Best Energy Efficiency Grants for Nonprofits in New York

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and support to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been advancing energy solutions and working to protect the environment since 1975.

Advanced Buildings Program

Buildings require a lot of energy to heat or cool spaces, circulate air, and operate lighting. Currently, about 80 percent of buildings across the State were constructed before energy codes emerged in the 1970s and utilize the burning of fossil fuels for space heating and hot water. Laboratories, startups, and established companies are working on innovative business models and technology to enable building electrification, lowering buildings’ emissions and energy use, or intelligent energy management but they need help getting their innovations to market. 

The current funding opportunity from the End Use Energy Innovation program is focused on accelerating commercialization of innovative buildings solutions through large demonstrations to enable electrification and decarbonization of buildings.

Enabling Innovative Clean Energy Building Solutions Funding Opportunity

The approximately 8 million buildings in NYS are responsible for 60% of the State’s energy consumption, and 32% of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions from these buildings will help New York reach its aggressive Climate Act goals.

To tackle emissions from buildings, NYSERDA’s End Use Energy Innovation program has released the Enabling Innovative Clean Energy Building Solutions funding opportunity to help develop energy-efficient building technologies and new business models for New York’s buildings.

How It Works

NYSERDA is requesting proposals for, and anticipates making five $1 million awards under this solicitation, to support the advancement of solutions in these five Topic Areas:

• Building Envelope
• Clean Heating and Cooling
• Intelligent Grid-interactive Building Controls
• Low-GWP Refrigerant Applications and Leak Detection
• Thermal Storage

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and support to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been advancing energy solutions and working to protect the environment since 1975.

Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) Program

Description

The Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) Program supports New York State commercial, industrial, institutional, and multifamily customers who pay into the Systems Benefit Charge by providing a cost-share for credible, objective technical assistance services, such as energy audits, that help businesses make more informed energy decisions. A dedicated team of engineers, technology experts, and energy consultants work with customers to create a customized assessment that identifies clean energy investment opportunities for reducing energy consumption and costs.

Customers have the option of selecting a NYSERDA qualified FlexTech Consultant or working with a consultant of their choosing. The Consultant will identify, analyze, and prioritize energy efficiency or carbon reduction recommendations. The recommendations are tailored to the customer’s site and business needs. Implementation of these recommendations may lead to lower annual utility costs, reduced operation and maintenance costs, extended equipment life, and increased occupant comfort.

The FlexTech Program does not provide cost-share for the implementation of measures identified in a study.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and support to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been advancing energy solutions and working to protect the environment since 1975.

New York State Clean Energy Internship Program

Description

Provides funding to eligible clean energy businesses, organizations, and local municipalities hiring interns to perform meaningful work in the clean energy sector. Both clean energy businesses and interns can apply to participate in the program. Accepted businesses will select, interview, and hire interns, and NYSERDA provides reimbursement on a percentage of the interns’ wages.

Up to $4.7 million is available to enhance the talent pipeline through meaningful clean energy internships. Funding is allocated on a first-come first-served basis to businesses that register, perform eligibility checks, and submit all completed materials in to NYSERDA. Funding will be allocated until it is exhausted or until the submission deadline.

Reimbursement will be on a sliding scale depending on the size of the business:

• Percent of intern wage funded by NYSERDA for businesses with up to 100 employees: 90%
• Percent of intern wage funded by NYSERDA for businesses with 101 or more employees: 75%

All businesses that participate under this PON must have a formal business location in New York State. Any intern supported under this PON must work in New York State.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and support to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been advancing energy solutions and working to protect the environment since 1975.

On-the-Job Training for Energy Efficiency and Clean Technology

Description

NYSERDA’s On-The-Job Training for Energy Efficiency and Clean Technology program will provide wage subsidies to eligible employers to reduce the financial risk of hiring and training new workers, incentivize and track the retention of the new workers during their first year of employment, and offer compensation for industry certifications earned. This program helps New York State to meet its energy goals and prioritizes the creation of employment opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged communities and priority populations.

