Grants and Funding Opportunities

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation is accepting applications for the Environmental Justice for Climate (EJ4Climate) Grant Program, which will fund projects on community-led education programs to increase environmental justice and climate adaptation knowledge. Applicants may request up to $125,570 in grant funding.

• Apply

Funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Program will support federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and Tribal organizations in implementing fish passage work and building Tribal organizational capacity.  NOAA will accept proposals between $300,000 and $6 million. Funds can be used to implement removals of dams and other in-stream barriers. Selected projects will assist in sustaining fisheries and contributing to the recovery of endangered species.

• Apply

NOAA will host a webinar on December 12 to discuss this funding opportunity for Tribes.

• Register for the webinar.        

EPA has released the GAP Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for work beginning on or after October 1, 2025. The NOFA is comprised of the national notice and the Region 10 supplement. Submit proposals by email to your EPA Tribal Coordinator.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation announced a Request for Proposals for the Ocean Odyssey Marine Debris Prevention Awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility. With funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will award 10-15 grants, totaling up to $100,000 for this competition. Individual awards will range between $5,000 and $10,000 to support initiatives that prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris in communities that are underserved, underrepresented, or overburdened by marine debris. These projects may include marine debris prevention, education, and outreach activities. Priority will be given to projects that directly benefit or support communities in need and involve community members in all aspects of the project, from planning to execution. Projects throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States are eligible for consideration. 

• Apply

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Community Power Accelerator connects community-benefiting solar projects and developers (including community-based organizations) with philanthropists, lenders, and investors to drive a more equitable clean energy transition. The Accelerator offers five free services to connect developers and projects with capital providers, training opportunities, technical assistance, a credit-ready checklist, and the DOE Community Power Accelerator Prize.

The Columbia River Restoration Fund, a program within Seeding Justice, is a non-competitive funding program for Tribal Nations of the Columbia River Basin. Funding priorities include: 

• Upholding Columbia River Basin Tribes’ sovereignty and leadership in watershed restoration, protection and conservation efforts in the Basin.
• Strengthening advocacy, organizing, and coalition building efforts that empower and support all Basin communities to access, protect, and restore the Columbia River and its watershed.
• Expanding culturally rooted ways of caring for and engaging with the Basin through hands-on programs and experiences. 

Apply

The Puget Sound National Estuary Program  has issued three Requests for Proposals to advance Puget Sound recovery: 

1. Developing Regional Facilities and Stormwater Parks: Support stormwater infrastructure analysis, retrofit planning, program development, resiliency policy, and updated levels of service to address climate resiliency.
2. Increasing Stormwater Parks and Climate Resiliency in Puget Sound: Enable master planning and implementation of regional stormwater facilities, including stormwater parks, as a key strategy for addressing development-related water quality challenges across jurisdictional, watershed or property boundaries.
3. Toxics in Fish Combined RFP: Address the sources and loads of contaminants from wastewater and stormwater runoff in known areas with toxic loads affecting juvenile Chinook salmon productivity; support the implementation of Chemical Action Plans (CAPs) for priority toxic chemicals; address knowledge gaps through field and laboratory research and analytical methods development. 

• Apply 

The program will host information sessions and office hours to discuss these funding opportunities: 

• Climate Resiliency in Stormwater Management and Developing Regional Facilities and Stormwater Parks
  • Applicant Information Session: November 13, 1:00-2:30
  • Applicant Office Hours: December 10, 10:00-11:30
• Toxics in Fish Combined RFP
  • Applicant Information Session: October 28, 1:00-3:00
  • Applicant Office Hours: December 4, 1:00-3:00 

After allocating CWA Section 319 Tribal funds for Tribal base grant work plans, EPA allocates the remaining CWA Section 319 Tribal funds to eligible entities according to the competitive procedures in this Notice of Funding Opportunity. The funding will support Tribal projects primarily focused on implementing on-the-ground best management practices that will help protect or restore waters from sources of Non-Point Source pollution. Applicants may also use up to 25 percent of requested federal funds to support other eligible project activities, including the development of a nine-element watershed-based plan. The award ceiling is $125,000/applicant. 

• Apply

Across the country, millions of barriers are fragmenting rivers, blocking fish migration, and putting communities at higher risk to flooding. Improving fish passage is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species while building safer infrastructure for communities and improving climate resilience. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office has announced a call for National Fish Passage Program proposals. Awards will range from $30,000-$200,000.

The application is attached to this email.  

The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency leading the region’s collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. The Partnership’s Puget Sound Recovery Acceleration Funding Tool (PS RAFT) collects information about national, state, and regional funding opportunities. 

Developed in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and community allies, this program is a direct response to the need for equitable, community-centered transportation solutions. Applicants must serve overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, and people disproportionately impacted by transportation inequities, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change. Grant funds must be used for low-carbon transportation improvements that benefit environmental justice communities in Washington State.

