Best Climate Change Grants in New Jersey

New Jersey public agencies, nonprofits, and partners implementing on-the-ground natural climate solutions can seek US $250,000 - US $5,000,000 to create, restore, or enhance natural carbon sinks. Focused on climate change resilience and equity, the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection supports blue carbon coastal projects and green carbon forest and urban canopy initiatives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored groups working on climate and environmental justice for BIPOC communities in New Jersey can seek funding for grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and climate resilience projects. The Scherman Foundation supports frontline, movement-building efforts tied to renewable energy, green jobs, air quality, and equitable mass transit within its Environmental & Climate Justice Program.

New Jersey environmental nonprofits focused on climate change, sustainability, or natural resource protection can seek up to US $10,000 for programs, projects, or general operating support. Focused on climate resilience and related environmental work, the Joseph Robert Foundation prioritizes smaller organizations and community-based initiatives in the mid-Atlantic region.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on climate change resilience and equity, along with related community programs, in New Jersey can seek funding for arts, education, health, human services, youth, and affordable housing initiatives. Investors Foundation prioritizes civic-minded efforts that support local communities formerly served by Investors Bank.

Organizations in New Jersey and nearby New York counties hosting free, waterfront-focused City of Water Day events can apply for Hudson River Foundation’s support, with awards of US $1,000 - US $4,000 for event costs. Funding can back activities that promote environmental education, stewardship, and climate change resilience and equity in local communities.

State, county, and municipal entities conserving high-value natural resources in New Jersey’s Highlands Region can apply for US $25,000 - US $3,850,000 to acquire land or conservation easements. The US Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service provides this funding to support land and habitat conservation, wildlife health, clean water, and climate resilience projects.

New Jersey agricultural and forest producers seeking support for conservation and climate resilience improvements can access funding through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Conservation Stewardship Program offers five-year contracts with annual payments to enhance soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and overall environmental stewardship on working lands, which may benefit climate change resilience efforts.

Universities and research institutions studying coastal climate resilience law and policy in New Jersey and other eligible coastal states can seek funding for legal and policy research projects. Focused on coastal resilience, the National Sea Grant Law Center invites projects examining how laws and policies address sea level rise, flooding, storm surge, land use, and related environmental factors.

Focused on climate change resilience and equity, conservation and community nonprofits, municipalities, Tribal Nations, and agencies in New Jersey can seek funding for fee or easement land acquisition projects through The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program. Grants up to US $100,000 cover capital, project development, stewardship, and community engagement costs within the Appalachians Program boundary.

With a mission to expand climate literacy, New Jersey Department of Education provides New Jersey K-12 local education agencies with funding to deliver standards-based climate change education and student-led community resilience projects. Eligible LEAs among seven specified districts may apply for up to US $30,500 for interdisciplinary, project-based climate action units.

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.

Nonprofits and projects working on climate justice, regenerative agriculture, Indigenous rights, youth climate activism, and climate change resilience in New Jersey can seek US $200 - US $20,000 to advance bold, bottom-up climate action. Earth Rising Foundation supports work that centers equity, marginalized communities, and visionary approaches to a livable future, with funds disbursed through U.S.-based nonprofits.

New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofits with programs for climate sustainability, inclusion, or young women’s confidence can access funding through Aerie Real Foundation’s Community Grant program. U.S. and Canada-based organizations may receive up to US $10,000 for projects advancing confidence, inclusive communities, or local efforts to protect the planet, including climate change resilience work.

New Jersey rural communities, local governments, tribes, cooperatives, and other legal entities can access funding through USDA Rural Development’s Community Connect Grants to build broadband infrastructure and community internet centers. Awards of US $100,000 - US $5,000,000 support connectivity projects that enhance economic opportunity, education, healthcare, public safety, and climate-resilient community development in underserved rural areas.

Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers at U.S. institutions studying fungi-focused climate science can seek the MSA Climate Change Research Award to support work on practical solutions to human-driven climate change. With a mission to advance mycological research, Mycological Society of America provides climate resilience and microbiome projects in New Jersey and nationwide with up to US $10,000.

Established nonprofits, for-profits, and hybrid organizations tackling systemic social and climate challenges can receive Skoll Awards to scale proven social innovations, including work on climate change resilience and equity that benefits New Jersey and beyond. Grants from Skoll Foundation provide $2 million in unrestricted funding plus access to a global community of social change leaders.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving veterans with climate resilience, environmental justice, or conservation initiatives can seek up to US $100,000 for projects in the U.S. and its territories. With a mission to empower women’s collective giving, Impact100 Global Veterans provides large, transformative grants that may benefit New Jersey programs addressing climate change and veterans’ well-being.

Early-career social science faculty researching climate change resilience, equity, or related systemic inequalities in the U.S. may be eligible for Russell Sage Foundation’s Pipeline Grants, offering US $35,000 - US $50,000 for one-year projects. Focused on climate impacts, labor markets, neighborhoods, and more, New Jersey-based scholars can propose innovative, data-driven studies that advance economic mobility and access to opportunity.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations conducting climate change research, rare disease medical research, Jewish heritage programs, elder care, or intellectual freedom initiatives in the U.S., including New Jersey, may be eligible for support from the Mike & Sofia Segal Foundation. Funding backs innovative, well-planned projects with clear objectives, realistic budgets, and strong engagement with target populations.

Graduate students in engineering, science, or architecture focusing on cement and concrete sustainability can receive US $35,000 fellowships for research expenses at accredited universities in the U.S. or Canada. American Cement Association supports projects on carbon reduction, cement manufacturing, and testing tools, which may benefit climate change resilience work connected to New Jersey or similar regions.

The CREST program by the NSF aims to bolster research capabilities at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) through education and research integration. It specifically supports STEM doctoral programs and encourages proposals in high-priority areas such as AI and climate change. By enhancing the institutional capacity, the program seeks to increase the number of underrepresented doctoral graduates in STEM fields, thereby fostering diversity and innovation in scientific research.

The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative's Catalyst Grant supports organizations in the visual arts sector to take quick, impactful actions toward sustainability. Since 2021, the initiative has awarded over $10 million, fostering a shift to carbon-neutral operations. Eligible applicants include nonprofit entities that prioritize visual arts, aiming to reduce environmental impact through clean energy, efficiency improvements, and innovative practices. This grant promotes a greener future while enhancing the importance of arts education and ecological stewardship.

The Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP), administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provides crucial funding to tribal governments and intertribal consortia for developing environmental protection programs. Since 1992, GAP has focused on remediation of pollutants and, more recently, supports climate adaptation initiatives. The program emphasizes tribal sovereignty while aiding in capacity building, policymaking, and establishing joint EPA-Tribal Environmental Plans to effectively address environmental challenges faced by tribal communities.

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 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.