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Grants

External Grant Opportunities

Frontline communities have been historically underfunded and underserved, especially when it comes to advancing environmental and climate justice. Outside of our own grant cycles, FRI collects and shares a range of external grant and federal funding opportunities with our extensive network of frontline communities. FRI’s grant resource list will be updated frequently, so please check back often for up-to-date information.

Open Funding Opportunities

DEADLINEGrant TitleOrganizationBrief DescriptionEligibilityAmount (USD)Location(s) of focus
29-Sep-23Region 1 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers ProgramU.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 1Funds the establishment of an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) that will serve states located in EPA’s Region 1. The EJ TCTAC will provide training, technical assistance, and other services to build capacity for communities and environmental justice stakeholders in the region.Public and private colleges and universities,, public and private nonprofit institutions, and intertribal consortia.Up to $10,000,000US - New England
10-Oct-23Farm To School Technical Assistance Cooperative AgreementU.S. Department of AgricultureFunds nonprofit organizations and Indian Tribal Organizations to implement national and/or regional farm to school activities that support USDA’s priorities of food systems transformation, improving child health through nutritious school meals, and Indigenous food sovereignty.501(c)3 non-profit organizations and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) with a history of meaningful engagement$500,000 to $1,000,000US
11-Oct-23Region 8 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers ProgramU.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 8Funds the establishment of an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) that will serve states located in EPA’s Region 8. The EJ TCTAC will provide training, technical assistance, and other services to build capacity for communities and environmental justice stakeholders in the region.Public and private nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and intertribal consortia.Up to $10,000,000U.S. - EPA Region 8
21-Oct-23Supporting Underserved and Small-Acreage Forest Landowner Participation in Emerging Private MarketsU.S. Department of Agriculture / U.S. Forest ServiceFunds support the participation of underserved and/or small-acreage forest landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience.Non-profit entities, Tribal governments, Alaska Native Corporations/Villages, Tribal entities, educational institutions, for-profit entities, and U.S. state and local governments, Up to $25,000,000US
30-Oct-23Community Food Projects Competitive Grants ProgramU.S. Department of AgricultureFunds projects that center the food needs of low-income individuals, increase community self-reliance and food sovereignty, and meet state, local, or community food and agricultural needs. Private nonprofit entities, Tribal organizations, and public food program service providers$25,000 to $400,000US
31-Oct-23Community Wildfire Defense Grant ProgramU.S. Department of AgricultureFunds at-risk communities and tribes in planning for and reducing risks of wildfires. Priority will be given to applicants in areas identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low income, or have been impacted by a severe disaster that affects the risk of wildfire.Local and Tribal governments, non-profit organizations, state forestry agencies, and Alaska Native Corporations$250,000 to $10 million, depending on category of project applied forUS
31-Oct-23Lawrence Foundation Common Grant The Lawrence FoundationSupports non-profits organizations committed to environmental, human services, and disaster relief missionsNon-profit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(C)(3), public schools, and libraries$5,000-$10,000United States
1-Nov-23Environmental Education GrantPennsylvania Department of Environmental ProtectionFunds organizations designing innovative projects to inform the public on environmental issuesUp to $65,000Pennsylvania
10-Nov-23Energy Future GrantsU.S. Department of EnergyFunds partnerships of state, local, and tribal government-led efforts to advance clean energy program innovation. Teams will further partner with community-based organizations to turn innovative ideas into solutions that address barriers to clean energy deployment.Partnerships of local, state, and/or tribal governments and Community-Benefit Organizations Up to $1,000,000US
19-Dec-23Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved CommunitiesU.S. NOAAFunds community-driven coastal habitat restoration projects and capacity building for tribes and underserved communities to support participation in restoration activities.Tribes, Tribal entities, underserved communities, and entities that partner with tribes and underserved communities$75,000 to $3,000,000US
