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Discover funding for energy efficiency upgrades, sustainability initiatives, green building, and nonprofit energy programs.
275
Available grants
$526M
Total funding
$56.3K
Median grant
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California Energy Commission
As the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency, the California Energy Commission (CEC) plays a critical role in creating the energy system of the future—one that is clean, modern, and ensures the fifth largest economy in the world continues to thrive. Combating climate change is fundamental to maintaining California’s future. The agency’s research, programs and policies remain crucial today as the state plans for 100% clean energy and carbon neutrality by mid-century. CEC is helping create the energy system of California’s future through activities such as Planning and Policy Development, Renewable Energy Growth; Energy Efficiency; Energy Innovation; Cleaner Transportation; and Responsible Electricity Infrastructure.
GFO-25-605 – Reliable Electric Charging for Eligible School-bus Sites (RECESS)
Purpose
The California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Clean Transportation Program announces the availability of up to $22,000,000 in grant funds for projects that will install electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for electric school buses. This is a multi-funding lane grant solicitation (first come, first served and competitive) with minimum requirements and certain conditions as further described in the manual.
Funding Lanes
This solicitation has three funding lanes: Funding Lane 1; Funding Lane 2; and Funding Lane 3
Applicants may apply for funding in only one of the three funding lanes based on their eligibility as described in Section II A. Eligibility Requirements of the attached manual.
Funding Lane 2 (Competitive)
$9 million in funding available for electric school bus charging infrastructure projects that will support existing and future electric school bus deployments by local educational agencies, as defined in Section II.A.1 of the solicitation manual. This funding lane is competitive. Private schools are not eligible applicants under this solicitation.
California Energy Commission
As the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency, the California Energy Commission (CEC) plays a critical role in creating the energy system of the future—one that is clean, modern, and ensures the fifth largest economy in the world continues to thrive. Combating climate change is fundamental to maintaining California’s future. The agency’s research, programs and policies remain crucial today as the state plans for 100% clean energy and carbon neutrality by mid-century. CEC is helping create the energy system of California’s future through activities such as Planning and Policy Development, Renewable Energy Growth; Energy Efficiency; Energy Innovation; Cleaner Transportation; and Responsible Electricity Infrastructure.
GFO-25-605 – Reliable Electric Charging for Eligible School-bus Sites (RECESS)
Purpose
The California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Clean Transportation Program announces the availability of up to $22,000,000 in grant funds for projects that will install electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for electric school buses. This is a multi-funding lane grant solicitation (first come, first served and competitive) with minimum requirements and certain conditions as further described in the manual.
Funding Lanes
This solicitation has three funding lanes: Funding Lane 1; Funding Lane 2; and Funding Lane 3
Applicants may apply for funding in only one of the three funding lanes based on their eligibility as described in Section II A. Eligibility Requirements of the attached manual.
Funding Lane 1 (First come, first serve)
$4 million in funding available for electric school bus charging infrastructure projects at local educational agencies that received Clean Truck and Bus Incentive Project (HVIP) Public School Bus Set Aside Year 1 and Year 2 funded electric school buses, but who did not receive the CEC’s Energy Infrastructure Incentives for Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles Project (EnergIIZE) Public School Bus Set Aside Year 1 or Year 2 infrastructure funding. This funding lane is awarded on a first come, first serve basis.
Table 4 in Section II.A.1 of the solicitation manual shows eligible Funding Lane 1 Applicants and the maximum number of charging ports that can be requested.
California Energy Commission
As the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency, the California Energy Commission (CEC) plays a critical role in creating the energy system of the future—one that is clean, modern, and ensures the fifth largest economy in the world continues to thrive. Combating climate change is fundamental to maintaining California’s future. The agency’s research, programs and policies remain crucial today as the state plans for 100% clean energy and carbon neutrality by mid-century. CEC is helping create the energy system of California’s future through activities such as Planning and Policy Development, Renewable Energy Growth; Energy Efficiency; Energy Innovation; Cleaner Transportation; and Responsible Electricity Infrastructure.
