The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM): Region 7 is now accepting applications.
Donor Name: Cultivating Healthy Environments – Region 7
State: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
County: All Counties
Territory: Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/30/2027
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Under its cooperative agreement with EPA, Cultivating Healthy Environments is a grantmaking program centering diverse community perspectives and expertise, engaging community representatives who are directly affected by environmental inequities and historically excluded from environmental policymaking and regulatory processes.
Underserved and disadvantaged communities have long faced disproportionate environmental hazards and health risks. These challenges are often compounded by social inequities such as poor housing, job insecurity, limited access to clean water, healthy food, and reliable transportation. In addition to environmental risks, these communities are burdened by social issues like crowded homes, noise pollution, and underperforming schools, which lead to greater health disparities. The result is a cumulative, disproportionate impact that hinders their ability to achieve optimal environmental health and justice.
Cultivating Healthy Environments recognizes that navigating the federal grants process can be particularly difficult for small, resource-constrained community-based organizations (CBOs) that provide vital support to underserved populations. Moreover, capacity-constrained organizations in one geographic area might have different capacity levels and acute issues impacting them than capacity-constrained organizations in another geographic area. The complexity of the federal registration and application process, combined with usually long delays in funding distribution—sometimes six months or more—can put federal funding out of reach for many organizations.
Public Health and Environmental Issues
TCGM National-Central funding opportunities can help community-based organizations evaluate, plan, and address a wide range of environmental and public health issues.
- Air & Water Quality
- Air quality & asthma
- Fenceline air monitoring
- Water quality & sampling
- Waste discharge from industrial facilities
- Small cleanup project
- Healthy Housing & Food Systems
- Healthy homes
- Home energy & water efficiency
- Better access to local food
- Green infrastructure
- Environmental Contaminants
- Stormwater issues
- Lead and asbestos contamination
- Pesticides and other toxic substances
- Illegal dumping activities
- Education and outreach
- Emergency Preparedness & Training
- Emergency preparedness
- Disaster resiliency
- Environmental job training
- Environmental justice training for youth.
Types of Funding Opportunities
- Non-Competitive: Foundational Support Projects
- These grants are non-competitive, meaning they will be awarded directly to organizations that need them. The funding will help organizations build a foundation that will allow them to apply for future grant opportunities.
- $75,000 for 1 year.
- Tier 1: Assessment Projects
- Competitive funding for community-based organizations to do assessments in their community to better understand local environmental and public health concerns.
- Up to $150,000 for 1 year.
- Tier 2: Planning Projects
- Competitive funding for community-based organizations to plan on how to address local environmental and public health issues.
- Up to $250,000 for 1-2 years.
- Tier 3: Development Projects
- Competitive funding for community-based organizations to carry out projects that address local environmental and public health issues.
- Up to $350,000 for 2 years.
Geographical Areas
Serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and 9 Tribal Nations.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicant organizations include the following types of entities:
- Nonprofit organizations
- Community-based and grassroots nonprofit organizations
- Philanthropic and civic organizations with nonprofit status
- Tribal governments (both federally recognized and state-recognized)
- Intertribal Consortia (i.e., a partnership between two or more tribes that work together to achieve a common objective.)
- Native American Organizations (includes Indian groups, cooperatives, nonprofit corporations, partnerships, and associations that have the authority to enter into legally binding agreements)
- Organizations based in Puerto Rico
- Organizations based in U.S. Territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Local governments (as defined by 2 CFR 200.1 – includes cities, towns, municipalities, and counties, public housing authorities and councils of government. Specifically, “small governmental jurisdiction” as the government of a city, county, town, school district or special district with a population of less than 50,000.)
- Institutions of higher education (such as private and public universities, colleges, and community colleges).
For more information, visit Cultivating Healthy Environments – Region 7.
