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.
Grants
External Grant Opportunities
Open Funding Opportunities
| DEADLINE | Grant Title | Organization | Brief Description | Eligibility | Amount (USD) | Location(s) of focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-Mar-25 | Mid-Atlantic Environmental Justice Fund | Chesapeake Bay Trust, co-led with Appalachian Voices, Centro de Apoyo Familiar, Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health (CEEJH Inc), Empower DC, Howard University, Overbrook Environmental Education Center, Sentinels of the Eastern Shore Health, and South Baltimore Community Land Trust. | Provides funding for community forestry and capacity building in three tracks: Track 1: EJ Organization Capacity Building, Track II: Tree Canopy for Resiliency and Public Health, and Track III: Workforce Development in Community Forestry. | Tax-exempt community-based organizations in DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, and WV. | Provides funding in three tracks: Track 1: EJ Organization Capacity Building ($100,000 maximum), Track II: Tree Canopy for Resiliency and Public Health, and Track III: Workforce Development in Community Forestry ($200,000 maximum) | U.S. - Mid-Atlantic Region (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) |
| 18-Mar-25 | Local Data for Equitable Communities | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Funds eligible U.S.-based nonprofit organizations to collect, analyze, and use data to address physical, economic, and social inequities of a specific community. | 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 nonprofit organizations, | $50,000 | United States and U.S. Territories. |
| 21-Mar-25 (every third thursday) | The Emergent Fund | Emergent Fund | Provides funding for rapid-response and emergent organizing work in response to specific urgent crises or power-building opportunities on a rolling, monthly basis. | Frontline, community-based organizations with 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status or fiscally sponsored projects. | $10,000-$30,000 | United States |
| 1-Apr-25 | The Impact Fund | The Impact Fund | Provides recoverable grants for "legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and small law firms who seek to confront economic, environmental, racial, and social injustice." | Any nonprofit organization, small legal firm, or solo practitioner involved in a public interest impact lawsuit. | Up to $50,000. | United States |
| 3-Apr-25 | EmPower Massachusetts Grants | Massachusetts Clean Energy Center | Funds communities and community-based organizations to explore, develop, and implement programs and projects that increase access to clean energy. | Community-based organizations (CBOs), non-profits, and individuals; Federally Recognized and State-Acknowledged Tribes; Municipalities (including those with municipal electric departments/companies); Clean energy installers/implementers; Financial institutions | $5,000 to $50,000 for building organizational capacity & exploring innovative solutions; $50,000 to $150,000 for implementing solutions. | U.S. - Massachusetts |
| 30-Apr-25 | GHHI EPA Region 3 Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program: Two-Year Grants | Green and Healthy Homes Initiative and US EPA | Provides subaward funding for historically underserved communities that have been disproportionately burdened by environmental injustices. One-year grants are available in two tiers: Tier I (Assessment) and Tier II (Planning). | Community-based and grassroots nonprofit organizations; other nonprofit organizations; Tribal governments and intertribal consortia; Native American organizations; institutions of higher education; local governments; governments of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. | $150,000-$250,000 | United States |
| 30-Apr-25 | Cultivating Healthy Environments: Region 4 TCGM Competitive Grants | Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and U.S. EPA | Provides funding for community-based nonprofits and other eligible recipients implementing projects to address local public health and environmental issues in EPA region 4 in three project categories: Tier 1 (Assessment), Tier 2 (Planning Projects), and Tier 3 (Development). | Community-based nonprofit organizations, local governments, Tribal governments and Intertribal consortia, Native American/Indigenous organizations. | Up to $150,000 for Assessment projects, Up to $250,000 for Planning projects, and up to $350,000 for Development projects. | U.S. EPA Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee |
| 30-Apr-25 | Cultivating Healthy Environments: Region 4 TCGM Non-Competitive Grants | Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and U.S. EPA | Provides funding for capacity-constrained community-based nonprofits to help organizations build a foundation that will allow them to apply for future grant opportunities. | Community-based nonprofit organizations, | $75,000 | U.S. EPA Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee |
| 30-Apr-25 | Cultivating Healthy Environments: Region 7 TCGM Competitive Grants | Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and U.S. EPA | Provides funding for community-based nonprofits and other eligible recipients implementing projects to address local public health and environmental issues in EPA region 7 in three project categories: Tier 1 (Assessment), Tier 2 (Planning Projects), and Tier 3 (Development). | Community-based nonprofit organizations, local governments, Tribal governments and Intertribal consortia, Native American/Indigenous organizations. | Up to $150,000 for Assessment projects, Up to $250,000 for Planning projects, and up to $350,000 for Development projects. | U.S. EPA Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. |
