Funding

Honor the Earth programs focus on nurturing resilience in indigenous communities who are faced with daunting environmental and social realities. Resilience theory is a discussion in academic and environmenal arenas about how communities and societies will adapt to climate change. Our Building Resilience in Indigenous Communities Initiative focuses on two areas: Food Sovereignty and Energy Justice. In specific, Honor the Earth will fund restoration of indigenous food systems in Native communities, and Energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Native communities. We work to support and forward the development of culturally-based, indigenous solutions to climate change and peak oil based on re-localizing food and energy economies. We also hope to foster restoration of traditional knowledge as a key adaptation and mitigation strategy to ensure a safe and healthy future for our children and the next seven generations. Honor the Earth is currently accepting applications on an ongoing basis.  Please check their site to ensure you the have the most up-to-date information. 

Categories: Environmental Justice, Energy, Adaptation, Agriculture, Mitigation, Health

Deadline Passed July 31, 2022. This program helps qualified non-profits and Tribes create a revolving loan fund (RLF) to extend access to clean, reliable water to households in eligible rural areas.

Categories: Food/Water Security, Water Systems Development, Community Development, Infrastructure Development.

Deadline Passed 08/31/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020.  Headquarters National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) is accepting proposals for financial assistance from organizations that support Department of Interior (DOI) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) priorities and have the capacity to work cooperatively with the Service to identify, conserve, manage and enhance the physical and ecological infrastructure of the NWRS; deliver public access and high-quality recreational opportunities; identify organizations and support projects that provide recreational activities for disabled persons, youth, and veterans; build a volunteer cadre, and inspire the next generation of hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts through work on and off NWRS managed lands and waters.

Categories: National Wildlife Refuge System, conservation, management, ecological infrastructure, recreation

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is accepting applications for the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant Program to leverage investments in public schools and education programs, early learning programs and services, and improved access to jobs. Eligible projects should incorporate sustainable development into their proposals, such as energy efficiency, green building, renewable energy, and public transportation.

Categories: Community Development, Economic Development, Housing & Urban Development.

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

The US Environmental Protection Agency, as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications to conduct research on and demonstration of human and ecological impacts of treated wastewater applications (reclaimed water and wastewater reuse), and water conservation practices including the use of non-traditional water sources as well as more comprehensive long-term management and availability of water resources.

Categories: Resesarch, Wastewater, water quality, Water Conservation

Most Recent Deadline: August 19, 2024.  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

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

Preliminary Proposals DUE FEBRUARY 14, 2017. Full proposals due May 16, 2017. 2018 grants unknown. Diversity – of thought, perspective, and experience – is essential for excellence in research and innovation in science and engineering.[1] Full participation of all of America’s STEM talent is critical to the advancement of science and engineering for national security, health, and prosperity. America’s STEM talent pool has a competitive advantage when it is enriched by diversity of perspectives and approaches, which in turn enriches knowledge across STEM.Women, persons with disabilities, African Americans/Blacks, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Native Pacific Islanders, and persons from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have been historically underrepresented and underserved in various fields of science and engineering across all levels – from preK-12 to long-term workforce participation. [2],[3] Inclusion of talent from all sectors of American society is necessary for the health and vitality of the science and engineering community and its societal relevance. NSF INCLUDES is a comprehensive initiative to enhance U.S. leadership in science and engineering discovery and innovation by seeking and effectively developing STEM talent from all sectors and groups in our society. Over several years, NSF will invest in alliances and build a national network to achieve significant impact at scale in transforming STEM education and workforce pathways so they are fully and widely inclusive and equitable opportunities for participation are provided. New networks, systems, and partnerships as well as approaches to using data for change will be hallmarks of NSF INCLUDES. The initiative will serve as a testbed in real time over the next ten years for designing, implementing, studying, and refining change models that are based on collective impact-style approaches, and on networks that support adoption and adaptation at scale. This approach is a substantial shift away from current practice, which often involves highly successful but locally focused efforts. Undertaking change through collective impact at national scale is unprecedented. Success will be evident in the formation and enactment of new policies and practices in institutions, professional societies, and scientific culture that position inclusion and equity as core values for excellence in STEM.

