Category Archives: Environmental

KFC Foundation: Kentucky Fried Wishes

The KFC Foundation funds actionable, local level projects in the United States through the Kentucky Fried Wishes program.

Twenty-five grants of $10,000 are awarded each quarter in a different focus area. The next funding cycle will be May 1-31, 2024 for projects focused on Improving Health & Wellbeing.

Eligibility

This grant is open to organizations in the United States who:

Have a 501(c)3 nonprofit designation
Have maintained good standing with the IRS for 2 years
Work at the local level, either individually or as a chapter/affiliate of a larger organization

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used to:

Hire professional services necessary to complete the project
Purchase equipment necessary to complete the project

Grant funds may not be used for:

Salaries
Scholarships
Ongoing or recurring programs
Event sponsorships

Focus Areas

Improving Health & Wellbeing

Applications for Improving Health & Wellbeing will be accepted May 1-31. Potential projects include:

Creating a mobile health clinic
Playground improvements
Domestic violence shelter upgrades
Accommodations for individuals with disabilities

Expanding Access to Food & Shelter

Applications for Expanding Access to Food & Shelter will be accepted July 1-31. Potential projects include:

Remodeling a food pantry
Creating a community garden
Beautifying a community space
Repairing and renovating buildings

Caring for the Environment, Animals, & More

Applications for Caring for the Environment, Animals, & More will be accepted September 1-30. Potential projects include:

Creating a permanent wildlife conservation exhibit
Purchasing a new vehicle for mobile vet clinic
Park improvements
Other reasonable requests not covered under any other focus area

Empowering Through Education & Training

This focus area is currently closed and a new funding cycle hasn’t yet been announced. Potential projects include:

Establishing a community-wide CPR certification program
Creating an after school literacy program
Creating a job skills training program for adults with disabilities

Union Pacific Community Ties Giving Program

The Union Pacific Community Ties Giving Program supports projects in Union Pacific communities. Their focus areas are Safety, Workplace Development, Commuity Vitality, and Environmental Sustainability.

Applications are due by May 31, 2024. Awards are typically $5,000 – $30,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in Union Pacific communities.

Focus Areas

Safety – helping communities prevent and prepare for emergencies and helping residents live safely day to day
Workplace Development – helping underrepresented residents find family-supporting careers
Community Vitality – cultural and recreational experiences and providing community members with opportunities to live healthy, vital lives
Environmental Sustainability – environmental nonprofits and community-based organizations advancing the health of the environment

Funding Limitations

Grant funds may not be used for:

General operating support
Event sponsorships
Fundraising events
Sports events, organizations, and teams
Fellowships
Research

We Are Together International Prize

The We Are Together International Prize supports initiatives from around the world that are working toward social change through volunteering.

Applications for $10,000 and other benefits are due by May 20, 2024. Submissions may be in English or Russian.

Eligibility

This prize is open to citizens of any nation who are 18 years of age or older and registered nonprofit organizations.

Award

Recipients or laureates will receive:

$10,000
Expert support
Meetings with high-ranking guests, leading experts and public figures in the winning countries
The chance to share their project with the world
The opportunity to take part in the International Forum of Civil Participation

Focus Areas

Healthcare and Emergency Response – Physical and mental health, promotion of physical activity, blood donation, and assisting people during disasters
Ecology and Sustainable Development – Environmental protection and education, green economy and technology
Equal Opportunities and Social Justice – Improving the lives of vulnerable populations

Pollinator-Friendly Practices on Roadsides and Highway Rights-of-Way Program

The Pollinator-Friendly Practices on Roadsides and Highway Rights-of-Way Program supports projects to implement, improve, or develop a Pollinator-Friendly Practice Plan. The goal of the program is to turn the 3.9 million miles of roadside across the U.S. into pollinator habitat.

