Opportunities for Funding

The purpose of this NOFO is to provide grants on a competitive basis for projects that seek to strengthen surface transportation to be more resilient to natural hazards, including climate change, sea level rise, heat waves, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters through support of planning activities, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk coastal infrastructure.

The vision of the PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program is to fund projects that address the climate crisis by improving the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Projects selected under this program should be grounded in the best available scientific understanding of climate change risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities. They should support the continued operation or rapid recovery of crucial local, regional, or national surface transportation facilities. Furthermore, selected projects should utilize innovative and collaborative approaches to risk reduction, including the use of natural infrastructure, which is explicitly eligible under the program. Also called nature-based solutions, these strategies include conservation, restoration, or construction of riparian and streambed treatments, marshes, wetlands, native vegetation, stormwater bioswales, breakwaters, reefs, dunes, parks, urban forests, and shade trees. They reduce flood risks, erosion, wave damage, and heat impacts while also creating habitat, filtering pollutants, and providing recreational benefits. Projects in the PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program have the potential to demonstrate innovation and best practices that State and local governments in other parts of the country can consider replicating.

AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving.

AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations that engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is a person who does community service through AmeriCorps. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits. After successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.

For this funding opportunity, AmeriCorps will prioritize consideration from organizations that:
Serve Communities:
• Serve communities with concentrated poverty, rural communities, tribal communities, and historically underrepresented and underserved individuals. These may include people of color, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with arrest or conviction records, religious minorities, etc.;
• Implement programs for or expand access to high-quality youth mental health and substance use recovery services and prepare AmeriCorps members to enter behavioral health careers. These may include individuals with lived experience with substance use and mental health challenges to support youth mental health efforts and continued AmeriCorps work on the opioid epidemic;
• Focus on improving the quality of life for veterans, active-duty members of the Armed Forces, and their families by recruiting veterans, military spouses, and their older children into national service;
• Promote environmental stewardship to help communities (especially underserved households and communities) to be more resilient by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving land and water, increasing renewable energy use and improving at-risk ecosystems;
• Support civic bridgebuilding programs and projects to reduce polarization and community divisions; and providing training in civic bridgebuilding skills and techniques to AmeriCorps members;
Benefit AmeriCorps Members:
• Provide benefits to AmeriCorps members aimed at enhancing member experience and bolstering member recruitment and retention such as paying more than the minimum living allowance, transportation, housing, food, etc.; Create workforce pathways for AmeriCorps members, including deliberate training, certifications, and hiring preferences or support;
• Enhance and expand services to second chance youth and/or engage those youth as AmeriCorps members;
• Develop and train the next generation of diverse public health leaders through service while addressing pressing community health challenges. Review Public Health AmeriCorps Priority in the Mandatory Supplemental Information for eligibility information;
Use Evidence
• Utilize reports from the AmeriCorps Evidence Exchange on programs assessed as having Moderate or Strong evidence to scale, replicate, or adapt the intervention;
Faith-Based
• Organizations that are faith-based; and
American Climate Corps
• Please note that applicants may propose projects to be affiliated with the American Climate Corps (ACC), which is a federal government national service and workforce development initiative focused on training young people for the clean energy and climate resilience workforce. Applicants who are interested must demonstrate that their project funds ACC eligible positions meeting the following criteria:
o The position has verifiable climate or environmental impact.
o The position is temporary (term-limited), and the term length is at least 300 hours.
o The position includes skills-based training as part of the program and provides a pathway to employment.
o The position must receive a living allowance and, in some cases, may receive additional member benefits.

Applicants submitting a workforce development project to qualify for affiliation with the ACC should note that in their application. Successful applicants will be notified if they are part of the ACC and may be subject to additional reporting requirements.

To receive priority consideration, applicants must show the priority area is a significant part of the program focus and intended outcomes. Priority consideration does not guarantee funding.

OVERVIEW
Founded in 1999, the Sundt Foundation was created to give Sundt employee-owners a way to give back to the communities where they live and work. Today, the Sundt Foundation remains true to its original mission, fostering a sense of connection and belonging in our local communities. The Sundt Foundation provides volunteer and grant opportunities to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in its regional areas.

