Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
Overview
Since its inception in 1994, the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program has awarded more than $24 million in funding to over 1400 community-based organizations, and local and tribal organizations working with communities facing environmental justice issues.
The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program supports and empowers communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues. The program is designed to help communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks. Environmental Justice Small Grants fund projects up to $30,000, depending on the availability of funds in a given year. All projects are associated with at least one qualified environmental statute.
See a sample of successful showcase projects from 2011 to 2013.
Requests for Applications
The Fiscal Year 2017 EJ Small Grants solicitation is now open!
Fiscal Year 2017 EJ Small Grants Request for Proposals (Amended)
Spanish Translation
Under this RFP, EPA will award grants that support activities designed to empower and educate affected communities to understand environmental and public health issues and to identify ways to address these issues at the local level. Approximately 40 one-year projects will be awarded at $30,000 each.
Applications are due on January 31, 2017 by 11:59 PM (ET). EPA requires applications for Environmental Justice grants to be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov website. Hardcopy mailed or delivered applications are only accepted if the applicant has a waiver on file.
For more information, see: Grants.gov. View the opportunity directly on Grants.gov:
www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=289829
In an effort to increase outreach to affected communities in more States and US Territories, this year’s opportunity will place special emphasis on proposals in two areas:
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Underrepresented States - defined as States and US Territories where three or fewer EPA EJ grants have been awarded over the last five years. A list of all Underrepresented States is included in the RFP.
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New Potential Grantees – defined as projects proposed by eligible organizations that have not received an EPA EJ grant award over the last five years.
The goal of this emphasis is to encourage and increase project performance in even more states and communities. Local environmental and public health issues can be found in every state and territory, and this reality should be reflected in the projects that are awarded.
Requests for Applications
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common questions about this opportunity. This page will be updated throughout the open solicitation period with additional questions and answers.
Pre-Application Assistance Calls
Applicants are invited to participate in conference calls with EPA to address questions about the EJSG Program and this solicitation. Interested persons may access the pre-application assistance calls by dialing 1-866-299-3188 and entering the code 202-564-0152 when prompted. The following are the conference call dates and times.
|
Date |
Time (Eastern Standard) |
|---|---|
|
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 |
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
|
Thursday, December 8, 2016 |
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday, January 5, 2017 (en Español) |
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday, January 12, 2017 |
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
|
Tuesday, January 24, 2017 |
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
In accordance with EPA's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy (EPA Order 5700.5A1), EPA staff will not meet with individual applicants to discuss draft applications, provide informal comments on draft applications, or provide advice to applicants on how to respond to ranking criteria.
Applicants are responsible for the contents of their applications. However, consistent with the provisions in the announcement, EPA will respond to questions from individual applicants regarding threshold eligibility criteria, administrative issues related to the submission of the proposal, and requests for clarification about the announcement.
View a list of the 2015 award recipients with project descriptions.
Resources
Emerging Tools for Local Problem Solving
Description of programs and funded under the Small Grants Program from 1994 to 2005.
Small Grants Program Tutorial (2016)
Overview of eligibility, types of projects, application criteria, tips and advice.
Factsheet on Environmental Justice Small Grants Program (2016)
Program overview, eligibility, and example project.
Environmental Justice Program Funded Projects
View 2014 and 2015 Projects.