Region 10 EJ Thriving Communities: Focus on Participatory Grantmaking

Region 10 EJ Thriving Communities: Focus on Participatory Grantmaking

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program aims to make it easier for community-based organizations to access federal environmental justice funding. 

We are committed to equitable and accessible distribution of the EPA's 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.
 

Philanthropy Northwest’s approach has two key features:

  1. Leveraging Philanthropy Northwest’s network of partners throughout the region; and
  2. Implementing a participatory grantmaking model.  
     

Philanthropy Northwest is achieving this through an Advisory Group and Task Force to co-design the program, and having a Peer Review Group evaluate applications.

Advisory Group

Task Force

Peer Review Group

  • Ensures the grant strategy, approach, application and scoring rubrics adhere to principles of simplicity, inclusivity, effectiveness and accessibility
  • Includes seven named in-kind philanthropic partners, our collaborative pass-through partners and Region 10 EPA project officer
  • Develops scoring rubrics for each grantmaking phase with evaluation criteria, designing applicant workplan templates and establishing metrics for intended project outcomes
  • Includes environmental justice leaders from Region 10, Justice40 community members and a subset of Advisory Group members
  • Will evaluate applications to the grantmaking program
  • Applications to join the Peer Review Group are currently open, which includes a conflict of interest verification process


The work of the Advisory Group and Task Force have been underway since May 2024. Advisory Group and Task Force members are listed below:

Advisory Group Members

Task Force Members

Steven Cole-Schwartz, Inatai Foundation

Anna Dalton, Alaska Conservation Foundation

Rose David, Native Americans in Philanthropy

Jocelyn Fenton, Denali Commission

Fabiola Greenawalt, The Russell Family Foundation

Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, Native Americans in Philanthropy

Becky Jones, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians

Jen Matheson, Northwest Health Foundation

Tasha Pineda, Rasmuson Foundation

Amber Schultz, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians

Kathleen Simpson, The Russell Family Foundation

Robert Thompson, Inatai Foundation

Martha Scott Tomlinson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Kendra Witt-Doyle, Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health

Jeanette Ziegler, Native Americans in Philanthropy      

Susan Balbas, Na'ah Illahee Fund

Steven Coles, Oregon Rural Action

Rose David, Native Americans in Philanthropy

Se-ah-dom Edmo, Seeding Justice

Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, Native Americans in Philanthropy

Becky Jones, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians

Beatrice Kiyaguri, ADEYEP

Jackie Leung, Micronesian Islander Community

Kristin Ostrom, Oregon Rural Action

Deleana Other Bull, Oregon Just Transition Alliance

Irene Ruiz, Idaho Organization of Resource Councils

Anahma Shannon, Kawerak


Interested in being a peer reviewer for the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program?

If you are not affiliated with a group applying for a Thriving Communities grant, but would like to be involved, Philanthropy Northwest is looking for peer reviewers to evaluate the applications. You do not need a background in environmental issues to participate as a peer reviewer. Participants of the Peer Review Group will receive an honorarium. Please note if you are a staff member, board member, volunteer, or a consultant with an organization or group applying for a grant, you would not be eligible to serve on the Peer Review Group due to a conflict of interest. Download the PDF below for the application:

Click here to access the peer review application!

Learn More About the Grantmaking Program

WHEN

Grantmaking Timeline, Eligibility Criteria, and Webinars

HOW

Focus on Participatory Grantmaking

WHO

Named Partners

 

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Stay Informed

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. Our team is here to assist and guide potential applicants through every step of this exciting opportunity.

 

Contact us at thrivingcommunities@philanthropynw.org with any questions.