Applications for up to $150,000 are due by June 18, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. The Federal Highway Administration is required to fund all satisfactory applications, which must conform to the Application Template.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

State Departments of Transportation
Federal Land Management Agencies
Native American Tribes

Eligible Pollinator-Friendly Practices

Applicants may request funding for one or more of the following:

Pollinator-friendly mowing strategies
Planting or seeding
Removing nonnative grasses from planting and seeding mixes
Protecting existing habitat
Updating, improving, or further developing the Pollinator-Friendly Practices Plan
Implementing a Pollinator-Friendly Practices Plan or an integrated vegetation management plan
Obtaining expert training or assistance on pollinator-friendly practices
Design, construction, or maintenance to ensure habitat does not negatively impact road safety
Outreach to increase public support and/or coordinate with adjacent landowners

Applications Requirements

State Departments of Transportation and Federal Land Management Agencies must provide documentation of:

Coordination with applicable State agencies in the development of their Plan
Consultation with affected or interested Indigenous tribes in the development of their Plan

Review Criteria

All applications will be reviewed based on:

Merit Criteria

Overall Benefits to Pollinator Species and Habitats
Context and Connectivity
Roadside Pollinator Project Design and Methods
Maintenance and Management

Project Readiness Criteria

Environmental Review and Permitting Risk
Project Risks and Mitigation Strategies
Technical Assessment
Financial Completeness Assessment

Coca-Cola Foundation

The Coca-Cola Foundation is investing in change around the world through grants and sponsorships of transformative ideas and institutions. More than $1.5 billion have been given to organizations focused on complex global challenges.

Currently, the Foundation is focusing on six Impact Areas: Sustainable Access to Safe Water, Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Preparedness and Response, Circular Economy, Economic Empowerment, Hometown, and Employee Giving. Requests for funding can be submitted at any time.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the United States and international groups with an equivalent designation in their country.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be spent on:

Salaries and benefits
Consultant fees and expenses
Administrative expenses
Other

The Foundation typically does not fund:

Individual scholarships
Programs primarily focused on nutrition, weight loss, or physical activity
Movies and television
Website development
Concerts or other entertainment type events
Local sports teams

Impact Areas

Sustainable Access to Safe Water

This area funds programs that present solutions for the 2 billion people globally who lack safe drinking water.

Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Preparedness and Response

This impact area supports projects that help vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change as well as providing direct relief to those impacted by natural disasters.

Circular Economy

A circular economy is one in which products are reused rather than disposed to alleviate the accumulation of plastic waste, in particular, in the world’s waterways. Grants in this area fund solutions to the 12.7 million metric tons of plastic that pollute our water each year.

Economic Empowerment

This impact area focuses on education, workforce development and entrepreneurship opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

Hometown

Hometown projects build a more inclusive community in Coca-Cola’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. This is done through civic engagement, arts and culture, economic empowerment, education, and youth development.

Employee Giving

Coca-Cola employees in the United States donate both time and money in the communities where they live and the Foundation matches that support.

Trust for Mutual Understanding

The Trust for Mutual Understanding supports direct exchanges in the arts, the environment, and the intersection of the two between professionals in the U.S. and the 28 countries in their region. Exchanges may be in person or virtual.

Initual inquiries are due each year by May 1st or November 1st. If invited, full proposals will be due August 1st or February 1st. There is no minimum or maximum award, but current grantees received $5,000 – $173,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations working with professionals in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan.

Allowable Expenses

In Person Exchange

Grant funding for in person exchanges may be used for:

International airfare
Local transportation
Travel insurance
Visas and visa processing fees
Accommodations
Per diem
Translation and interpretation
Registration fees for conferences, events, and trainings
Cost of using more environmentally friendly modes of transportation
Carbon offsets for travel

Virtual Exchange

Grant funding for virtual exchanges may be used for:

Staff time for planning and participating in events
Necessary technology, such as hardware, software, licensing fees, etc.
Event registration fees

Grantees in both categories may spend up to 30% of grant funding on indirect costs.

