Tribal Solar Gap Grant Program

Tribal Solar Gap Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: GRID Alternatives
Amount: Up to US $250,000
Last Updated: July 07, 2025

Summary

The Tribal Solar Gap Grant Program, initiated by GRID Alternatives, aims to empower tribal communities in the U.S. by promoting energy sovereignty through renewable solar projects. This program focuses on building sustainable energy infrastructure, increasing job training opportunities, and ensuring equitable access to renewable energy benefits. By partnering with over 65 tribes, the initiative enhances community resilience and supports the next generation of tribal energy leaders, fostering educational and entrepreneurial growth in Indian Country.

Overview

About the Fund Our vision for Indian Country is a transition to energy sovereignty that is educational, entrepreneurial, and completely renewable. Our mission aims to catalyze the growth of solar energy and expand solar job opportunities in tribal communities across the United States. Since 2010, the GRID Alternatives National Tribal Program has worked to help tribal communities across the United States achieve their renewable energy goals, while training tribal members to enter the solar workforce. In 2018, GRID launched the Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF), a tribal-led philanthropic grantmaking program supporting new solar projects in tribal communities across the country.  TSAF grants clearly focus on building renewable energy infrastructure, particularly new solar energy projects in tribal communities, that are feasible, cost-effective, and engage broad tribal community participation. Tribal Solar Gap Funding Grant Program For the past five years, the Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF), a tribal-led sustainability program has partnered with over 65 tribes and over 120 tribal individuals to support renewable energy infrastructure development and job training goals in Indian Country. The TSAF awards grants for solar projects that clearly focus on building renewable energy infrastructure and are feasible, cost-effective, and engage broad tribal community participation. Energy leadership, educational scholarships, workforce development, and training are also at the forefront of TSAF-funded projects and programs to ensure that tribal members from the communities we partner with have equitable access to career pathways and the economic benefits of renewable energy. The Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund works in partnership with tribes and funders to bring technical, financial, and cultural resources to support their projects and address their unique challenges and opportunities. At its core, TSAF is about mobilizing and developing tribal solar projects and integrating workforce development and training, nation-building, and strengthening the energy resilience of tribal communities with visions for a clean energy outlook for generations to come. The TSAF supports tribes in asserting control over their energy resources and focuses on making solar implementation feasible by leveraging state and federal programs, philanthropic dollars, and partnerships with other tribes across Indian County. The TSAF remains one of the only grantmaking programs specifically designated for tribal solar projects and cultivating the next generation of tribal energy leaders. Through our grants, fellowships, and scholarships, we are strengthening the capacity of Indian Country to lead the way to a renewable energy future. We are doing three key things to create a tribal renewable energy community that enhances and strengthens energy resilience and energy sovereignty by: Increasing access to funding for tribal communities to achieve their renewable energy goals;Supporting tribal leaders and youth in renewable energy transform their communitiesSupporting tribal partners build capacity to address their community’s energy needs; and achieve their renewable energy visions. Funding Priorities The TSAF will provide necessary capital to support the development of new solar demonstration projects in tribal communities around Indian CountryThe TSAF supports and encourages solar education, training, and workforce development in tribal communitiesThe TSAF prioritizes the development of long-term energy plans to increase tribal energy security and resiliency. Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

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