Note: This application is now closed.
Seattle’s Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) is excited to announce that the Environmental Justice (EJ) Fund is now accepting applications! This year, applicants can apply to one of two grant options, with a total of $250,000 available in funding.
Applicants can apply for either a $10,000 grant, or a $25,000 grant. The grants are to support projects that benefit Seattle communities most affected by environmental and climate inequities, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, refugees, individuals with low incomes, youth, and elders.
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the total available funding is awarded, or until 5pm on October 20, 2024 — whichever comes first. So, we encourage you to apply as early as possible!
OSE welcomes funding proposals from Tribes and tribal organizations of any size, as well as nonprofit organizations and community groups with an average operating budget of $500,000 or less for the current and previous fiscal year. To be eligible, applicants must engage closely with their communities to advance environmental and climate justice.
Projects may focus on, but are not limited to:
- arts and storytelling
- community education
- organizational and community capacity building
- climate change adaptation and resilience
- skills building and trainings for green jobs*
- community planning and designing
You can read more about some of the projects that have been funded by checking out the EJ Fund story telling series.
Learn more and start your application at seattle.gov/environment/ejfund. All applicants are strongly encouraged to work with a Technical Assistant Consultant before applying and throughout the application process. You can request free, no cost assistance on your application by emailing equityenviro@seattle.gov.
Interested applicants are welcome to attend a virtual information session to learn more about the EJ Fund, discuss a proposal idea, and ask questions. Information sessions are not required to submit a grant application.
Upcoming virtual information sessions:
- Tuesday, August 27th from 12-1pm
- Click here for the Zoom meeting link.
- Spanish language interpretation will be available to all attendees at this session. No request necessary. Please email equityenviro@seattle.gov for other accommodation requests.
- Monday, September 9th from 6-7pm
- Click here for the Zoom meeting link.
- To request language interpretation or another accommodation, please email equityenviro@seattle.gov by September 5.
OSE is also available to answer questions via email. We welcome interested applicants to reach out to us at equityenviro@seattle.gov.
You may also visit seattle.gov/environment/ejfund to learn more, apply, or check the status of available funding.
*For the purpose of the EJ Fund, green jobs are defined as jobs and careers within the context of addressing climate change and sustainability.