Environment Grant Programs
Environmental protection, conservation, clean energy, climate, and natural resources.
Category overview. The Environment category groups 40 active federal assistance programs from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings catalog. These programs run across 3 distinct federal agencies, with the heaviest concentration at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (26 programs), U.S. Department of the Interior (12 programs), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2 programs). Every listing feeds into the Grants.gov announcement system, where agencies publish their Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) with specific deadlines, forms, and evaluation criteria. Categories exist to help applicants find relevant programs quickly, but each program has its own authorizing legislation and rules.
Funding scale. SAM.gov publishes funding range data for 40 of the 40 environment programs. The largest listed award ceiling in this category is $7.0 billion, and the median ceiling across programs with published ranges is $3.0 million. Published award ranges reflect the envelope across all awards a program may issue in a year, not the amount any single applicant should expect. Appropriations, applicant pool size, and scoring all shape the final allocation. First-time applicants are wise to read several historical award announcements in a category to calibrate realistic project budgets.
Who applies. Across the 40 environment programs, the most frequently listed eligibility categories are state local gov (36 programs), nonprofit (18 programs), tribal gov (9 programs). Every applicant must hold an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID (UEI), regardless of entity type. Nonprofits should keep their IRS determination letter on file; state and local governments route submissions through an authorizing official; tribal organizations apply under set-aside rules; educational institutions typically work through an institutional pre-award office. The PlainGrants environment listings link directly to each program's CFDA page, where you can check current eligibility, funding range, open Grants.gov opportunities, and the administering agency.
40 active environment programs:
Air Pollution Control Program Support
Grants to state and local air pollution control agencies to develop and implement air quality programs.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov
Up to $10M
Beach Monitoring and Notification Program
Supports state beach monitoring programs to protect public health at coastal and Great Lakes beaches.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $2M
Brownfields Assessment Grants
Funds environmental assessments of brownfield sites to enable cleanup planning and economic redevelopment.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov · nonprofit
Up to $600K
Brownfields Job Training Grants
Job training grants for residents of brownfields-impacted communities to gain skills for environmental cleanup jobs.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $500K
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund
Establishes revolving loan funds for cleanup of brownfields sites in underserved communities.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $2M
Brownfields Workforce Development
Job training for residents of brownfields communities to build environmental cleanup skills.
Eligible: nonprofit · state local gov
Up to $1M
Bureau of Land Management Grants
Grants for management and conservation of public lands including recreation, wildlife, and cultural resources.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $3M
Capitalization Grants for Drinking Water
Grants to state revolving funds for loans supporting safe drinking water infrastructure projects.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $200M
Clean Water State Revolving Funds
Capitalization grants to state revolving loan funds for water pollution control infrastructure projects.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $500M
Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards
Grants to states and territories implementing federally approved coastal zone management programs.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $5M
Congressionally Mandated Projects
Grants for specific environmental projects mandated by Congress to address local and regional needs.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $5M
Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund
Grants to states for recovery planning and land acquisition to protect threatened and endangered species.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $10M
Diesel Emission Reduction Grants
Grants and low-cost financing to reduce diesel emissions from older trucks, buses, locomotives, and marine vessels.
Eligible: state local gov · for profit small business · nonprofit
Up to $2M
Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals
Grants to states implementing coal combustion residual regulations to protect groundwater.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $2M
Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving
Collaborative grants to EJ communities for research and solutions to local environmental and health issues.
Eligible: nonprofit · tribal gov
Up to $1M
Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving
Collaborative grants to solve environmental and public health problems in overburdened communities.
Eligible: nonprofit · tribal gov · state local gov
Up to $1M
Fish and Wildlife Service Research Grants
Research on fish, wildlife, and plant species conservation and management in the U.S.
Eligible: educational institution · nonprofit
Up to $2M
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
Grants to mobilize financing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with an emphasis on low-income communities.
Eligible: nonprofit · state local gov
Up to $7000M
Healthy Communities Grants
Competitive grants to help communities address local environmental and public health challenges.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $2M
Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid
Formula grants to state historic preservation programs for identifying, evaluating, and protecting historic resources.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $5M
Intergovernmental Climate Change Adaptation
Grants to state, local, and tribal governments to integrate climate adaptation planning into decision-making.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $2M
Migratory Bird Conservation Grant
Grants to acquire, restore, and enhance habitats supporting migratory bird populations.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $3M
National Estuary Program
Grants to develop and implement comprehensive management plans for estuaries of national significance.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $5M
National Park Service Historic Preservation
Grants for preservation of historic properties listed in or eligible for the National Register.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $2M
National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Programs
Grants for outdoor recreation planning, land acquisition, and facility development in states.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $3M
Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants
Grants to states and tribes to implement nonpoint source pollution management programs protecting water quality.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov
Up to $5M
Outdoor Recreation — Acquisition, Development, Planning
Land and Water Conservation Fund grants for outdoor recreation area acquisition and development.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $10M
Payments in Lieu of Taxes
Payments to counties and governments with federal land within their boundaries to offset tax losses.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $5M
Preserve America Grants
Grants for planning and implementation of historic preservation and heritage tourism in communities.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov
Up to $500K
Research, Development, Monitoring, Public Education, Outreach
Environmental research and public education projects addressing pollution prevention and ecosystem protection.
Eligible: educational institution · nonprofit
Up to $3M
Science to Achieve Results (STAR)
Competitive grants for research on environmental health, ecology, and technologies for risk reduction.
Eligible: educational institution
Up to $2M
Solid Waste Management Assistance Grants
Grants for developing and improving solid waste management programs and recycling infrastructure.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov
Up to $500K
Sport Fish Restoration Program
Apportionment grants to states for sport fish restoration, research, and recreational boating access.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $20M
State Indoor Radon Grants
Funds state programs to assess indoor radon levels and develop mitigation programs in buildings.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $1M
Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Special Purpose Activities
Environmental research, surveys, and demonstrations to support EPA regulatory and policy decisions.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit · educational institution
Up to $2M
Surveys, Studies, Training, and Demonstrations
Grants for environmental surveys, studies, training, and demonstration projects.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $2M
Water Pollution Control — General
Grants to states and tribes for managing and enforcing surface water quality programs and standards.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov
Up to $10M
Water Quality Management Planning
Grants to develop and implement comprehensive water quality management plans and watershed management.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $3M
Wetlands Protection Development Grants
Develops and implements state wetlands protection programs to conserve and restore wetland resources.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov · nonprofit
Up to $1M
Wildlife Restoration Program
Formula grants to states for wildlife restoration, research, and hunting and archery access.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $30M
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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| Publisher | Kiznis Studio |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |