Best Climate Change Grants in New York

Land trusts, nonprofits, Tribal governments, and municipalities in New York can receive up to US $20,000 to develop broad-scale, climate-informed conservation and community resilience plans. Open Space Institute supports planning efforts like priority-setting, mapping, and community engagement that accelerate land protection and climate change resilience across the Appalachian region.

Nonprofits, municipalities, and community partners working on climate resilience and clean water education in New York can apply for up to US $20,000 to conduct Lake Wise, Stream Wise, or stormwater property assessments. The Lake Champlain Basin Program supports projects that inform and engage landowners on stormwater management, biodiversity, ecological resilience, and flooding within the Lake Champlain Basin.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts in New York can seek funding to implement climate-smart agricultural practices and on-farm climate adaptation. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets supports projects in livestock waste and feed management, adaptation and resiliency, healthy soils and agroforestry, and agricultural forest management, with awards from US $2,000,000 - US $10,000,000.

Nonprofit organizations in New York working on environmental conservation, sustainable resource management, or climate-related education can seek funding for general operating or project support. Focused on climate resilience and equity, Joseph Robert Foundation invites smaller organizations, especially those with community-based initiatives, to apply for grants up to US $10,000, starting with a letter of interest.

Universities and research organizations studying coastal resilience laws and policies can apply for funding to assess issues like sea level rise, flooding, storm surge, and land use. Focused on legal and policy effectiveness, the National Sea Grant Law Center invites climate resilience researchers in New York and other eligible coastal and Great Lakes states to propose two-year projects.

Municipalities in New York seeking funding for greenhouse gas reduction or climate adaptation projects can apply for the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program, with awards from US $10,000 - US $200,000. Focused on local climate resilience and planning, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation supports implementation, certification, and feasibility projects that advance Climate Smart Community goals.

Focused on climate justice and clean energy, New York organizations can apply to host full-time fellows through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; awards US $40,000 per fellow for salary and support. Eligible hosts work on climate justice and clean energy priorities in disadvantaged New York communities, including nonprofits, municipalities, schools, and clean energy businesses.

New York municipalities and eligible public entities in New York can receive US $1,000,000 - US $10,000,000 for green infrastructure projects that improve water quality and climate resilience. New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation provides climate change resilience and equity funding for nature-based stormwater solutions, prioritizing transformative projects and ensuring at least 35% of benefits reach disadvantaged communities.

Nonprofits, community groups, and other organizations working on climate resilience, clean water, and habitat projects in New York’s Long Island Sound watershed can apply for Restore America’s Estuaries’ Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund, with awards from US $5,000 - US $100,000. Funding supports pollution reduction, habitat restoration, community resilience, public engagement, and community-based science aligned with the Long Island Sound CCMP.

Municipalities and not-for-profit organizations in New York can receive up to US $675,000 for acquisition, planning, development, and improvement of parks, historic properties, and designated heritage areas that support conservation and climate resilience. With a mission to protect natural and cultural resources, New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation provides matching grants for eligible indoor and outdoor projects.

Community organizations and local government agencies in New York can receive US $10,000 - US $30,000 to run projects that promote pollution prevention, sustainability, and climate change resilience. The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology funds initiatives that raise public awareness, encourage sustainable practices, and support communities facing environmental harms and risks.

State, county, and municipal entities in New York conserving high‑value natural resources can receive US $25,000 - US $3,850,000 for land acquisition projects in the Highlands Region. The US Department of the Interior: Fish and Wildlife Service provides New York climate resilience and land conservation programs with competitive funding covering up to 50% of project costs.

Local governments, Indian Nations, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, state agencies, and not-for-profit corporations in New York can access funding from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to implement flood mitigation and watershed resilience projects. Awards of US $150,000 - US $10,000,000 support construction that reduces flooding, erosion, and ice jams while enhancing climate resilience and riparian habitats.

New York climate resilience and coastal conservation projects seeking implementation funding can access support through the New York State Department of State. Community Resilience and Flood Risk Reduction Grants back coastal rehabilitation and related efforts, including final design and construction, with state assistance covering up to 90% of eligible project costs for New York communities.

Local governments and waterfront communities in New York can seek funding to implement inland flooding and waterfront revitalization projects that enhance climate resilience and reduce flood risk. Grants from New York State Department of State support final design and construction, prioritizing nature-based solutions and projects advancing climate change resilience and equity under the Environmental Bond Act.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and fiscally sponsored groups working on climate and environmental justice for BIPOC communities in New York can seek funding for grassroots organizing, movement-building, and policy advocacy. Scherman Foundation supports local frontline efforts, including renewable energy, green jobs, mass transit equity, and climate resilience, with limited support also available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was created on July 1, 1970 to combine all state programs designed to protect and enhance the environment into a single agency.

DEC's Mission: "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being."

DEC's goal is to achieve this mission through the simultaneous pursuit of environmental quality, public health, economic prosperity and social well-being, including environmental justice and the empowerment of individuals to participate in environmental decisions that affect their lives.

Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program Round 17: Tree Inventories and Management Plans

Grant Information

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Lands and Forests is pleased to announce funding for Round 17 of Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) grants. Tree inventories and management plans are the essential building blocks of healthy, thriving urban forests. Under the auspices of the 25 Million Trees Initiative, this grant program will promote a data-driven understanding of urban forest extent and composition to support management planning for community forest expansion and enhancement—maximizing the resiliency and cobenefits of trees and forested natural areas, including clean air and water, stormwater retention, extreme heat mitigation, increased access to urban nature, and improved public health.

The purpose of this grant opportunity is to support strong, self-sustaining urban and community forestry programs which enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Grant projects must develop inventories and assessments for individual right-of-way and landscape trees or for forested natural areas or develop community forest management plans based on inventories or assessments. This round adds a new project type for developing inventories and assessments using ground-based remote sensing technologies.

This is a reimbursement grant. The awardee must pay costs upfront before receiving reimbursement by DEC.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was created on July 1, 1970 to combine all state programs designed to protect and enhance the environment into a single agency.

DEC's Mission: "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being."

DEC's goal is to achieve this mission through the simultaneous pursuit of environmental quality, public health, economic prosperity and social well-being, including environmental justice and the empowerment of individuals to participate in environmental decisions that affect their lives.

Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) 

Grant Description

The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program is a competitive, statewide reimbursement grant program open to local governments and not-for-profit corporations to implement projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source. This funding is for construction/implementation projects, not projects that are exclusively for planning.

Maximum funding awards vary by project type. Program priorities and requirements are also subject to change from year to year. The typical annual funding available for the WQIP program is at least $75 million.

Grant funds are available for up to 75% of the application budget. Applicants must provide the remaining 25% in match funds. Additional information regarding eligible forms of match (eligible costs) is provided under each project type. 

Eligible Project Types

Funding is available for the following project types: 1) Wastewater Treatment Improvement; 2) Nonagricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control; 3) Vacuum Trucks in Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Areas; 4) Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection; 5) Salt Storage and Road Salt Reduction; 6) Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal; 7) Aquatic Connectivity; 8) Marine District Habitat Restoration; 9) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement; 10) Landfill Leachate Treatment

Aquatic Connectivity

Project Type Description

Funding is available for projects that improve aquatic habitat connectivity at road/stream crossings or dams and may promote flood risk reduction and enhanced flood and climate resiliency.

Not-for-profit organizations are required to complete the Vendor Prequalification process to be considered eligible to apply for this grant.

Conservation and community organizations, municipalities, Tribal Nations, and local and state agencies in New York can apply for The Nature Conservancy’s Climate Resilience Grant Program; awards up to US $50,000 for climate resilience projects. Funding supports climate adaptation planning, organizational capacity building, and land or easement acquisitions that protect resilient floodplains and shorelines with meaningful community benefits.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was created on July 1, 1970 to combine all state programs designed to protect and enhance the environment into a single agency.

DEC's Mission: "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being."

DEC's goal is to achieve this mission through the simultaneous pursuit of environmental quality, public health, economic prosperity and social well-being, including environmental justice and the empowerment of individuals to participate in environmental decisions that affect their lives.

Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) 

Grant Description

The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program is a competitive, statewide reimbursement grant program open to local governments and not-for-profit corporations to implement projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source. This funding is for construction/implementation projects, not projects that are exclusively for planning.

Maximum funding awards vary by project type. Program priorities and requirements are also subject to change from year to year. The typical annual funding available for the WQIP program is at least $75 million.

