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 Sort ascending Grant Deadline Description Funding Amount Geography Website
Planning Assistance to States Program U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 9/30/2024

Under the authority provided by Section 22 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1974 (PL 93-251), as amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can provide states, local governments, other non-Federal entities, and eligible Native American Indian tribes assistance in the preparation of comprehensive plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of water and related land resources. Typical studies are only planning level of detail; they do not include detailed design for project construction. The program can encompass many types of studies dealing with water resources issues. Types of studies conducted in recent years under the program include the following: water supply/demand, water conservation, water quality, environmental/conservation, wetlands evaluation/restoration, dam safety/failure, flood damage reduction, coastal zone protection, and harbor planning.

There are two types of assistance available: (1) development of a Comprehensive Plans for planning for the development, utilization, and conservation of the water resources and (2) Technical Assistance related to the management of state water resources.

Categories: water, conservation, planning, water quality

No more than $5M in Federal funds for comprehensive planning efforts may be expended in a State, Tribe, or U.S. Territory per fiscal year. National Link
Tribal Energy Plan Grant Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: October 7, 2022. The Tribal Energy Plan Grant program is open until funding is fully subscribed. Applicants may apply for funding up to $25,000 for up to one year. The development of Tribal Energy Plans are intended to help tribal communities quickly and efficiently triage the known practical and impactful strategies to reduce greenhouse gas, reduce energy costs, and operate more sustainably. The grants can be used to compensate the planning team for their time, contract the services of consultants or other third-party experts, and cover the costs of public meetings and other methods soliciting public input. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Climate resilience, mitigation, research, adaptation, capacity building

Varies. California Link
Tomkat Charitable Trust: Grants for Climate & Energy Tomkat Charitable

Tomkat does not accept proposals, but they can be reached by email. This fund is strongly and vocally in support of clean energy development and sustainable living. Aside from energy, Steyer and wife Taylor (get it, Tomkat), are also invested in healthy foods and sustainable food systems, going so far as to start their own ranch. They also back some education stuff and more run-of-the-mill environmentalism, but their biggest giving to date has gone to energy and climate. 

Categories: climate change, sustainability, food justice, subsistence, emissions, conservation, coal, carbon

Varies. International Link
Rural Housing Preservation Grants The Rural Housing Service (RHS)

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces that it is soliciting applications under its Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program. The HPG program is a grant program which provides qualified public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, which may include but not be limited to Faith-Based and Community Organizations, and other eligible entities grant funds to assist very low- and low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. In addition, the HPG program assists rental property owners and cooperative housing complexes in repairing and rehabilitating their units if they agree to make such units available to low- and very low-income persons.

Categories: Community Development, Housing, Infrastructure

Up to $50,000 Rural Link
Explore Fund--The North Face Annual Grant The North Face (Corporation)

Deadline unknown for FY 2017. The North Face Explore Fund provides $500,000 annually in grants to nonprofit organizations working in powerful and creative ways to encourage participants to experience outdoor activities and develop an enduring appreciation of the outdoors. Since its founding in 2010, the Explore Fund has provided more than 400 grants to nonprofit organizations that serve thousands of people in communities around the country. The Explore Fund reflects a significant commitment by The North Face to introduce more people to the joy of exploring the outdoors and the natural world.

Categories: Environmental Education

$5,000-$25,000 National Link
Salmon Habitat Support Fund The Nature Conservancy, Portland General Electric

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: May 19, 2023. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Portland General Electric Company (PGE) are soliciting proposals for projects that conserve, restore, or enhance the habitat of native anadromous fish species. Successful projects will demonstrate a clear and direct benefit to anadromous fish species or their habitat, exhibit a high likelihood of success, leverage a large amount of matching funds, and utilize the most sustainable and scientifically rigorous approaches. These funds may be used for project planning, implementation, or both. Incorporating communication, outreach, or education as a component of the project is encouraged. The Habitat Support Fund will award approximately $160,000 in grants ranging from $10,000 - $50,000. Preference will be given to projects requesting equal to or less than $35,000; however, exceptionally high-impact projects with a demonstrated need for additional funding may request up to $50,000.

Categories: salmon conservation, stream restoration, anadromous fish species

$10,000 to $50,000 Oregon Link
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) The National Park Service

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: May 31, 2023. On August 4, 2020 the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law. The bill provides $900 million in permanent and dedicated annual funding for the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and invests up to $9.5 billion to address priority repairs in our national parks and other public lands. The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, created in 2014, is an urban park grants program funded through the Land & Water Conservation Fund. The ORLP offers nationally competitive grants to support the creation or significant renovation of state or locally-owned parks and other outdoor recreation spaces located in urban areas. Funded projects help the public access or re-connect with the outdoors, and specifically target economically disadvantaged neighborhoods that lack adequate parks and recreational opportunities. The sixth application round with $192 million available is now open. Grants range from $300,000 to $10 million. Applications are being accepted in Grants.gov through May 31, 2023, with an early submission deadline of January 31, 2023 for those that have application requirements completed. Interested jurisdictions should contact their state lead agency for LWCF.