NYSERDA is working closely with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) to deliver the OJT program.

The primary purpose of OJT funding is to train new hires for clean energy work.

Employers must provide services in one or more the following technology areas to be eligible for program funding:

• High efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) / Heat Pumps
• High efficiency water heating
• Insulation / weatherization
• High efficiency lighting and controls
• Building automation and controls
• Smart grid
• Energy storage
• Building operations and maintenance
• Grid-tied solar electric photovoltaics, solar thermal, and related areas
• Offshore and land-based wind and related areas
• Electric vehicle charging stations
• Electric vehicles (manufacturing only)

Organizations developing innovative building energy solutions in New York can apply for NYSERDA’s Innovation for Affordable Building Electrification grants, with awards up to US $15,000,000. Focused on energy efficiency, electrification, and load management, this opportunity supports projects at New York sites that reduce emissions, lower peak loads, and improve affordability in residential, multifamily, and small/medium commercial buildings.

New York local governments and community development entities seeking funding for community facilities, services, and energy efficiency or conservation projects in New York can access funding through New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The NYS Community Development Block Grant Program offers US $25,000 - US $1,000,000 for activities that help develop viable communities and support low- and moderate-income residents.

New York nonprofits and small commercial facilities seeking energy efficiency and conservation support can receive US $100 - US $500 for detailed energy studies in New York. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority provides walk-throughs, utility bill analysis, and unbiased evaluations to identify low-cost and capital improvement upgrades in facilities of 50,000 square feet or less.

Nonprofits and other training providers in New York can receive up to US $500,000 to expand or create EV repair, charging station maintenance, and fleet maintenance training or pre-apprenticeship programs, including wraparound services. The New York State Department of Labor requires at least 35% of participants to live in designated Disadvantaged Communities and prohibits charging tuition or fees to trainees.

With a mission to support environmental sustainability, American Honda Motor provides New York nonprofits and schools with US $25,000 - US $100,000 for energy efficiency and related environment programs. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations and public or private schools can fund decarbonization, clean energy, and efficient natural resource use projects that benefit communities where Honda associates live and work.

Organizations providing energy efficiency and clean technology workforce training in New York can apply for NYSERDA’s Energy Efficiency and Clean Technology Training grants, with awards up to Up to US $1,000,000. With a mission to promote clean energy and emissions reduction, NYSERDA supports technical training, experiential learning, and job placement that may benefit nonprofits expanding energy efficiency programs.

New York community-based groups, nonprofits, businesses, and partnerships can seek funding for local reuse initiatives through the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling. Focused on waste reduction and environmental stewardship, this program awards US $1,000 - US $5,000 and may benefit organizations advancing energy efficiency and conservation efforts.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and fiscally sponsored groups advancing environmental and climate justice in New York can seek funding for grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and community-led energy and climate solutions. Scherman Foundation supports BIPOC-led, intersectional efforts, including work on energy efficiency, green jobs, mass transit, and climate resilience, with some support also in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Nonprofit and public entities in New York seeking to improve water quality through green stormwater infrastructure, energy efficiency, or water efficiency projects can apply for competitive funding; awards cover 50–90% of eligible costs up to $3 million. Grants from New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation support planning, design, and construction that enhance resiliency and protect existing infrastructure.

Municipalities in New York seeking financing for wastewater, sewer, stormwater, or related energy-efficient water infrastructure projects can apply for support from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation. Grants from New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation help New York public entities access interest-free or low-interest Clean Water State Revolving Fund financing for construction, restoration, and habitat protection projects.

Nonprofit organizations with established 501(c)(3), (4), (6), or (19) status can seek US $50,000 - US $400,000 for sustainability projects such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and conservation, including work in New York. Grants from Green Mountain Energy help U.S.-based nonprofits implement impactful environmental initiatives and measure environmental, social, and financial benefits.

