seeks to increase equity in rural America by offering grants of up to $2 million to consortiums of local governments, investors, industry, institutions of higher education, and other public and private entities that create projects in distressed communities. Communities that have traditionally had high concentrations of employment in fossil fueled energy production and are transitioning away from this are encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Job creation, business development, rural areas, worker training, local economies

Grant amounts are awarded competitively with a minimum of $500,000 and a maximum grant amount of $2,000,000. National Link
Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program Rural Utilities Service, USDA

Letter of Interest Application Window: July 10-September 29, 2023. The goal of the PACE Program is to support clean, affordable energy growth across America. The PACE Program provides loans to eligible entities, with varying levels of loan forgiveness, for Projects that generate and/or store electricity from Renewable Energy Resource. The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:• Assisting rural communities to recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure;• Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and• Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.There are three different categories for application, one of which provides up to 60 percent total loan forgiveness if the project serves areas with Tribal populations of 60 percent or greater, are owned by a Tribal government, or are in a Substantially Underserved Trust Area.

Categories: IRA, renewable energy, pollution, economic support

$1,000,000 - $100,000,000 National Link
Heat Pump Defense Prodution Act Program DOE, Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: August 1, 2023. Concept papers, which were required for all applicants were due on May 19, 2023. DOE is requesting applications from manufacturers to create new or expand existing domestic production capacity to manufacture more electric heat pump systems, components, and materials.

Categories: IRA, manufacturing, clean energy

Total funding amount: $250,000,000 National Link
Solar for All EPA

Most Recent Deadline: September 26, 2023. President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), a historic $27 billion investment to combat the climate crisis by mobilizing financing and private capital for greenhouse gas- and air pollution-reducing projects in communities across the country. As part of this program, EPA is launching a $7 billion Solar for All competition — designed to spur the deployment of residential distributed solar energy to lower energy bills for millions of Americans and catalyze transformation in markets serving low-income and disadvantaged communities. Solar for All will tackle the financial and non-financial barriers that limit the ability of low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country to benefit from the rapid growth in distributed solar capacity, thus advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s climate and environmental justice goals. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for the $7 billion Solar for All competition. This competition will award up to 60 grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible nonprofit recipients to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for distributed solar investment—enabling millions of low-income households to access affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy. Grantees will use funds to expand existing low-income solar programs or design and deploy new Solar for All programs nationwide. EPA will not fund individual projects under this competition. EPA’s $7 billion Solar for All competition will help deliver on the climate and environmental justice goals of the United States. To achieve these goals, Solar for All grantees will provide subsidies and other financial assistance to residential rooftop and residential-serving community solar projects in and benefiting low-income and disadvantaged communities in addition to project-deployment technical assistance such as workforce development, community outreach, and other project-deployment support (e.g., interconnection technical assistance, siting and permitting support) to help overcome barriers to solar deployment.

Categories: IRA, Inflation Reduction Act, Solar, Environmental Justice

$25 million - $400 million National Link
Inflation Reduction Act: NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge NOAA

Most Recent Deadline: February 13, 2024. The NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (Challenge) will support collaborative approaches to achieving resilience in coastal regions with an emphasis on risk reduction, regional collaboration, equity, and building enduring capacity. The Challenge is a $575 million competition with a Letter of Intent phase and two exclusive funding tracks designed to meet the needs of coastal communities wherever they are in the resilience and adaptation process. Regional Collaborative Building and Strategy Development (Track One) supports building capacity for, development of, and collaboration on transformational resilience and adaptation strategies for coastal communities. Successful applicants will receive $500,000 to $2,000,000 to support regional scale coordination, engagement, planning, advancement of equitable outcomes, and capacity building for resilience and adaptation. Total funding for all Track One awards may be up to $25 million. Implementation of Resilience and Adaptation Actions (Track Two) supports implementation of transformational resilience and adaptation strategies and associated actions for coastal communities anchored in previous planning efforts. Applicants must propose a suite of complementary adaptation actions that together build the resilience of multiple communities within a coastal region, including those that have been marginalized, underserved, or underrepresented. Applicants can apply for not less than $15,000,000 and not more than $75,000,000, with most awards being between $25,000,000 and $50,000,000. Total funding available for all Track Two awards is up to $550,000,000.

