Category Archives: Environmental

Park Foundation

The Park Foundation is a family-run foundation established in 1966 by Roy H. Park. They are dedicated to creating a more just and sustainable society across the United States and in their hometown of Ithaca, NY.

The Foundation offers grants in 8 priority areas: Democracy, Civic Participation, Media, Environment, Animal Welfare, Sustainable Ithaca, Community Needs, and School Food and Nutrition. Eligibility varies by funding area.

Letters of interest are not required, but are highly recommended. After submitting your LOI, do not submit a full proposal until you hear from a Foundation staff member. LOI’s can be submitted at any time. Proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Upcoming due dates are: September 22, 2023, and January 5, 2024.

Funding Priorities

Democracy

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations across the United States.

Prioritized Activities

Expanding voting access
Advocating for reform at the local, state, and federal levels
Ending partisan gerrymandering
Eliminating dark money in elections
Holding government officials accountable
Overturning Citizen’s United
Supporting a field of diverse, young leaders
Promoting progressive agendas

Civic Participation

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations across the United States.

Prioritized Activities

Working to stop voter suppression
State-based groups educating, motivating, and mobilizing voters
National and state groups protecting voters’ rights and election integrity

Media

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations across the United States.

Prioritized Activities

Public broadcasting
Investigative journalism
Media policy

Environment

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations working on a national level or in New York State.

Clean Water: Prioritized Activities

Investment in publicly owned and operated water utilities
Reduced bottled water consumption
Strong, enforced policies
Empowering people to defend their right to clean water

Energy

Grants under this category are open to state-level organizations in New York for:

Advocacy
Policy development
Organizing
Corporate responsibility

Animal Welfare

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations across the United States working on projects of national significance.

Focus Areas

Indigenous wildlife management
Organizing, educating, and advocating on behalf of endangered species and ecosystems
National and regional efforts to preserve birds, pollinators, whales, and wolves

Sustainable Ithaca

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations in Ithaca and Tompkins County, NY.

Program Priorities

Ecosystem conservation
Energy and climate change
Environmental education
Smart growth

Community Needs

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations in Tompkins County, NY.

Program Priorities

Developing interventions in partnership with low income residents
Identifying barriers to success and implementing programs to overcome them
Tailoring programs using data about subpopulations to ensure needs are being met

School Food and Nutrition

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations in Tompkins County, NY.

Goal

Breaking the self-reinforcing cycle of poverty, hunger, poor health, negative social and academic impacts, and limited future opportunities.

Cornell Douglas Foundation

The Cornell Douglas Foundation was founded in 2006 to provide grants to organizations working to protect the environment. They award grants in five focus areas: Environmental Health and Justice, Land Conservation, Mountaintop Removal Mining, Sustainability of Resources, and Watershed Protection.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for awards averaging $15,000 – $50,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.

Funding Areas

Applicants may request funding for any or a combination of:

General support
Environmental Health and Justice
Land Conservation
Mountaintop Removal Mining
Sustainability of Resources
Watershed Protection

Application Requirements

All applications should include:

A brief letter of introduction
IRS determiniation letter
Most recent 990
A list of other sources of support

Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation Sea2Earth Fund

The Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation was founded in 1986 to build a culturally rich society and environmentally sustainable world through education, advocacy, and direct support. They established the Sea2Earth Fund in 2023 to assist others doing this work.

Awards of up to $25,000 are available for an 18 month period; most grants will be $2,500 – $10,000. Letters of interest are due via email by September 10, 2023. Organizations selected to submit a full proposal will be notified on October 10th and proposals will be due by November 10, 2023.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.

Allowable Expenses

Expense Types

Grant funds may be used for:

Operating support
Capital expenses

Activities

Grant funds may be used for:

Environmental education
Youth development
Habitat restoration
Conservation activities
Community gardens
Activities that connect people of all ages with nature

Submission

Letters of interest should be sent to sea2earthfund@gmail.com.