The Sundt Foundation’s grants are made to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in its regions: Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico); South (Texas, Alabama), West (California); Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington); Intermountain (Utah, Idaho); Southeast (Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky).
Funding for the Foundation comes primarily from contributions made by employee-owners of Sundt Construction, Inc., matched by the company.

GIVING GUIDELINES
Employee-owner committees are responsible for Foundation grantmaking designated in the areas of youth development, hunger & nutrition, basic needs & social services, and military & veterans.

Grants are reviewed by committees who make recommendations to the board, which meets quarterly. The committee evaluates each grant application with the following considerations:
• The organization’s mission is aligned under one of the Foundation grantmaking areas.
• The organization has been in operation for at least one year.
• The organization’s administrative expenses are less than 30% of its annual budget.
• The organization has an annual operating budget of $100,000 or more.
• The organization has not received funding from the Sundt Foundation in the last year.
• The organization has a physical office or presence in the local giving area.
• The funding request is between $2,500 - $25,000.
• The application demonstrates a clear funding need for a specific program.

FUNDING EXCEPTIONS
In general, the Sundt Foundation does not provide financial support for:
• Grant requests greater than $25,000.
• Multi-year pledges.
• Costs of fundraising events, such as dinners, golf tournaments, etc.
• Construction projects that will provide administrative facilities.
• Event sponsorships.
• Grants that would be used, in any way, to teach or promote any religious belief.
• Political candidates, parties, campaigns, or causes.
• Activities outside of the United States.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to 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. This program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and up to $17.6 million is available. The program is open and available for response with rolling applications due on April 27, 2024, August 30, 2024, and December 27, 2024. Funding decisions will be made within 30 days of the due dates. For more information, please contact Jeff High at jeffrey.c.high@usda.gov. More information and recent recipients are located at Temporary Water Crossing | US Forest Service (usda.gov).

The Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance provides funding may be used to provide support for facilities that purchase and process byproducts of ecosystem restoration projects. This includes applications to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facility in close proximity to federal or Indian lands that need ecosystem restoration and will generate byproducts. The emphasis is on areas of unnaturally severe high fire or insect or disease infestation with high or very high priority for ecological restoration. This program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The deadline to apply for financial assistance is 5:00PM local time on December 18, 2024. Contact Adam Smith adam.smith5@usda.gov for more information.

The USDA Forest Service is announcing the availability of $20 million to provide financial assistance to facilities that purchase and process byproducts from ecosystem restoration projects in areas at risk of unnaturally severe wildfire or insect or disease infestation through funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The intent is to substantially decrease the cost of conducting restoration projects involving vegetation removal on federal and Tribal lands and invest in surrounding communities. These ecosystem restoration byproducts could include trees and woody biomass harvested through timber sales, thinning, hazardous fuels reduction treatments, or other restoration management activities.

Funding priority will be to provide financial assistance to an entity seeking to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facility that will utilize the byproducts from projects on federal land, Tribal forestland, and Tribal rangeland that have been identified as at risk for fire, insect, or disease and a high priority for ecological restoration. To be eligible for funding, the project facility must be in close proximity to federal or Tribal lands and procure significant percentages (approximately 50% or greater) of raw materials from federal or Tribal lands. Successful applicants will address how financial support will enable increased utilization of byproducts from ecosystem restoration projects on federal or Tribal lands that are in close proximity to a wood products processing facility and how this assistance will help reduce restoration costs.

The grants and agreements awarded under this announcement will support the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Pub. L. 117-58 (11/15/2021), Sec. 40804(b)3.

The Community Wood Grant Program, launched in 2020, provides funding for grants to install thermally led community wood energy systems or to build innovative wood product manufacturing facilities. The Forest Service expects renewable wood energy systems installed under this program to use the most stringent control technologies. The program places extra emphasis on assisting sawmills in economically challenged areas to retool or add advanced technology. The deadline to apply for financial assistance is 5:00 pm local time on December 18, 2024. Contact Sabina Dhungana sabina.dhungana@usda.gov for more information.

The USDA Forest Service is delivering the Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program (Community Wood) to support the Rural Revitalization Technologies 7 U.S.C. Sec. 8113 and Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 Pub. L. 115-334 Sec. 9013, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) Pub. L. 117-58 Div. J Title VI which directly support the installation of thermally led community wood energy systems or development and expansion of innovative wood product facilities. The intent of the Community Wood is to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity.

