Find water grants for clean water access, conservation, infrastructure, and watershed protection projects
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$348.1M
Total funding
$27.5K
Median grant
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Department of Environmental Quality
Responsible for administering laws and regulations related to air quality, water quality, water supply, renewable energy and land protection, DEQ is the primary environmental permitting agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Through the work more than 800 employees at six regional offices across the state and the Central Office in Richmond, DEQ issues permits, conducts monitoring and inspections, and enforces the law.
Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source (NPS)Implementation Program
Purpose and Background
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is making available up to $1.5 million in Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319(h) grant funding through this Request for Application (RFA) to support implementation of goals and milestones included in eligible Nonpoint Source (NPS) cleanup plans. DEQ also anticipates up to an additional $2 million will be available for septic repair, replacement and connection projects. Cleanup plans include a variety of types of plans, including but not limited to implementation plans (IPs), advance restoration plans (ARPs) and watershed-based plans (WBPs). In Virginia, Implementation Plans are the most commonly developed type of plan and henceforth this document will only reference the term IP.
This RFA is intended to identify implementation projects that do not currently have an active or pending CWA Section 319(h) Subrecipient Agreement(s) in the cleanup plan of interest. Existing subrecipients who wish to continue their current project should contact their assigned DEQ NPS Regional Coordinator or email to inquire about the process of continuing their current CWA Section 319(h)-funded project.
Project Types
Implementation of eligible U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-accepted (nine element) cleanup plans and related best management practice (BMP) installation, information and outreach and water quality monitoring.
Water grants provide funding to support clean water access, conservation projects, and infrastructure improvements. The following grants help nonprofits address water scarcity, promote sustainability, and enhance community well-being through innovative water solutions.
Explore 400+ funding opportunities for water-related initiatives, with $179.4M in resources. Instrumentl helps organizations secure funding with deadline tracking, customized grant searches, and insights to improve water access and conservation efforts.
How common are grants in this category?
Common — grants in this category appear regularly across funding sources.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for Water grants?
Most grants are due in the third quarter.
Nonprofits that help people get clean water, save water, or keep water clean might get these water-supporting grants. Groups that stop pollution, use water wisely or build water systems can also apply.
Water grants typically have the highest concentration of deadlines in Q3, with 28.3% of grant deadlines falling in this period. If you're planning to apply, consider prioritizing your applications around this time to maximize opportunities. Conversely, the least active period for grants in this category is Q2.
These grants help make sure water stays clean and safe to drink. They also protect rivers, lakes, and other water sources. The people giving the money care about nature, keeping people healthy, and fixing water problems caused by climate change.
Funding for water grants varies widely, with award amounts ranging from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $18,000,000. Based on Instrumentl’s data, the median grant amount for this category is $65,000, while the average grant awarded is $850,368. Understanding these funding trends can help nonprofits set realistic expectations when applying.
Water grants are majorly funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
State and local governments also provide funding through health departments and community service grants. Private foundations like Water.org focus on saving and providing drinkable water. Additionally, corporate initiatives, such as Coca-Cola and Nestlé, offer grants for projects that help the environment.
To improve grant success, nonprofits should:
Struggling to manage multiple grants? Learn how to stay organized with our comprehensive grant tracking spreadsheet guide.
Instrumentl streamlines the search for water grants by identifying relevant funding opportunities. You can track deadlines, and organize applications as well. It also provides insights into funder priorities to help nonprofits refine their grant-seeking strategies. Optimize your grant-seeking process with these research strategies.