Best Climate Change Grants in Pennsylvania

Nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania focused on environmental conservation, sustainable resource management, or climate-related education and projects can seek up to US $10,000 in operating or program support. Focused on climate resilience and related environmental work, the Joseph Robert Foundation prioritizes smaller organizations and community-based initiatives addressing land, water, pollution, and urban green space issues.

Land trusts, nonprofits, Tribal governments, and municipalities in Pennsylvania can seek funding to develop broad-scale, climate-informed conservation and community resilience plans. Open Space Institute supports planning for land protection, stewardship, and nature-based climate resilience strategies across the Appalachian region with grants up to US $20,000 for eligible planning activities and costs.

Focused on climate change resilience and equity, conservation and community nonprofits, municipalities, Tribal Nations, and agencies in Pennsylvania and other Appalachian states can seek funding for land protection through The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program. Grants up to US $100,000 support fee or easement acquisitions plus related planning, stewardship, and community engagement costs.

Agricultural producers, forest landowners, Tribes, and water management entities in Pennsylvania can receive funding to implement conservation practices that improve soil health, water and air quality, and climate resilience. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Pennsylvania supports projects on working lands that reduce erosion, enhance wildlife habitat, boost energy efficiency, and help operations adapt to increasing weather volatility.

Pennsylvania schools, colleges, conservation districts, nonprofits, and businesses can receive up to US $65,000 to deliver environmental and climate education projects in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection provides Pennsylvania climate change and environmental education programs with mini and general grants for hands-on student learning, teacher training, community conservation, water quality, and environmental justice initiatives.

Universities and research organizations studying coastal climate resilience and environmental policy can apply for National Sea Grant Law Center’s Coastal Resilience Program, including projects connected to Pennsylvania. Focused on climate change resilience and equity, it supports legal and policy research on sea level rise, flooding, storms, land use, and related coastal challenges with awards of US $75,000.

US Department of the Interior: Fish and Wildlife Service provides Pennsylvania conservation agencies with funding to acquire land or conservation easements that protect high-value natural resources in the Highlands Region. State, county, and municipal entities may apply for US $25,000 - US $3,850,000 to advance land, habitat, wildlife health, and climate resilience projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored groups advancing climate and environmental justice can seek funding for grassroots organizing, advocacy, and movement-building in Pennsylvania. Scherman Foundation supports BIPOC-led efforts on climate resilience, equitable mass transit, green jobs, and community-controlled renewable energy that center racial, economic, and political justice.

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 Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) Program, managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invites proposals for grants ranging from $75,000 to $500,000. These funds aim to support on-the-ground conservation projects that enhance vital fish and wildlife habitats within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Up to $8.5 million in funding is available, contingent on resources.

The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation Environment Grant aims to support initiatives that combat climate change, prioritizing efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption and enhance climate education for young adults. The foundation emphasizes innovative solutions and partnerships to address both immediate and long-term environmental challenges. Areas of focus include climate and clean energy policy, as well as providing scientifically accurate climate change education. By leveraging data and research, the foundation seeks to empower organizations dedicated to creating impactful change.

The Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) Program, led by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), invites proposals for Planning and Technical Assistance Grants up to $75,000. This initiative focuses on enhancing conservation and stewardship efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, supporting local partners in effective project implementation. With an estimated $8.5 million available, applicants are encouraged to engage with NFWF staff for proposal guidance and feedback to strengthen their submissions.

U.S.-based nonprofit organizations working on climate change projects, including in Pennsylvania, can apply for Earth Rising Foundation grants of US $200 - US $20,000 to support bold, bottom-up climate action. Funding may support Indigenous sovereignty, regenerative agriculture, climate justice, visionary future-building, and youth-led climate initiatives that advance resilience and equity.

Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) nonprofits with programs for young women, inclusive communities, or sustainability and climate action can apply for Aerie Real Foundation’s community grants, with awards up to US $10,000. Funding supports projects that build confidence, foster diversity, equity and inclusion, or protect the planet, including climate change resilience and equity initiatives.

