Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

Overview

_NOTE: All applications are closed for Types 1, 2, and 3 grants, but we will continue to accept non-compete requests. Eligible applicants are “severely capacity-constrained” organizations: those with budgets under $500,000 or those serving areas with populations of 50,000 people or fewer. If you meet this eligibility criteria, you may complete the non-compete intake form. This form will enter you into the pool of applicants for the $75,000 non-compete grant option but does not guarantee an award. The deadline for non-compete applications is Tuesday, September 2 at 7 pm PDT._

Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program aims to make it easier for community-based organizations to access federal environmental justice funding. The program was created to respond to feedback from communities about the need to reduce barriers to federal funds and improve the efficiency of the awards process to ensure underinvested communities can access the grants.

On December 19, 2023, Philanthropy Northwest, in partnership with an extensive network of regional partners across EPA Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and tribal communities), was selected as the Region 10 Grantmaker for the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program ("Thriving Communities Program"). Philanthropy Northwest’s goals are to distribute resources to historically underinvested communities by leveraging powerful partnerships, facilitating participatory grantmaking and designing a simplified application process. As a regional grantmaker, Philanthropy Northwest stands alongside other leaders selected to steer these funds effectively to where they can make the greatest difference, distributing $40 million in Region 10 over three years.

Funding

Estimated Funding Range per Award: $150,000-$350,000

* Type 1 (Assessment): up to $150,000
*  (1-year project period): grants focused on gathering information, assessing and understanding the problem(s) before developing a plan.
* Type 2 (Planning): up to $250,000
* (1- to 2-year project period): grants for those who already have a strong understanding of the local environmental and/or public health issues and are ready to formulate a community-wide plan to address those issues.
* Type 3 (Development): up to $350,000
* (2-year project period): grants for those who already have a strong understanding of the local environmental and/or public health issues, have already formulated a community-wide plan addressing those issues, and/or are now ready to develop the technical aspects of the project (i.e., implement the project on the ground).

A limited number of $75,000 non-competitive fixed-amount subawards will be available for severely capacity-constrained community-based organizations.

Eligibility

_We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's [website]()%20Thriving%20Communities%20Grants.pdf).
_

Application Details

Revised: 3/18/2025
Philanthropy Northwest’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Thriving Communities Grants
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
Application Title: Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program
Total Amount of Funding: $48 million
Estimated Funding Range per Award: $150,000-$350,000
• Type 1 (Assessment): up to $150,000
• Type 2 (Planning): up to $250,000
• Type 3 (Development): up to $350,000
For details on each grant type, see below.
Expected Period of Performance: 1- or 2-year grants; May 2025 – June 2027
This funding is open to eligible organizations in rural and urban areas across
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10, comprising Alaska, Idaho,
Oregon, Washington and 271 Tribal Nations.
Application link: https://philanthropynorthwest.fluxx.io/user_sessions/new
For more information contact: thrivingcommunities@philanthropynw.org
The timeline for the entire grantmaking program is below:
Thriving Communities Grants Timeline
Please note that the deadline is 6 pm PT on the day the application closes (see dates
below).
Type 3 (Project Development): $350,000
Round Application Application Notice of
Opens Closes Selection
Round 1 – CLOSED October 10, 2024 December 15, 2024 March 2025
Round 2 January 1, 2025 February 28, 2025 May 2025
Type 2: (Planning Projects): $250,000
Round Application Application Notice of
Opens Closes Selection
Round 2 January 1, 2025 February 28, 2025 May 2025
Round 3 February 1, 2025 March 31, 2025 June 2025