Climate Smart Humanities Organizations Grant

The Climate Smart Humanities Organizations Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities supports strategic planning by humanities organizations to adapt to climate change and minimize their own impacts on the climate. Activities are divided into Mitigation and Adaptation, but applicants are encouraged to address both areas in their project.

The NEH anticipates awarding 20-30 grants of up to $300,000 each for a period of up to 24 months. Recipients are required to provide a 1:1 match in non-federal, third party funds, which must be raised by March 31, 2025. Applicants have the option to submit a draft by August 9, 2023; final versions are due by September 14, 2023 through Grants.gov.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
State and local governments
Federally recognized Tribal governments
Institutions of higher education

The applicant or one of its subunits must work primarily in the humanities and support research, education, preservation, or public programming.

Two or more organizations may also apply as a consortium.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be spent on:

Salaries for key personnel and others
Consultants
Participant/trainee support costs
Equipment
Equipment or facility rental/user fees
Materials and supplies
Travel
Publication costs
Automated Data Processing (ADP)/Computer services

Grant Activities

Mitigation

Funded mitigation activities may include:

Comprehensive energy audits
Calculating the organization’s carbon footprint
Testing HVAC, natural gas, water, and other systems to improve efficiency
Installing equipment to measure consumption

Adaptation

Funded adaptation activities may include:

Examining location specific risks such as sea level rise or wildfire
Assessing building and grounds’ ability to withstand current and future climate events
Data collection on weather, temperature, etc. to model future conditions
Evaluating the impact of climate change on programs, i.e. location, time of year, etc.

Review Criteria

All applications will be reviewed based on:

Humanities significance and impact
Institutional commitment
Quality of the plan
Work plan and budget
Quality of the project team
Plan assessment, dissemination, and next steps

The J.W. Couch Foundation

Jesse W. Couch was a World War II veteran, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. The Foundation established in his name carries on his legacy by investing in projects in Preservation, Education, and Wellness.

They meet twice a year to review submitted applications. The second due date for 2023 is September 15.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
For profit businesses in the United States working in Preservation, Education, or Wellness

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

General operating support
Specific programming
New product development for social entrepreneurs

Program Areas

Preservation

Eligible applications under Preservation may focus on:

Historic Preservation – conserving historic resources to cultivate the importance of community
Wildlife Conservation – protecting land and water so all life on Earth can thrive
Renewable Energy – expanding solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass and geothermal power to prevent catastrophic global temperatures
Food Management – reducing emissions from all levels of food production: growing, transporting, and waste disposal
Transportation – transforming the transportation industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Waste Management – shifting consumption to reduce single use products and the need to obtain raw materials

Education

Eligible applications under Education may focus on:

Early Childhood Education – creative approaches to education such as life skills, project based learning, and increased outdoor time
21st Century Education – teaching essential skills for modern times, such as critical thinking, collaboration, oral and written communication, and entrepreneurship
Teachers – investing in teachers

Wellness

Eligible applications under Wellness may focus on:

Mental Health – assisting people struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.
Digital Wellbeing – promoting a more balanced approach to technology use
Get Outside – promoting the health benefits of outdoor activities

The Tiffany & Co. Foundation

The Tiffany & Co. Foundation has been helping preserve the world’s land and seascapes since 2000. Each year they give approximately $6 million to organizations working in their Program Areas: Coral Conservation and Responsible Mining.

Letters of Inquiry are accepted and reviewed on a continual basis. If approved, applicants will be asked to submit additional information. No minimum or maximum award amount is listed, but in 2022 grants ranged from $100,000 to $700,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations based in the United States. Funded activities may take place anywhere in the world.

Program Areas

Responsible Mining

Goal 1

Remediate areas where small and/or large-scale mining has occurred.

Strategy – Support projects that unite local communities, governments, and businesses to reclaim and remediate mined lands and watersheds

Goal 2

Protect places of natural and historic importance from the threat of mining.

Strategy – Support scientific research, education, and awareness of responsible natural resource management.

Coral Conservation

Goal

Promote the preservation of coral and healthy marine ecosystems.