Categories: IRA, Inflation Reduction Act, extreme weather events, chronic climate hazards, risk reduction; regional coordination and collaboration; equity and inclusion; and enduring capacity

$500,000 to $2,000,000 National Link
Bureau of Land Management Alaska Wildlife Resources Management Program DOI, BLM

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 10, 2023. The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Wildlife Program is focused on ensuring self-sustaining populations and a natural abundance and diversity of wildlife on public lands for the enjoyment and use of present and future generations. The program is responsible for managing habitats for wildlife species that depend on public lands for all or part of their lifecycle. Program activities address habitat maintenance, restoration, and species conservation in cooperation with federal, state, Tribal governments, private landowners, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This program will fund projects under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act PL 117-58, Section 40804(b) Ecosystem Restoration. This program supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI.

Categories: IRA, habitat maintenance, restoration, conservation, biodiversity, resilience, natural climate solutions

$5,000 - $200,000 Alaska Link
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) USDA 12/31/2024

Deadline: Year round with periodic ranking cycles announced. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values, protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land, and protecting and restoring and enhancing wetlands on eligible land. ACEP has two components:Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) help private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities such as state and local governments protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches by limiting non-agricultural uses of the land through conservation easements.Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) help private and tribal landowners protect, restore and enhance wetlands which have been previously degraded due to agricultural uses. 

Categories: IRA, farmland, conservation, wetlands

Varies National Link
Bureau of Land Management Alaska Threatened and Endangered Species Program DOI, BLM

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 10, 2023. The BLM Alaska Threatened and Endangered Species Program works to conserve and recover federally-listed and Bureau sensitive animal and plant species and their habitat on public lands. The BLM Alaska Threatened and Endangered Species Program priorities in FY 2023are addressing the impact of the climate crisis and ecosystem approaches for managing multiple listed and sensitive species, pollinator conservation and management, ensuring habitat connectivity, and updating outreach/education materials, including the Program’s public facing website. The Alaska program is looking for projects that will result in or facilitate national implementation or outreach of tangible on the ground actions that will improve species populations (numbers, representation, or resilience) or reduce population level threats. This program supports project funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Section 40804 (b) Ecosystem Restoration. This program supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI.

Categories: IRA, conservation, pollinators, habitat connectivity, youth engagement

$5,000 - $200,000 Alaska Link
Urban and Community Forestry Program USDA Forest Service

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 1, 2023. The Forest Service is requesting proposals from eligible entities that are working to provide equitable access to trees and green spaces and the benefits they provide. The Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Program is a technical, financial, and educational assistance program, delivering nature-based solutions to ensure a resilient and equitable tree canopy where more than 84 percent of Americans live.

Categories: IRA, community health, green space, urban landscape

$100,000 - $50,000,000 National, US territories Link
Bureau of Indian Affairs Invasive Species (IS) Program Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

Most recent deadline: January 13, 2023. Successful applications will focus on the management/control of invasive species on tribal trust lands, individual Indian allotment lands, or in areas managed by tribes through treaties or agreements. Instead of focusing on the definition of “Invasive Species,” this program will focus on the damage caused to Tribal Trust Resources and leave it to the discretion of the applicant to describe whether the species is “invasive” or represents an instance in which a native species is behaving as an invasive species due to altered environmental conditions. This funding can cover all invasive species (plants/animals) outside of noxious weeds in agricultural settings. BIA Northwest region: https://www.bia.gov/regional-offices/northwest

Categories: Invasive Species, planning, prevention, implementation, tribal trust resources

