Washington Environment Grants

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers the Community Forests Program to help communities preserve working forest heritage while balancing economic, environmental, and recreational benefits. The program supports land acquisition and complementary restoration and recreation development to keep working forests intact. Typical projects acquire forestland and may include restoration of forest and habitat health and development of recreation facilities such as trails, trailheads, parking, restrooms, campgrounds, picnic and day use areas, challenge courses, and interpretive displays. Restoration activities may include removal of fish barriers and actions that restore forest health. Approximately 3,000,000 dollars is available for awards. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, and towns, Native American tribes, nonprofit nature conservancy organizations, special purpose districts and other political subdivisions, and state agencies in partnership with one or more of these groups. All projects must include acquisition; restoration and development cannot be stand alone activities. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the state process. Grant size and duration beyond the available pool are not specified. Further information is provided by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

The City of Kirkland’s Tourism Program is offering the 2025 Event Grant Funding Program, aiming to attract visitors from 50 miles or more to Kirkland. This initiative is designed to bolster Kirkland's tourism environment and sustain the Tourism Program budget through revenues generated from overnight stays. Funds will be allocated for the marketing and operations of special events and festivals specifically crafted to draw tourists to the city, with distribution occurring on a reimbursement basis. The Kirkland Tourism Development Committee (TDC) has earmarked at least $60,000 for 2025, continuing a program that has awarded over $700,000 to tourism events and programs in the past. While new events are looked upon supportively, events with a proven track record of attracting visitors to Kirkland will also receive serious consideration. This strategy ensures both innovation and proven success are factored into the funding decisions. The target beneficiaries are organizations planning special events and festivals in Kirkland that can attract tourists. The impact goal is to increase the number of visitors traveling for business or pleasure who stay overnight in Kirkland, thereby enhancing the local tourism economy. The program prioritizes events that demonstrate a clear potential to draw visitors from outside a 50-mile radius. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in tourism-related activities and revenue in Kirkland. Applicants are required to provide estimates of how the received funds will lead to an increase in the number of visitors. Post-award, organizations are legislatively mandated to report on their success in attracting these visitors. All funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis, contingent upon the submission of a Tourism Funding Expenditure Report Worksheet and a Tourism Funding Reimbursement Form, ensuring accountability and measurable results for the program.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking grant proposals from applicants interested in conducting projects that will benefit some of Washington’s most imperiled wildlife. The Wildlife Diversity Grant Program aims to support recovery actions for a suite of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) that are state-listed or candidates for listing. Grant funding can also be awarded for projects aimed at collecting data and information on species abundance, distribution, and habitat associations with priority for those whose habitats are under significant threat of incompatible development, land use, or resource management. Funding for the Wildlife Diversity Grant program comes from a significant investment by the state legislature to restore and protect biodiversity in Washington, and the Department expects this funding to be available in future biennia to continue this grant program. Priority Activities for Funding Priority activities include: Implementing recovery and conservation actions for eligible Washington endangered, threatened, sensitive, and candidate species that directly and measurably benefit species populations. These projects contribute to increased species abundance, distribution, population health, or clear abatement of direct threats. Collecting data and information on the abundance, distribution, habitat associations, or natural history of eligible state endangered, threatened, sensitive, and candidate species, with additional priority given toward species whose habitat is under significant pressure from development, land use, or resource management (i.e., shrubsteppe, eastside forest, prairies, and oak woodlands). Completing direct actionable steps toward achieving increased populations of eligible species (e.g., conservation translocation feasibility studies) or baseline data collection (e.g., developing survey protocols or assessing habitat use) for eligible species. Ineligible activities include habitat restoration, conservation easements, land acquisition, outreach and education, and projects that primarily target benefits for species outside the WDFW Wildlife Diversity Division’s scope of responsibility, including fish, aquatic invertebrates, wolves, and harvested wildlife. Review the grant opportunity announcement for more details on priority, eligible, and ineligible activities for inclusion in grant proposals, including a list of eligible species. How to apply Grant applicants must email their complete proposal to [email protected] no later than 11:59 pm on May 5, 2024. Please refer to the grant announcement for instructions on the required application components and their formats. Agency contact info Questions and communications concerning this grant opportunity may be directed to: Jenna Judge Wildlife Diversity Assistant Division Manager Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife [email protected]

This funding opportunity is designed for organizations specializing in invasive species management to develop and implement biosecurity strategies at Wake Island Airfield and surrounding military properties in the Pacific region.