| 30-Apr-25 | Cultivating Healthy Environments: Region 7 TCGM Non-Competitive Grants | Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and U.S. EPA | Provides funding for capacity-constrained community-based nonprofits in EPA Region 7 to help organizations build a foundation that will allow them to apply for future grant opportunities. | Community-based nonprofit organizations | $75,000 | U.S. EPA Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. |
| 31-May-25 | For Tribes: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program | U.S. Department of Energy | Provides funding for eligible Tribes to meet energy efficiency goals, including: upgrading buildings, installing renewable energy equipment, and/or creating climate and clean energy plans. | Eligible Tribes (see list), including Alaska Native Regional and Village corporations. | Varied; specific allocations per eligible Tribe | United States |
| 4-Jun-25 | Systems for Action: Community-Led Systems Research to Address Systemic Racism | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Funds a cohort of community-led pilot studies to produce new, actionable evidence about how to address systemic racism. | Community-based organizations actively engaged in serving communities that experience systemic racism. | $200,000 | United States and U.S. Territories |
| Rolling until 15-Oct-25 | Exploring Equitable Futures | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Supports projects that explore new, innovative ideas to advance health equity. | Priority given to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. | Varied; no set award amount. | United States and U.S. Territories |
| 30-Nov-26 | Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program | Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmakers Partnership | Provides funding for community-based nonprofits and other eligible recipients implementing projects to address local public health and environmental issues in EPA region 5 in three project categories: Tier 1 (Assessment and Engagement), Tier 2 (Community Education and Planning), and Tier 3 (Project Development and Implementation). | Community-based nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments, Native American and Indigenous organizations, Local Governments, Institutions of higher education | Up to $150,000 for Assessment and Engagement projects, Up to $250,000 for Community Education and Planning projects, and up to $350,000 for Development and Implementation projects. | EPA Region 5: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and 36 federally recognized tribal nations |
| Rolling | National Grassroots Organizing Grant Program | Ben & Jerry's Foundation | Funds grassroots organizing strategies and activities for organizations with annual operating budgets under $350,000. | 501c3 non-profits and fiscally-sponsored projects | Two-year grants of up to $30,000 per year | United States |
| Rolling | Fordham Flourishing in Community Competitive Awards: EPA Region 2 Thriving Communities Grantmaker Program | Fordham University Flourishing in Community Initiative and US EPA | Provides noncompetitive awards for capacity-constrained communities and CBOs located in EPA Region 2, with selection of grants occurring through a participatory strategy. Any individual or organization may nominate any organization or project, including themselves. | Capacity-constrained communities and CBOs. | $75,000 | U.S. EPA Region 2: New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. |
| Rolling | Fordham Flourishing in Community Competitive Awards: EPA Region 2 Thriving Communities Grantmaker Program | Fordham University Flourishing in Community Initiative and US EPA | Provides funding in three tracks for community-led projects in U.S. EPA Region 2 (NY, NJ, PR, USVI, Federally Recognized Indian Nations) focused on evaluating climate and environmental justice issues, designing plans to respond to these concerns, and execution of these projects. Funding will be given in three phases: Assessment, Planning, and Project Development. | Community-based and grassroots nonprofit organizations; other nonprofit organizations; Tribal governments and intertribal consortia; Native American organizations; institutions of higher education; local governments; governments of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. | $150,000-$350,000 | U.S. EPA Region 2: New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. |
| Rolling | Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Region 9 Grantmaking Program | Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs | Provides funding in three tracks for community-led projects in U.S. EPA Region 9 focused on evaluating climate and environmental justice issues, designing plans to respond to these concerns, and execution of these projects. Funding will be given in three phases: Assessment, Planning, and Development. | Nonprofit organizations, community-based and grassroots nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments and intertribal consortia, Local governments, Institutions of higher education, Native American organizations | Up to $150,000 for Assessment projects, Up to $250,000 for Planning projects, and up to $350,000 for Development projects. | U.S. EPA Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and 148 Tribal Nations. |
| Rolling | Mobilize Power Fund | Third Wave Fund | Funds gender justice organizations to adapt or pivot work when met with urgent, time-sensitive opportunities or threats to their organizing and movement building. | BIPOC-Youth-led organizations with budgets under $500,000 focusing on gender justice and community power building, | Up to $10,000 | United States |
