Through this Request for Proposals (“RFP”), the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (“MassCEC”) seeks applications for the EmPower Massachusetts Program – Innovation and Capacity Building Grant funding.
Donor Name: Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC)
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/14/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,000-$25,000
Details:
Innovation and Capacity Building Grant opportunity will provide seed funding for Applicants to explore innovative ideas for potential program models or projects and to build organizational capacity to support future program model or projects. The goals of each program model or project should be increasing access to the benefits of clean energy and/or reducing energy burden to Priority Groups.
Goals
Empower communities, organizations, and stakeholders to:
- Identify innovative solutions for increasing access to the benefits of clean energy and/or reducing energy burden to Priority Groups.
- Increase organizational capacity to support long-term ability to identify and implement these solutions.
- Implement innovative solutions and continue long-term engagement strategies in Priority Groups.
Through the Program MassCEC also intends to:
- Facilitate communication and relationship-building between organizations or individuals;
- Inform participants about relevant opportunities or programs at MassCEC or from other agencies;
- Deepen MassCEC’s relationships with community-based organizations or individuals and other organizations with a demonstrated history working with Priority Groups;
- Create and maintain an inclusive process and program structure that supports Grantees of diverse backgrounds;
- Lower barriers to access clean energy or other environmental justice related grant opportunities, including education on clean energy and barriers to accessing to clean energy; and
- Utilize stakeholder engagement to inform future programming and policy.
Funding Information
MassCEC anticipates awarding approximately twenty (20) grants total or eight (8) to twelve (12) grants per funding round of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000).
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations, individuals, or a partnership/team are eligible to apply and are collectively termed “Applicants.” If there are multiple parties that are jointly applying, one party should take on the role of leading the application team
- If a single organization or individual is applying for this opportunity, that organization or individual would also be the Lead Applicant.
- The following entities are eligible to serve as a Lead Applicant with the following conditions:
- Community-based entities or individuals (often referred to as community-based organizations) such as community action partnerships, neighborhood revitalization organizations, advocacy groups, affordable housing providers, affordable housing developers, and non-profits.
- Public entities such as municipalities (including municipal lighting plants) and regional planning agencies.
- For-profit entities such as clean energy installers, energy efficiency, or home performance contractors, technical or workforce training organizations, financial institutions, or other clean energy practitioners.
Uses of funds
For the Innovation and Capacity Building grant opportunity, Applicants must propose activities related to:
- The exploration, development, or refinement of innovative ideas for potential program models or projects; or
- Building organizational capacity to conduct community-based programs or projects.
For more information, visit MassCEC .
