Best Grants for Environmental Projects in Vermont

Vermont environmental and community-focused nonprofits can access funding through Lionheart Charitable Trust to support projects that protect natural resources and serve underserved people. The private family foundation also considers initiatives in education, research, and arts and culture that benefit Vermont’s people and communities, excluding political campaigns or legislative lobbying.

Vermont environmental and community groups can access funding through the Vermont Community Foundation for hyperlocal, place-based projects that build social connections and stewardship. Grants of US $500 - US $5,000 support efforts like nature trails, environmental education, and community events, with priority for smaller-budget organizations and projects in Essex, Grand Isle, and Franklin counties.

Nonprofit organizations serving North Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, MA, or Stamford, VT can apply for the Hardman Fund to support community projects in areas like environment, arts, health, education, and human services. Vermont environmental groups working in Stamford may be eligible, especially those addressing poverty, basic needs, or enriching the natural environment.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on environmental projects in Vermont can seek support for conservation, animals, health, education, arts, human services, and related community programs. David, Helen, and Marian Woodward Fund makes grants across New England and New York, with broad program areas that may benefit Vermont-based environmental initiatives.

Vermont 501(c)(3) nonprofits and public institutions can seek funding for environmental, agriculture, conservation, and related community projects, with awards up to US $10,000. Windham Foundation also supports initiatives in arts, education, and resilient, healthy communities, offering operational support, special initiatives, capacity building, and matching or challenge grants across Vermont.

Nonprofit and community groups in Vermont can receive US $250 - US $1,000 to cover direct project or program costs, including efforts in environmental stewardship and related community services. Norwich Lions Club supports initiatives that may involve volunteers, leverage other funding, and serve children, the sick, or people with disabilities, including work on hunger, vision, diabetes, and pediatric cancers.

Vermont nonprofits working on environmental conservation, education, health, human services, arts, or animal-related programs can apply for grants of US $5,000 - US $20,000. Focused on community well-being, the Lucy Downing Nisbet Charitable Fund gives special consideration to healthcare, domestic violence, heart disease, endangered species, and Morrisville-based organizations that may include environmental projects.

Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, public agencies, municipalities, and fiscally sponsored community groups in Vermont can seek Vermont Community Foundation’s Kelsey Trust Spring Grants to support education and environmental projects in the Lake Champlain Basin. Awards of US $5,000 - US $10,000 prioritize organizations serving people and protecting the natural environment, especially those located within the Basin.

Grants from Canaday Family Charitable Trust help Vermont environmental and youth-focused 501(c)(3) organizations fund innovative projects improving children’s lives, conservation, and economic opportunity, with awards from US $20,000 - US $270,000. Vermont-based programs on land, water, air quality, sustainability, and environmental education, including capital purchases, may be especially competitive.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on conservation, environment, early childhood education, family empowerment, or health in Vermont communities where Cox Enterprises operates can apply for the James M Cox Foundation Grant. Funding supports capital campaigns, renovations, equipment, and special projects such as program expansion or capacity-building, not general operating expenses.

Environmental and community-focused nonprofits, charities, municipalities, Indigenous groups, and associations in Vermont near TC Energy operations can seek funding to support safety, education, environment, and resilient communities projects. Grants from TC Energy Foundation help organizations addressing environmental conservation and community well-being with US $2,500 - US $25,000 for measurable, equity-promoting initiatives.

Vermont 501(c)(3) organizations planning arts, health, community development, education, or environmental projects can seek support for specific community initiatives. Grants from Gifford Health Care help fund two $2,000 Philip D. Levesque Memorial Community Awards for local projects, including environmental efforts, requiring a one-page project description, budget, timeline, outcomes, and proof of nonprofit status.

The Share the Bounty Grant, offered by The Andersons Inc Charitable Foundation, aims to enhance the quality of life in communities through support for agriculture, social services, civic engagement, education, arts, and health initiatives. By investing in these key areas, The Andersons seeks to foster environments where individuals and families can thrive, ensuring a sustainable and vibrant future for all residents in the regions they serve.

Patagonia supports environmental organisations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change.

We support innovative work that addresses the root causes of the environmental crisis and seeks to protect both the environment and affected communities. We focus on places where we’ve built connections through outdoor recreation and through our network of retail stores, nationally and internationally.

We believe local battles to protect a specific stand of forest, a stretch of river, an indigenous wild species or a community from a polluting refinery build public support and confront larger, more complex issues like climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental justice.

We encourage work that brings underrepresented communities to the forefront of the environmental movement and defends communities whose health and livelihoods are threatened by environmental exploitation.

We support multipronged campaigns that push for greater environmental protections and force the government to abide by its own laws.

We fund work that:

• builds an equitable, inclusive and diverse environmental movement
• confronts systemic bias, discrimination and injustice in environmental policy or outdoor spaces
• is action-oriented
• focuses on root causes
• has a clear strategy
• identifies specific goals and objectives that can be effectively measured to evaluate success
• builds public involvement and civic engagement

Patagonia believes that the most direct path to real change is through building grassroots momentum.