Type 1 (Assessment Projects): $150,000
Round Application Application Notice of
Opens Closes Selection
Round 2 January 1, 2025 February 28, 2025 May 2025
Round 3 February 1, 2025 March 31, 2025 June 2025
Please note that all grants must be complete (all work done and funds spent) by
July 31, 2027.
Table of Contents:
Section Section Title
1 Background
2 Purpose
3 Eligibility and Qualifications
4 Application Requirements
5 Allowable and Unallowable Costs
6 Program Overview and Types of Funding Available
i) Type One: Assessment Grants
ii) Type Two: Planning Grants
iii) Type Three: Development Grants
iv) Non-Compete Grants
7 Grant Program Timeline
8 Application Questions and Guidance
9 Review Process
10 Evaluation Criteria
11 Reporting Requirements
12 Terms and Conditions
13 Application Checklist
Please note: Translated versions of this request for applications will be updated shortly to
reflect changes to the Thriving Communities application.
1. Background
The Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program aims to make it easier for
community-based organizations to access federal environmental funding.
Eligible project activities can include, but are not limited to, environmental projects
that improve air quality, water quality, environmental clean-up, stormwater, or lead
or asbestos abatement.
The goal is to reduce barriers and provide a simpler application process for federal
funding, including fewer forms, budget requirements, a simpler project narrative
and an easier grants system to navigate. Philanthropy Northwest and other
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technical assistance agencies will be providing help throughout the application and
grants management process.
In December 2023, Philanthropy Northwest, in partnership with an extensive
network of regional partners across Region 10, was selected as the Region 10
Grantmaker for the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program. Region 10 consists
of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and the 271 Tribal Nations within those states.
Philanthropy Northwest will be distributing $48 million to the region over three
years.
There are three types of grants available:
• Type One (Assessment Projects) for up to $150,000 (1-year project period):
funding is focused on gathering information, assessing and understanding
the problem(s) before developing a plan.
• Type Two (Planning Projects) for up to $250,000 (1- to 2-year project period):
grants for those who already have a strong understanding of the local
environmental and/or public health issues and are ready to formulate a
community-wide plan to address those issues.
• Type Three (Project Development) for up to $350,000 (2-year project
period): grants for those who already have a strong understanding of the local
environmental and/or public health issues, have already formulated a
community-wide plan addressing those issues, and/or are now ready to
develop the technical aspects of the project (i.e., implement the project on the
ground).
A limited number of non-compete $75,000 fixed-amount grants will be made to
community-based organizations to advance environmental goals.
• Purpose of non-compete grants: These non-compete grants are intended to
support equitable distribution of resources across Region 10, ensuring that
historically underserved areas receive the support they need.
• Eligibility: Eligible applicants are “severely capacity-constrained”
organizations: those with budgets under $500,000 or those serving areas with
populations of 50,000 people or fewer. These criteria determine initial
eligibility only and are not used to select award recipients. Our priority is to
allocate resources in a way that promotes geographic equity across the
region.
• How to be considered: Eligible entities can enter the non-compete pool
through two methods: (1) entry from the competitive process, where we will
review eligible applicants declined from previous competitive cycles, or (2)
self-identification based on the completion of a brief intake form that will be
available on PNW’s grantmaking portal Fluxx.
• Timeline: Philanthropy Northwest will begin accepting proposals for non-
compete grants in April 2025.
• Awards: We anticipate making approximately 72 non-competitive subawards.
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2. Purpose
The Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program will provide funding to
organizations addressing the unequal impacts of environmental issues in local
communities throughout the region.
This grant program is committed to equitably distributing federal funding to:
▪ Organizations led by and serving communities that are chronically
underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty
and/or inequality; or
▪ Organizations that are in rural and remote communities;
▪ Organizations that address environmental issues in communities where
people bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental
consequences resulting from commercial operations or execution of public
programs/policies.
Philanthropy Northwest will prioritize projects that benefit disadvantaged
communities and have direct participation from communities and populations
impacted by negative environmental impacts.
The grantmaking program will support projects that focus on the just treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national
origin, tribal affiliation or disability, and will give them agency in decision-making
that affects human health and the environment. This ensures that people:
• Are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and
environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to
climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens,
and the legacy of structural or systemic barriers; and
• Have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable and resilient environment in
which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship and engage in cultural and
subsistence practices.
3. Eligibility and Qualifications
This funding is open to eligible organizations in communities and tribal nations in
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Eligible organizations include:
• Nonprofit organizations, community-based and grassroots nonprofit
organizations
• Tribal governments (both federally recognized and state-recognized) and
intertribal consortia
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• Local governments: counties, boroughs, municipalities, cities
• Institutions of higher education
• Native American/Indigenous-led organizations
