Best Energy Efficiency Grants for Nonprofits in Oregon

Oregon nonprofits and First Nations improving building energy performance can access funding through Columbia Basin Trust to install solar photovoltaic arrays, complete energy efficiency retrofits, or make other building upgrades. This Stream Two Non-profit SMART Grant offers up to US $150,000 for projects that boost renewable energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Columbia Basin Trust provides Oregon nonprofits and First Nations with funding to purchase one new electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle and up to two charging stations, awarding up to US $75,000. Organizations focused on energy efficiency, conservation, climate resilience, or greenhouse gas reduction may be eligible under this Non-profit SMART Grants Stream One opportunity.

With a mission to support environmental programs, American Honda Motor provides Oregon nonprofits and schools with US $25,000 - US $100,000 for energy efficiency, clean energy, and resource conservation projects. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations and school districts must run decarbonization, clean energy, or efficient natural resource use programs that benefit communities near Honda operations, including Oregon.

Focused on energy efficiency and clean energy, this program invites Oregon visual arts museums, cultural institutions, and schools to seek implementation funding for capital projects that cut building emissions. Eligible U.S.-based institutions can receive up to US $100,000 to support holistic, transformative upgrades that reduce energy use and operating costs.

Visual arts museums and cultural institutions in Oregon and across the U.S. can apply for Helen Frankenthaler Foundation’s Frankenthaler Climate Initiative Scoping Grants, awarding up to US $25,000 for energy assessments and planning. Funding supports audits and consultant-led studies to identify efficiency upgrades, clean energy options, and strategies to reduce emissions and energy costs.

Helen Frankenthaler Foundation provides Oregon visual arts nonprofits with funding to launch energy-efficiency, clean energy, and sustainability projects through its Frankenthaler Climate Initiative Catalyst Grants. Eligible U.S.-based art museums, galleries, archives, art schools, and visual arts-focused institutions may receive up to US $20,000 for first-step upgrades, audits, or quick-turnaround building improvements that reduce energy use and emissions.

Organizations commercializing ARPA-E–funded energy technologies can receive U.S.-wide support for scaling high-risk, high-impact innovations, including energy efficiency and conservation solutions. The United States Department of Energy provides Oregon and other eligible applicants with US $5,000,000 - US $20,000,000 to advance subject inventions that originated under ARPA-E awards and meet specific patent and reporting requirements.

Oregon energy efficiency and conservation nonprofits can access funding through the Laird Norton Family Foundation for work advancing carbon reduction, regenerative practices, and environmental stewardship. U.S.-based organizations, not individuals or for-profits, may be considered under its climate and watershed programs, which emphasize community-led, justice-focused approaches and long-term ecosystem resilience.

Nonprofit and community organizations in Oregon running arts, education, environment, or health and wellness projects or events can apply for Stantec’s Community Engagement Grant to support local initiatives. Programs promoting energy efficiency and conservation may be eligible if they operate near a Stantec office location and align with the company’s community investment priorities.

Low-income households needing home energy-efficiency upgrades in Oregon and nationwide can access weatherization services through the Weatherization Assistance Program. Grants from the U.S. Department of Energy help reduce energy use and costs by funding local providers that deliver weatherization work; applicants apply via their state or tribal weatherization agency and local provider.

Nonprofit and other organizations developing industrial energy storage solutions for efficiency and decarbonization in Oregon can access funding through the U.S. Department of Energy. This national prize offers up to US $700,000 per team across three phases to design, prototype, and validate cost-effective thermal and electric storage technologies for industrial facilities.

Nonprofit organizations and public entities working on energy efficiency, environmental programs, or poverty solutions in Oregon can seek support for community-focused projects. Entergy Charitable Foundation supports efforts such as energy management, renewable energy, environmental education, and community resilience; priority goes to projects in areas where Entergy has operations.

Organizations and stakeholders focused on energy efficiency, conservation, and grid infrastructure planning in Oregon can share input through this federal Request for Information, which supports efforts to address rapid electricity demand growth. Grants from National Energy Technology Laboratory help inform gigawatt-scale generation and transmission investments that may benefit large energy users and surrounding communities nationwide.