Categories: stem, science, climate science, community engagement, health, biology, math, social justice, diversity

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: Feburary 25, 2022. This prize fits into President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of climate investment benefits to disadvantaged communities and inform equitable research, development, and deployment within DOE. Specifically, this prize seeks to enable and enhance business and technology incubation, acceleration, and other community-based and university-based entrepreneurship and innovation in climate and clean energy technologies. Learn more and apply here.

Categories: Climate change, clean energy, emissions, entrepreneurship, technology, research, equity, justice

Solicitation Opens for Tribes to Sell Clean Energy Credits to Federal Agencies under Indian Energy Purchase Preference. Most Recent Deadline: May 20, 2024. The GSA has opened a solicitation for 47,500 MWh of clean energy credits from Tribes in a move that both boosts opportunity for Tribal energy businesses and advances federal clean energy goals of running on 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030 (E.O. 14057). The solicitation has the potential to lead to the first ever procurement under the Indian Energy Purchase Preference. 

• The solicitation is for Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), which include Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), and allow for the clean attributes of energy production to be purchased without having a direct connection to the energy source. One EAC is equivalent to 1 MWh of clean energy production.
• Tribal-majority-owned energy businesses with carbon pollution-free electricity, or who compile carbon pollution-free electricity from other sources are eligible to compete in the solicitation.
• EACs must have been generated between April 1, 2023, and Dec. 1, 2024, from generation sources that were put in service on or after Oct. 1, 2021. The EACs will be procured independently from physical power produced by Tribal sources.
• The solicitation deadline is May 20, 2024. It is available athttps://sam.gov/opp/d2585e6204de4d42b6c3ba6663b2b7ba/view
• WHCNAA, GSA, DOE, and DOD committed to implement the Indian Energy Purchase Preference at the 2022 Tribal Nations Summit and in 2023 DOE Secretary Granholm re-emphasized the need to implement the whole preference, which allows for buying energy byproducts such as EACs.
• DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program and the Office of Indian Energy have been raising awareness on processes to sell EACs to the federal government, with office hours: Thursday May 9, 2024 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM: Register Here

For inquiries about selling power to federal entities under the IEPP, see the Office of Indian Energy’s pag

Categories: clean energy credits

FSA's Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Loan Program is a valuable resource to help Tribes become owners of additional property within the reservation to advance and increase current operations, provide financial prospects for Native American Communities, increase agricultural productivity, and save farmland for future generations. Through FSA’s innovative programming, American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments have the ability to create sustainable and community-driven solutions to rural community challenges. This loan program is financed and serviced by the Farm Service Agency. Funding comes from Congressional appropriations as part of the USDA budget.

Categories: agriculture, farmland, sustainable, rural communities

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: July 19, 2023. The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant (IAG) Program will provide up to $50 million to improve tribal nations’ food and agricultural supply chain resiliency by developing and expanding value-added infrastructure related to meat from indigenous animals like bison, reindeer or salmon. The program will fund projects that focus on expanding local capacity for the harvesting, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling or distribution of indigenous meats.

Categories: food sovereignty, capacity building, infrastructure

Deadline Passed 08/15/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Indigenous Biocultural Exchange Fund (IBEX) offers opportunities to attend a global biocultural event/exchange or a meeting of international significance which impacts the applicants' home territory or region. This fund supports indigenous peoples and local communities to have a voice in the policies and forums that concern biocultural diversity at a global level. 