MICC-FSH announces a potential partnering opportunity for the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program. The successful applicant(s) will, after coordinating with JBLM encroachment planners and natural resource managers:(a) Negotiate the purchase of easements or fee simple property (perpetual real property interests) from willing landowners to allow for natural resource management, or prevent incompatible development that could adversely impact JBLM and/or,(b) Conduct, assist in, or facilitate natural resource management that will result in off-post conservation credits for species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that occur on JBLM. Additional species may be listed under the ESA during the period of performance of any agreement awarded under this announcement. Inclusion of any such species will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, and with the mutual agreement of JBLM and award recipient.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to tribal governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions for solar energy projects that enhance energy independence and benefit low-to-moderate income communities.

This program provides funding to city and town governments, as well as park districts in King County, to develop and improve recreational facilities and open spaces for the community.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations in the Pacific Northwest working to address environmental justice and public health challenges in historically underinvested communities.

The Innovia Foundation's LaunchNW Rural Grant Program aims to "galvanize entire communities to ensure that every child finds belonging and travels their best journey from birth to career attainment." This initiative, initially implemented in Spokane County, is now expanding to rural communities in ten eastern Washington counties served by the Innovia Foundation. The program's core mission aligns with the foundation's broader goal of addressing changing community needs and generating sustainable, measurable change. By focusing on rural areas, LaunchNW extends the foundation's impact to underserved populations, fostering community-based solutions to support children's development from an early age through their careers. The target beneficiaries of the LaunchNW Rural Grant Program are the children and communities within the selected rural counties of eastern Washington. The program seeks to achieve significant impact by partnering with local leaders and various community sectors to provide funding and technical support. The primary goal is to empower these communities to create environments where every child can thrive, leading to improved educational outcomes, enhanced well-being, and ultimately, successful career attainment. This initiative reflects the foundation's theory of change, which posits that by investing in community-led efforts and fostering strong local partnerships, lasting positive change can be achieved at a systemic level. The program prioritizes communities that can establish a "community-based LaunchNW Coordinator" to facilitate local efforts. Grants of $30,000 are specifically allocated to partially support these coordinators for two years, highlighting the program's focus on building local capacity and leadership. The emphasis is on sustainable, measurable change, suggesting a commitment to long-term impact rather than short-term interventions. Innovia Foundation's strategic priorities include supporting public charities, federally recognized tribes, and public entities, ensuring that funding reaches legitimate organizations with clear charitable purposes. This approach underscores the foundation's commitment to responsible and impactful philanthropy. Expected outcomes include galvanized communities, enhanced belonging for children, and improved journeys from birth to career attainment. The program anticipates measurable results through the sustained efforts of community-based coordinators and the collaborative work of local leaders and various sectors. By providing two years of support for coordinators, the foundation aims to establish a strong foundation for long-term success and self-sufficiency within the participating communities. The program's design, which encourages applications from diverse eligible entities and allows for multiple grant applications, demonstrates Innovia Foundation's flexible and inclusive approach to community development.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government agencies in Mansfield for innovative projects that improve community services in areas like arts, education, health, and the environment.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, Native American Tribes, and government agencies in Whatcom County for projects that support youth experiencing homelessness and engage young people in environmental initiatives.

The Art Project Grants for Organizations program, administered by the Iowa Arts Council within the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), offers financial incentives to various nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, schools, governmental agencies, and tribal councils. The program's mission aligns with supporting a wide variety of arts-related activities across Iowa, fostering artistic excellence and ensuring service to Iowans. This initiative is a cornerstone of the Iowa Arts Council's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, prioritizing projects that advance its goals and contribute to the cultural enrichment of the state. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are organizations and institutions located in Iowa or border communities that can demonstrate a commitment to arts experiences and learning opportunities. The program targets projects that create public value for Iowans through deliberate public engagement and access to project activities. Impact goals include promoting artistic excellence, increasing access to arts, and fostering community engagement through various art forms. Eligible projects range from community events, performances, and exhibitions to festivals or workshops dedicated to arts-related activities, ensuring a broad reach across different artistic disciplines and community settings. Priority is given to projects that not only demonstrate artistic excellence but also align with the strategic goals outlined in the Iowa Arts Council's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. The program focuses on supporting one-time project expenses incurred and expended during the eligible funding period of July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. This ensures that the funding directly supports new or significantly unique arts initiatives. Furthermore, for annual events or public art projects, applicants must demonstrate uniqueness, change in content from year to year, or broad-based community engagement and programming, respectively, highlighting a focus on dynamic and impactful programming. Expected outcomes include enhanced cultural experiences for Iowans, increased participation in arts activities, and the creation of accessible arts learning opportunities. Measurable results could include the number of individuals reached by projects, the diversity of communities served, the artistic quality of the initiatives, and the alignment of projects with the Iowa Arts Council's strategic plan objectives. The grant amounts, ranging from a minimum request of $2,500 to a maximum of $10,000, are intended to support these project-specific expenses, contributing to the successful implementation and impact of diverse arts programming throughout the state.

