Environmental Grants for Nonprofits

Department of Housing and Urban Development · $112.5K–$250K

A HUD program providing one-time, cost-reimbursable grants for service coordination and limited direct services to residents of HUD-assisted housing facing emergencies such as natural disasters or public-health crises. Eligible applicants include public/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, including resident associations), multifamily owners, Tribal governments and entities, and faith-based organizations, so eligibility is relatively broad among housing-connected organizations. Awards run roughly $112,500 to $250,000. Note that funds are reimbursed after costs are incurred and serve HUD-assisted housing residents specifically.

Environmental Protection Agency · Up to $3M

This EPA program funds assessment and remediation of contaminated Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act lands, plus related community outreach. Eligibility is limited to Alaska Native regional and village corporations, federally recognized Tribes in Alaska, Alaska Native nonprofit associations, and inter-tribal consortia of Alaskan tribal entities. The maximum award is up to about $3,000,000, and proposals are accepted on a rolling basis; applicants are asked to contact program managers first.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $50K

The NIH parent Small Research Grant (R03, clinical trial not allowed) supports small, short-term projects such as pilot and feasibility studies, secondary data analysis, and methodology development. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. The award is capped at about $50,000. The small budget suits research institutions pursuing limited-scope projects to generate preliminary data.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21, clinical trial required) supports early-stage research projects with at least one clinical trial, aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. The clinical-trial requirement makes this best suited to research institutions with trial capacity.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Research Project Grant (R01, clinical trial required) supports investigator-initiated research projects, with at least one clinical trial required, aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. The clinical-trial requirement makes this best suited to research institutions with trial capacity.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21, clinical trial not allowed) supports early-stage, higher-risk research projects that may lead to breakthroughs or novel methods. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is an exploratory research mechanism aimed at research institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Research Project Grant (R01, clinical trial not allowed) supports investigator-initiated research projects aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions, excluding clinical trials. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is a core NIH research mechanism aimed at research institutions.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $15K–$75K

Open to individuals (as legal entities), commercial organizations, state/local/tribal governments, universities, and nonprofits; federal agencies and employees can't apply, and projects must be conducted in Alaska. Funds marine workforce training, seafood-safety and management education, fishing innovation, and consumer outreach. Awards are small, roughly $15,000–$75,000.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to domestic institutions — universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations (foreign institutions are not eligible). This NIH T35 funds short-term (often summer) research-training experiences for health-professional and graduate students. It supports the institution's training program rather than an individual.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations; foreign organizations are not eligible. This NIH R01 supports early-stage investigators pursuing a new research direction, and applications must include no preliminary data. Award size follows standard R01 limits; aimed at researchers early in their independent careers.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $250K–$30M

Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit companies, U.S. territories, and state, local, and tribal governments may apply to this NOAA program for fish habitat restoration in the Great Lakes. Federal agencies and their employees are not eligible. Applicants can be located anywhere, but the proposed work must take place within the Great Lakes basin in one of the eight U.S. Great Lakes states (NY, PA, OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN). Awards range from about $250,000 to $30 million, making this a large-award opportunity with a strong geographic restriction.

Natural Resources · Up to $150K

This Illinois Department of Natural Resources operational grant (FY26) funds entities specifically named in the state's annual appropriation bill (line-item/Member Initiatives), covering local governments, units of government, educational facilities, and not-for-profit organizations, with awards up to $150,000. Because eligibility is limited to entities already designated in the budget bill, organizations not named there cannot apply on their own initiative. No deadline is listed.

Department of Commerce · Amount varies

Eligible applicants include colleges and universities, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, international organizations, and state, local, or tribal governments — federal agencies do not qualify. It funds NOAA Climate Program Office research, education, outreach, and decision-support work related to climate adaptation and mitigation. Note that the title references FY 2012, so this may be a legacy notice rather than a currently open opportunity; no current award amount or deadline is listed.