The Forest Service solicits proposals for projects that will achieve the following:

Expand thermally led community wood energy or innovative wood product opportunities;
Improve Forest health; and
Stimulate local economies.
This funding opportunity is intended for shovel ready projects that will not require additional funding or time to complete after the award period.

Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

Install a thermally led community wood energy system for heating, cooling, and/or electricity that replaces fossil fuels such as coal, oil, propane, or natural gas.
Purchase and install manufacturing equipment at a mass timber production facility.
Expand a sawmill to add higher value production lines that incorporate innovative technologies and cost cutting measures.
Purchase and install equipment at a new facility to produce biofuels from forest residues.
All awards are based on funding availability. The Forest Service plans to award up to $6 million in total awards under this announcement. The maximum for each award is $1 million to pay for up to 35% of total capital costs. The Forest Service may consider awarding up to $1.5 million (for up to 50% of total capital costs) for a proposal that warrants special consideration, especially for projects located in areas of high unemployment.

Matching funds are not required; however, leveraging is required. Applicants must contribute the remaining funds (leveraged funds) necessary to complete the project above and beyond the requested Forest Service funding. For example, if an applicant requests Forest Service funding for 35% of the total capital costs of the project, then the applicant must commit to providing 65% of the total capital costs of the project. In this example, the 65% of the total capital costs are considered the required leveraged funds. Even though leveraged funds have a lower reporting burden and fewer legal requirements than matching funds, applicants must adhere to requirements for leveraged funds.

Leveraged funds must be from non-federal sources and be committed within the grant timeframe. Moreover, if third-party organizations contribute to the leveraged funds requirement, then applicants must submit with their proposal package commitment letters from the third-party organizations confirming the amount of leveraging being committed.

A pre-recorded webcast that presents information on applying for this funding opportunity can be found at FY25 Community Wood Program Informational Webcast

Additional details on the funding opportunity can be found at Wood Innovations Homepage

Instructions on how to apply for funding and the official application can be downloaded at the following weblinks.

Instructions FY25 Community Wood Program

Application Form (FS-1500-0051) FY25 Community Wood Program

The Wood Innovation Grants Program, launched in 2015, stimulates, expands, and supports U.S. wood products markets and wood energy markets to support the long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands. National focus areas include mass timber, renewable wood energy, and technological development that supports hazardous fuel reduction and sustainable forest management. The deadline to apply for financial assistance is 5:00 pm local time on December 11, 2024. Contact Collin Buntrock collin.buntrock@usda.gov for more information.

The USDA Forest Service requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. The grants and agreements awarded under this announcement will support the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 Pub. L. 115-334 Sec. 8643, Rural Revitalization Technologies 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6601, and Inflation Reduction Act Pub. L. 117-169 SEC. 23002 to meet the nationwide challenge of disposing of hazardous fuels and other wood residues from the National Forest System and other U.S. forest lands in a manner that supports wood products and wood energy markets.

This Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities to:

• Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forestlands.

• Reduce costs of forest management on all land types.

• Promote economic and environmental health of communities.

The intent of the Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity is to stimulate, expand, and support wood products markets and wood energy markets.

Projects can include, but are not limited to:

1. Completing requirements, such as engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting necessary, in the later stages of commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material and in the later stages of wood energy project development to secure financing. Early phase project development proposals will not be competitive.

2. Developing manufacturing capacity, other necessary wood products infrastructure, and markets for wood products that support forest ecosystem restoration.

3. Showcasing quantifiable environmental and economic benefits of using wood as a sustainable building material in an actual commercial building and the projected benefits achieved if replicated across the United States based on commercial construction market trends.

4. Establishing statewide wood utilization teams and statewide wood energy teams. Only proposals from States without an existing (or former) team will be considered.

5. Developing a cluster of wood energy projects in a geographic area or specific sector (e.g., prisons, hospitals, universities, manufacturing sector, or industrial sector).

6. Overcoming market barriers and stimulating expansion of wood energy in the commercial sector.

A pre-recorded webcast that presents information on applying for this funding opportunity can be found at https://usda-fs.wistia.com/medias/teyfi90zhw

Additional details on the funding opportunity can be found at Wood Innovations Home page

Instructions on how to apply for funding and the official application can be downloaded at the following weblinks.

