The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) opened applications for its Community Grants Program funding cycle.
Donor Name: Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
State: Oregon, Washington
County: Clackamas County (OR), Clark County (WA), Columbia County (OR), Multnomah County (OR), Skamania County (WA), Washington County (OR), Yamhill County (OR)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/27/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
PCEF’s Community Grant program supports planning and implementation projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve climate resiliency in ways that advance economic, social, and climate justice for the under-resourced communities.
Types of Grants
- Planning Grants help organizations lay the groundwork for future projects by funding activities such as research, feasibility assessments, community outreach, and partnership building. These grants provide resources for organizations to develop strong, community-informed project proposals.
- Implementation Grants support projects that advance economic, social, and climate justice through both physical improvements (e.g., weatherization, solar installations, tree planting, regenerative agriculture) and non-physical activities (e.g., workforce training, active transportation programming). Funding can be used for staff time, contracted work, equipment, materials, supplies, overhead, and other necessary project costs.
Funding Categories
A combination of planning grants, and both small and large implementation grants are awarded from each grant cycle. Each funding area has small and large grant caps. The application and review process for small and large implementation grants are identical. They set target numbers by grant size to ensure a mix of small and large projects are selected and to ensure space for smaller organizations. Planning grants have a shorter application and the same review process, but have a shorter grant term.
Proposed projects must fall under one or multiple of the following categories, though each application must identify a primary funding area when applying: energy efficiency and renewable energy, transportation decarbonization, regenerative agriculture, green infrastructure, workforce and contractor development, and other projects that reduce GHG emissions.
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy:
- This funding category supports renewable energy, energy storage, and efficiency projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while benefiting low-income Portland residents. Grants fund projects such as community solar projects, clean energy upgrades for single-family homes, energy efficiency improvements in affordable multifamily housing, and nonprofit-owned or occupied buildings. Additional investments may include other renewable energy and efficiency projects that align with PCEF’s goals of reducing emissions and advancing social and economic justice.
- Regenerative agriculture:
- This funding category includes projects that improve access to local food, fibers, and materials using practices that sequester carbon in the soil and support a healthier urban environment. Regenerative agriculture supports the City’s carbon sequestration efforts through agricultural practices that increase the capacity of soils to store carbon by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity.
- Green infrastructure:
- This funding category supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing important ecological benefits. Grants may fund activities such as habitat restoration, depaving of impermeable surfaces, and planting trees to create healthier urban environments. A portion of funding is specifically dedicated to projects along the 82nd Avenue corridor enhance climate resilience in this area.
- Workforce and contractor development (WCD):
- This funding category expands access to climate careers through job training, contractor support, and youth education. Grants fund pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and workforce programs that create pathways into clean energy and construction trades. Funding also supports technical assistance and business grants for diverse contractors, as well as youth programs that build awareness of climate careers.
- Transportation decarbonization:
- This funding category supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by investing in electric vehicle infrastructure, fleet electrification, and active transportation options like biking, walking, and transit access. Grants may fund initiatives such as community EV charging stations, e-bike lending programs, pedestrian safety programs, and efforts to expand transit accessibility.
- Other:
- This funding category supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance social and economic justice but do not fit within PCEF’s primary funding areas. Grants may fund community-led initiatives, pilot programs, or emerging climate solutions that align with PCEF’s mission. These projects provide flexibility for organizations to address climate challenges in creative ways.
Funding Information
Applications for $67 million of available funding.
Priority Populations
- PCEF focuses investments in climate action by giving priority to people that have been historically under-resourced by sustainability, climate action, and clean energy programs. These groups are known as priority populations and include, but are not limited to:
- People with low incomes
- People of color
- People living with disabilities
- By ensuring these populations benefit from grant-funded projects, the Community Grants program helps make climate action more accessible, equitable, and impactful for those who have historically been excluded from sustainability and clean energy opportunities.
Eligibility Criteria
- PCEF Community Grants are available to nonprofit organizations that meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be designated as a 501(c) or 521(a) nonprofit entity by the federal government
- Be registered and certified as a nonprofit with the Oregon Secretary of State
- Not be listed on the Oregon Department of Justice’s Disqualified Charities list
- While nonprofits do not need to be based in Portland, projects involving physical improvements must take place within the city, and workforce and contractor development projects must be in the Portland Metropolitan Area. Organizations that do not yet have nonprofit status can apply with the support of a fiscal sponsor—an eligible nonprofit that helps manage the grant on their behalf.
For more information, visit City of Portland.