Categories: environmentalism, biodiversity, biocultural, social justice, community activism, environmental justice, global networks, international, indigenous

Indigenous Lifeways Fund. Most recent deadline: November 25, 2024. Indigenous Lifeways Fund, dedicated to supporting Indigenous-led projects that foster healing, promote environmental justice, and uplift traditional knowledge in our communities. Proposals accepted on a rolling basis. First round deadline to apply: Nov. 25, 2024. We welcome proposals for Indigenous-led projects in areas such as: Environmental Justice: Restoring ecosystems, improving water and air quality, and addressing pollution in frontline communities; Food Security and Sovereignty: Restoring traditional food systems, from gardening and hunting to seed saving and community food sharing; Green Infrastructure: Clean energy projects, composting, and other sustainable practices that protect Mother Earth; Youth Leadership: Initiatives that foster the transfer of Traditional Knowledge from elders to youth, ensuring our lifeways continue to thrive; MMIR (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives): Campaigns and educational projects raising awareness and supporting justice for MMIR. For more information, visit: https://naahillahee.org/indigenous-lifeways-fund/?blm_aid=1053448. The Indigenous Lifeways Fund seeks to support Indigenous-led projects and activities that:

• Promote healing and wellness in Indigenous communities
• Transfer Traditional Knowledge to future generations
• Address barriers to community-led problem-solving
• Advance environmental justice and regenerative economies                                                                                                                                   

Categories: Environmental justice, Indigenous lifeways, traditional knowledge

This rapid response support will be extended to community-based Indigenous peoples and organizations from the U.S. and Canada (Central and South America on a case-by-case basis), WHO EITHER ARE HELPING THE COMMUNITY WITH TRANSPORTATION AND ESSENTIAL NEEDS OR WHO HAVE LOST THEIR PRIMARY INCOME FROM A HOME BUSINESS. These small grants of UP to $2,000 are being offered to assist with the following 3 situations:
1. FOR GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS ONLY, WHO ARE HELPING OTHERS: Purchase of essential provisions: food, water, medication, diapers, cleaning supplies, pet food, etc.
2. FOR GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS ONLY, WHO ARE HELPING OTHERS- Support with transportation for essential needs and provisions, such as medical appointments and clinic/hospital visits, medication, groceries etc.
3. THIS IS THE ONLY GRANT AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS, THOSE WHO’S MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME IS THEIR HOME BUSINESS- Home business slowdowns in sales and other cash flow difficulties (maybe your supplier is shut down, or a big order for an event is canceled). For this support “home business” is referring to things like quilting, regalia making, bead and quill work, moccasin making, basket making, pottery, silversmithing, etc.

Categories: COVID-19

Applications accepted continuously. The purpose of this grant is to provide water and waste disposal facilities and services to low income rural communities whose residents face significant health risks. Every effort is made to identify and fund the neediest projects. This program is only eligible in states with Colonias, and those are Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.

Categories: Adaptation, Water, Health, Natural Resources

Most Recent Deadline: November 21, 2024. EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments.

Categories: environmental justice, climate justice, inflation reduction act, IRA

Most Recent Deadline for Track B & C: August 21, 2024. The Inflation Reduction Act Forest Landowner Support programming provides financial assistance grants for projects that support underserved and small-acreage forest landowner participation in emerging private markets for climate mitigation and forest resilience. The Inflation Reduction Act provides the Forest Service $450 million for Forest Landowner Support which will be made available through a series of funding opportunities. Bookmark this webpage to stay up to date on current opportunities and deadlines or contact SM.FS.LandownerIRA@usda.gov to be added to an email distribution list.

Categories: forest landowners, IRA, inflation reduction act

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

Deadline Passsed 09/26/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Humanity is reliant upon the physical resources and natural systems of the Earth for the provision of food, energy, and water (FEW). It is becoming imperative that we determine how society can best integrate across the natural and built environments to provide for a growing demand for food, water and energy while maintaining appropriate ecosystem services. The overarching goal of INFEWS is to catalyze the well-integrated interdisciplinary research efforts to transform scientific understanding of the FEW nexus in order to improve system function and management, address system stress, increase resilience, and ensure sustainability. This interagency cooperation allows the partner agencies - National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) - to combine resources to identify and fund the most meritorious and highest-impact projects that support their respective missions.

