Best Climate Change Grants in Colorado

Agricultural producers, Tribes, and non‑industrial private forest landowners in Colorado can apply for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program to enhance conservation on working lands. CSP provides technical and financial assistance for climate resilience, soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and other environmental stewardship improvements through customized, multi‑year conservation plans.

Agricultural producers, ranchers, Tribes, and private forest landowners in Colorado can receive financial and cost-share assistance to implement conservation practices that improve environmental quality and climate resilience on working lands. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Colorado supports projects addressing soil health, water resources, air quality, wildlife habitat, energy conservation, and carbon sequestration.

Existing permitted cloud seeding programs managed by Colorado water user groups or city and county governments can use this state funding to support wintertime operational cloud seeding. Grants from Colorado Department of Natural Resources help Colorado climate resilience efforts by financing equipment, full-season operations, and evaluation of ground-based winter cloud seeding projects.

RBC Foundation – USA aims to enhance community quality of life by supporting non-profit organizations that promote diversity and positive change. In 2023, it awarded over $2.8 million in grants, prioritizing youth programs for ages 15-29, arts access for diverse populations, and mental well-being initiatives. The foundation encourages sustainable projects that foster economic independence, providing critical support for education, mental health, and cultural enrichment, thereby making a significant impact across various communities.

The Rural Climate Partnership Grant supports innovative, community-led climate solutions in rural America. With funding ranging from $20,000 to $150,000, it empowers organizations focused on rural leadership and equitable climate actions. The grant aims to strengthen rural economies and enhance climate resilience by providing critical resources and support to rural-serving entities. It prioritizes projects that benefit under-resourced communities and actively engage in addressing pressing rural issues, making a meaningful impact on local climate narratives.

Colorado climate change and clean energy nonprofits can access funding through Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation to reduce fossil fuel demand and expand accurate climate education for youth. 501(c)(3) organizations working on climate and clean energy policy or climate change education in the U.S., including Colorado, may seek general operating or program-specific support.

U.S.-based nonprofit organizations working on climate change projects, including in Colorado, can apply for US $200 - US $20,000 to support grassroots climate action. Earth Rising Foundation funds initiatives uplifting Indigenous communities, regenerative agriculture, climate justice and equity, visionary systems change, and youth climate activism, with all funds disbursed through an existing U.S. nonprofit.

Colorado 501(c)(3) and other U.S. or Canada-based nonprofits with programs on confidence, inclusion, or sustainability can apply for Aerie Real Foundation’s community grants, offering up to US $10,000 for specific projects. Organizations with climate change resilience, environmental stewardship, or equity-focused work may be especially strong candidates.

Colorado rural governments, tribes, cooperatives, and other legal entities can apply for USDA Rural Development’s Community Connect grants, awarding US $100,000 - US $5,000,000 to build broadband infrastructure in unserved areas. Projects that expand internet access, support community centers, and advance climate resilience, equity, and economic recovery may be especially competitive.

Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers at U.S. institutions studying fungi-focused climate change solutions can seek the MSA Climate Change Research Award, offering US $10,000 for innovative projects. With a mission to advance climate resilience research, Mycological Society of America supports work where fungi are essential to understanding or mitigating human-driven climate change; Colorado-based researchers may be eligible.

Organizations worldwide working on climate action, pandemics and health, inclusive economies, racial justice, or effective governance can receive Skoll Awards to scale proven social innovations. Grants from Skoll Foundation help Colorado climate change and resilience organizations that meet its criteria access $2 million in unrestricted funding and join a global community of social change leaders.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving veterans with climate, environmental, or resilience-focused projects in Colorado and other U.S. locations can seek funding for new or expanding programs. With a mission to empower collective giving, Impact100 Global Veterans provides up to US $100,000 for initiatives in areas like environmental education, conservation, recreation, and climate change resilience and equity.

Early-career social science faculty researching U.S. economic mobility, inequality, or related topics, including climate change resilience and equity, can apply for Russell Sage Foundation’s Pipeline Grants. Focused on building diverse research pipelines, this program offers US $35,000 - US $50,000 for one-year projects, which may include exploratory or pilot climate-related studies affecting Colorado communities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Colorado working on climate change resilience, rare disease research, elder care, intellectual freedom, or Jewish heritage can seek support for innovative, well-planned projects. Mike & Sofia Segal Foundation funds programs with clear beneficiaries, realistic budgets, and measurable objectives that address overlooked needs and create lasting social impact.