| Rolling | Communities First Fund Rapid Response Fund | Communities First Fund | Provides rapid-response funding to frontline and grassroots organizations to help them respond to infrastructure crises, federal rulemaking and funding notices, and other time sensitive issues. | 501(c)3 organizations and fiscally-sponsored projects. | $10,000 to $100,000 | United States, with focus on U.S. South and Midwest. |
| Rolling | De Colores Rapid Response Fund | Peace Development Fund | Provides rapid-response funds for grassroots organizing in communities of color, poor, and working-class. | 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, non-501(c) organizations, groups, and coalitions. | $500-$1000 | United States |
| Rolling | Security and Well-Being Grants | Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights Asia & Pacific | Supports women and non-binary activists and organizations responding to urgent crises; funds are used to ensure safety from both physical and emotional harm. | Women/Non-binary led, human rights focus, and specifically for addressing urgent crises or threats. | Up to $5,000 | Asia and the Pacific |
| Rolling | Resourcing Resilience | Urgent Action Fund for Women's Rights Asia and Pacific | Funds women and non-binary human rights defenders who are seeking to implement an initiative that would support their activism. | Women or Non-binary Led | Up to $5,000 | Asia and the Pacific |
| Rolling | Environmental and Climate Justice Grants | Urgent Action Fund - Africa | Funds environmental women human rights defenders and woman-led grassroots environmental organizations to confront systemic environmental injustices in Africa. | Woman/trans-led organizations resopnding to urgent situations. | Up to $15,000 | Rainforest Zones Across Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, Ethiopia, Zambia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Angola, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Togo |
| Rolling | Opportunity Grants | Fondo de Acción Urgente -América Latina | Funds strategic actions to defend women's and LBTIQ+ rights, falling under a broad a range of topics from women's rights to gender, racial, or environmental justice. | Woman/trans-led organizations resopnding to urgent situations. | Up to $5,000 | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Rolling | Protection and Security Grants | Fondo de Acción Urgente -América Latina | Funds actions focused on protection of women and trans activists (and their organizations) when at-risk due to their work defending human rights and/or land. | Woman/trans-led organizations resopnding to urgent situations. | Up to $5,000 | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Rolling | Security Grants | Urgent Action Fund | Supports the safety and security of women/trans/non-binary activists in unanticipated, time-urgent situations. | Funds must support women/trans/nonbinary activists in response to unanticipated situations. | Up to $8,000 | Middle East, Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Turkey, Central Asia, Russia, Canada and the United States |
| Rolling | Charity Pot Grant | LUSH | Supports 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 less | Up to $25,000 | Worldwide |
| Rolling | EJII Capacity Building Grants | Wisconsin Environmenal Justice Infrastructure Initiative | Supports Wisconsin communities raising community awareness on environmental justice issues | Wisconsin grassroots organizations (501(c)(3) not required) | $200,000 | Wisconsin |
| Rolling | Federal Access Center Grants | Just Transition Fund | Provides financial and technical assistance to communities impacted by the coal economy to access government funding | 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and local governments serving coal communities | Up to $100,000 | United States |
| Rolling | Seed Grants | New England Grassroots Fund | Funds groups launching new projects or starting to significantly change the direction of an existing project | Groups doing local, grassroots work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont (tax status and fiscal sponsor not required) | $500 - $1,000 | New England |
| Rolling | Grassroots Grants | Story of Stuff | Funds projects on water privatization, plastic pollution, and other environmental justice focus areas. | Groups must be led by and serving black, indigenous, and communities of color | Up to $5,000 | United States |
| Rolling | The Catalyst Fund | Roddenberry Foundation | Supports groups anywhere in the world with early-stage idea or project that addresses pressing global challenges | Must be 18 years of age or older and submit an application in English | $2,500 - $15,000 | United States |
| Rolling | Cornell Douglas Foundation Grants | Cornell Douglas Foundation | Funds proposal in the following areas of focus: environmental health and justice, land conservation, mountaintop removal mining, sustainability of resources, watershed protection | $15,000 - $50,000 | United States | |
| Rolling | EDLC Grants | Environmental 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 countries | NA | International | |
| Rolling | Norman Foundation Grants | The Norman Foundation | Promotes 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 efforts | Priority given to organizations with annual budgets of under $1 million | ~$30,000 | United States |
| Rolling | Petchem Frontline Fund | Center for International Environmental Law | Supports groups and organizations fighting the petrochemical buildout and infrastructure in the United States | NA | United States | |
| Rolling | Technical Assistance Grant Program | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Helps 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 decisions | Group 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 $50,000 | United States |