2024 Tribal Facility and Residential Project Grant Program

Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Tribal Facility and Residential Project Grant Program.

Donor Name: Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF)

State: All States

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: All Time

Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000

Grant Duration: 1 Year

Details:

The TSAF supports tribes in asserting control over their energy resources and focuses on making project implementation feasible by leveraging state and federal programs, philanthropic dollars, and partnerships with other tribes across Indian County while working in alignment to identify, develop, finance and implement solar power projects that meet community needs, including education, hands-on training, and energy cost reductions for tribal members.

TSAF Funding Areas

• Tribal Facility Solar Project Funding can include rooftop, carport or ground-mount solar installations that meet the energy needs of the tribal community.
  • Tribal Facility Solar Projects Priority:
    • The TSAF will provide necessary funding to tribes for solar installations on tribal facilities that have the potential to generate significant cost-savings to the tribe, and/or catalyze other business development outcomes.
  • Tribal Facility Solar Projects Objectives:
    • To enhance and strengthen tribal energy development and infrastructure
    • To support solar projects that benefit tribal community members, tribal staff/administration, and/or tribal programs
    • To serve tribal facilities with high energy needs and costs.
• Tribal residential solar project funding is designated for solar energy installed on a low-income single-family home or small multi-family complex to significantly reduce the financial burden spent on electricity costs.
  • Tribal Residential Solar Projects Priority:
    • The TSAF will provide funding to tribes for solar installations on tribal homes to generate significant cost-savings to tribal residents.
  • Tribal Residential Solar Projects Objectives:
    • To bring solar energy to low-income single-family homes or small multi-family complexes on tribal land
    • To reduce and stabilize energy costs for low-income tribal members
    • To serve tribal members with high energy needs and costs.

TSAF Funding Priorities

• The TSAF supports and encourages solar education, training, and workforce development in tribal communities through leadership programs and industry related opportunities
• Provide access to funding to support the development of renewable energy projects and the development of long-term energy plans to increase tribal energy security and resiliency
• Ensure that equity is a driving principle in the national transition to a clean energy economy through learning from the TSAF community and generating awareness in the climate action arena.

Funding Information

Tribes are eligible to apply for up to $200,000 total, which can include one or both of the funding areas, for example: $125,000 facility + $75,000 residential.

Project Period

June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025.

Eligibility Criteria 

The TSAF is committed to serving, supporting, and strengthening American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribal communities by investing in renewable energy development and sustainability.

The TSAF eligibility criteria is as follows:

• Federally recognized tribal governments in the lower 48 states and Alaska (tribal government programs, such as tribal housing authority, cultural departments, economic development entities, etc.)
• Tribally-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (fiscally-sponsored tribal community organizations, tribal community organizations without a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status may submit an application through a sponsoring organization if the sponsor has IRS 501(c)(3) status and can provide written authorization confirming its willingness to act as the fiscal sponsor.
• Schools that are tribally-controlled 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and schools that are tribally-operated such as tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), any public or Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools.
• The definition of “tribal-led” is: an organization in which a majority (>51%) of the board of directors and leadership team are American Indian or Alaska Native. Organizations that are not tribal-led are not eligible to apply (with or without a fiscal sponsor).
• For tribal facility projects, the community served must be designated low-to-moderate income (LMI) as demonstrated by eligibility for federal, state, or tribal low-income programs, or with Census data.
• For tribal household or multi-family projects, the resident households must be 80% or below the area median income as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or another LMI-serving program.

For more information, visit TSAF.