Funding requests can range from $2,500 - $250,000 per application. Proposals addressing more than one focus area may be combined into one proposal. Northwest, National Link
Earth Science Applications: Ecological Conservation NASA

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 14, 2023. The NASA Earth Science Division is calling for proposals that will improve or develop decision-making activities to combat the spread of invasive species, advance the use of ecosystem service assessment for decision making, and inform management, protection, and establishment of protected areas. Awards will be made as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers, depending on the nature of the work proposed, the proposing organization, and/or program requirements. The cost sharing requirement is waived for tribes and organizations working with tribes. This program requests optional Notices of Intent, which are due via NSPIRES by March 14, 2023. A virtual meeting for potential proposers will occur January 13, 2023, from 11 am -1 pm Pacific. Connection information will be posted under other documents on the NSPIRES page for this program element no later than December 13, 2022.

Categories: invasive species, ecosystem service assessment, protected areas, decision making

Varies National Link
EPA's Office of Water supports the National Tribal Water Council (NTWC) EPA

Deadline passed as of August 11, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. EPA's Office of Water supports the National Tribal Water Council (NTWC), composed of tribal governmental representatives, to increase communications, promote sharing of technical information and best management practices for Indian country, raise awareness of tribes on priority water issues, and facilitate tribal input on actions to protect water quality and provide safe drinking water in tribal communities. EPA supports the efforts of the National Tribal Water Council through a multi-year cooperative agreement to a recipient who manages and supports the operations of the Council, and assists in developing and completing products in coordination with the NTWC. Eligible recipients interested in managing the NTWC under this cooperative agreement may apply by submitting applications to EPA for this competitive process.

Categories: intertribal, water health, water rights, water management

Total award $1,100,000. National 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.

Categories: internet, urban, infrastructure, technology, economic development

Unknown National Link
Smart Growth Implementation Assistance (SGIA) Program EPA

Communities receive direct technical assistance from team of national experts in one of two areas: policy analysis (e.g., reviewing state and local codes, school siting guidelines,transportation policies, etc.) or public participatory processes (e.g., visioning, design workshops, alternative analysis, build-out analysis, etc.). The assistance is tailored to the community's unique situation and priorities. EPA provides the assistance through a contractor team –not a grant. Through a multiple-day site visit and a detailed final report, the multi-disciplinary teams provide information to help the community achieve its goal of encouraging growth that fosters economic progress and environmental protection.

Categories: Infrastructure, Smart Growth

Competitive program in which awardees receive technical assistance from experts; no funds dispersed Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Tribal College Endowment Program (Capacity Grant) USDA, NIFA

The Endowment fund is an interest-bearing account. Congress appropriates funding for this account annually. Each 1994 Land-Grant University receives an annual funding allotment based in part on the previous year's interest earned and the number of American Indian students attending the institution. Recipients can update NIFA about the work that was done with Endowment funding using the pdf form below. They can also use the form SF-425 on this page to report on financial data relating to this funding. The 1994 Land-Grant presidents can use these funds at their discretion. They may restore or upgrade infrastructure, supplement other NIFA grants, or keep the funding indefinitely as a resource to address future or unanticipated needs.

Categories: infrastructure, restoration

Varies National Link
USDA Housing Preservation Grants USDA

Deadline Passed. Latest Deadline: July 11, 2022. The USDA is seeking applications for grants to preserve and repair housing for very-low- and low-income families living in rural areas. The funds are being made available through USDA Rural Development's Housing Preservation Grant program. USDA does not provide funding directly to homeowners under this program.

Categories: Infrastructure, public health, rural housing

Varies Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest Link
Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program (US Dept of Transportation) US DOT

DOT is making available funding to develop innovative programs and activities in public transportation that address the human resources needs of public transportation operators, as well as build pathways to long-term careers in the public transportation industry. DOT is giving additional consideration to proposals that advance training related to maintenance of alternative energy, energy efficiency, or zero emission vehicles and facilities used in public transportation, as well as submissions that are geographically diverse, target areas with high rates of unemployment, and address current or projected workforce shortages in areas that require technical expertise.