Graduate students in engineering, science, or architecture at accredited U.S. or Canadian universities can receive US $35,000 fellowships for cement and concrete research supporting climate resilience and carbon reduction. The Portland Cement Association Education Foundation funds sustainability, manufacturing, and testing projects, and Colorado-focused climate change research may be eligible when aligned with these themes.

Minority-serving institutions with STEM research doctoral programs can seek US $100,000 - US $2,000,000 to expand graduate education, research infrastructure, and doctoral student production nationwide, including Colorado. Focused on strengthening institutional research capacity, the National Science Foundation program encourages projects in areas like climate change resilience and equity, clean energy, AI, data science, and advanced technologies.

Nonprofit visual arts organizations planning clean energy, energy efficiency, or sustainability projects in Colorado and other U.S. locations can apply for Catalyst Grants offering up to US $20,000. Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports first-step or small-scale efforts like solar installations, LED upgrades, energy audits, or sustainable collections practices within museums, galleries, and visual arts education institutions.

Tribal governments and intertribal consortia in Colorado can use this program to build environmental protection capacity and support climate change assessments, adaptation planning, and related environmental programs. The Environmental Protection Agency provides non-competitive funding and technical assistance for activities like baseline environmental studies, waste management, and initial equipment purchases that strengthen long-term tribal climate resilience efforts.

The Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship encourages graduate students to contribute to wilderness protection, honoring Gloria Barron's legacy. The Wilderness Society prioritizes projects addressing climate change and equitable access to public lands. Applicants must be enrolled in a U.S. graduate program, possess strong academic qualifications, and focus on long-term wilderness conservation. Research proposals on biodiversity, climate adaptation, and social-ecological contexts are particularly welcome, aiming for inclusive and impactful conservation efforts.

Melton Foundation

The Melton Foundation is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the USA, and a leading proponent of Global Citizenship education and practice worldwide. Established nearly thirty years ago with the credence that collaborations across boundaries can forge sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, today, our programs reach millions of young leaders, having crystallized into a network of over 750 life-long Melton Fellows spread across 40+ countries. Our primary operations are in Chile, China, Germany, Ghana, India, and the United States of America, with legal subsidiaries in Bangalore, India; Jena, Germany; Temuco, Chile; and Accra, Ghana. 

Through our fellowship and collaborative programs we promote and enable global citizenship as a way for individuals and organizations to work together across boundaries of place and identity to solve challenges in an interconnected world.

Melton Foundation Action Grants

The Melton Foundation offers grants year-round to support Melton Fellows in developing skills, perspective and wider networks to further their capacity as global citizens and contribute towards building an equitable, sustainable, and peaceful world.

In almost 10 years of granting, more than 100 Fellows’ initiatives have been awarded with a Melton Foundation grant to

• Build awareness and/or further awareness raising around global issues and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
• Develop individual and collective responsibility for sustained, collaborative action,
• Grow capacity to collaboratively drive and sustain social impact at the local and/or global level,
• Further the design, implementation and evaluation of collaborative actions that embody the spirit of global citizenship practice and further social impact, or
• Support coordinated social-impact efforts in a particular or across (emerging) Melton Foundation Hub regions to promote global citizenship practice (s) and the organization’s mission.

The Conservation Alliance

The Conservation Alliance is the leading business coalition for conservation. Uniting companies across industries, perspectives, and geographies, we harness the collective power of our members to protect lands and waters for future generations. Our dual top-down and bottom-up approach pairs corporate advocacy with funding for grassroots action on the ground. Investing in The Conservation Alliance is not only an investment in protecting the resources outdoor businesses depend on—it’s a way to strengthen the outdoor economy and ensure long-term business resilience.

Mission: We harness the collective power of business and outdoor communities to fund and advocate for the protection of North America’s natural places.

Confluence Program

Why Confluence?

The Confluence Program, launched in 2021, seeks to expand The Conservation Alliance’s network of grassroots and community partners. We know that our network does not represent a coalition of everyone working to protect natural places. Great things happen when a diverse coalition of voices and perspectives comes together to champion solutions that balance the best interests of land and water, wildlife, and people. The Confluence Program is a first step in our efforts to help create new systems and structures that bring all of the groups, organizations, and businesses committed to this work closer together to protect our shared natural places.

Only in special cases do we fund more than one group working on a campaign – this is typically reserved for TCA Priority Campaigns.