30-Jan-2024Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge - Phase 1U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesFunds concept design and pilot project development to advance environmental justice. This includes furthering effective partnerships, developing innovative approaches to capacity building, advancing community-driven strategies, using publicly-available datasets and tools, and/or addressing climate-related mental health hazards.Individuals, groups of individuals, and entitiesUp to $25,000 for Phase 1US
RollingResourcing ResilienceUrgent Action Fund for Women's Rights Asia and PacificFunds women and non-binary human rights defenders who are seeking to implement an initiative that would support their activism.Women or Non-binary LedUp to $5,000Asia and the Pacific
RollingCharity Pot GrantLUSHSupports small, grassroots organizations in North America and around the world that are working on the root cause of issues and creating long-term sustainable change.
Funds organizations working in areas of animal protection, environmental justice, and human rights
Registered or unregistered organizations/charities, non-profits, or Indigenous and community groups with an annual revenue of $500,000 or lessUp to $25,000Worldwide
RollingEJII Capacity Building GrantsWisconsin Environmenal Justice Infrastructure InitiativeSupports Wisconsin communities raising community awareness on environmental justice issuesWisconsin grassroots organizations (501(c)(3) not required)$200,000Wisconsin
RollingFederal Access Center GrantsJust Transition FundProvides financial and technical assistance to communities impacted by the coal economy to access government funding501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and local governments serving coal communitiesUp to $100,000US
RollingSeed GrantsNew England Grassroots FundFunds groups launching new projects or starting to significantly change the direction of an existing projectGroups doing local, grassroots work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont (tax status and fiscal sponsor not required)$500 - $1,000New England
Third Tuesday in March & September.Grow GrantsNew England Grassroots FundFunds groups who have some experience implementing a project in their community to deepen their work by further developing a community vision, lowering barriers to participation, identifying new stakeholders and working to bring more voices and lived experiences into core decision-making processes.Groups doing local, grassroots work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont (tax status and fiscal sponsor not required)$1,000 - $4,000New England
RollingGrassroots GrantsStory of StuffFunds projects on water privatization, plastic pollution, and other environmental justice focus areas.Groups must be led by and serving black, indigenous, and communities of colorUp to $5,000U.S. only
RollingThe Catalyst FundRoddenberry FoundationSupports groups anywhere in the world with early-stage idea or project that addresses pressing global challengesMust be 18 years of age or older and submit an application in English$2,500 - $15,000Worldwide
RollingCornell Douglas Foundation GrantsCornell Douglas FoundationFunds proposal in the following areas of focus: environmental health and justice, land conservation, mountaintop removal mining, sustainability of resources, watershed protection$15,000 - $50,000NA
RollingEDLC GrantsEnvironmental Defender Law Center (EDLC)Covers expenses of public interest litigation against those responsible for resource development projects that harm the human rights, health, and environment of communities in developing countriesNAWorldwide
RollingNorman Foundation GrantsThe Norman FoundationPromotes economic justice and development through community organizing, coalition building and policy reform efforts; work to prevent the disposal of toxics in communities, and to link environmental issues with economic and social justice; link community-based economic and environmental justice organizing to national and international reform effortsPriority given to organizations with annual budgets of under $1 million~$30,000US
RollingPetchem Frontline FundCenter for International Environmental LawSupports groups and organizations fighting the petrochemical buildout and infrastructure in the United StatesNAUS
RollingTechnical Assistance Grant ProgramU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyHelps communities participate in Superfund cleanup decision-making by providing funding to community groups to contract their own technical advisor to interpret and explain technical reports, site condi­tions, and EPA’s proposed cleanup proposals and decisionsGroup may apply if members’ health, economic well-being, or enjoyment of the environment is, or may be, hurt by a Superfund site. Group must must incorporate for the purpose of participating in decision-making at the site. Nonprofit and tax-exempt status not required.Up to $50,000US

Stay Connected

FRI is committed to building a collective network of frontline groups through shared learning and movement-wide capacity-building. We invite you to join our community-guided network for access to resources such as external grant opportunities, job postings, and more.