Categories: land water conservation, parks and recreation, outdoors, publicly-owned lands

$300,000-$10,000,000 population of at least 30000 people Link
Ski Conservation Fund: White River National Forest The National Forest Foundation (NFF)

Partnered with Vail Resorts, Inc., Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin, the NFF offers a grant opportunity to help maintain and enhance the quality of the White River National Forest.

Categories: Forestry, watershed conservation, recreation, wildlife habitat

Funding is distributed as a match to an anticipated in-kind non-Federal
donation of at least 50% of the total award.
White River National Forest, Rockies Mountains, CO Link
Bridging Knowledge to Action The National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine

Most Recent Deadline: 8/27/2021. The Gulf Research Program (GRP) is seeking proposals from U.S. academic institutions or nonprofit organizations that demonstrate how the use of data can help state/local/tribal governments achieve more equitable outcomes associated with climate hazards or other disasters in order to address the priorities or needs of communities that are disproportionately at risk. The GRP expects to award up to six projects under this funding opportunity.

Up to $1.8 million National. Link
Community Water Justice Awards The Joint Futures Initiative

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: February 1, 2024. The Joint Futures Initiative is thrilled to announce the first-ever call for Community Water Justice Awards funded by a state budget allocation. Apply now! Awards up to $50,000.00. For questions, please contact Dr. Alai Reyes-Santos at alai@uoregon.edu. For more information, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMKE7Rw9udzBuDQyDR6Z3y47AoGy0….

ITC Native American Natural Resource Research Scholarship The Intertribal Timber Council (ITC), USDA

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: varies by scholarship. The ITC Education Scholarship is designed to support tribally relevant, natural resource based, research being conducted by Native American scholars enrolled in a graduate program.

Categories: scholarship, natural resources

Varies, not to exceed $5,000 National Link
Gulf Sea Level Variation and Rise Grants The Gulf Research Program

Most recent deadline: 8/18/2021. The Gulf Research Program announced the availability of the full Request for Applications (RFA) on June 17, 2021. This funding opportunity focuses on advancing the understanding of the regional components of sea level variation and rise and then incorporating this understanding into more reliable forecast models and projections of relative sea level rise. 

Categories: sea level rise, ocean,

Up to $5 million Gulf of Mexico Link
Strengthening Partnerships and Engaging Networks The Gulf Research Program

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: 7/20/2021. The Gulf Research Program (GRP) is seeking projects from Communities of Practice (CoP) that work in the area of climate adaptation or disaster resilience to build the knowledge base and capacity of their members to apply an equity lens to their activities in order to address the needs and challenges of communities that are disproportionately at risk from climate hazards or other disasters.

Categories: climate hazards, communities

Up to $1.0 million 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
Equator Prize 2019 Call for Nominations The Equator Initiative

Deadline Passed 02/26/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Equator Prize 2019 will be awarded to outstanding community and indigenous initiatives that are advancing nature-based solutions for climate change and local sustainable development. The Equator Prize winners will join a prestigious network of 223 community-based organizations from 78 countries that have been awarded the Equator Prize since 2002. Each winning group will receive USD 10,000 and will be invited to participate in a series of policy dialogues and special events during the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2019, culminating in an award ceremony at the beginning of Climate Week.

Categories: community, indigenous, climate change, adaptation, innovation, sustainable development

$10,000 National, International Link
Wildhorse Foundation The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR)

Deadline Passed 10/01/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. Today, the Wildhorse Foundation donates over $1,000,000 every year to local programs and services that benefit our giving area. We fund projects in the areas of: Arts; Cultural Activities; Education; Environmental Protection; Gambling Addiction Prevention; Education and Treatment; Historic Preservation; Public Health; Public Safety; Salmon Restoration

Categories: environmental protection, education, historic preservation, public health, salmon restoration

up to $20,000 Oregon, Washington Link
Alaska Native Social Justice Fund The Alaska Community Foundation (ACF)

Deadline for 2018 passed 1/5/2018. Deadline for 2019 unknown. The Alaska Community Foundation’s goals for the Alaska Native Social Justice Fund grant cycle are to support strategic collaborations that prioritize leadership development and allow Alaska Native communities to use their own voices to identify and address the social justice issues that are the most important to their communities. These may include, but are not limited to access to and use of traditional resources, overrepresentation in the prison system, under-representation in the political process, and unequal access to education.

Categories: social justice, use of traditional resources

rant awards through this program will range from $5,000 to $20,000 and may be eligible for renewal for an additional year. ACF anticipates awarding 8 to 12 grants. The total 2018 funding available for this program is $140,000. Alaska Link
2022 Tepa Native American Scholarship Funds Tepa Companies

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 30, 2022. The Tepa Native American Scholarship Fund was established by the Tepa Companies who are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. The scholarship was created to build personal and lasting relationships with students who will become the future leaders in Native American communities and possibly within the Tepa Companies. Two awards of $1,000 will be provided to Native American students majoring in Environmental Science, Earth Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Finance or Business Administration for the 2022 Fall semester. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Earth science, technology, construction, engineering,

$1000 National Link
TD Green Streets Program TD Banks and Arbor Day Foundation

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

Categories: urban forestry, tree planting, forestry education

$20,000 National Link
Alaska State's First Lady Volunteer Awards State-funded

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

Categories: Volunteer Recognition

unknown Alaska Link
Alaska Sustainble Salmon Fund State-funded

Deadline passed June 15, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. Projects must directly relate to one of the following congressionally authorized uses: Restoring or protecting salmon or steelhead habitat; Maintenance of salmon or steelhead populations necessary for subsistence fishing.

