Community Navigator Program
Grants & Funding Opportunities
Finding and managing funding for climate mitigation and forest resilience may appear challenging, but fear not. There exists a multitude of financial resources dedicated to support creating sustainable and fire-adapted communities, creating healthy and resilient landscapes, and safe and effective wildfire response.
The information on this page is produced and maintained by Coalitions & Collaboratives and the Watershed Research & Training Center community navigator staff.
Featured BIL/iRA Opportunities
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act provisions and funding broadly support these efforts through grants and agreements. The four main grant categories are listed below.
Round 2 deadline has passed – award announcements coming in May 2024. Round 3 of 5 will be released Summer/Fall 2024.
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program is designed to assist communities and Tribes that are at risk of wildfires. CWDG helps communities plan for and lower the chances of wildfires happening, giving special attention to those that are in areas where wildfires are likely to occur, those that have lower income, and/or those that have been seriously affected by disasters that make wildfires more likely.
CWDG offers funding to communities and Tribes for two purposes:
- Creating and updating Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs)
- Implementing projects mentioned in a CWPP that is less than ten years old.
Program Information:
Website | |
Grants.gov ID Number | Round 3 ID numbers TBA |
Eligible entities | Local governments; Non-profit organizations including homeowner associations; Indian Tribes; State forestry agencies (including U.S. territories and interests); Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) |
Eligible lands | Non-federal |
Funding amount | Max $250k for CWPP development or update Max $10M for implementation |
Match | 10% for proposals to develop or update a CWPP. 25% for proposals to plan and/or implement projects described within a CWPP Communities meeting the definition of underserved, Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations, and Pacific Islands may request a waiver of match. |
Priority status determination; match waiver eligibility | Wildfire hazard potential, low income, impacted by severe disaster; CEJST disadvantaged status: https://wildfirerisk.org/cwdg-tool/ |
Reporting | Funded CWDG projects will be required to provide financial reports to the grant’s administrator on a quarterly basis, and project performance reports on an annual basis. The annual performance report shall include a spatial data component. |
Funding administration | Opt-in states will administer funds to applicants. If it is in a State that has not fully opted-in to run CWDG, the US Forest Service will administer funds. |
Resources:
CWDG Frequently Asked Questions 2023
CWDG Dashboard (to determine eligibility)
FY23 CWDG Applicant Webinar – August 4, 2023
Round 2 Contacts
Round 2 Primer (FAC Net)
CWDG Focused Grant Writing Workshop (facilitated by Western Region Program Managers)
Application deadline is August 21, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST.
The Inflation Reduction Act Forest Landowner Support provides grant opportunities to entities and organizations delivering technical and financial assistance to private forest landowners – including Tribes, underserved landowners, and small-acreage landowners – to participate in emerging private markets for forest resilience and climate mitigation.
Two funding opportunities are open:
- Supporting Underserved and Small-Acreage Landowner Participation in Emerging Private Markets
- Tribal Access to Emerging Private Markets for Climate Mitigation or Forest Resilience
General Program Information:
Website | |
Application Deadline | August 21, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST; Applications must be submitted through grants.gov. |
Eligible lands | Nonindustrial private forest land that is (1) Rural, as defined by LSR tool and (2) Has existing tree cover or is suitable for growing trees and (3) Is owned by any private individual, group, association, corporation, Indian Tribe, other private legal entity or is Tribal land held in trust by the federal government. |
Funding amount | $2 million limit |
Match | There is no match requirement for proposals to be funded through this NOFO. |
Reporting Requirements | Awardees submit a detailed financial report (standard SF-425 “Federal Financial Report” form) and narrative progress report; there is no required format or form for these reporting documents. Reports must be submitted with frequency determined by agency guidance and specified in final signed award documents, at least annually and not more frequently than quarterly. |
Office Hours | Forest Service staff will host live Office Hours to answer questions from participants. Office hours are:
To participate, visit the Forest Landowner Support Office Hours Microsoft Teams room at any point during the times listed above. Pre-registration is not required. |
Resources:
Webinar Recording: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Forest Landowner Support Notice of Funding Opportunity #1 September 6, 2023, General Audience.
Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher FY 2024 Self-Determination Tool
Fact Sheet: Emerging Markets for Climate Mitigation and Forest Resilience
Opportunity #1: Supporting Underserved and Small-Acreage Landowner Participation in Emerging Private Markets
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) | |
Eligible entities | County governments |
#1 Resources:
IRA-FLS NOFO1 Frequently Asked Questions (available in Related Documents under the “full announcement materials” dropdown)
Opportunity #2: Tribal Access to Emerging Private Markets for Climate Mitigation or Forest Resilience
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) | |
Eligible entities | Federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations/Villages, and Tribal Organizations (as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S. Code § 5304). |
#2 Resources:
NOFO #2 Frequently Asked Questions (available in Related Documents under the “full announcement materials” dropdown)
NOFO Application Assistance Webinar (February 16, 2024)
USDA Press Release (February 14, 2024)
Deadlines have passed for the 2023 grant cycle. Application periods for the Wood Innovations Grant and Community Wood Grant are expected to open in October 2024.
Website | https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/energy-forest-products/wood-innovation |
Regional Coordinators | https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/energy-forest-products/wood-innovation-contacts |
Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity Program – OPEN – Rolling applications due by April 27, 2024, August 30, 2024, or December 27, 2024.
Support the establishment of temporary bridge rental/loan/cost-share programs with States and federally recognized Indian Tribes to protect water resources and reduce water quality degradation during forestry-related operations.
Website | |
Notice of Funding Opportunity | https://usfs-public.app.box.com/s/az8cdck67js0o3xpmj3xbagfu6k93hd4 |
Application Deadline | Rolling applications due by April 27, 2024, August 30, 2024, or December 27, 2024. Link to Program Application. |
Application Instructions | Submit your application in a PDF format to jeffrey.c.high@usda.gov |
Eligible entities | State Governments and Indian Tribes |
Eligible lands | Non-Federal land and Federal land. |
Funding amount | up to $17.6 million; applications for $400,000 or less will be prioritized for funding |
Match | Applicants are not required to provide a match |
Reporting |
|
Funding Administration | Funding may be provided up to 30 days in advance of actual bridge purchase. All other grant funding such as administration, materials, and maintenance costs will be a cost reimbursable expense |
The Urban and Community Forestry Program is dedicated to enhancing and expanding the nation’s urban forest resources via tree planting, restoration, maintenance, and resilience. Additional programmatic goals are workforce development, planning and community engagement, and extreme heat mitigation.
Since the Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program received $1.5 billion in funding rom the Inflation Reduction Act. That funding has been distributed to states and national nonprofits to subgrant to smaller partners. Many states have opened grant opportunities for this funding, which carries the opportunity for a match waiver for projects that benefit disadvantaged communities.
Website | |
State agency funding opportunities |
Other Funding Opportunities
Combining grants from various sources broadens the pool of funding, lessening reliance on any single source and bolstering financial stability and resilience. Below are potential funding avenues to fortify your community’s capacity for climate resilience.
The table below can be searched, filtered, or sorted based on funding source, entity or eligible applicants.
The table below includes a search function and filtering and sorting by funding source, entity, and eligible applicants.
Stay up to date on the Community Navigator Program by joining our MAILING LIST.
CNPinfo@co-co.org
THIS INSTITUTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER.