Instructions FY25 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity

Application Form (FS-1500-050) FY25 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity

Hispanic Access Foundation is committed to working in partnership to increase equitable access to urban tree canopy while stimulating community engagement and decision-making in local urban forestry and ultimately heightening our resilience to and mitigating climate change.

Through funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (Funding Opportunity #: USDA-FS-2023-UCF-IRA-01) the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is making historic investments in boosting the nation’s tree cover in urban, suburban and rural communities nationwide. We are honored to partner with the USFS to become a national pass-through partner for the “Nuestros Bosques IRA Initiative” promoting Justice40, Ten-Year Urban Forestry Action Plan, State Forest Action Plans, congressional, and America the Beautiful priorities. In alignment with the Forest Service and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), 80 percent of the funding will flow directly to disadvantaged communities.

Urban canopy provides enormous benefits, from reducing the urban heat island effect and lowering energy bills, to absorbing carbon dioxide and pollutants, resulting in shortening hospital stays, decreasing asthma rates in surrounding neighborhoods, and lowering stress, noise, and damage from wind and water. Planting trees along streets and in parks to increase the urban tree canopy can remove millions of tons of carbon dioxide a year from the atmosphere, helping to improve our climate.

Objectives of Project SCALES
Applicants should propose innovative and collaborative approaches that reimagine the school food system and that could be sustained and scaled elsewhere. We encourage applicants to think creatively about transformational partnerships and projects, particularly those that bring new industry into the school food supply chain.

We invite applicants to submit a proposal for grant funding to support projects that show clear potential for achieving one or more of these goals:

improving the K-12 school food supply chain by incentivizing innovation and building partnerships between various entities of the food system, including manufacturers or producers;
reducing barriers for schools related to sourcing, ordering, processing, and/or storing locally-sourced foods and beverages;
supporting school nutrition teams in using fresh local ingredients, being responsive to student preferences and cultural relevance, and increasing scratch cooking;
leveraging social responsibility of food industry to address innovative solutions for the school food system; and
identifying sustainable solutions and best practices for the K-12 food system that are scalable and replicable.

Team Eligibility
Projects must be collaboratively administered by at least three partners, with one lead partner and at least two partner organizations. All partners should be involved in implementing the project. Teams must include at least one school food authority, and at least one partner from industry. Potential partners include:

School food authorities that operate the National School Lunch Program (required)
Food industry (required):
Food manufacturers or producers
Food processors
Food aggregators (e.g., food hubs)
Food distributors
Growers and producers (e.g., farms, orchards, ranches, fisheries)
Food support organizations, including food systems–focused nonprofits
Public sector agency (e.g., local, county, or state government agency or department)
Indian Tribal Organizations
Community-based organizations
Small businesses
Other food system partners

The Practice Grant seeks to open access and expand approaches to landscape design by funding individuals and groups committed to alternative practices. Grants are awarded to applicants developing land-based* work and are offered in support of applied research and realized projects. The Practice Grant aims to bridge the gap between often informal land-based methods and professional practice. The Practice Grant was initiated to encourage alternative forms of land-based practice by providing funding and a network of support and exchange to Grantees. To practice is to repeat, to do, to act. It encompasses action and embraces momentum.

The Practice Grant aims to expand ...

The community of landscape designers and builders by providing opportunity to individuals and groups currently excluded from professional practice.

The methods by which landscapes are built by investigating alternative approaches and techniques for design, construction, and management.

The temporal framework of landscape projects by prioritizing projects that work in sync with landscape time, in alignment with soil, air, water and plant cycles.

*Land-based includes any applied efforts that are tied to the land itself; from landscape architecture to ecology, planning, gardening, farming, arboriculture, and conservation.

Our primary selection criteria include a demonstration of feasibility, a clear method or practice, a committed client or partner, and an available project site. We are looking for applied research and design ideas that are "shovel ready" and need additional funding to be realized.

The Practice Grant is a project grant given in support of work defined in the proposal. We are not able to fund indirect costs including ongoing overhead and administration that support an organization’s general operation.

One of the primary objectives of the Practice Grant is to develop a more expansive and inclusive community of landscape designers, cultivators and builders by funding the work of individuals and groups currently outside of conventional professional practice. With this is mind, please reach out with any questions; we are happy to discuss your application and are open to considering substitutions to application requirements. We provide support through all phases, including the application.

To apply please download the application form above and submit the completed application to grant@practicelandscape.com