Grant funds are available for up to 75% of the application budget. Applicants must provide the remaining 25% in match funds. Additional information regarding eligible forms of match (eligible costs) is provided under each project type. 

Eligible Project Types

Funding is available for the following project types: 1) Wastewater Treatment Improvement; 2) Nonagricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control; 3) Vacuum Trucks in Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Areas; 4) Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection; 5) Salt Storage and Road Salt Reduction; 6) Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal; 7) Aquatic Connectivity; 8) Marine District Habitat Restoration; 9) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement; 10) Landfill Leachate Treatment

Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal

Project Type Description

Funding is available to improve dam safety through the repair and rehabilitation or removal of dams with a downstream hazard classification of Class C (High) and Class B (Intermediate) to promote climate change resilience. 

Applications are limited to one dam per application.

Not-for-profit organizations are required to complete the Vendor Prequalification process to be considered eligible to apply for this grant.

Conservation and community 501(c)(3) organizations, municipalities, Tribal Nations, and agencies in New York and other Appalachian states can seek funding for land protection projects through the Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program. Focused on climate resilience and community benefits, The Nature Conservancy offers up to US $100,000 for fee or easement acquisition and related project costs.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was created on July 1, 1970 to combine all state programs designed to protect and enhance the environment into a single agency.

DEC's Mission: "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being."

DEC's goal is to achieve this mission through the simultaneous pursuit of environmental quality, public health, economic prosperity and social well-being, including environmental justice and the empowerment of individuals to participate in environmental decisions that affect their lives.

Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) 

Grant Description

The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program is a competitive, statewide reimbursement grant program open to local governments and not-for-profit corporations to implement projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source. This funding is for construction/implementation projects, not projects that are exclusively for planning.

Maximum funding awards vary by project type. Program priorities and requirements are also subject to change from year to year. The typical annual funding available for the WQIP program is at least $75 million.

Grant funds are available for up to 75% of the application budget. Applicants must provide the remaining 25% in match funds. Additional information regarding eligible forms of match (eligible costs) is provided under each project type. 

Eligible Project Types

Funding is available for the following project types: 1) Wastewater Treatment Improvement; 2) Nonagricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control; 3) Vacuum Trucks in Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Areas; 4) Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection; 5) Salt Storage and Road Salt Reduction; 6) Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal; 7) Aquatic Connectivity; 8) Marine District Habitat Restoration; 9) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement; 10) Landfill Leachate Treatment

Nonagricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control

Project Type Description

Funding is available for non-agricultural nonpoint source projects or programs that improve a documented water quality impairment, promote flood risk reduction, enhanced flood and climate resiliency, and restoration or that protect a drinking water source. 

• Decentralized wastewater treatment facilities
• Green infrastructure practices
• Stormwater retrofits
• Streambank and shoreline stabilization
• Riparian buffers
• In-waterbody controls for nutrients
• Bathing beach restoration
• Stream culvert repair and replacement
• Programs to implement nonpoint source management within a defined geographic area

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 Skoll Awards for Social Innovation, presented by the Skoll Foundation, recognize social innovators addressing root societal problems. Each awardee receives $2 million in unrestricted funding and joins a global community of leaders dedicated to significant social change. The foundation focuses on key areas such as health systems, effective governance, inclusive economies, racial justice, and climate action. Nominations are made through a multi-year sourcing process, ensuring that candidates align closely with the foundation's mission.

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation is dedicated to fostering a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem and a vibrant Southeast Michigan community. Since its inception, it has invested over $180 million in environmental, cultural, and educational initiatives. As it transitions to spend down its assets by 2034, the Foundation aims to make bold, impactful investments that address urgent community needs and promote sustainable development.

The Aerie Real Foundation™ Community Grant aims to enhance confidence, inclusion, and sustainability among young women while supporting non-profit organizations in the US and Canada. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to programs focused on mental well-being, fostering inclusive communities, and environmental protection. Applications are accepted from certified 501c3 nonprofits, with funding allocated for projects that align with the Foundation's mission. The goal is to empower the next generation and create a positive impact in local communities.

The MSA Climate Change Research Award, offered by the Mycological Society of America, supports innovative research addressing the impacts of climate change through the lens of fungal studies. Ideal candidates include undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral scientists who are MSA members or have applied for membership. This award encourages collaboration and aims to disseminate research findings to the global scientific community, fostering inclusivity across various demographics.