GFO-25-305 - Non-Energy Impacts of Integrated Energy Retrofit Packages from the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program
Purpose
The purpose of this solicitation is to fund an applied research and development project that informs California’s transition to an equitable, zero-carbon energy system that is climate-resilient and meets environmental goals. Applied research supported by this solicitation will evaluate the non-energy impacts of building retrofits, taking advantage of the opportunity to study the impacts and benefits of the Equitable Building Decarbonization (EBD) Direct Install Program. By leveraging the work of the EBD program, this research can shed light on previously understudied benefits and costs to low-income households. The expected outcomes include lessons learned to inform ongoing and future decarbonization investments and priorities.
California Energy Commission
As the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency, the California Energy Commission (CEC) plays a critical role in creating the energy system of the future—one that is clean, modern, and ensures the fifth largest economy in the world continues to thrive. Combating climate change is fundamental to maintaining California’s future. The agency’s research, programs and policies remain crucial today as the state plans for 100% clean energy and carbon neutrality by mid-century. CEC is helping create the energy system of California’s future through activities such as Planning and Policy Development, Renewable Energy Growth; Energy Efficiency; Energy Innovation; Cleaner Transportation; and Responsible Electricity Infrastructure.
GFO-25-608 - Electric Vehicle Hub, Outreach, Messaging, and Equipment (EV HOME)
Purpose
This is a competitive grant solicitation. The California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Clean Transportation Program announces the availability of up to $10 million in grant funding for projects that will accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption by connecting prospective drivers with incentives for EVs and residential charging equipment, facilitating home charger installations, and providing education and outreach on EV benefits, charging options, and available incentives. Additional funding of up to $10 million may be made available in the future to support a second phase of work for projects initially awarded under this solicitation.
About
The Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is a bureau of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management.
At the State level MEMA coordinates the mitigation (risk reduction) preparedness, response and recovery from emergencies and disasters such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes or hazardous materials spills.
MEMA also provides guidance, and assistance to county and local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations in their efforts to provide protection to citizen and property, and increase resiliency in the face of disaster. The Agency uses strategies such as planning, training, exercise and public education to carry out its mission.
Since 2001, MEMA has been the focal point for the implementation of programs regarding Homeland Security, integrating these concerns into its all-hazard mission.
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants
The State of Maine Emergency Management Agency administers six Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs.
Notice of Funding Opportunity - BRIC
The BRIC grant program makes federal funds available for hazard mitigation activities with the goal of lowering future disaster costs. It does so with a recognition of the need to upgrade and modernize the nation’s infrastructure against natural weather disasters, and of the need for natural hazard risk mitigation activities and resilience with respect to those hazards.
About Us
Our team is working tirelessly to heal the planet and ensure that a just and livable future prevails.
With three decades of clean energy industry experience, our leadership team draws upon a long track record of environmental stewardship and meaningful throughput to confidently navigate today's unprecedented challenges.
We are teaming up with local philanthropists, nonprofit organizations, advocates and elected officials to implement effective solutions towards stopping the climate crisis.
Solar Moonshot Program Grant
The Solar Moonshot Program is helping nonprofit organizations across the United States afford the switch to clean energy.
Grants up to $25,000 are typically awarded, with grant amounts dependent on various factors, including the organization’s need for funding.
In addition to grants given through the program, we also offer short-term, low-interest recoverable grants to help cover the project costs offset by the Investment Tax Credit.
Grants for 2026 are made possible by the BQuest Foundation and two anonymous donors, and the program is managed by Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation. Learn more about the program's status and participants below!