Strategy 1 – Support research and management strategies to directly work toward saving reef ecosystems

Strategy 2 – Promote education on the importance of coral and marine ecosystems to target groups such as consumers, ocean lovers, and marine tourism companies

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling, Reprocessing, and Battery Collection

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling, Reprocessing, and Battery Collection is a program through the Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The program is part of the BIL‘s investment in a clean energy economy.

Funding is available through this program to increase participation in consumer battery recycling projects. Awards are available in four topic areas with various funding amounts and matching requirements.

Expanding Consumer Participation in Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling Programs
Improving the Economics of Recycling Consumer Electronics Batteries
State and Local Programs for Consumer Electronics Battery Collection, Recycling and Reprocessing
Retailer Programs for Consumer Electronics Battery Collection

Concept papers are required and due through the EERE Exchange by August 17, 2023 at 5:00 PM ET. Full applications are due by November 29, 2023 at 5:00 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Individuals
State and local governments
Tribal governments
Nonprofit organizations
For profit businesses
Institutions of higher education
Federal research agencies
Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration federally funded research and development centers
Non-Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration federally funded research and development centers

Objectives

https://www.lithiumbatterychina.com/mobile-cell-phone-battery/

The objectives of this program are:

Increase consumer participation in battery recycling programs
Make consumer battery recycling more economical and drive research into new ways to reuse and recycle them
Increase the number of consumer battery recycling programs, including collections site at retailers

Topic Areas

Expanding Consumer Participation in Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling Programs

Recycling spent batteries is an important part of developing domestic sources of materials needed to make new batteries. A lack of awareness of battery recycling programs is a major barrier to reaching the goal of 90% recycling of consumer electronics batteries by 2030.

Projects under this topic area should develop strategies for increasing awareness through education.

DOE anticipates awarding 4-15 grants of $1.3 – 5 million under this topic area. Performance periods will be 24-36 months with no cost share requirement.

Improving the Economics of Recycling Consumer Electronics Batteries

https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/ep/hazardous/battrecycle

Battery recycling is not currently economical due to logistical and safety concerns. Developing cost effective methods would, however, create clean energy jobs and a domestic supply of materials.

Projects under this topic area may focus on improving methods at any step of the recycling process – collecting, transporting, storing, dismantling, and disposal.

DOE anticipates awarding 5-10 grants of $4 – 8 million under this topic area. Performance periods will be 24-36 months with a 20% cost share requirement.

State and Local Programs for Consumer Electronics Battery Collection, Recycling and Reprocessing

There is a lack of programs for collecting, recycling, and reprocessing batteries necessary to create a domestic source of battery materials. Projects under this topic area should support the establishment and sustainability of programs at the state and local level.

DOE anticipates awarding 20-30 grants of $500,000 – 10 million under this topic area. Performance periods will be 36-60 months with a 50% cost share requirement.

Retailer Programs for Consumer Electronics Battery Collection

Retailers can serve a function similar to state and local governments in the collection of spent batteries. Projects under this topic area should create relationships with retailers to collect, transport, sort, or store spent batteries.

DOE anticipates awarding 2-15 grants of $1 – 7.5 million under this topic area. Performance periods will be 36-60 months with a 50% cost share requirement.

The Scherman Foundation

Since 1941, the Scherman Foundation has been involved in philanthropic giving in New York City and across the United States. Currently, they are focusing their efforts on racial justice issues surrounding climate change, democracy, and reproductive health care.

Grants are awarded on a national level in three focus areas: Democracy, Environmental & Climate Justice, and Reproductive Justice. Average award varies by focus area. Letters of Interest are accepted on a continual basis and responses typically take twelve weeks. Approved submissions will receive an invitation and link to the full application.

Focus Areas

Democracy

Awards in this area are generally $75,000 – $150,000 over a two year period for general operating support or specific projects.

To protect the right to vote, build institutions that are more accountable to the public, and address injustice, the Foundation supports organizations working toward:

Protecting, increasing access to, and expanding the right to vote, and ensuring secure and peaceful elections
Advancing institutional reforms
Building community power

Grant funds may not be used for:

Direct service
Annual or capital campaigns
Endowments
Conferences
501(c)4 organizations

Environmental & Climate Justice

Awards in this area average $50,000 over a two year period for general operating support or specific projects.

