2023 Tribal Facility and Residential Project Grant Program

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 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: 05/31/2023

Size of the Grant: up to $200,000

Details:

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 their TSAF community and generating awareness in the climate action arena.

The TSAF in collaboration with tribes and tribal leaders aims to address challenges and opportunities related to energy sovereignty, climate resilience and resource sustainability.

The TSAF team is excited to share their mission, vision, and goals through grantmaking with tribal communities across Indian Country by engagement and communication, advocacy, technical assistance, collaboration, and a commitment to build capacity in tribal energy sovereignty.

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.

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)m 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.

TSAF Review and Selection Criteria

TSAF team utilizes external tribal subject matter experts (energy, policy, education, culture, arts, grantmaking) to review grant applications in an unbiased guidance and scoring that helps the TSAF identify the strengths and weaknesses in applicant objectives, priorities and key outcomes of their project based on the seven areas of the TSAF funding criteria;

• Solid and concrete matches between project purpose and funding priority area
• Clear focus on building renewable energy infrastructure in the tribal community
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience necessary for a successful project
• Clear plan of action, including specific goals and measurable objectives
• Feasible, cost-effective, and sustainable budget
• Partnerships that engage broad tribal community participation and support
• Potential for application and replication in other tribal communities

Grant applications do not need to be strong in all funding criteria categories to be assessed likely to have major impact, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advancing the tribal community toward greater energy planning, savings, resilience and sovereignty.

For more information, visit TSAF.