Project Categories

The Arts

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Exchanges may take place between professional artists and designers, art managers and curators, primarily in the visual and performing arts. Potential activities include:

Artistic collaborations
Performances in conjunction with lectures or workshops
Curatorial research projects
Historic preservation projects
Arts management programs

The Environment

Exchanges may take place between environmental activists, conservationists, researchers, and scientists, especially those focused on presevation, environmental law, species conservation, and sustainable development.

Potential activities include:

Facilitating better international communication and networking
Joint events, conferences, and workshops
Collaborative research projects
Collaborative actions, projects, and programs

Intersection of Arts and the Environment

Projects that focus on the intersection of arts and the environment will receive priority consideration. Potential activities include:

Collaborations in which artists and environmentalists learn and draw inspiration from each other
Activities led by native communities focused on the interconnection of art and the environment through the lens of Indigenous knowledge

Walmart Spark Good Local Grants

The Walmart Foundation supports projects in the communities where they operate through their Spark Good Local Grants. This program allows them to meet the unique needs of each community.

Applications for $250 – $5,000 are accepted and reviewed by store management on a quarterly basis. In 2024, open submission periods are:

Quarter 1: March 1 – April 15
Quarter 2: May 1 – July 15
Quarter 3: August 1 – October 15
Quarter 4: November 1 – December 31

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofits
City, county, or state government entities
K-12 public, nonprofit private, or charter schools
Community or junior colleges
State or private colleges and universities
Churches or religious organizations

Eligible applicants must also:

Operate on the local level
Directly benefit the service area of the store to which they are applying
Be verified through Deed

Space Tool

This tool allows organizations to request space outside their local Walmart for fundraisers and community awareness campaigns. Requests must be submitted at least 21 days prior to the proposed date and cannot be for more than 8 consecutive hours on 3 days.

For-profit businesses are not eligible, but non-501(c)3 nonprofits are.

Call for proposals evaluating the impact of AI on Poverty, Health, Energy and Climate SDGs

The Future of Life Institute has issued a Call for proposals evaluating the impact of AI on Poverty, Health, Energy and Climate on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Projects can examine uses of AI to directly impact SDGs or cases when the impacts occur as side effects. Applications for $15,000 are due by April 1, 2024.

Eligibility

This grant is open to nonprofit organizations from anywhere in the world. Individual researchers must be associated with a nonprofit who can accept the funding on their behalf.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds are unrestricted, with the sole caveat that only 15% may be used for institutional overhead or indirect costs.

Review Criteria

All applications will be reviewed based on:

Researcher’s track record
Quality of the evaluation outline
Likelihood of the research yielding valuable findings
Rigor of the proposed projection method

The Water Research Foundation Unsolicited Research Program

The Water Research Foundation supports innovative research with the potential to significantly propel protection and enhancement of water quality through their Unsolicited Research Program.

Pre-proposals for $25,000–$175,000 are due by March 28, 2024 at 3:00 PM MT. For those invited to submit, full proposals will be due by July 25. A match of at least 33% of awarded funds is required.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Nongovernmental organizations
Academics
Consultants
Utilities

Potential Project Focus

Projects may:

Complement the Research Priority Program
Address issues of regional and national significance
Pilot innovative technologies
Conduct research on drinking water, wastewater, recycled water, and stormwater
Build on existing research to create solutions to water quality issues

Evaluation Criteria

All pre-proposals will reviewed based on:

Technical and scientific merit
Project originality
Technical approach
Significance and value of research
Project schedule
Qualifications of key personnel/Organizational capacity

Lush Charity Pot Grants

Lush awards grants funded through sales of their Charity Pot Hand and Body Lotion to grassroots organizations around the world. They support causes that are often overlooked and underfunded in the areas of Animal Protection, Environmental Justice, and Human Rights.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis for requests up to $15,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Registered and unregistered nonprofit organizations and NGOs
Indigenous groups
Community groups

Applicants must have an annual revenue of $500,000 or less.

Funding Limitations

Grant funds may not be used for:

Air travel
The cost of attending a training, meeting, or other event
Non-vegan or vegetarian food
Scholarships
Event sponsorships
Bail