We prioritize the following types of projects:

• Advance TCA’s Conservation Strategy
• Measurably mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect biodiversity
• Are led by or increase engagement opportunities for Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic, Latin American, Black, Brown, or additional communities who identify as People of Color
• Projects that uplift/center traditional ecological knowledge, history, and culture in relation to land and water conservation
• Expand outdoor recreation opportunities and/or access to nature in an effort to help create connections to and a sense of belonging in the landscape
• Aim to improve long-term and sustainable economic impacts for local communities
• Increase connectivity to other protected lands
• Incorporate efforts to mobilize / engage local communities
• Projects that focus on groups working in collaboration with others to protect land or water
• Conservation projects that address the social, cultural, and environmental needs of a community and/or region.
• Projects where the resources (e.g., staff, revenue) and strategy align well with the intended goals and outcomes.

The ROSES 2025: A.16 Cryosphere program by NASA focuses on the vital role of Earth's ice within the global climate system. It aims to enhance understanding of cryospheric processes through satellite and airborne observations, addressing the challenges posed by the remoteness of icy regions. The program supports research on Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, glaciers, and Arctic sea ice to monitor changes and their impacts on sea level rise, ocean biology, and climate feedback mechanisms.

QBE Foundation Inc.

The QBE Foundation’s focus is on creating strong, resilient and inclusive communities. We work in partnership with community organizations, working in climate resilience and inclusion – two areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact.

The QBE Foundation is one component that reflects our company’s focus, involvement, and investment in the neighborhoods where we do business, and where our employees live and work. The QBE Foundation also empowers our employees to volunteer with colleagues and community partners to make a difference for those in need. Employees can also coordinate fundraisers that are matched by the foundation.

QBE Foundation Local Grant Program

This program supports high-impact, community-based initiatives aligned to our focus on climate resilience and inclusion.

• Climate Resilience:
  • Helping communities prepare for, adapt to, and recover from climate-related risks, including preparedness, financial resilience, and risk reduction solutions.
• Inclusion:
  • Expanding access to opportunity for underserved communities through economic inclusion, workforce pathways, and removing systemic barriers.

Multiple grants of $30,000 will be awarded across our two focus areas.

Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on climate solutions, environmental justice, or sustainability can access operational and capacity-building support through the Levine Impact Lab Operational Support Program, with awards up to US $25,000. Focused on climate change resilience and equity, Levine Impact Lab invites midsized U.S.-based organizations with growth-stage needs to apply for this 18‑month partnership.

XR creators and mission-driven organizations using immersive media for climate change resilience and equity can access funding through Agog in the U.S., including Colorado, with awards from US $25,000 - US $200,000. Grants support climate-focused storytelling and civic participation projects using tools like AR, mixed reality, smart glasses, and spatial sound.

About Us

Our team is working tirelessly to heal the planet and ensure that a just and livable future prevails.

With three decades of clean energy industry experience, our leadership team draws upon a long track record of environmental stewardship and meaningful throughput to confidently navigate today's unprecedented challenges.

We are teaming up with local philanthropists, nonprofit organizations, advocates and elected officials to implement effective solutions towards stopping the climate crisis.

Solar Moonshot Program Grant

The Solar Moonshot Program is helping nonprofit organizations across the United States afford the switch to clean energy.

Grants up to $25,000 are typically awarded, with grant amounts dependent on various factors, including the organization’s need for funding. 

In addition to grants given through the program, we also offer short-term, low-interest recoverable grants to help cover the project costs offset by the Investment Tax Credit.

Grants for 2026 are made possible by the BQuest Foundation and two anonymous donors, and the program is managed by Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation. Learn more about the program's status and participants below! 

Common Waters: Strengthening Community-based Coastal and Riverine Stewardship

Opportunity Overview

Projects supported by this RFP must be community-based stewardship initiatives (including but not limited to stewardship driven by Indigenous and descendant communities); they should be led by an individual with a strong connection to and/or an existing track record of work in the community(ies) where the project will take place, or by a member of the community themselves, and be designed in response to community needs. Projects can focus on a wide range of specific issues, including (but not limited to) local conservation and ecosystem restoration, climate change adaptation and resilience, or sustainable fishing/agriculture. The RFP will prioritize projects in National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions destinations, including the Arctic, Asia, Baja California, Costa Rica and Panama, Europe and the Mediterranean, Patagonia, the Peruvian Amazon, the Pacific Northwest, Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, the South Pacific, and the United Kingdom and Ireland. For more detailed information on targeted areas within these regions, please refer to the targeted areas document.