Best Climate Change Grants in Michigan

Undergraduate and graduate students in political science or environmental studies in Michigan can receive approximately US $1,500 to support climate and sustainability-focused academic work. With a mission to advance higher education in climate change resilience and policy, Western Michigan University provides scholarships for students in its Political Science Department, Climate Change Policy and Management Certificate Program, and School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability.

Michigan industrial facilities and other eligible organizations can receive US $400,000 - US $1,000,000 to fund feasibility studies, assessments, and planning for near-term industrial decarbonization and deeper emissions cuts in Michigan. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy supports renewable energy, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas reduction projects that advance the state’s clean energy and climate resilience goals.

Environmental and community organizations in Michigan working on Great Lakes climate resilience, watershed health, and environmental justice can access funding through the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation; awards are typically more than US $10,000. Grants support community leadership, policy advocacy, and organizational capacity to build a flourishing, healthy, and resilient Great Lakes ecosystem.

Agricultural producers, forest landowners, Tribes, and water management entities in Michigan can receive technical and financial help to implement conservation practices that improve soil, water, air, and wildlife habitat. Focused on climate resilience, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service invites Michigan land stewards to integrate climate-smart, resource-conserving practices through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Michigan agricultural and forest producers seeking to improve conservation and climate resilience can access funding through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program. CSP offers more than US $4,000 in annual payments for whole-operation conservation plans that enhance soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and sustainable grazing or cropping practices on eligible working lands.

Universities and research organizations studying coastal climate resilience and environmental policy in Michigan and other eligible coastal and Great Lakes states can apply for National Sea Grant Law Center’s Coastal Resilience Program. Focus is on legal and policy research addressing sea level rise, flooding, storm surge, land use, and related climate change resilience and equity issues.

Eligible tribal governments, community-based nonprofits, local governments, and educational institutions in Michigan and other EPA Region 5 states can apply for The Minneapolis Foundation’s Tier 1 grants, up to US $150,000, for environmental and public health assessment and engagement. Funding supports climate resilience, environmental justice, and related work in disadvantaged Great Lakes communities.

Michigan climate and environmental justice organizations can access funding through the Joyce Foundation to advance climate solutions and Great Lakes and drinking water policy. Eligible national and regional groups working in Great Lakes states, especially on equitable decarbonization and clean, affordable water for impacted communities, may submit letters of inquiry on an invite-focused basis.

RBC Foundation – USA aims to enhance community quality of life by supporting non-profit organizations that promote diversity and positive change. In 2023, it awarded over $2.8 million in grants, prioritizing youth programs for ages 15-29, arts access for diverse populations, and mental well-being initiatives. The foundation encourages sustainable projects that foster economic independence, providing critical support for education, mental health, and cultural enrichment, thereby making a significant impact across various communities.

The WMU College of Arts and Sciences offers the Climate Change Graduate Research Scholarship to support graduate students conducting research on the environmental impacts of climate change. Funded by an anonymous donor, this scholarship requires recipients to present their findings to the Climate Change Working Group within a year of receiving the award. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in graduate programs, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, and adhere to specific guidelines regarding funding and presentations.

Michigan 501(c)(3) organizations working on climate and clean energy policy or climate change education can access funding through Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation to reduce fossil fuel use and educate young adults. Eligible U.S.-based nonprofits may request general operating or program-specific support for research, advocacy, legal strategies, or curriculum development on climate change.

Nonprofit organizations running climate-focused projects in Michigan can receive US $200 - US $20,000 to support Indigenous rights, regenerative agriculture, climate justice, visionary futures, and youth climate activism. Earth Rising Foundation supports climate change resilience and equity efforts nationwide, with all funds disbursed through existing U.S.-based nonprofits that meet its priorities.

Nonprofit organizations addressing climate change, environmental justice, or related social equity issues in Michigan and nearby counties can apply for Toledo Community Foundation’s Sylvania Franciscan Foundation Fund, with awards of US $5,000 - US $50,000 for programs such as ecological education, sustainable lifestyles, and community engagement that reflect Laudato Si’ principles and climate resilience.

Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofits with programs in confidence-building, inclusion, or sustainability can access funding through Aerie Real Foundation’s Community Grant. Awards up to US $10,000 support projects for young women, inclusive communities, or local climate and environmental initiatives, including climate change resilience and equity efforts in the U.S. and Canada.

Michigan rural communities, tribes, governments, and other legal entities seeking to build broadband infrastructure can access funding through USDA Rural Development’s Community Connect Grants, awarding US $100,000 - US $5,000,000. Projects must serve rural areas lacking broadband, provide free access for key community facilities and centers, and can support climate resilience and equity through improved digital connectivity.

Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers at U.S. institutions studying fungal roles in climate change can seek support for innovative, solution-oriented projects, including those based in Michigan. With a mission to advance mycology, Mycological Society of America provides US $10,000 for fundamental or translational fungal-climate research, including collaborative work with international partners led from the U.S.

Organizations worldwide working on climate change resilience and equity, inclusive economies, racial justice, governance, or pandemic-ready health systems can receive Skoll Awards funding to scale proven social innovations. Grants from the Skoll Foundation help Michigan climate-focused nonprofits, for-profits, and hybrids that are legally incorporated and creating systemic, transformational change on pressing global problems.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving veterans with climate resilience, environmental justice, conservation, or related programs in Michigan and other U.S. locations can seek funding for projects. With a mission to empower women’s collective giving, Impact100 Global Veterans provides up to US $100,000 for new or expanding initiatives in defined focus areas benefiting veterans.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Genesee County, Michigan can seek $100,000 for projects in areas including climate action, environmental conservation, and community well-being. Grants from Impact100 Genesee County help Michigan groups advance environmental education, climate change resilience and equity, sustainable agriculture, parks and recreation, and related programs serving primarily Genesee County residents.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations based in Emmet or Charlevoix counties can seek US $100,000 from Impact 100 Little Traverse Bay for new or expanded programs or capital projects. Focus areas include environment, recreation, preservation, and climate change resilience efforts that restore or enhance local natural resources and community well-being in northern Michigan.

Early-career social science faculty researching U.S. economic mobility, inequality, or related issues can apply for US $35,000 - US $50,000 in one-year project funding from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on topics like climate change resilience and equity, the program invites Michigan-based and other U.S. scholars to propose innovative, data-driven studies that address systemic barriers and opportunity gaps.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on climate change resilience and equity in Michigan can seek support for innovative, non-duplicative projects. Mike & Sofia Segal Foundation funds climate initiatives alongside rare disease research, Jewish heritage, elder care, and intellectual freedom, for organizations with clear objectives, strong community engagement, and realistic, detailed budgets.

The Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship encourages graduate students to contribute to wilderness protection, honoring Gloria Barron's legacy. The Wilderness Society prioritizes projects addressing climate change and equitable access to public lands. Applicants must be enrolled in a U.S. graduate program, possess strong academic qualifications, and focus on long-term wilderness conservation. Research proposals on biodiversity, climate adaptation, and social-ecological contexts are particularly welcome, aiming for inclusive and impactful conservation efforts.

Melton Foundation

The Melton Foundation is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the USA, and a leading proponent of Global Citizenship education and practice worldwide. Established nearly thirty years ago with the credence that collaborations across boundaries can forge sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, today, our programs reach millions of young leaders, having crystallized into a network of over 750 life-long Melton Fellows spread across 40+ countries. Our primary operations are in Chile, China, Germany, Ghana, India, and the United States of America, with legal subsidiaries in Bangalore, India; Jena, Germany; Temuco, Chile; and Accra, Ghana. 

Through our fellowship and collaborative programs we promote and enable global citizenship as a way for individuals and organizations to work together across boundaries of place and identity to solve challenges in an interconnected world.

Melton Foundation Action Grants

The Melton Foundation offers grants year-round to support Melton Fellows in developing skills, perspective and wider networks to further their capacity as global citizens and contribute towards building an equitable, sustainable, and peaceful world.

