Best Public Infrastructure Grants in Idaho

Incorporated Idaho cities and counties under 50,000 residents can seek funding to develop or improve public infrastructure that benefits low- and moderate-income residents. With a mission to support community development, Idaho Department of Commerce provides grants for sewer and water systems, streets, fire stations, accessibility upgrades, and related public facilities projects.

Incorporated cities and counties under 50,000 in Idaho can apply for Idaho Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant Job Creation funds, awarding up to US $500,000 for public infrastructure or publicly regulated utility projects that enable new jobs. Public infrastructure initiatives benefiting low- and moderate-income residents may be especially competitive.

Idaho cities and counties under 50,000 residents can receive grants up to US $245,000 for public infrastructure and community facilities, including senior and community centers. Idaho Department of Commerce’s CDBG program funds construction, rehabilitation, and expansion projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents and address slum, blight, or health and safety concerns.

Andersen Construction Foundation

Established in 2015, our Foundation was created to intentionally steward and grow our commitment to community service. From the beginning, an endowment was formed to ensure meaningful, sustained giving for the long term. Guided by the belief that service is part of who we are, we have contributed volunteer time, funding, and resources to community organizations and build projects in the places we call home—including Portland, Eugene, Seattle, and Boise—as well as through hands-on initiatives across the country and internationally.

As our organization has grown, our approach to giving back has grown with it. The Foundation now provides a central way for employees across our family of businesses to engage in philanthropy and volunteer efforts. Through this structure, we continue to support the communities where we live and work, reinforcing a long-standing commitment to service.

Andersen Foundation Grant

We fund build-related projects and sponsor community events in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Applications for project grants and event sponsorships are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by our local giving committees. 

Grants are awarded in the $2,500-$10,000 range for construction repairs and infrastructure needs. Applicants must have 501(c)3 status.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Idaho with established budgets can seek funding for workforce skills, youth development, and community accessibility projects through RBC Foundation USA. Grants may support job readiness training, internships, financial well-being, or capital improvements that make community spaces more inclusive and environmentally sustainable in areas served by RBC Wealth Management.

Idaho public agencies such as state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities can access funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program for major surface transportation infrastructure projects. Administered by the US Department of Transportation, this U.S.-wide program offers up to US $25,000,000 for multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects with significant local or regional impact.

Federally recognized Indian Tribes working on public infrastructure in Idaho and nationwide can seek funding to plan, design, construct, rehabilitate, or inspect unsafe or aging bridges. Focused on bridges in poor condition or with low load capacity, the Federal Highway Administration program supports improvements to BIA/Tribally and non-BIA/Tribally owned TTP bridges.

Industrial and energy-focused organizations in Idaho can access funding through the U.S. Department of Energy for innovative industrial energy storage systems that improve facility efficiency and reduce grid impacts. This three-phase national prize offers up to US $700,000 per winning team to design, prototype, and validate thermal or electric industrial energy storage solutions that may benefit public energy infrastructure.

Researchers and research institutions in the U.S. conducting quasi-experimental evaluations of social programs and policies can apply for funding from Arnold Ventures. Grants support rigorous causal studies in areas such as public infrastructure, higher and career education, workforce training, reproductive health, and public finance, which may benefit Idaho-focused public infrastructure research projects.

Very small, financially distressed rural communities planning water or waste disposal infrastructure can get funding for feasibility studies, preliminary design, and technical assistance nationwide, including Idaho. Focused on predevelopment for public water, sewage, solid waste, and stormwater facilities, USDA Rural Development support may benefit local governments, nonprofits, and tribes working on public infrastructure projects.

Public infrastructure and transportation policy organizations in Idaho can seek funding for U.S.-focused research, data, and policy analysis on transportation systems and project delivery. With a mission to improve lives through evidence-based solutions, Arnold Ventures supports work on capital investment reform, cost control, permitting, procurement, and related transportation governance issues, with awards up to US $200,000.

Public agencies and partners in Idaho seeking to deploy advanced transportation technologies can apply for competitive grants supporting safety, mobility, congestion management, and public infrastructure, with awards up to US $12,000,000. DOT Federal Highway Administration funds projects that improve system performance, intermodal connectivity, and economic opportunities for communities and families.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA: Capital Improvement Grants

Any request to support a project that seeks to improve a facility is considered a capital improvement. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Range improvements
• Berm improvements
• Clubhouse/Classroom facility improvements
• Shelter structures/covered firing lines/pavilions
• Road improvements
• Commercial-grade trap machines (see section regarding trap machines, below)
• Any other permanent improvement to an organization’s property or facility

The Grant Program considers requests for certain trap machines to be a capital improvement to the facility. Specifically, requests for commercial grade trap machines that have a capacity of 300 clays and up.

The Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grant Program (84.041C) offers $19M in funding to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to address urgent school facility needs. This initiative supports repairs, renovations, or replacements required to maintain safe educational environments. Grants cover projects that improve accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensure that facilities meet health standards. The program aims to enhance learning conditions by responding effectively to emergency situations.

About Boeing

A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company

One of the largest employee-managed funds of its kind in the world, the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company has empowered employees to make a greater impact by pooling their tax-deductible donations for more than 60 years. Employee-led grantmaking committees at 20 Boeing sites provide combined employee donations to nonprofits in their communities through ECF grants.

Charitable or educational organizations can apply for grants from the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company.

Puget Sound Chapter

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing Puget Sound is a pooled fund consisting of recurring payroll contributions from generous Boeing employees. It funds local nonprofits that help thousands of families and individuals in the Puget Sound region where Boeing employees live and work.

ECF focus areas

ECF makes grants to 501(c)(3) Health & Human Service nonprofits such as food banks, job-training programs, shelters, transitional housing, mental health services, and low-income medical clinics. ECF seeks the direct client benefit of each grant to ensure that our employees’ contributions directly help those in need.

