Sustainable Maryland is excited to announce the second year of funding for the Sustainable Maryland Action Grants for incorporated municipalities, furthering commitment to enhance livability for all Marylanders by supporting a wide range of community-scale sustainability efforts.
Donor Name: Sustainable Maryland
State: Maryland
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/10/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Sustainable Maryland Action Grants Program is made possible through the Sustainable Maryland Program Fund, which allocates a portion of the state’s annual budget to support local sustainability efforts. With $100,000 in annual grant funding available, this program aims to bridge the gap between local resource constraints and the need for local action, ensuring communities throughout Maryland can thrive. Since 2024, the Sustainable Maryland has awarded $110,000 in funding for the Sustainable Maryland Action Grants Program.
Sustainable Maryland strongly encourages applications from municipalities across the state that seek to protect their natural assets, reduce their carbon footprint, and revitalize and improve the long-term quality of life for current and future generations. Prospective applicants are encouraged to consider collaborating with neighboring municipalities and/or local nonprofit organizations to propose projects with regional implications and benefits.
Project Tracks
Grants can be used for outreach and education, planning and design, and direct implementation of any projects associated with one of the Sustainable Maryland 10 action categories. Based on the applicant’s status in the Sustainable Maryland program as either registered or certified, municipalities can apply under one of the following tracks:
- Registered Communities
- Total of $20,000
- Awards up to $5,000
- Certified Communities
- Total of $80,000
- Awards up to $20,000
Project Period
The grants will have a 12-month performance period.
Eligible Expenses
Action categories outlined in the Sustainable Maryland Action menu are:
- Community Action
- Community
- Based Food
- Energy
- Greenhouse Gas
- Health and Wellness
- Local Economies
- Natural Resource
- Planning and Land Use
- Historic Preservation
- Transportation
Eligible expenses include:
- Consultant/contractor service fees
- Staff stipend
- Equipment
- Project supplies
- Training and educational materials
- Outreach engagement inducements including translation and interpretation services, food, transportation, childcare, incentives or awards, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for a Sustainable Maryland Action Grants, applicants must:
- Be a Maryland municipal government. Funding may be passed through to a non-profit, partner organization or contractor, but the municipality must be the applicant and will be responsible for the reporting requirements.
- Be registered or certified with the Sustainable Maryland program.
- Meet all previous grant recipient reporting requirements.
For more information, visit Sustainable Maryland.