Categories: food, energy, water, natural resources, environmental health, resilience, sustainability

Deadline Passed 07/17/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Funding Opportunity #: HHS-2018-ACL-AOA-INNU-0300. This funding opportunity is for competitive grants to be awarded under the OAA Title IV authority to increase the evidenced based knowledge base of nutrition providers, drive improved health outcomes for program recipients by promoting higher service quality, and increase program efficiency through innovative nutrition service delivery models. Funding will support innovative and promising practices that move the aging network towards evidenced based practices that enhance the quality, effectiveness of nutrition services programs or outcomes within the aging services network. Innovation can include service products that appeal to caregivers (such as web-based ordering systems and carryout food products), increased involvement of volunteers (such as retired chefs), consideration of eating habits and choice (such as variable meal times, salad bars, or more fresh fruits and vegetables), new service models (testing variations and hybrid strategies) and other innovations to better serve a generation of consumers whose needs and preferences are different. Through this program, funds may be used to help develop and test additional models or to replicate models that have already been tested in other community-based settings.

Categories: nutrition, health, community health, efficiency

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

Most recent deadline: 3/15/2021. The overall goal of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices. NIFA administers the ORG program by determining priorities in U.S. agriculture through Agency stakeholder input processes in consultation with the NAREEEAB. ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. It is expected that all projects will integrate research, education and extension activities, as appropriate to project goals, although some projects may be weighted more heavily than others in one or more of these areas. However, all proposals should have activities and impact in research and at least one of the other areas: education and extension.

Categories: Agriculture, Organic

Unknown for 2017. Specifically, this research examines how communities can integrate ecosystem services with human health and well-being to inform their decision making and management practices. This RFA aims to develop information that allows communities to integrate environmental, societal and economic information and to better manage multiple stressors and their cumulative impacts on humans and ecosystems. The ultimate goal is to help communities achieve their own objectives while taking advantage of more relevant and accessible information about ecosystem services.

Categories: Community Development, Community Resilience, Climate Resilience, Public Health, Management, Ecosystem Services.

Deadline passed as of September 15, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The ICRI/UN Environment Grants Programme is designed to encourage projects that demonstrate and catalyze enhanced protection and management of coral reefs and related ecosystems, in particular by promoting resilience of ecosystems, dependent people and economic sectors. Innovative and replicable projects will be favourably considered.

Categories: coral reefs, ocean acidification, marine ecology, marine biology, conservation, climate change, adaptation, mitigation

Deadline passed as of June 12, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. This program is designed to support empirical research on successful international engagement strategies and develop best practice reports and a competitiveness assessment tool. These elements will be incorporated into a user-friendly economic development organization (EDO) toolkit and training guide to help local communities assess and increase their ability to become globally competitive while enhancing their trade and FDI promotion activities.

Categories: economy, global trade, business, support, planning, policy, management, growth, infrastructure

Deadline Passed as of 1/31/2018. Deadline for 2019 Unknown. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing potential availability of agreements for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources, addressing local natural resource issues, encouraging collaboration and developing state-and-community-level conservation leadership. Successful applicant proposals must originate from Iowa and focus on conservation issues as noted in Section I (B) of this notice. Collaborative projects that provide on-the-ground support for Iowa NRCS Field Offices are highly encouraged. Research proposals will be returned to the applicant. NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2018 will be up to $3,000,000.00. Proposals are requested from eligible governmental or non- governmental organizations, and institutions of higher learning for competitive consideration of awards for projects between 1 and 5 years in duration. This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions for projects. Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant. Funding opportunity #: USDA-NRCS-IA-IPC-18-01

Categories: natural resources, collaboration, development, conservation

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

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 28, 2023. The J.M.K. Innovation Prize seeks to identify, support, and elevate innovators who are spearheading early-stage projects in the fields of the environment, heritage conservation, and social justice. Up to ten Prizes will be awarded, each including a cash reward of $150,000 over three years and $25,000 in technical assistance. An informational webinar will be held March 28, 2023 at 10am. Register here. This Prize is open to nonprofit and mission-driven for-profit organizations that work within, across, or in a manner related to one or more of the Fund's three program areas:The Environment: Slowing the pace of climate change and mitigating climate impactsHeritage Conservation: Conserving the places that communities care about mostSocial Justice: Strengthening democracy and reforming the criminal justice and immigration systems

Categories: environment, climate change mitigation, conservation, social justice, criminal justice