• Local governments: counties, boroughs, municipalities, cities
• Institutions of higher education
Ineligible recipients include:
• Individuals
• For-profit businesses
• State governments
• Any organization that has been suspended or debarred from federal funding
Information needed for registration in the grant application portal includes ensuring
the project you are applying for does not involve these ineligible activities:
• Lobbying
• Legal advice, services, or representation
• Inherently religious activities such as worship, prayer, proselytizing, or
religious instruction
Maximum number of awards per organization
To ensure equitable distribution of funds, an organization is limited to receiving one
grant award in Region 10 for the duration of this three-year Thriving Communities
Program.
In the context of grantmaking, each organization is identified by its employer
identification number (EIN), state nonprofit registration, or tribal recognition. Both
federally and state-recognized Native American tribes are eligible to apply for grants
based on their legal status. For example, a regional or national organization with
multiple affiliates, or a tribal government and its nonprofit entities, may be eligible to
receive more than one grant if each operates under a separate EIN, state nonprofit
registration, or tribal designation. This ensures that distinct entities within a broader
organizational network or tribal governance structure can apply independently, as
long as they meet the criteria for separate grants.
Applicants may use a fiscal sponsor, with some restrictions. An individual fiscal
sponsor can receive up to five individual awards, with a maximum of $1 million in
funding for the course of the program.
A fiscal sponsor is considered the applicant organization and is responsible for all
aspects of the grant, including compliance with the grant agreement, financial
management, reporting and ensuring that the funded activities align with the
grant’s objectives. A fiscal project should not apply without its fiscal sponsor’s
knowledge and consent. Exceptions to the limitation on the number of grants
received by an individual organization may be made due to significant community
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impact, critical environmental need or innovative approaches.
4. Application Requirements
The Thriving Communities application is available here. All applicants will be
required to complete the full application, including attaching all requested
documentation as prompted.
Applicants must have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) in the Federal System of Award
Management (SAM) to be eligible to receive awarded funds. For organizations that
do not yet have a UEI, please know it may take several weeks to register for one. SAM
registration is not required at the time of submission, but if awarded funding, your
organization will need a current/approved SAM registration number.
Applicants who do not have adequate broadband access can work with a PNW
Program Officer to find a suitable solution for submission.
For any additional support or accommodations to access the application, please
email the Thriving Communities Program at
thrivingcommunities@philanthropynw.org
To access the application, you will first need to register with Fluxx, an online grants
system designed to make the application process easier and more accessible.
Through Fluxx, you will submit the application, and if successfully awarded, this is
also where you will submit your grant reports. Your login information is not captured
by Philanthropy Northwest so please store it in a safe space so you can access the
Fluxx system. If you encounter any technical issues with creating a Fluxx account,
please email us at fluxxta@philanthropynw.org.
After registering, you will be able to access the grant application. Once started, you
will be able to save your progress as you work through the application, and it does
not need to be completed in one sitting.
5. Allowable and unallowable costs
Applicants are recommended to visit How to Develop a Budget | US EPA to review
online training for EPA grant budget development.
Examples of allowable costs Examples of unallowable costs
include: include*:
• Salaries and wages • Alcoholic beverages
• Fringe benefits • Fines or penalties
• Consumable • Expenses related to lobbying
materials/supplies or political activities
• Services provided by • Conference meals, beverages,
contractors or consultants snacks entertainment,
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directly related to the catering. Costs for light
project (see guidance about refreshments and meals for
consultant cap not to recipient staff meetings and
exceed $91.95 hourly). similar day-to-day activities are
• Equipment necessary for not allowable under EPA
the project (meeting assistance agreements.
• Gifts
specific criteria)
• First class/business class travel
• Costs for project-related
training and educational
activities and
• Indirect Costs with an
approved indirect cost rate
or 15% de minimis rate
*Unallowable costs are strictly prohibited. Organizations can seek funding elsewhere
to support needs, such as food for conferences, outside of this grant application.
6. Program Overview and Types of Funding Available
The Thriving Communities Program offers grants for three types of projects:
Type 1: Assessment Grant - For communities that need to gather information and
understand the environmental problem before they can develop a plan and take
action to address and eventually resolve the problem.
Type 2: Planning Grant - For communities that are ready to create a community plan
to address environmental issues. This can include developing partnerships with
other organizations, holding planning meetings, and creating an action plan with
goals, objectives, and steps to take.
Type 3: Project Development Grant - For communities that already have a strong
understanding of the local environmental and/or public health issues, have already
formulated a community-wide plan addressing those issues, and/or are now ready
to implement the plan.
Each type of grant has its own duration.
Grant Type Grant Amount Grant Period
Type One: Assessment Up to $150,000 Up to one year (12
Projects months)
Type Two: Planning Up to $250,000 1 or 2 years
Type Three: Project Up to $350,000 2 years
Development
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Examples of environmental projects that may be funded include but are not limited
to:
• Air quality & asthma
• Fence line air quality monitoring
• Water quality & sampling
• Small cleanup projects
