Grants and Funding Opportunities

In March, the Exchange Network Grant Program began revising its FY 2025 Solicitation Notice in accordance with updated EPA priorities. To allow time for these revisions, the competition was initially extended until April 30. The posted solicitation notice then closed. EPA is continuing to work through new processes and anticipates posting a revised Solicitation Notice in the future. The new applicant due date will be carefully considered to ensure sufficient time for applicants to review the new guidance and update/submit their applications accordingly. Applicants are encouraged to keep a close eye on the Exchange Network website for further updates.

Applicants who have already submitted an application for the FY25 cycle will be able to resubmit their application, with the updated requirements, following publication of the revised solicitation.

The National Lakes Assessment is a statistically valid survey of U.S. lakes, ponds and reservoirs conducted by EPA’s Office of Water, EPA’s Office of Research and Development, and state and Tribal water quality agencies. The assessment samples about 1,000 sites every five years. The assessment reports national and regional estimates of lake biological, chemical, and physical conditions based on core indicators.

This is a call for supplemental or research indicators to be considered for inclusion in the 2027 assessment. To propose new indicators, submit a 1-2-page proposal to Lareina Guenzel (guenzel.lareina@epa.gov). Those interested in submitting a proposal are encouraged to schedule a preliminary discussion with Lareina Guenzel as soon as possible.

NLA 2027 Supplemental and Research Indicator Call for Proposal Template

Tribal Wildlife Grants are administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and are used to provide technical and financial assistance to Tribes for the development and implementation of programs that benefit fish and wildlife resources and their habitat. The grants team will host a webinar to discuss this funding opportunity on April 29.

• Register for the webinar
• Apply

The National Tribal Waste Management Peer Matching Program aims to strengthen Tribal capacity and develop sustainable waste management programs. Peer matches are voluntary, structured opportunities for Tribes and Alaska Native Villages working on similar issues to exchange experiences and practical knowledge through a mentoring program. A Tribe with technical expertise mentors a Tribe requesting assistance to complete a specific technical task, such as conducting a waste characterization study, writing an Integrated Waste Management Plan, establishing a fee collection system, establishing enforcement codes, etc. Apply to be a mentor or mentee.

For more funding opportunities, visit Access to Capital, a searchable repository of all federal funding opportunities available to Tribal Nations and Native businesses, the Northwest Environmental Justice Center’s Library of Funding Opportunities, EPA’s Climate Resilience and Adaptation Funding Toolbox, the EJ TCTAC Grants Database, and Grantseeker Resources.

With grants up to $20,000, the Community Action Fund (CAF) supports Indigenous-led direct actions and organizing efforts. CAF prioritizes frontline, grassroots, and community-based efforts that defend Indigenous Peoples’ rights, communities and Nations, including responses to climate disasters.  

• Apply 

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is offering direct, ongoing technical assistance to individual Tribes working on ecological resilience projects designed to help our non-human relatives survive and thrive. Staff members from all Federally recognized, Unrecognized, and State Recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Villages are eligible to apply. Assistance is tailored to each Tribe’s needs and can range from remote support to, in some cases, on-site assistance, depending on the availability of funds. ITEP aims to provide long-term support, often lasting 6+ months, to help Tribes navigate barriers and implement actionable solutions. There is no deadline to apply. 

• Apply 

Woohoo, Alaskans for Littler Prevention and Recycling (ALPAR) Mini Grants have returned! Applications will be accepted for (1) recycling outreach and (2) recycling education until all funds are disbursed. (In other words, it’s first come, first served until all funds are expended.) Grant requests can be for any amount, although those between $500 and $2,500 are standard. Preference will be given to rural communities; larger communities with limited recycling may also qualify.

• Apply

The Environmental Justice (EJ) Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTAC) Grants Database includes a wide array of funding opportunities. For application assistance, contact your regional TCTAC. The EJ TCTACS are a collaborative initiative of EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center, funded by EPA Region 10, has set up an up-to-date library of funding opportunities for communities across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The table of funding opportunities, which can be sorted by funding type and state, is available at: https://nwejc.org/find-funding

EPA’s Climate Resilience and Adaptation Funding Toolbox (CRAFT) contains resources to help EPA’s funding applicants and recipients make climate-informed investments. CRAFT includes overviews of EPA funding programs where climate resilience considerations might be incorporated, climate risk tools and resources to evaluate and consider climate change risks, and communication materials to facilitate meaningful discussions about adaptation, resilience and environmental justice.  

• A presentation about the toolbox is attached. 

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