Efficiency Maine Trust
The Efficiency Maine Trust (Efficiency Maine) is the independent, quasi-state agency established to plan and implement energy efficiency programs in Maine. Through its suite of nationally recognized programs, Efficiency Maine provides consumer information, marketing support, demonstration pilots, discounts, rebates, loans, and other initiatives to promote high-efficiency equipment and operations that help Maine’s homes, businesses, and institutions reduce their energy costs and lower their greenhouse gas emissions. The result is job growth, better grid reliability, improved energy independence, a stronger local economy, and progress toward meeting the State’s climate change goals. Efficiency Maine is governed by a Board of Trustees with oversight from the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Custom Program
The C&I Custom Program incentivizes tailored energy efficiency and distributed generation projects that require site-specific engineering analyses and/or projects with energy conservation measures that are not otherwise covered by the C&I Prescriptive Program incentives.
Examples of customers who have participated in the C&I Custom Program include hospitals, manufacturers, universities, commercial bakeries, food processors, office complexes, and data centers.
The C&I Custom Program includes: 1) Custom Efficiency Projects; 2) Custom Distributed Generation Projects; 3) Energy Storage System Projects; 4) Compressed Air Leak Surveys; 5) Technical Assistance; 6) School Decarbonization Technical Assistance; 7) Scoping Audits
Scoping Audits
Efficiency Maine offers free scoping audits to eligible businesses that have the potential to develop a qualifying project under the C&I Custom Program. These scoping audits provide businesses with the opportunity to get a professional consultation on their facility’s specific energy use and identify cost-effective energy efficiency projects that will reduce operating expenses.
Efficiency Maine Trust
The Efficiency Maine Trust (Efficiency Maine) is the independent, quasi-state agency established to plan and implement energy efficiency programs in Maine. Through its suite of nationally recognized programs, Efficiency Maine provides consumer information, marketing support, demonstration pilots, discounts, rebates, loans, and other initiatives to promote high-efficiency equipment and operations that help Maine’s homes, businesses, and institutions reduce their energy costs and lower their greenhouse gas emissions. The result is job growth, better grid reliability, improved energy independence, a stronger local economy, and progress toward meeting the State’s climate change goals. Efficiency Maine is governed by a Board of Trustees with oversight from the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Custom Program
The C&I Custom Program incentivizes tailored energy efficiency and distributed generation projects that require site-specific engineering analyses and/or projects with energy conservation measures that are not otherwise covered by the C&I Prescriptive Program incentives.
Examples of customers who have participated in the C&I Custom Program include hospitals, manufacturers, universities, commercial bakeries, food processors, office complexes, and data centers.
The C&I Custom Program includes: 1) Custom Efficiency Projects; 2) Custom Distributed Generation Projects; 3) Energy Storage System Projects; 4) Compressed Air Leak Surveys; 5) Technical Assistance; 6) School Decarbonization Technical Assistance; 7) Scoping Audits
School Decarbonization Technical Assistance
To assist schools as they plan, design, and procure new construction projects or energy upgrades, Efficiency Maine offers a financial incentive for qualifying professional services directly related to complex energy projects. Eligible projects must result in reduced carbon emissions. Efficiency Maine may provide up to 50%, not to exceed $20,000, toward the cost of approved Technical Assistance (TA) studies.
Only professional services provided by an engineering or legal firm from the Approved TA Provider List will be eligible for a TA Incentive.
Note: Projects receiving funding through the School Decarbonization Technical Assistance program may not also receive funding from the standard Technical Assistance program.
District Department of Transportation
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) was established by The District Department of Transportation Establishment Act of 2002 as a cabinet-level agency responsible for the management of transportation infrastructure and operations (D.C. Law 14-137 [2002]).
Every day, over 1,000 members of the DDOT team work tirelessly to ensure that the District’s roads are safe, reliable , and easy to navigate for the millions of residents, commuters, and visitors who use the transportation network each year.
Mission: The District Department of Transportation’s mission is to equitably deliver a safe, sustainable and reliable multimodal transportation network for all residents and visitors of the District of Columbia.