ECF funding criteria

ECF has two distinct grant categories – Supporting Grants and Capital Campaign Grants.

ECF of Boeing Company: Puget Sound Chapter Supporting Grants

Consideration is given to nonprofits/agencies that are performing well and are seeking to upgrade, replace or modify elements of their infrastructure.

• Supporting grants cannot exceed $50,000. The requested amount cannot be more than 10% of an agency’s gross annual revenue.
• Supporting grants will be considered only for agencies benefiting residents in the Puget Sound Region.
• Supporting grants help agencies continue to effectively provide services through enhanced direct client benefit by aiding them in procuring and/or paying for items such as:
  • Equipment (ex. office, kitchen, industrial, furniture, etc.)
  • Vehicles used to support clients and/or transport food and/or goods (cost of vehicle and accommodations, tax, and licensing only; operating expenses, such as insurance, fuel, etc. is not allowed)
  • Phone systems
  • Cell phones for direct client use
  • Remodels and/or renovations (must hold at least a 10-year lease or own the building)
  • Purchase or construction of new buildings
  • Computers or tablets for direct client benefit and/or use
  • Software for direct client benefit and/or use (ex. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device)
  • Information Technology expenses, without which procured tools would not work
  • External improvements for client safety (i.e. security system, exterior lighting, improved ADA accessibility, new or refinished pavement or concrete)
• Supporting grants which are accepted must be spent as approved within nine (9) months.

The Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Energy Program, initiated by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), aims to enhance rural electric systems through substantial funding of approximately $175 million. This initiative focuses on increasing emission-free nuclear power and improving transmission infrastructure efficiency, promoting long-term reliability and affordability. Eligible entities include electric cooperatives serving rural areas and their subsidiaries. The program aligns with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, thus fostering a sustainable energy future.

The BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)—Formula Grants Program aims to support states and local governments in enhancing their DNA analysis capabilities. By providing funding for existing crime laboratories, this initiative seeks to increase the processing capacity for DNA samples, thereby reducing the backlog in forensic DNA analysis and ensuring timely entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Applications are due by November 5, 2026.

The FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) FAA Contract Tower Competitive Grant Program offers up to $100 million for airport traffic control tower projects. This initiative aims to support airports in modernizing and repairing aging infrastructure, ensuring safety and efficiency in air traffic management. Eligible projects may involve construction, rehabilitation, or installation of essential air traffic control equipment, enhancing the operational capabilities of the nation's airports.

Nonprofits, government entities, and tribal organizations working on community traffic safety and public infrastructure in Idaho can apply for US $50,000 - US $200,000 to implement evidence-based, innovative road safety projects. The National Safety Council’s Road to Zero Coalition supports U.S. projects that reduce traffic fatalities, address mobility disparities, and advance Safe System approaches.

Local governments and community-based nonprofits in small to mid-sized U.S. cities, including Idaho, can apply for Smart Growth America’s Community Connectors program to plan and deliver temporary street safety pilot projects, with awards up to US $25,000. Teams must jointly apply and focus on repairing harms from dangerous or divisive arterial roads.

Idaho public infrastructure and community-serving organizations can seek grants supporting health, sustainability, economic opportunity, and community development projects. SC Johnson Giving supports U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charities and government entities, with emphasis on communities near its major operations, for initiatives like public infrastructure, environmental conservation, public health, and community revitalization that improve local quality of life.

Idaho 501(c)(3) public charities running safety, workforce, community vitality, or environmental sustainability projects can access funding through Union Pacific Foundation’s Community Ties Giving Program, with awards from US $5,000 - US $30,000. Eligible programs must primarily serve Idaho communities on the Union Pacific service list, including public infrastructure improvements like signage, lighting, and public trail enhancements.

The Ittleson Foundation Environmental Program Grants support innovative projects that enhance environmental activism through education and grassroots efforts. In 2025, grants will focus on initiatives that strengthen environmental movements and engage new constituencies, particularly in environmental equity. The Foundation has provided resources since 1932 to improve public policy and community welfare, alternating its grantmaking focus annually between mental health and environmental initiatives.

The Applied Materials Foundation offers grants focusing on education, arts and culture, civic engagement, the environment, and girls' empowerment. These grants are designed to meet local community needs and support innovative projects that enhance educational opportunities, promote cultural activities, and foster civic participation. The foundation prioritizes collaboration with local organizations in areas where Applied Materials operates, ensuring impactful contributions to community resilience and sustainability.

The Entergy Charitable Foundation Grant focuses on supporting initiatives that foster thriving communities through education, poverty solutions, and environmental programs. The foundation prioritizes funding for 501(c)(3) organizations and similar entities. Key areas include education development, innovative poverty solutions, and environmental restoration efforts, such as coastal wetland preservation. Organizations are encouraged to apply at least three months before funding is needed, ensuring timely support for impactful community projects.

The Fund for a Just Society Grant, offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association, supports nonprofit organizations that focus on social and economic justice through community organizing. This grant prioritizes innovative projects that seek systemic change and empower disenfranchised communities. Eligible organizations must operate with an annual budget under $500,000 and demonstrate a clear campaign for change. This funding aims to foster a more just society by addressing root causes and enhancing visibility for Unitarian Universalist principles.

The Emergent Fund Grant, established in 2016, supports BIPOC-led social justice movements through rapid response funding. It addresses urgent community needs by providing low-barrier grants to organizations facing crises such as family separation and systemic oppression. The fund prioritizes initiatives that foster Black liberation, multiracial solidarity, and empower communities to build transformative power. By investing in innovative strategies, the Emergent Fund aims to challenge oppressive structures and advance social justice, ensuring that impacted communities are at the forefront of their own advocacy.