Environmental Sustainability Grants will support community-led projects and nonprofits with a focus on sustainability and climate initiatives.
Donor Name: West Central Initiative
State: Minnesota
County: Becker County (MN), Clay County (MN), Douglas County (MN), Grant County (MN), Otter Tail County (MN), Pope County (MN), Stevens County (MN), Traverse County (MN), Wilkin County (MN)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 02/26/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The organization or project is working to sustainable development and to meeting the environmental, social, and economic needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Sustainability Grants Allowable Uses and Expenses
Listed below are some examples of things that grant dollars might be used for:
- Training and development needed by a local sustainability-focused organization to operate more effectively or maintain services.
- Technical assistance that builds the capacity of local partners who are working together to figure out a complex sustainability focused issue, such as transportation of local foods.
- Expenses associated with work that mobilizes community members to take sustainability focused action.
- Research to better understand the scope and relevance of a sustainability issue in the community.
- Community convenings to identify sustainable development priorities and prompt dialogue.
- Community learning opportunities that educate and guide the general public on tangible ways of making sustainable choices.
- Educational campaigns targeted to getting important information into the hands of community stakeholders and decision-makers.
- Equipment or supplies needed to implement a local food system project, sustainable agricultural project, or a project designed to combat climate change.
Funding Information
Grants will range from $3,000 to $25,000. However, most grants will range from $3,000 to $10,000.
Grant Period
May 2026–April 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for West Central Initiative Grants, your organization must:
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, public or nonprofit school, or unit of government (including Tribal government or division) or must be fiscally sponsored by another organization with this status.
- Serve people in West Central Initiative’s geography, which includes nine counties: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin and White Earth Nation.
- Funds managed by West Central Initiative are not eligible at this time.
Evaluation Criteria
They will use the criteria listed below to review proposals. The desire to spread awards across the region may result in a proposal being considered for funding even if it does not fully meet all the criteria.
- Sound Planning: The goals of the project and the steps to be taken to achieve them are clearly stated. The budget is realistic in relation to the applicant’s goals and activities.
- Organizational Capacity: The applicant’s proposal demonstrates that they have the capacity, leadership, and resources needed to complete the work to be funded.
- Inclusive Community Engagement: The proposed project engages diverse populations and advances new community collaborations. The funded work will strengthen community partnerships and mobilize community members, particularly historically excluded groups.
- Impact: The results of the proposed work are clearly stated. The applicant has defined the quantitative (countable) and/or qualitative (describable) measures they will use to gauge the success of their efforts.
For more information, visit West Central Initiative.
