Upcoming environmental justice grant funding opportunity: $3 million for two year projects
The Environmental Justice Grant Program is excited to preview its next grant funding cycle. The Request for Application (RFA) will open at the end of August 2024. This grant cycle will offer two years of funding totaling $3 million, significantly more than previous cycles.
The application window will be open from the end of August until November 25. The program will fund up to ten projects, including projects from both federally recognized Tribal Governments in Colorado. Start thinking about your proposals to take advantage of this substantial funding opportunity for impactful environmental justice initiatives.
Stay tuned for more details, and prepare to apply when the RFA opens next month!
The Colorado Environmental Justice Grant Program: Community Solutions to Improve Environmental Health
The Environmental Justice Grant Program funds projects to ensure every community has a healthy environment in which to live, learn, work, and play.
These projects help measure, prevent, or reduce pollution in disproportionately impacted communities. Disproportionately impacted communities include low-income communities, communities of color, communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change, and some other categories. Funds also can help pay for technical assistance to help community organizations most effectively participate in rulemaking hearings. You can use the Colorado EnviroScreen to check if your community is eligible for the grants.
The Environmental Justice Act created this grant opportunity to help communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change. The Environmental Justice Advisory Board oversees the program and will also serve as the grant selection committee.
The department launched its second round of funding for the Environmental Justice Grant Program in September 2023. The program received 21 grant applications, two of which were non-competitive Tribal set-asides for the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes. The Advisory Board selected six additional projects to fund, totaling $1.1 million.
Current Grantees: Colorado Environmental Justice Grants Program
The Environmental Justice Advisory Board selected the following projects to receive funding under the second year of the Colorado Environmental Justice Grants Program:
Southern Ute Indian Tribe - $50,000
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe - $50,000
Green House Connection Center for $143,100
Adams County Public Health Department for $147,890
Jefferson County Public Health Department for $149,243
The City of Fort Collins for $168,874
350 Colorado for $173,700
Urban Symbiosis for $217,193
Read more about these projects on the Project Summaries webpage.
You can access the Request for Application (RFA) materials from cycle two (2023-2024) here. If you would like to listen to the previously recorded informational webinars from cycle one (2023-2024) you can access those recordings here. All questions asked during the webinars and submitted by email during cycle one (2023-2024) were posted to our public Q&A/FAQ document.
All questions asked during the webinars and submitted by email during cycle one (2022-2023) were posted to our public Q&A/FAQ document.
Other potential funding opportunities
- CDPHE Funding Opportunities Page
- Health Disparities and Community Grant Program
- Recycling Grants and Support
- CDPHE Supplemental Environmental Projects
- EPA Environmental Justice Grants
- Outdoor Equity Grant Program
- Colorado Nonprofit Association
- EPA Community Change Grants - $2 billion in funding - NOW OPEN
- EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
- Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth
- John Snow Institute (JSI) - Thriving Communities Grantmaker for EPA Region 8
Technical assistance organizations
Many organizations offer free resources to help communities with environmental justice concerns. For example, they may provide technical assistance on grant applications.
- Anthropocene Alliance
- Environmental Protection Network
- Justice40 Accelerator & Featured Funding Opportunities
- Thriving Earth Exchange
- EPA Thriving Community Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs)
To learn more about the Environmental Justice Program at CDPHE, visit our webpage.