Categories: Infrastructure, Planning, career building, Research

Program awards generally range between $200,000 to $1,000,000 National Link
Including Indigenous Knowledge in Ocean and Coastal Evidence-Based Decision-Making Lenfest Ocean Program

Most recent Deadline: October 15, 2023. The Lenfest Ocean Program (LOP) is a grantmaking program that funds scientific research on policy-relevant topics concerning the world’s oceans and communicates the results of the supported research to decision makers and other interested audiences. The LOP intends to fund multiple 15-month grant awards (total funding available for grant awards: $1M USD) that support Indigenous Peoples to elevate and share their traditions, culture, knowledge, and wisdom so that this information can inform evidence-based decision-making on the topical priorities including: fisheries management, coastal development, coastal restoration,  and marine spacial protections.The intent of this RFP is also to create opportunities where information from different knowledge systems, including Indigenous Knowledge, can be brought together to inform evidence-based decision-making in an equitable and complementary fashion.

Categories: Indigenous Knowledge, Decision Making, Fisheries, Restoration, Coastal Protection

total funding available for grant awards is $1 million United States, Canada Link
FY2018 Recovery Implementation Fund Grants FWS

Deadline Passed 07/31/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Funding Opportunity #: F18AS00059. This Recovery Implementation funding opportunity is intended for projects that will contribute to the recovery of FWS-managed endangered and threatened species in the United States, and is limited to projects carrying out actions described in a species approved recovery plan, in the implementation schedule of a species approved recovery plan, actions recommended in a completed 5-year status review of the species or in a spotlight species action plan, or projects documenting species response to climate change. For example: securing scientific information about endangered or threatened species, implementing restoration actions that will lead to delisting of a species, help prevent extinction of a species, or aid in the recovery of a species.

Categories: implementation, endangered species, conservation, research, recovery

Up to $1,000,000 National Link
Connecting with our Homelands Hopa Mountain, NPS

Most recent deadline: March 15, 2024. These funds are made possible by the National Park Service and are available for organizations and schools that want to bring youth ages 5 -18 and elders to a National Park to share Indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage, and traditions. A limited number of travel grants of up to $4,000 are available to Indian Tribes, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Eligible candidates include tribal programs, schools, and nonprofit organizations. Funds can only be used for direct costs for a trip, such as bus travel, lodging, and meals. Only one travel grant will be awarded per organization or tribe in order to allow as many youth as possible an opportunity to visit a park.

Categories: IK, TEK, cultural heritage, education, youth, recreation

$4000 travel grants 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
EPA Healthy Communities Grant Program--Northeast EPA

The Healthy Communities Grant Program is EPA New England’s main competitive grant program to work directly with communities to reduce environmental risks, protect and improve human health and improve the quality of life. The Healthy Communities Grant Program will achieve this through identifying and funding projects that: 1) Target resources to benefit communities at risk [areas at risk from climate change impacts, areas impacted by stormwater run-off, environmental justice areas of potential concern, urban areas and sensitive populations (e.g. children, elderly, tribes, and others at increased risk)]; 2) Assess, understand, and reduce environmental and human health risks; 3) Increase collaboration through community-based projects; 4) Build institutional and community capacity to understand and solve environmental and human health problems; 5) Advance emergency preparedness and resilience; 6) Achieve measurable environmental and human health benefits. In order to qualify as eligible projects under the Healthy Communities Grant Program, proposted projects must take place within New England states and must meet several criteria including: (1) Be located in and/or directly benefit one or more of the Target Investment Areas; and (2) Identify how the proposed project will achieve measurable environmental and/or public health results in one or more of the Target Program Areas

Categories: Human Health, Risk Mitigation

$25,000 ceiling Northeast 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.