Accredited charities running humanitarian, social development, science education, community, environmental, or contemporary arts projects in New York and worldwide may be eligible for philanthropic support; funding can also aid disaster response. La Roche supports innovative, high-quality initiatives that promote sustainable development and actively engage its local affiliates and employees in community-focused work.

With a mission to support community development and environmental stewardship, Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation provides New York nonprofits and U.S. 501(c)(3) schools with funding for energy efficiency, sustainability, STEM education, workforce development, and affordable housing projects. Organizations in eligible New York counties may benefit, especially those offering STEM and sustainable construction or conservation programs.

The Park Foundation Grants: Sustainable Ithaca aims to support initiatives fostering a fully sustainable community in Ithaca and Tompkins County. The foundation prioritizes projects that integrate environmental, social, and economic systems, with a focus on accessibility for low-income and communities of color. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) non-profits, and grants are limited to local sustainability projects. Proposals outside Tompkins County are generally not considered.

Helen Frankenthaler Foundation

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports the artist’s legacy through a variety of initiatives, including exhibitions, loans of artworks, research and publications, conservation, grants, educational programs for the public and the scholarly community, and the publishing of a catalogue raisonné. It is dedicated to promoting greater public interest in and understanding of the visual arts.

Established and endowed by the artist during her lifetime (1928-2011), the Foundation became active in 2013, on the closing of Frankenthaler’s estate. As the principal beneficiary of Frankenthaler’s estate, the Foundation maintains an extensive collection of her work in a variety of mediums, as well as her collection of works by other artists and original papers and materials pertaining to her life and work.

Frankenthaler Climate Initiative

The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative (FCI) is a pioneering grantmaking program established by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. Since its inception in 2021, FCI has distinguished itself as the foremost private national initiative in the United States dedicated to combating climate change specifically within the visual arts sector.

FCI provides visual arts institutions with up to $100,000 to undertake ambitious sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives that directly address carbon reduction and energy efficiency. The scope of its support is broad, encompassing everything from modest, rapid-response projects to comprehensive efficiency audits and feasibility studies, and extending to financial contributions for significant infrastructural renovations and strategic planning for new buildings and major initiatives.

Building on the core values of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, the initiative aligns a commitment to environmental stewardship with a belief in the vital importance of the visual arts and arts education. Through strategic funding and partnerships focused on tangible infrastructure, FCI aims to catalyze a sector-wide shift toward zero carbon operations, promoting a future where the visual arts thrive—while contributing to a more sustainable and ecologically conscious world.

Who We Fund

FCI funds nonprofit institutions in the United States and its territories whose primary focus rests in the visual arts. The visual arts includes but is not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and installations in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber, paper, film, and mixed media.

Most of our grantees are art museums, nonprofit galleries, archives, noncollecting institutions, art schools, university museums, and artist-endowed foundations.

What We Fund

FCI funds energy efficiency and clean energy generation projects.

FCI meets arts institutions at every stage of the work, through four kinds of grants:

• Catalyst — first actions and stand-alone projects with a quick turnaround
• Scoping — energy audits and assessments that establish a baseline
• Technical Assistance — detailed planning for technically demanding projects
• Implementation — comprehensive capital work addressing a building's environmental impact at multiple levels

Technical Assistance Grants

Technical Assistance grants support projects that have finished initial assessments, and need procurement and financing support for an identified efficiency project. This may include providing designs, specifications, or fees for working with energy services companies (ESCOs) for project support. These grants also support more complex studies or analysis required for pursuing major implementation projects. At the conclusion of a Technical Assistance grant, the applicant should be sufficiently informed to implement a project.

About BlackRock

We’re a global asset manager and technology provider dedicated to helping more and more people experience financial well-being. We help millions of people invest to build savings that serve them throughout their lives. The BlackRock Foundation which funds and partners with organizations that strengthen financial security for more people,

BlackRock Future Builders

BlackRock Future Builders is a $100 million philanthropic initiative funded by The BlackRock Foundation to expand economic opportunity and power the next generation of America’s skilled trades workers. Through this Request for Proposals (RFP) process, The Foundation seeks to support U.S. nonprofit organizations (i.e., registered 501(c)3 organizations) delivering or supporting high‑quality skilled trades training.

