Tier 1: $150,000 per grant for assessment activities. Grants of $75,000 will be available on a noncompetitive basis for capacity-constraint CBOs for Tier 1.
Tier 2: $250,000 per grant for planning activities.
Tier 3: $350,000 per grant for project development activities.
EPA selected 11 Grantmakers who will serve as pass-through entities to provide subgrants to CBOs and other eligible subrecipients. The structure of this program will help reduce the burdens that managing federal grants has on CBOs. The Grantmakers are responsible for designing a competitive application process, awarding the subgrants, implementing a tracking and reporting system, and providing resources and support to their subgrantees. Regional Grantmakers will issue subgrants to communities in their specific EPA Regions while the National Grantmakers will be responsible for supporting and overseeing the Regional Grantmakers and awarding additional subgrants that fill in potential gaps in the regions.
The Grantmaker selected for EPA Region 9 is Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE), Inc with Liberty Hill Foundation and the Resource Legacy Fund as partners. SEE has proposed to develop a flexible application process through the use of online forms, phone, and video, conduct extensive in-person outreach in rural and remote communities, and prioritize grants that reach communities that are socially vulnerable, overburdened with pollution, or experience high levels of environmental and health risks. With the help of its partners, SEE also plans to develop a participatory governance structure by creating a Region 9 Community Advisory Panel that will inform the outreach and grantmaking process.
CBOs will be able to apply for subgrants starting in Fall 2024. Each Grantmaker will have access to about $16.5 million each year for three years to issue subgrants. Subgrants will generally be divided into three tiers. Tier I will consist of grants for $150,000 for assessment purposes, Tier II grants of $250,000 for planning, and Tier III grants of $350,000 for project development. Grants of $75,000 will be available on a noncompetitive basis for capacity-constraint CBOs only for Tier I projects. It is important to note that all projects are limited to three years and, with some limited exceptions, should be completed by February 2027.
The Grantmakers Program is intended to work in conjunction with the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs) and both are part of the Thriving Communities Network. As discussed below, the TCTACs will provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities and the Grantmakers Program is intended to provide direct funds to assist with the initial development and implementation of projects.
For Region 9, grantmakers have still not announced when they will start accepting applications.
Information last updated: November 25, 2024
FY 2024 Applications for Grantmakers Open:
FY 2024 Applications for Grantmakers Due:
FY 2024 Grantmakers Awardees Announcement:
FY 2024 Applications for Subgrants Open: Fall 2024 (TBD)