Nonprofit organizations working on energy efficiency, community safety, education, or sustainability projects in Oregon may be eligible for grants supporting programs that promote safe mobility, STEM learning, and environmental or societal needs. Grants from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company help fund initiatives like safe driving education, STEM career preparation, hunger relief, and improving public spaces.

Oregon nonprofit organizations planning solar energy or energy efficiency projects can access funding through the Solar Moonshot Program, which offers grants up to Up to US $25,000 for switching to clean energy. Managed by Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation, the program prioritizes projects with additional funding, in Communities of Concern, and serving youth or schools.

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BlackRock Future Builders

BlackRock Future Builders is a $100 million philanthropic initiative funded by The BlackRock Foundation to expand economic opportunity and power the next generation of America’s skilled trades workers. Through this Request for Proposals (RFP) process, The Foundation seeks to support U.S. nonprofit organizations (i.e., registered 501(c)3 organizations) delivering or supporting high‑quality skilled trades training.

This competitive grant opportunity operates in parallel to other BlackRock Future Builders partnerships and is intended to surface additional, regionally grounded solutions across the skilled trades ecosystem. Organizations may propose direct worker training programs or capacity‑building efforts that enable systems to function more effectively and at greater scale. This first round RFP will be administered by Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit that transforms U.S. education and workforce systems.

Focus Areas and Solutions

Applicants may propose worker training or capacity‑building solutions aligned to skilled trades workforce development.

• Worker training interventions may include direct service proposals such as pre-apprenticeship or career navigation programs, workforce training programs, apprenticeship programs, or wraparound participant supports that are supportive of training persistence and completion.
• Capacity-building interventions are organizational and system-focused, rather than in direct service of participants, and may include, but are not limited to, proposals such as ecosystem-building, demonstration projects, technology or tool adoptions, or research, among others.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and education institutions in Oregon can seek funding for energy efficiency education, electrical safety, STEM initiatives, workforce development, and youth programs. The PacifiCorp/Pacific Power/Rocky Mountain Power Foundation offers Education/STEM Grants up to US $10,000, which may benefit nonprofits integrating energy efficiency and conservation into their educational work.

With a mission to support community development and environmental stewardship, Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation provides Oregon nonprofits and U.S. 501(c)(3) schools with funding for energy efficiency, sustainability, STEM education, and workforce development projects. Eligible organizations in Deschutes and Multnomah Counties may benefit, especially those advancing energy efficiency and sustainable construction initiatives.

Nonprofits, public institutions, and municipalities working on energy efficiency and conservation projects in Oregon Weyerhaeuser communities can seek grants of more than US $1,000 to strengthen local programs. Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund prioritizes initiatives that serve broad community needs within its focus areas, including environmental stewardship, green infrastructure, and climate resilience, with strong local support and measurable impact.

Helen Frankenthaler Foundation

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports the artist’s legacy through a variety of initiatives, including exhibitions, loans of artworks, research and publications, conservation, grants, educational programs for the public and the scholarly community, and the publishing of a catalogue raisonné. It is dedicated to promoting greater public interest in and understanding of the visual arts.

Established and endowed by the artist during her lifetime (1928-2011), the Foundation became active in 2013, on the closing of Frankenthaler’s estate. As the principal beneficiary of Frankenthaler’s estate, the Foundation maintains an extensive collection of her work in a variety of mediums, as well as her collection of works by other artists and original papers and materials pertaining to her life and work.

Frankenthaler Climate Initiative

The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative (FCI) is a pioneering grantmaking program established by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. Since its inception in 2021, FCI has distinguished itself as the foremost private national initiative in the United States dedicated to combating climate change specifically within the visual arts sector.

FCI provides visual arts institutions with up to $100,000 to undertake ambitious sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives that directly address carbon reduction and energy efficiency. The scope of its support is broad, encompassing everything from modest, rapid-response projects to comprehensive efficiency audits and feasibility studies, and extending to financial contributions for significant infrastructural renovations and strategic planning for new buildings and major initiatives.

