Environmental Justice Grants

Environmental Justice Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Shumaker Family Foundation
Amount: US $10,000 - US $30,000
Last Updated: February 02, 2026

Summary

The Shumaker Family Foundation's Environmental Justice Grants support organizations focusing on conservation, sustainability, and animal welfare. Priority is given to projects addressing environmental issues in communities disproportionately affected by systemic challenges. Eligible applicants must have 501(c)(3) status and demonstrate respect for human diversity. While the foundation prefers not to be the sole funder, they may offer multi-year grants and renewal options to organizations showing progress. The focus area includes the Kansas City region, but national initiatives may also be considered.

Overview

The Shumaker Family Foundation supports endeavors in education, social justice, and environmental justice, and through these aims to create a more compassionate world where each person has opportunity to fully reach his or her potential. Environmental Justice Program Environmental grants go to organizations that promote conservation, sustainability, and animal welfare, or those that educate human beings to work toward these purposes. Environmental grants go to organizations that promote conservation, sustainability, and animal welfare, or those that educate human beings to work toward these purposes. We also support efforts to assist with conservation, sustainability, and animal welfare in those communities locally whose environments have been disproportionately affected due to systemic reasons.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. We fund only organizations with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status or a fiscal agent.We support programs and organizations that promote peace and justice and demonstrate respect and appreciation for human diversity in all its forms, such as race, culture, religion, gender, ability, sexual orientation, and social class. We fund organizational strengthening projects, such as capacity-building or operating funds, when we are satisfied that an organization is prepared to work toward the next level of effectiveness.Environmental Justice grants are increasingly based in the Kansas City area (MO and KS),though we may consider some systems-level programs that are national in scope.We understand that organizations and projects often require 2 or more years of support to see results, and we do consider multi-year grants. We may consider offering renewal grants for 2 additional years beyond the first year (with a shorter application) if the organization or project shows adequate progress in relation to proposed accomplishments and if the Foundation has adequate grant funds available to renew the grant. An organization that has received 3 consecutive years of funding from us may be asked to reapply, starting with a full Letter of Inquiry (LOI) or by invitation.

Ineligibility

We doe not fund: Individuals Organizations that are not registered not-for-profits or their equivalents Projects of any organization that participates in activities harmful to the environment Projects of any organization that participates in activities that promote violence Organizations or programs that discriminate on the basis of race, culture, religion, gender, ability, sexual orientation, or social class Organizations that promote a particular religion Organizations that seek to convert people from one religion to another Organizations that make any particular religious observance a condition of receiving food, shelter, or other resources Annual campaigns Special events Organizations based outside the United States Local animal shelters or animal rights organizations located outside of KS and MO