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program Funding Round #1
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) invites organizations, businesses, and District of Columbia property owners to apply for a competitive grant to design, install, operate, and maintain federally compliant Direct Current (DC) fast charging stations. Under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, DDOT is receiving $16.7 million over five (5) years to invest in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure throughout the District of Columbia (District) in accordance with the program’s guidance, specifications, and requirements. These first round of stations must be withing one (1) travel-mile of federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) for the District to achieve fully built out status. The District currently has six (6) AFCs.
About Virginia Energy
Virginia Energy is the state agency charged with advancing Virginia's energy, mining, and mineral policies and initiatives. Our mission is to lead the Commonwealth to a safe, reliable and responsible energy future by:
Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program
Virginia Energy is one of nine states and tribal programs chosen by Congress to receive funding in Fiscal Year 2025 to develop and repurpose Abandoned Mine Lands with economic and community development end uses. The 2025 Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program (AMLER) funding is made available as a direct payment by the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), in accordance with the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (Public Law No. 119-4). Virginia has received an average of $10.48 million per year since 2017. Virginia's payment in FY2025 is $11 million.
Projects must follow eligibility and other guidelines set forth in OSMRE's AMLER Guidance document and adhere to Virginia Energy's terms and conditions. Applicants are encouraged to submit projects with the greatest potential to achieve the economic and community development goals of the AMLER Program.
Energy efficiency grants fund nonprofits aiming to reduce energy consumption, improve building systems, and adopt renewable energy solutions. The following grants empower organizations to cut costs, promote sustainability, and lower environmental impact.
Explore 95 funding opportunities for energy efficiency projects, with $49.4M in resources. Instrumentl helps nonprofits secure grants from diverse funders, offering tools for customized searches, deadline tracking, and insights to advance sustainability goals.
How common are grants in this category?
Uncommon — grants in this category are less prevalent than in others.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for Energy Efficiency grants for Nonprofits?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
What's the typical grant amount funded for Energy Efficiency Grants for Nonprofits?
Grants are most commonly $125,000.
Energy efficiency grants are available to nonprofits working to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability. Eligible organizations may focus on renewable energy, reducing carbon footprints, upgrading building infrastructure, or improving community education and access to energy-saving solutions. Some grants prioritize projects that benefit low-income communities or address environmental justice.
Grants in energy efficiency typically have the highest concentration of deadlines in Q1, with 34.2% of grant deadlines falling in this period. If you're planning to apply, consider prioritizing your applications around this time to maximize opportunities. Conversely, the least active period for grants in this category is Q3.
Energy efficiency grants aim to support nonprofits in being more eco-friendly, lowering utility bills, and taking care of the environment: Funders want to support projects leading to long-term sustainable energy improvements. These grants empower organizations to reduce energy consumption, promote renewable energy, upgrade infrastructure, and lower costs and emissions related to energy expenses and environmental impact.
On average, grants in energy efficiency provide funding between $300 and $12,500,000, with typical awards falling around $125,000 (median) and $783,927 (average). These insights can help nonprofits align their funding requests with what grantmakers typically offer in this space.
Energy efficiency grants are typically funded by federal (Department of Energy) and local government agencies, as well as utility companies/energy providers. Other funders include private foundations supporting sustainability initiatives, climate action, and environmental justice (The Energy Foundation), and corporate sustainability initiatives (Google Green Grants, Walmart’s Energy Efficiency Program).
To improve the chances of receiving an energy efficiency grant, nonprofits should:
Want to improve your grant prospecting strategy? Master the process with our detailed guide to grant prospect research.
Instrumentl simplifies the process of applying for energy efficiency grants by offering an intuitive platform that helps nonprofits discover relevant funding opportunities, track deadlines, and analyze funder-giving patterns. The platform's automated alerts ensure users never miss a deadline, while detailed funder insights help organizations tailor their applications to align with grantor priorities. Learn how the Salesian Sisters of Tampa achieved an 80% time savings on grant-related tasks.