Note: This application is now closed.
The Environmental Justice Fund (EJ Fund), a program of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability & Environment, is seeking six community members to serve on the Environmental Justice Committee through December 2024. Members of the Environmental Justice Committee will have a chance to make a meaningful impact in advancing environmental and climate justice for communities disproportionately affected by environmental issues and climate change by informing funding recommendations for the EJ Fund.
About the Environmental Justice Fund
The EJ Fund was developed in response to deep community engagement, which highlighted the need for the City to invest in community work led by those most impacted by environmental and climate inequities: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), sovereign tribal nations, immigrants, refugees, people with low incomes, individuals for whom English may be a second language, youth, and elders.
Funding recommendations for the EJ Fund are developed by the Environmental Justice Committee (EJC), individuals with deep community roots working closely with communities to advance environmental and climate justice.
About the Environmental Justice Committee
OSE is seeking six community members to serve on the EJC through December 2024. EJC members will partner with OSE to:
- Inform the EJ Fund grantmaking strategy
- Make funding recommendations for the 2023 and 2024 EJ Fund application cycles
To be effective in their role, EJC members will understand how to advance racial equity, environmental justice, and climate justice for priority communities and have an interest in or knowledge of equitable grantmaking. Members will be expected to thoroughly review grant applications using specific criteria and express their evaluation. Each member will receive a stipend of up to $4,750 for full completion of their responsibilities.
For each annual EJ Fund cycle, EJC members must be able to:
- Set aside approximately 40-50 hours of time to read, review, and score grant applications over the course of 6 weeks. The range of time will depend on the number of applications received.
- Attend approximately 20-25 hours of meetings, including orientation, trainings, and decision-making meetings.
- Understand and keep in mind the grant expectations and funding priorities.
- Bridge differences between conflicting ideas by engaging in open group discussions.
- Work collaboratively and respectfully with other EJC members to arrive at funding recommendations.
- Maintain confidentiality throughout the entire grant review process.
- Provide written and verbal comments based on professional or community-based knowledge, not based on one’s personal opinions.
- Set aside up to 20 hours to participate in programming, including, but not limited to, relationship building, evaluation efforts, and feedback sessions to inform the grantmaking strategy.
- Have access to a computer with reliable internet.
Timeline and Expectations
If you are selected as an EJC member, the process will continue along the following timeline. There may be some adjustments based on members’ availability. Orientation sessions and final decision-making meetings will be in-person, while all other meetings will be virtual.
| Description | Date |
| EJC Member Orientation | July 29 and August 2 |
| Application Review | August 3 – September 13 |
| Workshop | September 13 |
| Subcommittee Meetings | October 3 and 4 |
| Final Decision Meetings | October 7 and 10 |
| Total Estimated Hours | 60-95 |
The EJC partners with OSE to inform the City’s investments in community-led efforts that advance environmental justice and climate justice. If you are interested in equitable grantmaking and passionate about racial equity and environmental justice, please complete this interest form. Interest Forms will be reviewed on a rolling basis and should be submitted no later than 11:59 pm on Tuesday, June 20.