Categories: Conservation, Salmon

$4,000,000 total; funding per project varies Alaska Link
Funding Opportunity for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure State of Washington, Department of Ecology

Deadline Passed 02/04/2020. Deadline Unknown for 2021. The Washington Department of Ecology will open a grant opportunity to install or upgrade existing publicly available direct current fast chargers (DCFC) along high-traffic transportation corridors. Preliminary information on eligibility and minimum criteria is available to provide applicants sufficient time to prepare this funding opportunity. Additional detail, including scoring criteria and process, will be available in the grant guidelines when the funding opportunity opens on December 3, 2019.

Categories: Electric vehicles, transportation, installation, charging stations

up to $600,000 Washington state Link
Climate Commitment Act Tribal Consultation Capacity Grant Program State of Washington Department of Ecology

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: July 18, 2023. This is a non-competitive grant program to support Tribes to engage in the consultation process on spending decisions from accounts created in the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). Funds will be distributed equally among all tribes with accepted applications. The Legislature appropriated $16 million for the 2023-2025 biennium. $4 million will be made available during this application window. The remaining $12 million will be distributed in fall 2023, via a distribution method  being developed by the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs (GOIA).

Categories: non-competitive, consultation, assistance, Washington Climate Commitment Act

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

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

Categories: Washington Climate Commitment Act, assessment, carbon offset

Varies Washington state Link
2018 Responsive Grants Program Sierra Health Foundation

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: 3/19/2018. Through the Responsive Grants Program, Sierra Health Foundation will invest in communities and organizations that promote health and racial equity to address health disparities and the social determinants of health. Sierra Health Foundation has a broad definition of health, believing there is much more to health than health care. Health is influenced by many factors, including socioeconomic conditions, environment, education, income, housing, neighborhood safety and other drivers of health outcomes – factors that have come to be known as the Social Determinants of Health. Where we live, work and play has a significant influence on our health. Health equity means achieving the highest possible standard of health for all people and giving special attention to the needs of those at greatest risk of poor health, based on social conditions. Racial equity “is the condition that would be achieved if one’s racial identity no longer predicted, in a statistical sense, how one fares.

Categories: health equity, racial equity, quality of life, education, environment, sustainability

Up to $15,000 Northern California, California, Siskiyou Link
Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peopes - Flicker - Wildfire Response Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples is offering emergency funding to Native families impacted by the wildfires in the West. These one-time disbursements will be coordinated through our Flicker Fund to provide help during evacuations, loss of homes, escape from heavy smoke events, and other emergencies. Taking applications from September 10 - 25, 2020. Visit: https://7genfund.submittable.com/submit/174434/flicker-wildfire-response.

National 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:Peaceful direct actions and frontline organizingSacred site protectionEnvironmental education and issue advocacyIndigenous appropriate and traditional technologies

Categories: land, water, conservation, indigenous, community-based, sovereignty, stewardship, defense

$500-$10,000 National Link
Fertile Ground Grant Program Seeds of Native Health, AHA, AICAF

Deadline Passed 12/19/2017. Deadline for 2018 Unknown.The new Fertile Ground Grant Program funds tribes, Native advocates, Native youth, and Native-led organizations to create sustainable community health improvements through nutrition and food sovereignty efforts. The grants of up to $35,000 will provide support for:Native-led convenings to identify community health prioritiesAdvocacy and policy strategies that address improving health outcomesAccess to healthy foodFood sovereignty work rooted in tradition, culture, and Indigenous knowledge.The program is funded by $100,000 from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community through its Seeds of Native Health philanthropic campaign and $100,000 from the AHA through its Voices for Healthy Kids campaign. AICAF will serve as the intermediary partner and administer the program.

Categories: nutrition, food sovereignty, community health, tradition, culture, indigenous knowledge

$0-$35,000 National Link
Coastal Research Application Funding Opportunity Sea Grant and the U.S. Coastal Research Program (USCRP)

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 15, 2022. Sea Grant and the U.S. Coastal Research Program (USCRP) announced a new funding opportunity for collaborative projects to integrate research, its application, and community engagement in thematic areas of long-term coastal evolution, extreme storms, and human and ecosystem health. Proposals should address the needs or gaps that have been identified by or are evident from USCRP-funded projects, to move research project findings toward application through service delivery and decision support for coastal community decision-makers, planners, and other coastal stakeholders. It is anticipated that approximately $4,000,000 will be available to fund 10-20 projects at up to $150,000 over two years (Tier 1) or up to $500,000 over four years (Tier 2). Matching funds will not be required for this competition. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Research, community engagement, coastal communities, climate change, ecosystem health

Up to $150,000 over two years (Tier 1) or up to $500,000 over four years (Tier 2) 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