Resources

General communities

• Grants and Funding - TCTAC Network - This searchable database includes curated domestic opportunities from Grants.gov that will help you find grants your organization might qualify for, and how to apply. You can search based on funding range and number of awards.

• America’s Federal Funding Opportunities and Resources for Decarbonization - This grant identification website guides users through a short series of questions to identify funding opportunities around organization eligibility.

• Funding Updates - Environmental Protection Network - This website provides biweekly updates on current environmental and climate federal funding opportunities.

• Access Federal Funding - Environmental Protection Network - This website showcases the resources the Environmental Protection Network has created to assist environmental justice communities understand the application process for specific federal grants.

• HUD Exchange Funding Navigator - The Funding Navigator provides a listing of funding opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and others across federal agencies to support efforts to enhance climate resiliency, energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, healthy housing, workforce development and environmental justice in HUD supported communities, programs and properties.

• Funding Clearinghouse - The Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization - Find grants, loans and other opportunities for coal and power plant transitioning communities.

Rural communities

• A Guide for Rural and Remote Communities - This DOE guide is designed to support rural and remote communities searching for funding for local energy projects. It includes sections on 1) questions to ask before applying for federal funding, 2) tips for navigating the federal funding process, 3) understanding the federal process, 4) finding federal funding relevant for your rural or remote community, and 5) an appendix for Tribes.

Tribal communities

• U.S. Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs Current Funding Opportunities - This website identified grants currently available to Tribal communities through the federal government.

• Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency - The most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States.

• SAM.gov Registration Webinar Recording - Environmental Protection Network - This recording from the Environmental Protection Network guides users through how to register for the Systems for Award Management (SAM). A SAM registration is required to apply for and receive federal funds.

• SAM.gov Registration Process Guide - Environmental Protection Network - This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to register with SAM.gov and begin the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) acquisition process.

• Register for the Environmental Protection Network’s next SAM.gov office hours here.

• Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing Video Series - The Ohio State Extension - The videos include information on finding and preparing to apply for grants, crafting grant goals and evaluations for your grant application, and budget development.

• General Grant Budget Template - Download and use this Excel budget template to build your grant budget. An example has been included in the template.

• Grant Writing: How to Build Credibility with Your Budget Narrative - This guide by the federal government serves to explain why a budget narrative is significant in a grant application and provides best practices and tips for writing a budget narrative.

• Considerations When Selecting a Funding Opportunity - This guide from the Region 2 TCTAC (Thank you!) serves to walk potential grant applicants through the general considerations to keep in mind when deciding to apply for a specific grant.

•  How to use Grants.gov and Workspace to submit a new grant - First time submitting a federal grant? No problem! Get insight into the process so you're ready before the grant is due. 

• Nonprofit Grant Management: Learning the Essentials - This blog post offers guidance for organizations newer to grant management with best practices and tips. Note: There is a sales pitch at the end of this blog post. We have not worked with this organization and neither encourage or discourage use of their services. The blog post itself is a great overview.

• After You’re Selected for an EPA Grant – General Resources to Help You Get Awarded and Beyond - Environmental Protection Network - As selected EPA grantees work toward signing their cooperative agreements with EPA, there are a number of pre-award (the time between your award notice, and your contract is signed and funds are released) milestones to be met, as well as requirements for project implementation. This webiste includes some helpful resources to fulfill those requirements.

• EPA Grants Management Training for Applicants and Recipients - This online training course is designed to introduce EPA grant applicants and recipients to key aspects of the entire grant life cycle, from preparation of an application through grant closeout. The course is divided into separate modules that can be completed individually. Upon completion, you will be prompted to generate a downloadable certificate of completion.

• Sustainable Communities Webinar Series - University of Illinois Extension - Recordings from the Thriving Communities and Energy Transition Webinar Series. The series is part of University of Illinois Extension’s effort to build capacity for technical assistance and education aimed to help communities navigate energy- and environment-related federal grant application systems, provide guidance on community inclusion, and lead community-specific strategic planning.

• Illinois Low-Impact Solar Development Opportunity on Brownfields and Mined Lands Workshops - Great Plains Institute (GPI) - The GPI recently sponsored an Illinois-specific workshop series to allow cities, counties, NGOs, and other stakeholders to learn more about solar deployment on low-impact sites in the community. The workshops identified tools and information to help communities prioritize these projects, remove barriers that might exist at the local or state level, and create synergies with related federal and state programs and funding.

• Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) - Kansas State University (KSU) - KSU TAB equips communities with the tools and resources needed to stimulate economic and community revitalization through web-based E-Tools, educational events and one-on-one technical assistance.

• EPA Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) - EPA Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) connects communities to experts who help assess and implement solutions for their drinking water, sewage, and stormwater needs.

• HUD Exchange Rural Gateway - The Rural Gateway is an information clearinghouse providing technical assistance, training workshops, and peer learning and resource sharing to support rural housing and economic development.