Categories: housing, rural communities, multi-family housing, improvement, development

varies Rural Areas Link
Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees USDA 12/31/2024

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:Buying and improving landProviding necessary infrastructureFor a complete list see Code of Federal Regulations, 7CFR Part 3565.205

Categories: housing, rural communities, development, infrastructure

varies Rural Areas Link
Rural Housing Site Loans USDA 12/31/2024

Applications accepted year round. Rural Housing site loans provide two types of loans to purchase and develop housing sites for low- and moderate-income families:Section 523 loans are used to acquire and develop sites only for housing to be constructed by the Self-Help method. Refer to RD Instruction 1944-I for more information about the Self-Help programSection 524 loans are made to acquire and develop sites for low- or moderate-income families, with no restriction as to the method of construction. Low-income is defined as between 50-80% of the area median income (AMI); the upper limit for moderate income is $5,500 above the low-income limit

Categories: housing, rural communities, development

Varies Rural Areas Link
Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants USDA 12/31/2024

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:Give technical and supervisory assistance to participating familiesHelp other organizations provide self-help technical and supervisory assistanceRecruit families, help them complete loan applications and carry out other related activities that enable them to participate

Categories: housing, rural areas, low-income communities, technical assistance

varies Rural Areas Link
Building America Industry Partnerships and Research Priorities for High Performance Housing Innovation - 2018 Department of Energy, Golden Field Office

Deadline Passed 06/11/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. FOA #: DE-FOA-0001824. The mission of BTO’s Residential Buildings Integration (RBI) Program is to accelerate energy performance improvements in existing and new residential buildings using an integrated building systems approach to achieve peak energy performance. The RBI Program’s market outcome goal is to reduce, by 2025, the energy used for space conditioning and water heating in single-family homes by 40% from 2010 levels. RBI’s focus on space conditioning and water heating offers the best opportunities for influencing residential energy use. With this FOA, RBI will select building science project teams in 2018 for the Building America Program to accelerate energy performance improvements in existing and new residential buildings using an integrated building systems approach, and achieve optimal home energy performance. These Building America teams will work with industry partners and real world homes to develop and validate technologies and practices that achieve optimal energy and cost performance while effectively managing related risks (e.g., indoor air quality and moisture durability).

Categories: housing, innovation, partnerships, research, energy performance, space conditioning, water heating

$300,000-$1,000,000 National Link
Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program USDA 12/31/2024

Rolling Deadline. This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

Categories: housing, infrastructure, facilities, rural

Grants and Loans available. Award amount varies. United States Link
HUD Indian Housing Block Grant Program HUD

HUD Indian Housing Block Grants. Most recent deadline: December 10, 2020. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is accepting applications from eligible Indian tribes and tribally designed housing entities to carry out affordable housing activities for benefits of low-income Native American families. Grant funds may be used to develop, maintain, and operate affordable housing in safe and healthy environments on Indian reservations and in other Indian areas, and carry out other affordable housing activities. Grant funds must be used to primarily benefit low-income Indian families. https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/ih/grants/ihb…

Categories: housing, healthy homes, affordable housing, low-income families

National Link
Healthy Homes Production Grant Program for Tribal Housing Department of Housing and Urban Development

Deadline Passed 08/09/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The purpose of the HHP program is to assist American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments identify and remediate housing related health and safety hazards. This program will assist American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments to develop comprehensive programs to identify and remediate housing issues that contribute to health and safety issues in urban, tribal communities. The Healthy Homes Production (HHP) Program is part of HUD’s overall Healthy Homes Initiative launched in 1999. The program takes a comprehensive approach to addressing multiple childhood diseases and injuries in the home by focusing on housing-related hazards in a coordinated fashion, rather than addressing a single hazard at a time. The program builds upon HUD’s experience with Lead Hazard Control programs to expand the Department’s efforts to address a variety of high-priority environmental health and safety hazards.

Categories: housing, environmental health, public health, weatherization, sustainable development, community health

$500,000-$1,000,000 National Link