The EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program aims to make it easier for small, community-based organizations—particularly those with low capacity or resources—and other eligible subrecipients to access federal environmental justice funding for projects that identify, document, address, and respond to conditions related to environmental and/or climate injustice.

Interested applicants should apply through the program for their geographic region, listed below. Specific details and application timelines vary by program, so reach out to the program for your region directly if you have questions.

Even if your program is not yet open, websites for each program have information that will help you begin preparing your application.

Jump to eligible applicants, activities, and information on grant types.

Application Websites, by Region

Region 1

Includes CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT

Timeline: Applications are now open. First application cycle closes February 14, 2025.
Application website: Environmental Justice New England

Region 2

Includes NJ, NY, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, 8 federally recognized Indian Nations

Timeline: Applications are now open and accepted on a rolling basis.
Application website: Flourishing in Community

Region 3

Includes DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV, 7 federally recognized tribes

Timeline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Applications for two-year grants close on December 30, 2024.
Application website: Green & Healthy Homes Initiative Thriving Communities

Region 4

Includes AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, and TN

Timeline: Applications are open and accepted on a rolling basis. Applications submitted by January 31, 2025 will be considered in the first review batch.
Application website: Thriving Environments

Region 5

Includes IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI

Timeline: Applications are now open and accepted on a rolling basis. Applications submitted by January 31, 2025 will be considered in the first review batch.
Application website: Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities

Region 6

Includes AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX

Timeline: Applications are open and accepted on a rolling basis. First application cycle closes January 31, 2025.
Application website: Bullard Center for Environmental & Climate Justice

Region 7

Includes IA, KS, MO, and NE

Timeline: Applications are open and accepted on a rolling basis. Applications submitted by January 31, 2025 will be considered in the first review batch.
Application website: Cultivating Healthy Environments

Region 8

Includes CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY

Timeline: Applications are not currently open. Check back soon for the next application cycle to be announced.
Application website: Mountains and Plains Environmental Justice Grants Hub

Region 9

Includes AZ, CA, HI, NV, Pacific Islands, and 148 Tribal Nations

Timeline: Applications will open in January 2025.
Application website: Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs

Region 10

Includes AK, ID, OR, WA and 271 native tribes

Timeline: The next cycle of applications will open on January 1, 2025 and be accepted through February 28, 2025.
Application website: Philanthropy Northwest

 

Details on Available Grants and Eligibility

Your organization can apply for any of the following grant categories:

• Phase I = Assessment projects for up to $150,000 for a one-year project period
• Phase II = Planning projects for up to $250,000 for a 1-2 year project period
• Phase III = Project Development projects for up to $350,000 for a two-year project period
• Non-competitive: A limited number of $75,000 non-competitive fixed-amount subawards will be available for severely capacity-constrained community-based organizations.

Eligible Subrecipients

• Nonprofit organizations
• Community-based and grassroots nonprofit organizations
• Philanthropic and civic organizations with nonprofit status
• Tribal governments (both federally recognized and state-recognized) and intertribal consortia (i.e., a partnership between two or more tribes that work together to achieve a common objective)
• Native American organizations (includes Indian groups, cooperatives, nonprofit corporations, partnerships and associations that have the authority to enter into legally binding agreements)
• Local governments: counties, boroughs, municipalities, cities
• Institutions of higher education     

Eligible Activities      

• Air quality and asthma
• Fence line air quality monitoring
• Monitoring of effluent discharges from industrial facilities
• Water quality and sampling
• Small cleanup projects
• Improving food access to reduce vehicle miles traveled
• Stormwater issues and green infrastructure
• Lead and asbestos contamination
• Pesticides and other toxic substances
• Healthy homes that are energy/water use efficient and not subject to indoor air pollution
• Illegal dumping activities, such as education, outreach and small-scale clean-ups
• Emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency
• Environmental job training for occupations that reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants
• Environmental justice training for youth