The Uplift Climate and Environmental Community Action Grant program, offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, aims to support disadvantaged communities in addressing environmental challenges and building climate resilience. The program focuses on developing partnerships between institutions of higher education, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions, and community-based nonprofit organizations. It supports initiatives that promote collaboration, build capacity, and engage communities in addressing climate justice and environmental issues.

The program provides up to 2.5 million dollars in funding for a single award, with a three-year performance period. Applicants must propose projects that meet two main priorities: establishing an Uplift Climate and Environmental Action Community of Practice and creating a Climate and Environmental Community Action Subaward Program. The Community of Practice focuses on building partnerships to facilitate community engagement in government decision-making processes related to climate and environmental justice. The Subaward Program allocates at least 1 million dollars in subawards to support community-driven projects addressing pollution reduction, climate resilience, and related public health concerns.

Eligible applicants must form a statutory partnership between a community-based nonprofit organization and an institution of higher education. Both organizations must demonstrate their capacity to support disadvantaged communities as defined by the EPA's guidelines. Applicants must provide a statutory partnership agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities of each partner. Proposed activities must directly benefit disadvantaged communities and include mechanisms for tracking outputs and outcomes, such as reducing pollution, building community resilience, and engaging stakeholders in environmental decision-making processes.

Applications must include a project narrative, budget narrative, detailed itemized budget, letters of commitment, and a statutory partnership agreement. The project narrative is limited to 25 pages and must include an executive summary, detailed work plans for both program priorities, performance management strategies, and a sustainability plan. A streamlined and efficient process for awarding subgrants must also be described, with emphasis on timely distribution of funds and support for capacity-constrained communities.

Submissions are due via Grants.gov by February 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applicants must have an active registration with SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria including past performance, program feasibility, capacity to manage funds, and the effectiveness of outreach and communication strategies. The EPA expects to notify successful applicants by August 2025, with project work beginning shortly thereafter.

This funding opportunity emphasizes fostering collaboration, delivering measurable environmental outcomes, and ensuring meaningful participation of disadvantaged communities in environmental justice initiatives.