• Apply

This outreach of interest from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) aims to cultivate relationships and connect with potential partners. USFS is interested in USDA Forest Service is interested in potential partnerships to help collect, map, develop, monitor, and restore native plants on national forest lands. Your submission signals an opportunity for USDA Forest Service to explore with you your ideas/projects/programs and federal funding opportunities. USFS is also interested in engaging and educating community members, youth, veterans, tribes, students, underserved communities, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs. Both partners would benefit through the sharing of knowledge, input to revegetation programs and priorities on national forest lands, and hands-on knowledge identifying, handling, and processing native plant materials, and/or monitoring and documenting native plant revegetation success.

• Apply

The USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program is accepting applications from state, local, and Tribal governments to research, map, assess, and collect data on landslide hazards.

• Apply

The Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative (AYK SSI) has up to $2M available for funding research projects up to three years in duration addressing the region’s declined chum and Chinook salmon populations. Funding is provided through NOAA’s Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund.

• Apply

The first round of Philanthropy Northwest EPA’s Thriving Communities Grantmakers Program (TCGM) will be distributing $40 million in grants over the next three years. Eligible entities include Tribal governments (both federally recognized and state-recognized) and intertribal consortia. Eligible activities include small local cleanups, emergency preparedness and disaster relief, green jobs and youth programs, air and water quality projects and healthy homes, and more. Applicants may wish to attend the October 31, How to Build a Budget.

• View Previous Thriving Communities Webinar Recordings and Slides.
• Sign up for TCGM Newsletter.
• View the Request for Applications.
• Register for the October 31 webinar.

Technical assistance is available to support applicants:

• The University of Washington Center for Health Equity is available to help determine eligibility, strategize about partners, map out an outline for an application, and review your application before you submit.

• The Environmental Protection Network (EPN) created a Step by Step Guide to Applying to the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmakers Program, which includes two AI modules to assist applicants in creating draft language for their proposals. Reach out to EPN for 1:1 assistance with proposal and application materials.
• The Northwest Environmental Justice Center also offers free technical assistance to communities.

The Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (PMEP) is seeking project proposals that restore, enhance, and protect habitats for fish within estuarine and nearshore marine systems or that increase understanding of fish habitats in estuarine and nearshore habitats along the U.S. West Coast (Washington, Oregon, and California). PMEP will award an estimated $250,000-$350,000 in FY2026 for projects that advance its mission. Strong project proposals that request less than $100,000 are preferred. However, proposals of particular merit may be funded at a higher level.Apply

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian Tribes, which include Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations, to 1) conduct clean energy planning; (2) comprehensively assess the feasibility and viability of deploying clean energy technology; or, (3) conduct clean energy design and development activities.

• Apply

DOE will host a webinar on October 24 to discuss this funding opportunity.

• Register

The Geos Institute is seeking proposals for Drinking Water Providers Partnership projects located in drinking water source watersheds in Oregon and Washington that meet the Partnership’s goals to:

• Restore and protect the health of watersheds and water quality which communities depend upon for drinking water.
• Improve aquatic and riparian ecosystems, including the native fish that inhabit them.
• Support local partnerships of drinking water providers, landowners, and restoration experts that successfully implement restoration projects.

The Partnership supports source watershed restoration projects across Oregon and Washington that provide benefits to both drinking water systems and native fish.

• Apply

On October 8, EPA announced a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water. With the final rule, EPA announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding.

Under Reduction of Lead Exposure in the Nation’s Drinking Water Systems through Full Lead Service Line Replacement and Treatment Improvements, EPA anticipates awarding approximately two to four assistance agreements ranging from approximately $5,000,000 to no more than $10,000,000. Under Reducing Children’s Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Childcare Facilities, EPA anticipates awarding approximately three to five assistance agreements ranging from approximately $2,000,000 to no more than $5,000,000. The project period for both grants is anticipated to be up to four years.

• Read the press release.
• Read the fact sheet.
• Apply for funding.

This isn’t a new announcement, but it’s a big one, so we thought we might remind you of this excellent opportunity. Funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA’s Community Change Grants represent the largest single investment in environmental justice in history.

• Learn a whole lot more.

The Environmental Protection Network is offering office hours to assist grant applicants:

• October 15: Project Scheduling & Guidance: Register
• October 16: Grant Writing Checklist: Register
• October 22: Project Scheduling & Guidance: Register
• October 23: Budget, Financial Management: Register

Once a local sustainability plan is finalized, communities can face challenges to implementation. The Sustainable Communities Accelerator Network (SCAN) is a new national peer learning network that support teams as they move an idea from paper to action. The program is offered in collaboration with the Smart Growth Network. SCAN program is designed for leaders in the environmental, land use planning, and sustainability fields. As a participant, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Develop relationships and explore opportunities to collaborate and problem-solve with leaders in your field from across the nation.
• Hear from national experts and explore new models related to sustainability and land use from across the country and assess how these models might work in your own community.
• Move your community’s priorities from planning document to action with support from program facilitators and peers.
• Share your expertise and experiences on a national scale and receive recognition for your efforts to advance environmental goals.

Each community may nominate a team of up to two leaders to participate. The community must be prepared to undertake a specific project, action or policy that prioritizes sustainability in their local community.

• Apply

EPA will hold an informational webinar about the program and how to apply on October 29.

• Register