Best Climate Change Grants in Rhode Island

Rhode Island 501(c)(3) nonprofits seeking up to US $15,000 for infrastructure, planning, or technical assistance projects can apply for these capacity building grants. With a mission to strengthen community priorities, Rhode Island Community Foundation provides support for efforts including climate change resilience and equity, governance, strategic and business planning, fundraising, technology, and evaluation.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations focused on climate change, coastal conservation, and environmental justice in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts can seek project or general operating support, including potential multi-year funding. Focused on marine and coastal resources, Island Foundation backs efforts linking climate, renewable energy, regional planning, working landscapes, and community health, especially for those most impacted by environmental harms.

Rhode Island 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups can receive US $15,000 - US $150,000 for programmatic or general operating support that advances community priorities, including climate change resilience and equity. The Rhode Island Community Foundation’s Community Priority Grants back efforts centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to build thriving, climate-resilient communities.

Agricultural producers, non-industrial forest owners, Tribes, and water management entities in Rhode Island can receive financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices that improve soil health, water and air quality, and climate resilience. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service supports projects on eligible working lands, including cropland, pasture, forestland, and environmentally sensitive areas.

Rhode Island climate resilience and coastal conservation organizations can access funding through Restore America’s Estuaries to address urgent threats to estuaries, including habitat loss, coastal erosion, stormwater runoff, and harmful algal blooms. This nationally competitive program awards US $200,000 - US $500,000 for projects within designated National Estuary Program boundary areas.

Rhode Island 501(c)(3) public charities, public schools, fiscally sponsored projects, and government agencies can seek Barr Foundation support for climate action work. Focus areas include clean energy, low-carbon transportation, and climate-resilient communities, with a strong emphasis on climate change resilience and equity for communities of color in the Northeast region.

Academic and research institutions studying coastal resilience laws and policies, including climate change impacts, can apply for funding in Rhode Island and other eligible coastal states. Focused on legal and policy effectiveness, the National Sea Grant Law Center invites projects on sea level rise, flooding, storm surge, land use, and related environmental factors, with awards of US $75,000.

Collaborative nonprofits, government agencies, and academic institutions in Rhode Island can apply for the Rhode Island Community Foundation’s Catalyst Grants, awarding up to US $250,000 for innovative, multi-year initiatives. Projects addressing climate change resilience and equity, alongside other community priorities, and led by RI-based organizations with strong impact and DEIA focus may be competitive.

Rhode Island nonprofits seeking support for organizational planning or strengthening can access funding through Rhode Island Community Foundation’s Capacity Building Grants, with awards up to US $15,000. Grants can fund activities like strategic, business, or fund development planning, DEIA training and assessment, and other capacity projects, including for groups addressing climate change resilience and equity.

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.

Rhode Island 501(c)(3) organizations working on climate change policy, fossil fuel reduction, or youth climate education can access funding via Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation. Grants support general operations or programs that decrease domestic fossil fuel demand and production or provide scientifically accurate, action-oriented climate education for high school and college students across the U.S.

U.S.-based nonprofit organizations working on climate change resilience and equity projects, including those in Rhode Island, can apply for Earth Rising Foundation grants of US $200 - US $20,000 to support bold, bottom-up climate action. Funding may support Indigenous rights, regenerative agriculture, climate justice, visionary futures, and youth-led climate initiatives, with all funds disbursed through a U.S. nonprofit.

Rhode Island 501(c)(3) and other U.S. or Canada-based nonprofit organizations can access funding for programs advancing confidence, inclusion, or sustainability through the Aerie Real Foundation’s community grants, with awards up to US $10,000. Climate change, environmental conservation, and climate resilience initiatives that protect the planet may be especially competitive.

Rhode Island rural communities, tribes, governments, cooperatives, and other legal entities can seek USDA Rural Development’s Community Connect funding to build broadband infrastructure that supports jobs, education, healthcare, and public safety. Projects must serve rural areas lacking existing broadband, provide free service to critical community facilities and a community center, and can advance climate resilience and equity. Awards range from US $100,000 - US $5,000,000.

Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers at U.S. institutions studying fungal roles in climate systems can receive US $10,000 for climate change research that advances practical mitigation solutions. With a mission to support innovative fungal-climate science, Mycological Society of America provides funding that Rhode Island climate resilience projects may be able to leverage when led by eligible investigators.

Legally incorporated organizations worldwide advancing climate action, racial justice, inclusive economies, effective governance, or pandemic and health systems work can receive Skoll Awards to scale proven social innovations. Grants from Skoll Foundation help Rhode Island and other climate change resilience and equity leaders access $2 million in unrestricted funding plus connection to a global community of social change leaders.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving veterans with climate, environmental, or resilience-focused programs in Rhode Island and other U.S. locations can seek funding for projects. With a mission to empower women’s collective giving, Impact100 Global Veterans provides up to US $100,000 for initiatives in areas like climate change resilience, environmental justice, recreation, health, education, and family support for veterans.

Early-career social science faculty researching economic mobility, access to opportunity, or systemic inequality in the U.S. can seek one-year project funding from the Russell Sage Foundation, including work on climate change resilience and equity. Focused on innovative, data-driven studies, this program prioritizes underrepresented scholars and those at under-resourced institutions, including those based in Rhode Island.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on climate change resilience and equity projects, as well as elder care, rare diseases, intellectual freedom, or Jewish heritage, may be eligible for support in Rhode Island and across the U.S. The Mike & Sofia Segal Foundation funds innovative, well-planned programs with clear objectives, realistic budgets, and strong community engagement.

Graduate students in engineering, science, or architecture conducting cement and concrete research can receive US $35,000 fellowships for tuition, living costs, and research expenses at accredited U.S. or Canadian universities. American Cement Association’s Portland Cement Association Education Foundation supports projects on sustainability, carbon reduction, and related climate change resilience topics, which may benefit Rhode Island-focused climate initiatives.

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.

Focused on climate-focused organizational growth, Levine Impact Lab invites U.S.-based environmental justice, climate solutions, and sustainability nonprofits to apply for its 18‑month operational support program, including up to US $25,000. Rhode Island organizations working on climate change resilience and equity may benefit from hands-on strategic advising, peer learning, and capacity-building support.

Agog Open Call: Climate Futures + Immersive Media

This open call supports immersive media projects that help people better understand and respond to climate challenges and imagine what a better world could be.

We are looking for projects that use immersive technologies—including smart glasses, augmented reality, spatial sound, and mixed reality—to create more engaging, experiential forms of climate storytelling and civic participation.

The open call will support projects across a range of stages and formats, from early ideas to more developed work. What matters most is a compelling story or experience, a clear sense of purpose, and a thoughtful approach to bringing the work to life.

Grants may be awarded in denominations ranging from $25,000 to $200,000. In addition to funding, selected projects may receive mentorship, advisor support, and opportunities for partnership and distribution.