Best Grants for Environmental Justice in Louisiana

Rural, community-based 501(c)(3) organizations using grassroots organizing strategies can seek general or project support for social, economic, or environmental justice work, including environmental justice and advocacy, from Southern Partners Fund. Louisiana groups and other eligible rural organizations in the Southeast may benefit, with smaller budgets eligible for general support and larger ones for project-specific funding.

Louisiana environmental justice and advocacy nonprofits can access funding through Grand Rapids Community Foundation for projects advancing racial equity in education, health, housing, environment, arts, and economic prosperity. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities, or groups with a fiscal sponsor; pre-applications are accepted year-round with feedback typically within 14–30 days.

Nonprofit and community-based organizations advancing equitable food systems and procurement in the U.S., including Louisiana, can apply for US $25,000 - US $250,000 to strengthen food value chains and build local wealth. Growing Justice supports Tribal, Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian, and immigrant communities through planning and implementation grants that promote environmental and food justice and good food procurement.

Indigenous-led frontline groups, organizations, Tribes, and individuals in Louisiana and across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and related island nations can apply for NDN Collective’s Community Action Fund; awards up to US $15,000 for non-violent direct actions, community organizing, and movement-building to defend Indigenous rights and protect land, air, water, and natural resources.

Conservation districts, state and territory conservation associations and agencies, Resource Conservation & Development Councils, and Tribal organizations in Louisiana can apply for National Association of Conservation Districts Technical Assistance Grants; awards approximately US $18,000,000 nationally to hire staff for conservation technical assistance, outreach, and education. Eligible projects may support environmental justice, food security, clean water, and outdoor equity efforts.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving veterans through environmental justice, conservation, recreation, or related programs in the U.S., including Louisiana, can seek up to US $100,000 for new or expanding projects. With a mission to empower women’s collective giving, Impact100 Global Veterans provides large, transformative grants across arts, education, environment, family, and health focus areas.

Artists and arts organizations creating solution-focused environmental and climate justice projects in Louisiana can apply for support from Puffin Foundation. With a mission to open doors for underrepresented artists, Puffin provides funding for U.S.-based visual, media, theater, film, music, and other social change art projects, prioritizing work accessible to U.S. audiences.

Youth leaders ages 13–23 in Louisiana running environmental justice or other kindness-centered social impact projects can apply for Riley's Way Foundation’s Call for Kindness Fellowship, which awards up to US $5,000 for project expenses. Eligible projects partner with or are housed within a 501(c)(3) and receive a 12‑month leadership development program.

Youth environmental leaders ages 13 to 22 in North America working on environmental justice and related issues can receive US $3,000 plus leadership development support. Earth Island Institute provides Louisiana youth advocates with recognition, a cash prize, media exposure, and a week-long training program to strengthen their environmental justice and climate activism projects.

Young people leading environmental projects in Louisiana can apply for Earth Island Institute’s John Goddard Prize microgrants to grow ambitious, youth-led initiatives. Grants from Earth Island Institute help youth nationwide advance environmental justice, conservation, sustainability, and stewardship projects, with adult advisors welcome only in a supporting role while youth provide the ideas and words.

Filmmakers creating short documentaries on climate change and environmental justice in Louisiana can apply for the Bloomberg Green Docs Contest, which offers a US $25,000 grand prize. Grants from Bloomberg Philanthropies help storytellers highlight urgent climate issues, ecosystem restoration, and emerging zero-carbon communities in films under ten minutes.

Environmental justice and policy advocates in Louisiana with strong backgrounds in chemical sciences or engineering can apply for the American Chemical Society’s Science Policy Fellowship. Focused on science policy and environmental issues, ACS invites qualified individuals to work on federal research funding, STEM education, green chemistry, and environmental and regulatory policy for 1–2 years.

Environmental justice and advocacy nonprofits in Louisiana can seek US $5,000 - US $20,000 to support bold, action-oriented campaigns that address root causes of environmental harm and protect affected communities. Patagonia Org supports grassroots groups building inclusive movements, confronting systemic bias, and engaging the public to strengthen environmental protections and community health.

Louisiana environmental justice and youth-led groups can access funding through Climate Group’s Youth Climate Justice Fund to support local or national climate justice and socio-environmental organizing. Eligible collectives are led by people 35 or under and may receive up to US $40,000 through a participatory, trust-based grantmaking process across global regions including North America.