We offer post-cleanup grants to local governments who independently clean up contamination under the Voluntary Cleanup Program. The purpose of Independent Remedial Action Grants (IRAGs) is to encourage and expedite cleanups and decrease the associated costs of cleanup for ratepayers and taxpayers. IRAGs are grants offered to local governments that independently clean up contamination under the Washington State Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) Voluntary Cleanup Program. These grants encourage and expedite cleanups, and decrease the associated costs of cleanup for ratepayers and taxpayers. Local governments are welcome to apply for this funding if they have 1) completed an independent cleanup through the Voluntary Cleanup Program, and 2) have received a determination of No Further Action from Ecology. IRAGs are just one of several “remedial action” grants and loans provided to local governments by Ecology. The grants and loans are used to investigate and clean up contaminated sites under Washington state’s environmental cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).

This funding opportunity provides financial support to states and U.S. territories with high seismic risk to improve earthquake safety through mitigation, preparedness, and educational initiatives.

LIHEAP provides energy assistance to households in Washington through a network of community action agencies and local partners. These local organizations will help determine your eligibility and how much assistance you might receive. If you qualify, your local LIHEAP agency will send a payment directly to your energy utility on behalf of your household. LIHEAP primarily assists households by making an energy assistance grant directly to the energy provider on behalf of the eligible household. LIHEAP may also help repair or replace an unsafe, dysfunctional, and inoperative heating or cooling system in some situations. Households eligible for LIHEAP may also qualify to have their homes made more energy efficient through the Weatherization Program. The amount of money awarded to your household will depend on multiple factors. For example, each household’s size, income and annual heat cost will affect the amount of their LIHEAP grant. You’ll have to schedule a LIHEAP appointment with the provider in your community to find out how much you could receive.

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers additional Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program categories to conserve natural areas, critical habitat, riparian corridors, and urban wildlife habitat, and to restore and enhance state lands. The program aims to secure habitat before it is lost and to support restoration where needed. Funding parameters vary by category. Riparian Protection requires a minimum request of 25,000 dollars with no cap. State Lands Restoration and Enhancement requires a minimum of 25,000 dollars and allows up to 1,000,000 dollars for a single site and 500,000 dollars for multi site projects. Urban Wildlife Habitat, Critical Habitat, and Natural Areas follow category rules as published. Eligible work includes land acquisition through perpetual or long term interests and associated incidental costs, development of low impact facilities such as paths, viewing shelters, restrooms, and interpretive elements, and restoration activities such as ecological restoration, shoreline work, fish passage improvements, and native plantings. Some categories allow habitat creation and site stewardship planning. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, towns, federally recognized tribes, nonprofit nature conservancies, special purpose and port districts, and state agencies, as defined per category. Projects are expected to deliver durable conservation outcomes and public benefit consistent with category requirements. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the state’s process. Grant duration is not stated. Official information is available from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

This grant provides funding for full-time graduate students in the Western U.S. to collaborate with their academic advisors and local producers on projects that promote sustainable agriculture through research and education.

This grant provides funding to various organizations in Washington State to create outdoor education and recreation opportunities for underserved and historically excluded youth.

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program provides funding for a broad range of land conservation efforts, from conserving natural areas near big cities to protecting the most pristine and unique collections of plants in the state, including some of last remaining plant species in the world. The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program was envisioned as a way for the state to accomplish two goals: acquire valuable recreation and habitat lands before they were lost to other uses and develop recreation areas for a growing population. This landmark legislation passed in 1990 and the grant program's continued funding have come about through the support of governors, the Legislature, and groups such as the many organizations comprising the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments and organizations in Whatcom County, Washington, to develop comprehensive plans for flood mitigation and enhance community resilience against future flooding events.