Pennsylvania organizations and local governments planning rural broadband infrastructure can access funding through USDA Rural Development’s Community Connect Grants, awarding US $100,000 - US $5,000,000. Projects must serve rural areas lacking existing broadband, provide free access for key community facilities and centers, and can support climate resilience, equity, and economic recovery in vulnerable communities.

Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers at U.S. institutions studying fungi-focused climate change solutions can seek support for climate resilience and microbiome research, including work based in Pennsylvania. With a mission to advance mycology, Mycological Society of America provides US $10,000 awards for creative, fundamental or translational fungal-climate research projects.

Grassroots, community-led organizations in Pennsylvania implementing climate justice organizing strategies can access funding to advance climate change resilience and equity, including related racial justice, housing, food access, health, and transit issues. Grants from Bread & Roses Community Fund provide US $25,000 to help small groups sustain, implement, or scale campaigns, direct actions, coalition-building, and community mobilization efforts.

Grassroots, community-led organizations in Pennsylvania working on climate justice capacity-building and strategy development can receive US $15,000 to strengthen organizing, training, and planning efforts. Bread & Roses Community Fund supports small groups with budgets under $500,000 using community organizing on issues like racial justice, food security, housing, health equity, and public transportation in climate-impacted communities.

The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative's Catalyst Grant supports organizations in the visual arts sector to take quick, impactful actions toward sustainability. Since 2021, the initiative has awarded over $10 million, fostering a shift to carbon-neutral operations. Eligible applicants include nonprofit entities that prioritize visual arts, aiming to reduce environmental impact through clean energy, efficiency improvements, and innovative practices. This grant promotes a greener future while enhancing the importance of arts education and ecological stewardship.

Erie, Crawford, and Potter County environmental organizations in Pennsylvania can seek more than US $10,000 to advance Great Lakes climate resilience and watershed health. Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation supports work on climate change adaptation, environmental justice, policy advocacy, and leadership development that strengthens Great Lakes ecosystems and communities. Applicants begin with a conversation with program staff.

The CREST program by the NSF aims to bolster research capabilities at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) through education and research integration. It specifically supports STEM doctoral programs and encourages proposals in high-priority areas such as AI and climate change. By enhancing the institutional capacity, the program seeks to increase the number of underrepresented doctoral graduates in STEM fields, thereby fostering diversity and innovation in scientific research.

Organizations worldwide working on climate change resilience and equity, pandemics and health systems, inclusive economies, racial justice, or effective governance can receive Skoll Awards to scale proven social innovations. Grants from the Skoll Foundation provide $2 million in unrestricted funding, which may benefit Pennsylvania-based groups whose work addresses systemic climate and social challenges.

The PCA J.P. Gleason Research Fellowship Program, offered by the Portland Cement Association, supports graduate students in engineering and physical sciences. The program aims to enhance public understanding of cement and concrete uses while addressing urgent sustainability challenges. Each fellowship provides a $35,000 grant to cover educational expenses, fostering research that optimizes cement manufacturing and promotes environmental sustainability, particularly in the context of climate change.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving veterans with climate, environmental, or conservation initiatives in Pennsylvania and across the U.S. can seek up to US $100,000 for new or expanding projects. With a mission to empower women’s collective giving, Impact100 Global Veterans provides large, two-year grants for veteran-focused programs in areas like climate resilience, environmental justice, and outdoor recreation.

The Mike & Sofia Segal Foundation Grant provides vital funding to nonprofit organizations focused on intellectual freedom, medical research for rare diseases, Jewish heritage preservation, elder care, and climate change initiatives. By supporting innovative projects that align with their mission, the foundation aims to uplift communities and foster meaningful societal contributions. Organizations must be 501c-3 compliant and demonstrate a clear plan for engagement with beneficiaries and measurable objectives to be eligible for funding.

Early-career social science faculty researching U.S. economic mobility, inequality, or related topics can apply for US $35,000 - US $50,000 from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on climate change resilience and equity among other areas, the program supports one-year projects by assistant professors, lecturers, and adjunct assistant professors, prioritizing underrepresented scholars and under-resourced institutions, including those in Pennsylvania.

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.