Washington Environment Grants

This grant provides funding for Fife residents to undertake community improvement projects that benefit their neighborhoods, such as cleanups, community gardens, and local events.

This funding opportunity supports community development projects that improve the lives of residents in designated tribal regions of northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington.

This program provides financial assistance to recognized homeowners associations and informal neighborhood groups in Lacey for community projects that enhance safety, beautification, and civic engagement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments, nonprofits, and tribes in Washington State for the development or preservation of affordable multifamily rental housing.

This funding opportunity supports community organizations, tribal groups, local governments, and ports in reducing air pollution through projects like replacing diesel vehicles and installing electric vehicle charging stations in overburdened areas of King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that support under-resourced individuals, families, and small businesses in communities served by Umpqua Bank, focusing on building healthier, more resilient, and inclusive environments.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Washington, Oregon, and California that focus on improving community well-being through initiatives in human services, environmental conservation, and animal welfare.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and local water authorities, Indian tribes, and other eligible entities for small-scale water storage projects that improve water management and resilience in the Western United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.

This funding opportunity supports researchers and students conducting mycological studies on mushroom-forming fungi in the Pacific Northwest, covering expenses like lab work, equipment, and conference participation.

This grant provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations that enhance community services and improve the quality of life for residents in the Camas-Washougal area.

This grant provides funding to states, territories, and Tribes to monitor beach water quality and inform the public about safety during recreational activities in coastal waters.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to states, Tribes, local governments, and qualifying organizations in EPA Region 10 to develop and improve wetland programs aimed at conserving and restoring wetlands.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Washington State and local governments, Tribes, nonprofits, and educational institutions for projects focused on protecting and restoring the Puget Sound ecosystem in areas such as habitat, shellfish, and stormwater management.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations focused on environmental protection and teen pregnancy prevention initiatives in the Pacific Northwest.

This grant provides federal funding to local agencies, tribes, and nonprofits in Washington to rehabilitate and maintain recreational trails for various outdoor activities, ensuring a sustainable backcountry experience.

This grant provides funding to qualified firms for creating guidance documents and resources that assist cities and counties in developing effective transit-oriented projects to promote housing growth and community resilience in Washington.

The Ellensburg Community Grant Program offers a water quality-focused grant to support community-based projects aimed at improving or protecting surface water quality. Funded by the Stormwater Utility, this grant aligns with the broader mission of fostering a healthy environment where water quality sustains diverse organisms and safeguards public health. The program provides funding for community groups to engage in outreach, education, assessments, planning, implementation, prevention, and control initiatives specifically targeting the city's surface water. The grant targets eligible volunteer groups, including youth, seniors, non-profit organizations, and educational organizations. While business and governmental partners are encouraged to participate, they cannot be the primary applicants. The overarching impact goal is to improve stormwater quality within Ellensburg city limits. Projects are expected to demonstrate tangible improvements in surface water quality, educate a significant and diverse portion of Ellensburg's population about water quality and protective actions, and promote best practices to reduce or eliminate adverse impacts on water quality. The program prioritizes projects that demonstrably improve surface water quality, educate residents on water quality and actions to protect it, and teach best practices to minimize water quality impacts. Examples of eligible projects include public outreach and education, yard care initiatives, and litter pickup, all aimed at benefiting stormwater quality within the city. Projects must be situated within city limits, and if on publicly owned property, an agreement addressing various terms, including the use of minors as volunteers and hold harmless clauses, will be required. A total of $10,000 is available for this grant cycle. Expected outcomes include a more informed community regarding water quality issues, a reduction in pollutants impacting surface waters, and a greater adoption of environmentally sound practices. The program’s theory of change is that by empowering and funding community groups to engage in direct action and education, Ellensburg can achieve measurable improvements in its surface water quality, thereby enhancing ecological health and public well-being. Grant funds explicitly prohibit projects that involve or promote the use of alcohol.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for the University of Washington to conduct research on cetacean populations and their interactions with oceanographic conditions in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, through passive acoustic monitoring.

The City of Burien offers the Burien Neighborhood Grants Program to support resident initiated projects that improve quality of life, build community, and create lasting public benefits. The program encourages participation from youth groups, neighborhood associations, and informal groups of neighbors. The city may provide up to 5,000 dollars per project, to be matched by volunteer labor, donated materials, professional services, or additional funds. Eligible projects include tree planting and maintenance, minor park or trailhead improvements, environmental or sustainability projects, public amenities such as benches or markers, and community based events that foster neighbor connections. Projects must be designed for low maintenance and provide broad public access and benefit. Projects must be located within Burien city limits and involve at least two residents from separate households. Applicants must demonstrate neighborhood support, obtain approvals from adjacent property owners as needed, involve residents in all phases, and meet project completion timelines and permitting requirements. Projects must be on publicly accessed property and be free and open to the public. Applications are due May 1, 2024. Grant duration is not stated. Additional information is available from the City of Burien.

The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Capacity grant program, administered by the Washington State Department of Health, aims to empower community-led decision-making for environmental justice (EJ) and climate resilience. This initiative is directly aligned with the state's broader mission to combat climate change and its disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities. The program is a direct outcome of the Legislature's mandate to the Department of Health, based on recommendations from the Environmental Justice Council (EJC) Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding. By focusing on capacity building, the grant seeks to strengthen the ability of communities to engage meaningfully in environmental health decisions, reflecting a strategic priority to foster equitable participation and ownership in addressing environmental challenges. The target beneficiaries of the HEAL Capacity grant program are communities most impacted by environmental hazards. This includes, but is not limited to, Native Nations, Black communities, rural communities, youth, low-income individuals, unhoused populations, disabled individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities. The program's impact goals are to equip these communities with the necessary resources to collaborate effectively with state agencies on environmental health decisions, ultimately advancing environmental justice and building climate resilience. This directly supports a theory of change that by empowering those most affected, more equitable and effective environmental and climate solutions can be developed and implemented. The program offers two distinct funding opportunities: Pass-through funding and Project funding. Pass-through funding invites community-based organizations to sub-grant funds to other community-based organizations working with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations across Washington State. This prioritizes equitable community engagement and participation in HEAL activities. Project funding allows organizations to apply for funds to build organizational and community capacity to provide guidance and input to the Environmental Justice Council on HEAL Act implementation, the Department of Health on environmental health disparities map updates, and state agencies on various HEAL Act implementations, including environmental justice assessments and Tribal engagement. These focuses underscore the program's commitment to both direct community support and systemic influence. Expected outcomes and measurable results include enhanced community-led decision-making, increased capacity of community-based organizations to engage in HEAL activities, and improved collaboration between communities and state agencies on environmental health decisions. The program, supported by Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, also aims to reduce climate pollution, create jobs, and improve public health, reflecting the broader goals of the CCA. With a total funding amount of $11.6 million and estimated awards ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000, the program seeks to make a significant, measurable impact on environmental justice and climate resilience across Washington State.