The Foundation is currently focusing on community-based BIPOC groups who are fighting for climate justice. People of color have born the brunt of negative impacts from pollution, climate change, and other types of environmental degradation and are leading the charge to overcome them. Preference is given to organizations in New York City and State, but applications from all U.S. states are welcome.

Grant funds may not be used for:

Land conservation
Projects outside the United States

Reproductive Justice

Awards in this area average $45,000 over a two year period for general operating support or specific projects.

The Foundation supports organizations addressing the disparities in access to reproductive health care based on race, class, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Potential strategies include:

Policy advocacy
Voter engagement
Public education
Leadership development
Legal advocacy
Litigation

Funds may not be used for:

Projects outside the United States
Direct action
Medical research
Research and publications not directly linked to policy outcomes
Scholarships or grants to individuals
Conferences and travel stipends

Sony Corporate Giving

Sony is dedicated to improving people’s lives by fostering innovation through creativity and technology. Their corporate giving primarily focuses on Art, Culture, Technology, and the Environment, particularly education within those focus areas.

Requests are accepted on a continual basis. No minimum or maximum amount is listed.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the United States.

Sony does not make donations to:

Partisan political committees, organizations, or candidates
Religious activities
Labor unions
Lobbying groups

Allowable Expenses

Donated funds may be spent on:

General operating supporting
Program support

They may not be spent on:

Endowments
Capital campaigns
Testimonial dinners

Pillars of Giving

Arts/Culture
Civics/Community
Disaster relief
Education
Environment
Health/Human services
Social justice/Diversity, equity, & inclusion

U.S. EPA Clean School Bus Program

The Clean School Bus Program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects to award $400 million in grant funds to replace existing school buses with clean and zero emission (ZE) alternatives. Children, bus drivers, and other school personnel are exposed to emissions from standard buses with internal combustion engines, increasing their risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. This program will accelerate the move to cleaner, healthier options.

The grant is being offered through two sub-programs to meet the diverse needs of school districts across the country. The School District Sub-Program is open to school districts and Tribal entities and the Third Party Sub-Program is open to outside parties serving at least four school districts. Maximum award amount varies by the type of buses to be purchased and whether the applicant meets one or more of the prioritization criteria. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by August 22, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

School District Sub-Program

This sub-program is open to:

Public school districts
Tribal entities responsible for providing bus service to one or more school funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Third Party Sub-Program

This sub-program is open to:

Nonprofit school transportation associations
Eligible contractors as defined by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58 (42 U.S.C. 16091)

Disadvantaged communities will be given priority consideration to mitigate environmental justice concerns that have made them more vulnerable to adverse health impacts. These include:

Zero Emission Bus (https://frontiergroup.org/resources/electric-school-buses-and-grid/)

High-need school districts
Low-income areas
Rural school districts
School districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
School districts that receive basic support payments for children who live on Native American reservations

Available Funds

There is no cost share requirement, but applicants who can show that they have or intend to leverage other funds will receive additional evaluation points.

	Zero Emissions Class 7+	Zero Emissions Class 3-6	Compressed Natural Gas Class 7+	Compressed Natural Gas Class 3-6	Propane Class 7+	Propane Class 3-6
Buses serving school districts that meet one or more prioritization criteria	Up to $395,000*	Up to $315,000*	Up to $45,000	Up to $30,000	Up to $35,000	Up to $30,000
Buses serving school districts that are not prioritized	Up to $250,000*	Up to $195,000*	Up to $30,000	Up to $20,000	Up to $25,000	Up to $20,000

* Bus and charging infrastructure

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be spent on:

Replacement school buses
Charging infrastructure
Delivery costs
Performance monitoring software and equipment
Training, consulting, and warranty costs

Compressed Natural Gas Bus (https://www.blue-bird.com/buses/allamerican/all-american-re-cng-bus)

Grant funds may not be spent on:

Leasing vehicles or equipment
Emissions testing
Engine replacement/repowers