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 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
Native American Affairs: Technical Assistance to Tribes for FY 2019 DOI, Bureau of Reclamation

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), through the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program (TAP), provides technical assistance to Indian tribes and tribal organizations.  The TAP establishes cooperative working relationships, through partnerships with Indian tribes and tribal organizations, to assist tribes as they develop, manage, and protect their water and related resources.

Categories: water rights, water health, privatization, resource management

$200,000 Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Link
Oregon Domestic Well Safety Program (DWSP) DWSP, Oregon Local Public Health Authorities

Deadline passed as of December 12, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. This request for proposals (RFP) is intended to increase the capacity of Oregon Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs) and tribal public health authorities, particularly those that have identified domestic wells and water security as local priorities through county hazard assessments*. The Oregon Health Authority's (OHA) Domestic Well Safety Program (DWSP) intends to provide grants to support outreach efforts identified by LPHAs in their proposals to this RFP. In working with LPHAs, the DWSP will help plan and deliver outreach and interventions to communities of concern, as identified by LPHAs.

Categories: water safety, water health, access, infrastructure

$7,500 Oregon Link
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Tribal Set-Aside Program EPA

Most types of projects that improve the health of the public being served by the drinking water system are eligible for funding. Funds may also be used to conduct project feasibility studies, engineering design work, and for project administration.

Categories: Water, Health, Research

Varies Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska 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.

Categories: Water, Natural Resources, Education

Varies Northwest, Alaska Link
Native American Affairs Office Technical Assistance Program DOI

Deadline for 2018 Unknown. The Bureau of Reclamation’s Office of Native American and International Affairs has a Technical Assistance for Tribes program. This program assists Federally recognized Indian Tribes to develop, manage and protect their water and related resources. Past project have included water needs assessments, improved water management studies, water quality data collection and assessments, and water measurement studies.

Categories: Water, Natural Resources, Education, Research

Individual awards of up to $100,000 Northwest, Southwest, Midwest Link
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants USDA 12/31/2024

Applications accepted continuously. This program provides grants to assist rural communities that have had a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water. Grant may fund waterline extensions from existing systems, construction of new water lines; repairs to existing systems, construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and other water sources. Priority is given to areas with less than 10,000 people, low-income areas, and communities facing imminent decline and shortage of water.

Categories: Water, Natural Resources, Health, Emergency

Individual awards range from 150,000 to $500,000 depending on the severity of decline in quantity or quality of water. Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Tribal Solid Waste Management Assistance Project EPA

The Tribal Solid Waste Interagency Workgroup was created to coordinate federal assistance to tribes to help them comply with the municipal solid waste landfill regulations. Successful proposals should characterize/assess open dumps, develop integrated waste management (IWM) plans, develop and implement alternative solid waste management activities/facilities; or develop and implement cleanup, closure, and post-closure programs for open dumps in Indian Country. Each proposal must address only one of the four proposal categories described above.

Categories: Water, Regulatory, Research

10 Individual awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Alaska Native Villages and Rural Communities Water Grant Program Environmental Protection Agency

No listed deadline. Significant human health and water quality problems exist in Alaska Native Villages (ANV) and other rural communities in Alaska due to lack of sanitation. To address these issues, Congress in 1996 authorized EPA to create the Alaska Native Villages and Rural Communities Grant Program, which is codified in 33 U.S.C. § 1263a.

The program assists these communities with the construction of new or improved wastewater and drinking water systems. Communities can also use the funding for training and technical assistance in system operations and maintenance.

EPA provides funds to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to address the needs of rural and native Alaska communities. The DEC, in turn, administers these funds through its Village Safe Water (VSW) program. The VSW program’s goal is "to improve public health and compliance with environmental laws by upgrading the level of sanitation facilities in rural [Alaskan] communities through financial and technical assistance."

Categories: Water, sanitation, public health

Varies 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.

Categories: Water, urban communities, community revitalization

Up to $60,000 per award Unknown Link