Environmental Justice and Tribal Sovereignty Initiative

This initiative aims to support community-led efforts to address environmental injustices and strengthen tribal sovereignty through capacity building, technical assistance, and direct project funding.

Eligibility and Focus Areas

This funding is specifically reserved for Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, and non-profit entities that demonstrate a direct, verifiable connection to a federally recognized Tribe. Projects must focus on areas where environmental degradation disproportionately affects tribal lands or resources.

Priority Focus Areas Include:

• Water Quality Monitoring and Remediation: Projects addressing contamination from industrial runoff, agricultural pollutants, or historical mining activities.
• Climate Change Adaptation: Developing and implementing resilient infrastructure or resource management plans in the face of rising sea levels, extreme weather, or drought.
• Air Quality and Public Health: Initiatives focused on monitoring and mitigating pollution sources impacting tribal health outcomes (e.g., air pollution from fossil fuel infrastructure).
• Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Integration: Projects that formally integrate TEK into modern scientific monitoring and restoration practices.

Funding Structure and Requirements

Grants will be awarded through a combination of large-scale infrastructure grants and smaller, rapid-response technical assistance grants.

Key Requirements:

1. Partnership Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate a formal partnership agreement with the affected Tribal government.
2. Sustainability Plan: A detailed plan outlining how the project's outcomes will be maintained and scaled after the grant funding period ends.
3. Capacity Building Component: A mandatory component dedicated to training local tribal members in the necessary scientific, legal, or technical skills to sustain the work.

Application Process

Interested applicants must review the full Request for Proposals (RFP) document, available on the designated portal. The process involves three stages:

1. Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI): Submit a brief (2-page) LOI by March 1, 2024, outlining the core problem, the target community, and the preliminary scope of work.
2. Stage 2: Full Proposal Submission: Submit the comprehensive proposal package by the deadline (June 15, 2024).
3. Stage 3: Site Visit/Presentation: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their plans to a review panel.