States, tribes, and local governments in Louisiana can seek funding to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in privately owned housing, with awards from US $1,000,000 - US $7,850,000. With a mission to protect children and improve housing conditions, the US HUD Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control also offers supplemental support for related healthy homes interventions.

Nonprofit organizations and state, regional, or local governments in Louisiana working on lead-safe and healthy homes can apply for Department of Housing and Urban Development funding; awards up to US $10,000,000 support creating a national financing platform. This opportunity may benefit environmental justice efforts by improving housing-related health conditions in low-income communities.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) environmental justice, climate, or sustainability nonprofits with $500,000–$3.5 million budgets can receive up to US $25,000 and intensive operational support through this 18‑month program. Focused on organizational growth, Levine Impact Lab invites eligible groups, including those serving Louisiana communities, to work on strategic planning, financial infrastructure, revenue, and expansion projects.

The Richard L and Freda K Flerlage Foundation

Our Mission

Working to empower underserved populations through small grants in support of literacy, healthcare, reduction of poverty, and the promotion of social and environmental justice.

We are a small family foundation, when possible we aim to support organizations with relatively small operating funds where our small grants will have their greatest possible impact.

Our average grant is $3,800.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on environmental justice, conservation, education, or sustainable development in Louisiana and across the Americas can apply for support from the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas. The foundation funds projects such as biodiversity conservation, environmental education, environmental justice initiatives, and sustainable livelihood or green economy efforts; most proposals are solicited early in the calendar year.

Louisiana environmental justice and advocacy nonprofits can seek support for campaigns protecting wild species and habitats. Focused on grassroots ecological action, Fund for Wild Nature invites small, tax-exempt organizations in the U.S. or Canada with budgets under $250,000 and no government funding to apply for projects challenging destructive policies and defending wild nature.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) and public organizations in Louisiana working on environmental stewardship, sustainability education, community vitality, or workforce development may be eligible for charitable support that advances environmental justice and community well-being. Waste Management supports projects that preserve natural resources, build resilient, sustainable communities, and equip residents with skills to care for their environment.

The Actions of Public Witness Grant, offered by the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program, provides matching grants of up to $1,500 to Unitarian Universalist congregations engaging in timely actions of public witness. This initiative supports efforts in social and environmental justice, encouraging congregations to mobilize during critical moments. Grants are available on a rolling basis and are intended for urgent projects that extend beyond the regular grant timeframe. Notably, individual applications are not accepted.

The IEN-WMAN Mini-Grant Program provides crucial financial support to Indigenous communities and grassroots organizations impacted by mining in the U.S. and Canada. With over $200,000 distributed annually in $4,000 grants, the program aims to address mining-related environmental and health issues. Priority is given to proposals that demonstrate a direct impact on affected communities, particularly Indigenous-led initiatives, ensuring that financial assistance is directed where it is most needed.

The Grassroots Organizing National Grant Program, funded by the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, supports small, community-led organizations in the U.S. working to confront social and environmental injustices. Grants of up to $30,000 per year are available for two years, prioritizing organizations with budgets under $350,000. The program emphasizes grassroots organizing and community empowerment, inspired by the legacy of John Lewis. Eligible applicants must focus on collective action and local leadership to drive social change.

The Impact Fund provides recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits and small law firms working on social, environmental, and economic justice issues. With over $10 million awarded since 1992, the fund supports impactful litigation addressing systemic injustices. Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000 and prioritize cases directly involving affected communities. Recipients must repay the grant amount with interest if they recover fees or costs, ensuring sustainability for future funding.

CHEJ Small Grants Program

The Small Grants Program has officially relaunched. Applications are now open.The Center for Health, Environment & Justice’s (CHEJ) Small Grants Program is for grassroots groups working on environmental health and justice issues related to the presence of “toxics” (toxic chemicals or hazardous substances) in their immediate communities. CHEJ prioritizes community-based organizations aiming to have local, state and regional impact through their own strategies and actions.

The Rockefeller Family Fund's Climate Grant focuses on reducing fossil fuel production to combat climate change. It supports initiatives that hold polluters accountable and fosters citizen engagement for climate action. The fund prioritizes programs that seek to limit oil and gas production, enforce climate damages in court, and promote sustainable energy solutions. By addressing the fossil fuel industry's resistance, the grant aims to create meaningful progress towards climate goals and ensure that those responsible for climate disruption contribute to adaptation efforts.