Our funding focuses on organisations that have or can create a strong base of support. Because we’re a privately held company, we have the freedom to fund risk-taking, off-the-beaten-track groups, and that’s where we believe our small grants are most effective.

Focused on project-based support, the Elizabeth Raymond Ambler Trust invites Vermont municipal, religious, charitable, benevolent, and educational organizations to apply for community grants. Environmental initiatives, along with education, health, human services, arts, culture, and religious projects, may be eligible if they fit the trustees’ priorities.

Nonprofit tax-exempt organizations working on environmental projects, vulnerable children, Alzheimer’s research, or educational access may be eligible for support in Vermont and beyond. Goodnow Fund supports general operating expenses and special projects, with a particular focus on Fairfield County, Connecticut, and identifies and contacts organizations directly rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.

Vermont environmental and conservation nonprofits planning projects in Michigan or eligible national initiatives can access funding through the Towsley Foundation for programs or capital projects, including educational conferences. The foundation primarily supports Michigan-focused work in areas such as environment, education, health, human services, arts, and community development, with grants over US $250,000 favoring sustainable, strategically planned efforts.

Vermont environmental and community-focused 501(c)(3) and educational organizations can access funding through Hypertherm HOPE Foundation’s Good Neighbor Grant to support small projects in areas like environment, education, health, and basic needs. Grants up to US $500 prioritize groups in the Upper Valley region with inclusive, non-discriminatory practices and, preferably, a connection to a Hypertherm volunteer.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on environment, transportation, or related community needs in Vermont and other Hypertherm communities can seek more than US $500 from Hypertherm HOPE Foundation. Funding supports projects such as environmental initiatives, disaster relief, housing, food access, health and wellness, education, early childhood, STEM, and substance use disorder programs.

With a mission to strengthen communities, nonprofits, public schools, and local government entities in Vermont can receive support from Georgia-Pacific Foundation for education, environment, entrepreneurship, and community enrichment projects. Eligible organizations must be within 30 miles of a Georgia-Pacific manufacturing community and serve communities where the company operates, which may include environmental initiatives.

The Change Happens Foundation Grant focuses on supporting charitable initiatives aligned with environmental science, education, and human services. With a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the foundation prioritizes funding for organizations holding 501(c)(3) status, while advocating for innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. Grants aim to foster systemic change, empower underrepresented communities, and bridge gaps in access to nutrition and healthcare. The foundation operates nationally and internationally, seeking to create significant impact through strategic investments.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) invites U.S. researchers to apply for Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs) in Arctic Sciences. This initiative aims to support innovative research that enhances understanding of the Arctic's changing environment and cultural systems. The program seeks to foster early career scientists and strengthen STEM workforce development, while also promoting collaboration across federal and international partners to advance Arctic research and logistical capabilities.

The James C. Stewart Charitable Foundation Grant supports various charitable causes primarily in Tucson, Arizona, and Southern California. Founded by James Stewart, who was dedicated to uplifting the community and promoting the arts, the foundation provides an average grant of $10,000, awarding around five grants annually. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt. The foundation emphasizes arts, education, environment, health, human services, and public benefit, continuing Stewart's legacy of generosity.

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a Princeton, New Jersey-based endowment fund providing grants to individuals, young adults who volunteer or intern for progressive social action projects or programs in an area of their interest and commitment. The Amy Adina Fund also sponsors a lecture each year on a relevant and timely topic related to its educational mission.

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund was started in 1987 one year after Amy Adina, 20, died suddenly while a student and activist at Rutgers University. It is a realization of her family and her communities’ desire to celebrate her life, to fulfill her dreams and her potential. Since its inception, almost 1,500 grants have been awarded for work in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States—nearly $1,000,000 in total. The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

About Our Grants

Small grants (depending on length of service), are awarded to as many applicants as possible rather than giving larger amounts to fewer individuals. The number of awards has grown each year thanks to annual contributions as well as to gifts sent to the Fund to honor special occasions and life cycle events.

The J.M.K. Innovation Prize, awarded by The J.M. Kaplan Fund, supports early-stage social innovators tackling critical issues in environment, heritage conservation, and social justice. With up to $175,000 in funding and tailored support over three years, it empowers organizations to pilot transformative solutions. The Prize fosters collaboration among awardees, providing resources and mentorship to enhance their impact. Open to both non-profit and mission-driven for-profit entities, it addresses the funding gap for innovative, high-potential projects.

The RTK Scholars Program, funded by RTK Environmental Group, provides a $1,500 scholarship to support students pursuing careers in science, particularly in environmental studies, biology, and engineering. This initiative aims to cultivate the next generation of experts in environmental testing and technology. Eligible applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be enrolled in an accredited institution. The application deadline is May 31 each year, promoting academic excellence and dedication to environmental sciences.

The Bender Family Foundation Grant supports arts, culture, education, history, and environment initiatives in New York's Capital Region. Established in 1997, it prioritizes projects within Albany County and offers funding ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. Nonprofit organizations, including those under fiscal sponsorship, are eligible to apply. However, grants are not available for individuals or annual fund drives, ensuring support is directed toward impactful community projects.