Philanthropy Northwest & the EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

Philanthropy Northwest & the EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

Philanthropy Northwest, in partnership with an extensive network of regional partners across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and tribal communities, has been selected to serve as Region 10 grantmaker for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) newly established Environmental Justice Thriving Communities (EPA EJTC) Grantmaking Program. This initiative, born out of President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act, represents a significant investment in climate action and environmental justice.
 

The Biden-Harris Administration has allocated $600 million under this program to empower community-based solutions to environmental challenges. As a chosen regional grantmaker, Philanthropy Northwest stands alongside other leaders selected to steer these funds effectively to where they can make the greatest difference, distributing $40 million in Region 10 over three years. 

We are committed to ensuring the equitable and accessible distribution of the EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities resources. Our goal is to ensure that these critical funds reach the communities that need them most, enhancing both environmental conditions and overall quality of life for historically underinvested communities.

To accomplish this goal, we will center a simplified, community-focused grantmaking process that emphasizes:

  • Community-led solutions: Placing the voices of those most affected by environmental issues at the forefront of our decision-making.
  • Strategic partnerships: Drawing on the deep relationships and local expertise of our partners to deliver impactful support where it is needed most.
  • Inclusive support: Extending resources to a wide array of environmental justice projects — from mitigating heat-related illnesses due to industrialization to testing fisheries for contaminants. 

We are actively preparing for our first grant cycle, with applications expected to open by fall 2024. We are designing a transparent, streamlined application process to ensure these opportunities are accessible to all eligible groups and projects.

To receive updates about the grant application process, eligibility criteria and upcoming informational sessions please subscribe to our emails and continue to check our website for updates.

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Our team is here to assist and guide potential applicants through every step of this exciting opportunity, contact us at thrivingcommunities@philanthropynw.org

We’re currently hiring several roles in support of the EPA grantmaking opportunity. Learn more about our open positions. 

Our community-based nonprofit and philanthropic partners include: 

Alaska

  • Alaska Conservation Foundation
  • Denali Commission 
  • Rasmuson Foundation

Idaho

  • Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health 

Oregon

  • Nonprofit Association of Oregon
  • Northwest Health Foundation 

Washington

  • Inatai Foundation 
  • The Russell Family Foundation

Tribes

  • Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
  • Native Americans in Philanthropy

Region-wide

  • JustFund

“We are deeply honored to serve as the EPA Thriving Communities Regional grantmaker for Region 10, an opportunity aligned with our commitment to ensuring the accessibility and equitable distribution of federal resources to communities in the Northwest. Philanthropy Northwest believes in the power of collaborative efforts to drive meaningful change, and working with our partners we will center local expertise and support sustainable community-driven solutions that ensure healthy and vibrant futures for generations to come.”