• Improving food access to reduce vehicle miles traveled
• Stormwater issues and green infrastructure
• Lead and asbestos contamination
• Pesticides and other toxic substances
• Healthy homes that are energy/water use efficient and not subject to
indoor air pollution
• Illegal dumping activities, such as education, outreach, and small-scale
clean-ups
• Emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency
• Environmental job training for occupations that reduce greenhouse gases
and other air pollutants
• Training for youth
• Other
Projects that propose research, sampling, testing, monitoring, investigations, use of
environmental data and other scientifically based activities require a Quality
Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) that can be paid for with this grant. For more
information about QAPP requirements, please visit this EPA website or this link with
more information on data collection.
If you will be conducting human subjects research activities as part of your project
your project protocol will need to be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB)
as well as the Human Subjects Research Review Officer (HSRRO) at EPA. To find out
more whether your work will involve conducting human subjects research, visit our
FAQs here.
Type 1 Assessment Projects – 1 year, up to $150,000
The Type 1 assessment grants are for communities that need to gather information
and understand the problem before they can develop a plan and take action to
address and eventually resolve the problem.
Assessment grants are available for organizations and applicants to assist them
during the initial steps of their work to address specific issues impacting them
locally by conducting assessments of environmental and public health concerns.
Type 1 assessment awards are for up to $150,000 for a one-year project period.
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The following is a list of activities which may be considered for a Type 1 award. These
examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and the list is not
comprehensive:
• Research, qualitative and/or quantitative*
• Sampling*
• Testing*
• Monitoring*
• Investigations*
• Surveys and studies
• Public education
(* indicates a QAPP may be required)
TYPE 1 PROJECT EXAMPLE
A small nonprofit that supports local food sovereignty initiatives has been gifted land
located in a chronically underfunded community to start a local food forest.
Unfortunately, this lot had been used for illegal dumping and there are bags of trash
and other debris on the property. This funding will support coordination for
volunteers to conduct transect surveys to document necessary remediations and
potential health hazards on the site. This type of project will likely require a Quality
Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) because environmental information is being
collected, evaluated and used. The grantee will need to work with their Program
Officer to better understand the QAPP process.
Type 2 Planning Projects – 1-2 years, up to $250,000
The Type 2 Planning grants are for organizations that have assessed the
environmental issues in their community and are ready to create a community-wide
plan to address those issues. This includes developing cooperative partnerships with
other stakeholders and organizations, holding planning meetings, and creating an
action plan with goals, objectives, and steps to take.
Planning project activities can address more than one environmental issue—for
example, both air quality and water quality. Type 2 grants are for up to $250,000
each for a one- or two-year project period.
The following is a list of activities which may be considered for a Type 2 award. These
examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and the list is not
comprehensive:
• Planning
• Partnership building
• Public outreach and education
• Coordination with community members to address environmental issues
• Training activities for community organizations and community members
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• Projects and activities to spur community involvement, like cleanup of vacant
lots
• Smaller land purchases and acquisitions that require less than half of the total
grant (up to $125,000)
Similar types of projects are also eligible.
TYPE 2 PROJECT EXAMPLE
Community Action will convene the local housing authority, electric utility and
service organizations to coordinate a collaborative Healthy Homes and beneficial
electrification campaign. The campaign will benefit a disadvantaged community
that was relocated due to construction of a freeway years ago. The project is
focused on creating a community-wide plan to include stakeholder engagement,
training sessions and public education.
Type 3 Project Development – 2 years, up to $350,000
The Type 3 Project Development grants are for communities that already have a
strong understanding of their local environmental and/or public health issues,
already have the required scientifically based results and/or evaluation completed,
have already formulated a community-wide plan addressing those issues, and/or are
now ready to implement the project on the ground.
Creating or maintaining key partnerships with community stakeholders is an
essential part of developing and implementing a community-wide plan. Therefore,
creating partnerships can also be part of development projects.
Development project activities can address more than one environmental issue—for
example, both lead and asbestos exposure. Type 3 grants are for up to $350,000 for a
two-year project period.
The following is a list of activities which may be considered for a Type 3 award. These
examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and the list is not
comprehensive:
• Blueprints for construction or cleanup projects, schematics, and technical
development
• Work to get permits in place for an environmental project
• Smaller land purchases and acquisitions that require less than half of the
total grant (up to $175,000)
• Implementation of project plans
• Public outreach and education on your community’s environmental issue
• Clean up and restoration work
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Similar types of projects are also eligible. Please contact our staff with specific
questions on the eligibility of your project.
PROJECT EXAMPLE
A rural tribal government has been monitoring the declining water quality of Blue
River for many years after the cessation of mining activities in the watershed over
decade ago. Tribal members depend on the stream and river for drinking water and