In almost 10 years of granting, more than 100 Fellows’ initiatives have been awarded with a Melton Foundation grant to

• Build awareness and/or further awareness raising around global issues and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
• Develop individual and collective responsibility for sustained, collaborative action,
• Grow capacity to collaboratively drive and sustain social impact at the local and/or global level,
• Further the design, implementation and evaluation of collaborative actions that embody the spirit of global citizenship practice and further social impact, or
• Support coordinated social-impact efforts in a particular or across (emerging) Melton Foundation Hub regions to promote global citizenship practice (s) and the organization’s mission.

The Conservation Alliance

The Conservation Alliance is the leading business coalition for conservation. Uniting companies across industries, perspectives, and geographies, we harness the collective power of our members to protect lands and waters for future generations. Our dual top-down and bottom-up approach pairs corporate advocacy with funding for grassroots action on the ground. Investing in The Conservation Alliance is not only an investment in protecting the resources outdoor businesses depend on—it’s a way to strengthen the outdoor economy and ensure long-term business resilience.

Mission: We harness the collective power of business and outdoor communities to fund and advocate for the protection of North America’s natural places.

Confluence Program

Why Confluence?

The Confluence Program, launched in 2021, seeks to expand The Conservation Alliance’s network of grassroots and community partners. We know that our network does not represent a coalition of everyone working to protect natural places. Great things happen when a diverse coalition of voices and perspectives comes together to champion solutions that balance the best interests of land and water, wildlife, and people. The Confluence Program is a first step in our efforts to help create new systems and structures that bring all of the groups, organizations, and businesses committed to this work closer together to protect our shared natural places.

Only in special cases do we fund more than one group working on a campaign – this is typically reserved for TCA Priority Campaigns.

We prioritize the following types of projects:

• Advance TCA’s Conservation Strategy
• Measurably mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect biodiversity
• Are led by or increase engagement opportunities for Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic, Latin American, Black, Brown, or additional communities who identify as People of Color
• Projects that uplift/center traditional ecological knowledge, history, and culture in relation to land and water conservation
• Expand outdoor recreation opportunities and/or access to nature in an effort to help create connections to and a sense of belonging in the landscape
• Aim to improve long-term and sustainable economic impacts for local communities
• Increase connectivity to other protected lands
• Incorporate efforts to mobilize / engage local communities
• Projects that focus on groups working in collaboration with others to protect land or water
• Conservation projects that address the social, cultural, and environmental needs of a community and/or region.
• Projects where the resources (e.g., staff, revenue) and strategy align well with the intended goals and outcomes.

The ROSES 2025: A.16 Cryosphere program by NASA focuses on the vital role of Earth's ice within the global climate system. It aims to enhance understanding of cryospheric processes through satellite and airborne observations, addressing the challenges posed by the remoteness of icy regions. The program supports research on Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, glaciers, and Arctic sea ice to monitor changes and their impacts on sea level rise, ocean biology, and climate feedback mechanisms.

QBE Foundation Inc.

The QBE Foundation’s focus is on creating strong, resilient and inclusive communities. We work in partnership with community organizations, working in climate resilience and inclusion – two areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact.

The QBE Foundation is one component that reflects our company’s focus, involvement, and investment in the neighborhoods where we do business, and where our employees live and work. The QBE Foundation also empowers our employees to volunteer with colleagues and community partners to make a difference for those in need. Employees can also coordinate fundraisers that are matched by the foundation.

QBE Foundation Local Grant Program

This program supports high-impact, community-based initiatives aligned to our focus on climate resilience and inclusion.

• Climate Resilience:
  • Helping communities prepare for, adapt to, and recover from climate-related risks, including preparedness, financial resilience, and risk reduction solutions.
• Inclusion:
  • Expanding access to opportunity for underserved communities through economic inclusion, workforce pathways, and removing systemic barriers.

Multiple grants of $30,000 will be awarded across our two focus areas.