Kempner Fund: Core Grants: Resilient Island

The Kempner Fund's Core Grants Program focuses on enhancing Galveston's long-term success and resilience, particularly in environmental sustainability. It prioritizes funding initiatives that address climate change impacts and promote community engagement. Eligible applicants include USA-based 501(c)(3) organizations that align with the Fund's mission and values. Grant sizes range from $20,000 to $100,000, based on project scope. The Fund aims to address challenges faced by the Galveston community through targeted support and collaboration.

NOTE:
Must complete an eligibility screening. Our intention with this Eligibility Screen is to help potential applicants determine if they meet the Kempner Fund's criteria and to assess partnership fit. If your organization is a good candidate for a Kempner Fund grant, you will be guided to our Letter of Interest (LOI) next steps. After submitting the LOI, select applicants will be invited to submit a full grant application and will receive a link to the Kempner Fund’s application portal.
Core Grants Program
The Kempner Fund’s Core Grants Program supports initiatives that align with our mission to enhance Galveston’s long-term success, sustainability, and well-being. Guided by our values and insights from local nonprofits and the community, the program focuses on a select number of key impact areas. Only proposals that meet these specific priorities are eligible for funding, ensuring our support is both targeted and impactful.
Program Area: Resilient Island
The Kempner Fund is committed to supporting Galveston's environmental sustainability and resilience.
Given the escalating impacts of climate change on the Gulf Coast and Galveston's high vulnerability to hurricanes and sea-level rise, the Kempner Fund prioritizes organizations, initiatives, and collaborations focused on climate resiliency through education, action, and innovation. Our efforts focus on funding collaborative initiatives that empower residents, nonprofits, and the broader community to understand, address, and adapt to the challenges of climate change.
The Kempner Fund prioritizes funding organizations and initiatives focused on the following three key areas:
Climate-Ready PeopleClimate literacy: Initiatives that educate, raise awareness, and engage adults on climate change, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and adopt sustainable practices.Environmental justice: Projects that ensure impacted communities have a central role in shaping policies, practices, and solutions that affect their health, well-being, and environment.Climate-Ready NonprofitsSupporting nonprofits' capacity to develop climate-focused practices and enhancing their ability to act as first responders during disasters. This includes investing in disaster planning, organizational sustainability, and policies that promote long-term resilience, as well as developing recovery plans for extreme weather so as to ensure nonprofits can adapt and maintain operations during and after disasters.Climate-Ready CommunityAdvancing cross-sector coastal resiliency, research, planning, and/or coordination to address Galveston’s unique challenges.Promoting inclusivity and representation in climate education, activism, and solution development to ensure all voices contribute to a sustainable future.By investing in resilience, equity, and collaboration, we aim to help Galveston thrive in the face of climate challenges, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for all.
Funding
One-Year Grants: $20,000–$75,000Multi-Year Grants: $45,000–$100,000 per year
Grant size ranges are provided as a guideline. Final award amounts will be determined based on the scope of the project, alignment with our program priorities, and available funding.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria: Be a USA-based 501(c)(3) organization Request funding to primarily support or benefit the Galveston, TX community Align with one or more of the Kempner Fund’s program areas in mission or work Share values alignment with the Fund Have and follow term limits for board members and officers Successfully complete the Eligibility Screen and Letter of Interest formCurrently, qualifying nonprofit organizations are eligible for one grant per year under the Kempner Fund’s Core Grants Program.

Ineligibility

The Kempner Fund does not fund: fundraising events or benefits direct mail solicitations galas or individual memorials grants to individuals grants to non-USA based organizations lobbying efforts, as defined by the IRSgrants for projects or activities aimed at promoting religious beliefs, worship, or doctrinal teachingsThe Kempner Fund will NOT fund activities or organizations that discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, natural origin, immigration status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.Organizations cannot apply for a Micro-Grant and funding through the Core Grant Program.Organizations intending to apply for the Navigation Fund Grant and the Core Grant Program must contact the Kempner Fund office.