This competitive grant opportunity operates in parallel to other BlackRock Future Builders partnerships and is intended to surface additional, regionally grounded solutions across the skilled trades ecosystem. Organizations may propose direct worker training programs or capacity‑building efforts that enable systems to function more effectively and at greater scale. This first round RFP will be administered by Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit that transforms U.S. education and workforce systems.

Focus Areas and Solutions

Applicants may propose worker training or capacity‑building solutions aligned to skilled trades workforce development.

• Worker training interventions may include direct service proposals such as pre-apprenticeship or career navigation programs, workforce training programs, apprenticeship programs, or wraparound participant supports that are supportive of training persistence and completion.
• Capacity-building interventions are organizational and system-focused, rather than in direct service of participants, and may include, but are not limited to, proposals such as ecosystem-building, demonstration projects, technology or tool adoptions, or research, among others.

About Us

Our team is working tirelessly to heal the planet and ensure that a just and livable future prevails.

With three decades of clean energy industry experience, our leadership team draws upon a long track record of environmental stewardship and meaningful throughput to confidently navigate today's unprecedented challenges.

We are teaming up with local philanthropists, nonprofit organizations, advocates and elected officials to implement effective solutions towards stopping the climate crisis.

Solar Moonshot Program Grant

The Solar Moonshot Program is helping nonprofit organizations across the United States afford the switch to clean energy.

Grants up to $25,000 are typically awarded, with grant amounts dependent on various factors, including the organization’s need for funding. 

In addition to grants given through the program, we also offer short-term, low-interest recoverable grants to help cover the project costs offset by the Investment Tax Credit.

Grants for 2026 are made possible by the BQuest Foundation and two anonymous donors, and the program is managed by Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation. Learn more about the program's status and participants below! 

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks input on the urgent need for gigawatt-scale electricity generation and transmission due to rapid demand growth from data centers and advanced manufacturing. The U.S. electric grid faces significant challenges, including limited capacity and aging infrastructure, which could hinder timely interconnection of new energy sources. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on overcoming regulatory and operational barriers to meet this escalating demand.

Focused on energy efficiency and conservation, nonprofits and community organizations in New York counties where Enbridge operates can apply for Enbridge’s Community Grant to support safe, vibrant, and sustainable community projects. Awards range from US $1,000 - US $10,000, with higher support possible for national organizations impacting multiple regions.

Industrial and energy technology organizations in New York developing thermal or electric storage solutions for industrial facilities can access funding through the U.S. Department of Energy. The Industrial Energy Storage Systems Prize offers up to US $700,000 across three competitive phases to design, prototype, and validate cost-effective industrial energy efficiency and storage technologies.

Low-income households needing energy efficiency and weatherization improvements in New York and nationwide can access services through the Weatherization Assistance Program. Grants from the United States Department of Energy help reduce home energy use and costs by funding local providers that deliver weatherization upgrades to eligible homeowners and renters, including seniors and families with disabilities or children.

Organizations commercializing ARPA-E-funded energy technologies can seek U.S. Department of Energy support to scale subject inventions, including energy efficiency and conservation advances. Eligible inventions must originate from a prior ARPA-E award, be reported in iEdison, and have a filed or issued U.S. patent. Awards range from US $5,000,000 to US $20,000,000.

Nonprofit visual arts institutions in the U.S. and territories can use this Catalyst Grant for energy efficiency, clean energy, and sustainability projects in their facilities or exhibitions. Helen Frankenthaler Foundation’s Frankenthaler Climate Initiative offers up to US $20,000 for first-step or small-scale projects, which may benefit New York organizations upgrading lighting, insulation, or other building systems.