A practical guide to grants for climate organizations, federal climate funding, climate foundations, corporate climate giving, and how to win climate grants.
Climate funding has expanded dramatically with federal infrastructure and climate investment, and with growing foundation and corporate commitments. Climate organizations, working on policy, energy transition, climate justice, conservation, and resilience, have more grant funding options than at any prior point.
This guide covers the major sources of grants for climate organizations.
TL;DR: Quick Answers
- Who funds climate work? Federal agencies (DOE, EPA, USDA, DOT, NOAA, DOI), major foundations, climate-specific funders, and corporate ESG programs.
- Who can apply? Nonprofits, state and local governments, tribal entities, universities, intermediaries, and partnerships.
- What gets funded? Energy transition, climate justice, advocacy, research, resilience, environmental education, organizing.
- What’s the biggest opportunity? Federal climate investment programs (BIL/IRA-funded) plus major foundation climate commitments.
Federal Climate Funding
Department of Energy. Clean energy research, deployment, weatherization, community energy programs, Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, EERE programs.
EPA. Environmental justice grants, climate pollution reduction grants, methane and air quality programs, brownfields with climate components.
USDA. Climate-smart agriculture, conservation programs (NRCS), forestry, rural climate resilience.
DOT. Transit electrification, EV charging, low- and zero-emission vehicles, Reconnecting Communities.
NOAA. Coastal resilience, fisheries, ocean and atmospheric research.
Department of the Interior. Lands conservation, tribal climate, water programs.
Major Climate Foundations
- Bloomberg Philanthropies (climate and clean energy).
- Bezos Earth Fund.
- Hewlett Foundation, Packard Foundation, MacArthur Foundation (long-time climate funders).
- ClimateWorks Foundation.
- Energy Foundation.
- Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Rockefeller Foundation.
- Walton Family Foundation (especially water and coastal).
- Wallace Global Fund.
- Heinz Endowments, Doris Duke Foundation.
- Sequoia Climate Fund.
- Many community foundations with climate programs.
- Re:wild, Pisces Foundation, and many specialized funders.
Climate Justice Funders
Climate justice has its own substantial funder ecosystem:
- Climate Justice Alliance funders.
- Movement for Black Lives (climate components).
- Movement Voter Project.
- NDN Collective (Indigenous-led climate funding).
- JEDI Collaborative (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion in climate).
Corporate Climate Funding
ESG-driven corporate giving has expanded:
- Tech companies (Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, Meta).
- Banks (with climate finance commitments).
- Insurance companies.
- Patagonia and other mission-aligned corporates.
See corporate giving programs.
What Gets Funded
- Policy and advocacy.
- Clean energy deployment and research.
- Climate justice and front-line communities.
- Conservation and natural climate solutions.
- Climate-smart agriculture and food systems.
- Climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
- Environmental education (see also grants for STEM education).
- Organizing and movement-building.
- Tribal climate work.
- International climate.
Tips for a Competitive Climate Application
- Quantify climate impact. GHG reductions, energy savings, communities served.
- Address environmental justice. Federal climate programs and many foundations require explicit equity strategies.
- Document climate need with data. EPA EJScreen, Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), local climate plans.
- Show partnership and coalition. Climate work is collaborative.
- Plan for reporting on measurable climate outcomes.
- Bake Community Benefits Plans into federal applications, especially DOE and DOT.
How Grantboost Helps
Climate funding spans federal, foundation, corporate, and intermediary sources. Grantboost continuously surfaces scored, mission-matched opportunities across this landscape, with drafts in your organization’s voice (see training AI on your past proposals).
Try Grantboost free and find the climate funding that fits your work.
Read next:
- EPA Grants: A Guide to Environmental Protection Agency Funding
- DOE Grants: A Guide to Department of Energy Funding
- Grants for Environmental Nonprofits
Further Reading
Disclaimer: Grant programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and policies vary by region and change frequently. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current rules in your area. Always consult a local grant writer or qualified expert in your region for advice specific to your organization, project, and jurisdiction.