The HEAL Capacity Grant Program focuses on equipping communities most impacted by environmental hazards to collaborate with state agencies on environmental justice decisions.
Donor Name: Washington State Department of Health
State: Washington
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/08/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act was passed in 2021 to reduce environmental and health disparities, equitably distribute environmental benefits, and improve the health of all people in Washington state.
The Department of Health (DOH) is one of seven named state agencies, along with Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Ecology, and Puget Sound Partnership, committed to reducing environmental health disparities across Washington State through the implementation of HEAL.
The HEAL Act also required DOH to:
- Staff and convene an Environmental Justice Council (EJC), which provides a forum for disproportionately impacted communities to inform the state’s environmental justice efforts.
- Engage with communities and Tribes across the state to inform the Environmental Health Disparities Map.
- Use and update the Environmental Health Disparities Map to track changes over time.
Funding Information
Community-based and led organizations are uniquely positioned to identify, engage with, and respond to their community’s needs. These organizations are invaluable partners because they help state agencies consider unique cultural and linguistic needs, logistical challenges and barriers to health access, and specific environmental justice concerns. In the 2025-2027 biennium, DOH invites eligible organizations to apply for one of the following:
- Project funding: DOH expects to award 5 projects with $100,000 grants each, totaling $500,000. An organization may apply on its own or in partnership with other organization(s). These funds support organizational capacity, so community guidance and input can be shared to: the Environmental Justice Council about how to implement the HEAL Act; DOH regarding updates to the Environmental Health Disparities Map; and State agencies about how to implement the HEAL Act, including environmental justice assessments, budgeting and funding, and community and Tribal engagement.
- Pass-through funding: DOH expects to award 2 applicants with $500,000 grants, totaling $1 million. Community-based organizations are invited to sub-grant funds to other community-based organizations working with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations across Washington. Funds will support equitable community engagement and help build capacity to participate in HEAL activities. The selected organizations will work closely with DOH staff to ensure accountability, transparency, and equity throughout the funding period and grant process.
Grant Period
January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
For more information, visit DOH.