Building on the core values of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, the initiative aligns a commitment to environmental stewardship with a belief in the vital importance of the visual arts and arts education. Through strategic funding and partnerships focused on tangible infrastructure, FCI aims to catalyze a sector-wide shift toward zero carbon operations, promoting a future where the visual arts thrive—while contributing to a more sustainable and ecologically conscious world.

Who We Fund

FCI funds nonprofit institutions in the United States and its territories whose primary focus rests in the visual arts. The visual arts includes but is not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and installations in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber, paper, film, and mixed media.

Most of our grantees are art museums, nonprofit galleries, archives, noncollecting institutions, art schools, university museums, and artist-endowed foundations.

What We Fund

FCI funds energy efficiency and clean energy generation projects.

FCI meets arts institutions at every stage of the work, through four kinds of grants:

• Catalyst — first actions and stand-alone projects with a quick turnaround
• Scoping — energy audits and assessments that establish a baseline
• Technical Assistance — detailed planning for technically demanding projects
• Implementation — comprehensive capital work addressing a building's environmental impact at multiple levels

Technical Assistance Grants

Technical Assistance grants support projects that have finished initial assessments, and need procurement and financing support for an identified efficiency project. This may include providing designs, specifications, or fees for working with energy services companies (ESCOs) for project support. These grants also support more complex studies or analysis required for pursuing major implementation projects. At the conclusion of a Technical Assistance grant, the applicant should be sufficiently informed to implement a project.

The Hearst Foundation's Social Service Grant focuses on tackling chronic poverty by funding direct-service organizations that implement effective solutions for economic independence and family strengthening. With a mission to support diverse nonprofits in the U.S., the Foundation allocates approximately 15% of its total funding to social services, prioritizing scalable programs that serve significant populations. The minimum grant size is $100,000, and special consideration is given to organizations addressing affordable housing, domestic violence, and youth development.

The Spark Good: Strengthening Community Local Grants program by the Wal-Mart Foundation empowers local organizations through grants ranging from $250 to $5000. This initiative aims to enhance community welfare by supporting diverse projects, including animal shelters and educational programs. Eligible organizations must have a verified Spark Good account, ensuring funds are allocated effectively to meet local needs and foster community development. Together, we can create lasting impacts through small yet significant actions.

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) entity, aims to enhance healthcare access and education for all. With grant opportunities focusing on food programs, healthcare services for underserved populations, and STEM initiatives, it seeks to support community health and well-being. Organizations eligible for funding must be U.S.-based and hold tax-exempt status. Requests are reviewed biannually, in March and September, to foster impactful community projects.

The O'Reilly Automotive Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community welfare through philanthropic initiatives that support economic stability, workforce development, health services, and disaster relief. Established in 2020, the Foundation seeks to empower underrepresented individuals and organizations in the U.S. by addressing vital community needs. It particularly aims to provide assistance to nonprofits that foster positive change and improve quality of life for those in need, ensuring a lasting impact in local communities.

The Robinson Foundation Grant, established in 2016, aims to alleviate hardships faced by individuals and communities, demonstrating God's love through charitable contributions. As a family-operated foundation, it focuses on creating meaningful, long-term impacts in various areas including animal welfare, education, and disaster relief. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501(c)(3) public charities. The foundation prioritizes fiscally responsible projects with the potential for tangible results, while not supporting capital projects.

The Bank of America Foundation Sponsorship Program aims to enhance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations. This initiative focuses on critical areas such as workforce education, basic needs like food and housing, and community development. The Foundation invested $350 million last year and encourages employee volunteerism and giving, supporting nonprofits in various sectors, including arts, culture, and diversity initiatives.

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award honors exemplary nonprofit organizations in the U.S. that foster collaborative partnerships across sectors. Annually, a national competition showcases numerous organizations demonstrating impactful community partnerships. Six organizations receive recognition, including the Thomas J. Moran Award, which offers $100,000, and the Frances R. Hesselbein Award, granting $75,000. Since 1996, the award has acknowledged 262 partnerships, emphasizing Mutual of America's commitment to societal improvement through collaboration.