subsistence but have to limit these activities due to contamination in the water and
declining fish populations. The tribal government recently finished a Natural
Resources Plan that lists addressing this water quality issue as a high priority and
includes a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) that has already been EPA-
approved through a different grant project. This grant will help them begin
implementation of three water quality initiatives identified in the planning process.
7. Grant Program Timeline
Please see the planned review and funding timeframe for each of the grant phases.
Grant applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for the window in which that
grant type is open (marked with an “X” below); however, each round has a set due
date to facilitate the grant review process in a fair and timely manner. Please note
that application dates are subject to change and may be updated periodically
throughout the three years of grant funding. Updates will be available at the
Philanthropy Northwest website.
Thriving Communities Grants Timeline
Type 3 ($350,000)
Round Application Application Notice of
Opens Closes Selection
Round 1 - CLOSED October 10, 2024 December 15, 2024 March 2025
Round 2 January 1, 2025 February 28, 2025 May 2025
Type 2 ($250,000)
Round Application Application Notice of
Opens Closes Selection
Round 2 January 1, 2025 February 28, 2025 May 2025
Round 3 February 1, 2025 March 31, 2025 June 2025
Type 1 ($150,000)
Round Application Application Notice of
Opens Closes Selection
Round 2 January 1, 2025 February 28, 2025 May 2025
Round 3 February 1, 2025 March 31, 2025 June 2025
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Please note that all grants must be complete (all work done and funds spent) by
July 31, 2027.
If awarded, your final project timeline will be listed in the grant agreement and will
begin as soon as the grant agreement is signed. We cannot offer any time
extensions, so please plan to ensure grant funding is spent by the end of the award
period. All funding must be spent within the timeframe of the grant agreement.
8. Application Questions and Guidance
Please see the Philanthropy Northwest Thriving Communities website for a
Downloadable Word version of the application questions to assist in planning your
grant application. Philanthropy Northwest staff will hold a series of webinars to
support application development, along with holding office hours with our Program
Officers. Please go to the Philanthropy Northwest website for more information or
contact the thrivingcommunities@philanthropynw.org email address.
9. Review Process
A team of community members will review and score each application, first
individually, then collectively. Philanthropy Northwest will review all application
scores to ensure equitable distribution among geographies and demographics.
Philanthropy Northwest will use a community-centered peer review process to
evaluate applications, that will center decision-making in the Region 10 community,
to honor their lived expertise and voice. The review process will have three phases:
an initial review, a community peer review and a fund balancing process to
determine funding recommendations.
The first phase will be an initial review to ensure that applications are from eligible
organizations, that the projects are eligible to be funded, and that applications are
complete. After passing the initial review, the second phase is a community peer
review. Teams of peer reviewers, who are from Region 10 and are not affiliated with
any organizations applying for Region 10 Thriving Communities grant funding, will
individually review a small batch of applications and score them, then come
together as a group to go over their scores and adjust if needed.
The scores from the peer review teams will then be compiled by Philanthropy
Northwest to decide the awardees for that round of funding. Some
recommendations on funding may be made by staff to ensure that funding is
distributed equally to communities across the region.
Philanthropy Northwest staff has worked with our Advisory Committee and Task
Force to create a comprehensive rubric to review the grant applications, ensuring
that the peer review committees are using the same criteria to guide their review.
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10. Evaluation Criteria
Below are the evaluation criteria and the points awarded for the Thriving
Communities grant.
Funding Priorities Points Criteria
• Program supports disadvantaged
Community Benefit, 60 communities
Community • Program engages community members in
Involvement, and
planning and goal setting
Community
Representation
• Program addresses environmental issues,
Environmental 30 especially in communities where people bear
issues are a disproportionate share of negative
addressed environmental consequences resulting from
commercial operations or execution of public
programs/policies
• Program establishes clearly defined goals
and uses a system to track results.
• Proposed budget expenses appear
Budget * 10 reasonable (allowable) and justified given
program scope and duration
* BUDGET AND BUDGET NARRATIVE QUESTIONS ARE ONLY REQUIRED FOR TYPE
3 GRANTS
11. Reporting Requirements
Performance Reporting
Philanthropy Northwest aims to ease the reporting burden for grantees. Program
officers will work with grantees on how they will track and measure project success,
and reports will be submitted in the Fluxx system.
Reports will be submitted quarterly and will cover updates and progress on the
project, successes and challenges encountered, preliminary data results and a
statement of activity anticipated during the subsequent reporting period, including
a description of equipment, techniques and materials to be used or evaluated. An
update on the budget and progress on the workplan, including any changes to the
expected schedule and spend down, will also be included in the reports. The report
shall also include any changes of key personnel associated with the project.
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12. Terms and Conditions
Please see the applicable Environmental Protection Agency terms and conditions
for the Region 10 Thriving Communities grant on the EPA website, or as a separate
document on our website.
13. Application Checklist
Below is an application checklist to review before submitting:
 Application Questions
 Project Workplan
 Project Budget (Type 3 only)
 Budget Narrative (Type 3 only)
 Fiscal Sponsor Agreement (if applicable)
 Partnership Documentation (if applicable)
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