Browse grants

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery · Amount varies

Open to businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies operating California-based recycling businesses that prevent, reduce, or recycle waste materials through value-added processing or manufacturing. This is a revolving loan program, not a grant, so funds must be repaid. No specific award amount or deadline is listed, and eligibility is limited to California recycling-sector operations located within designated zones.

Emergency Mgt Agency · Amount varies

Restricted to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized Tribal governments, and local governments that FEMA has predetermined are eligible via the FEMA GO application system — not open to general applicants. Funds hazard mitigation activities under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. No award amount is listed for this specific (2023) cycle.

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy · $50K–$2M

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to this San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy program (Proposition 4) for multi-benefit projects like open space creation, habitat restoration, green space in disadvantaged communities, watershed protection, and wildfire resilience, with awards ranging from $50,000 to $2,000,000. The RMC especially encourages projects that leverage multiple funding sources and include robust community engagement, though no specific deadline is listed here.

Natural Resources · $10K–$1M

Government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources State Wildlife Grant, which funds projects benefiting fish, wildlife, and their habitats — with priority given to species of greatest conservation concern. Awards range from $10,000 to $1,000,000.

Natural Resources · $20K–$6M

Open to government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations for invasive carp management in Illinois waterways under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Funds technical and financial assistance to protect, conserve, or restore habitat and species on public or private land in the Great Lakes Basin. Awards range from $20,000 up to $6 million; no deadline listed.

Environmental Protection · $5K–$25K

This is an Energy Efficiency Assessment Program from a state Environmental Protection agency, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, but no eligibility criteria or project description is listed. Applicants should contact the funder directly to confirm who qualifies and what activities are fundable.

Natural Resources · $1K–$350K

Open to Illinois units of local government, universities, and nonprofit organizations for coastal planning, coastal hazards, habitat protection, and education/outreach projects. Private individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible, and applicants must be pre-qualified through the State of Illinois GATA grantee portal. This is a reimbursement grant, with awards from $1,000 to $350,000.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Cellular and Biochemical Engineering program funds fundamental engineering research on cellular and biomolecular processes, including metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, protein and enzyme engineering, and biomanufacturing. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, but in practice NSF proposals are submitted by universities and research institutions, with proposers expected to address potential biomanufacturing impact. Proposals focused on tissue engineering, organ culture, or disease models fall outside this program's scope. Award amount and deadline are not specified.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, local/state/federal government agencies through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Inland Wetland Conservation Program, but limited geographically to the Central Valley floor (roughly Red Bluff to Bakersfield). Funds land/water acquisition, conservation easements, and habitat restoration or enhancement for wetlands and wildlife-friendly agriculture. No specific award amount or deadline is listed.

FAA-COE-JAMS · Up to $20M

This FAA Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials (JAMS) opportunity is restricted to member universities of the Center of Excellence, so most applicants will not be eligible. It funds research on composites and advanced materials for aircraft safety and certification, with awards potentially up to about $20 million across the program. The program is built around academic-industry-government cost-sharing partnerships, so expect a matching/cost-share expectation.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) program funds projects that integrate engineering research and education to strengthen and expand the U.S. engineering workforce, across formal classrooms, maker spaces, apprenticeships, and workplaces. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity), though NSF awards in practice typically go to universities and research institutions with a qualified principal investigator. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified here, so consult the full solicitation.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Science of Organizations (SoO) program funds basic research that builds a scientific evidence base for how organizations form, operate, and become effective, across fields such as organizational theory, economics, sociology, and management. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity), though NSF awards in practice usually go to universities and research institutions with a qualified principal investigator. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified here, so check the full solicitation.

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy · $50K–$2M

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects benefiting the Lower Los Angeles River area in California, funded through the Conservancy's Non-Bond Priority Grant Program. Awards range from $50,000 to $2,000,000, and applications follow a two-phase Concept Proposal then Full Application process. Limited to projects within the Lower LA River program area.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Research in the Formation of Engineers (RFE) program funds research that advances understanding of how people become engineers, supporting both Research Projects and Design and Development Projects. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity), though in practice NSF awards are usually made to universities and research institutions with a qualified principal investigator. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified in this listing, so check the full solicitation.

Natural Resources · $50K–$800K

Open to government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations for aquatic invasive species work in Great Lakes states. Funds technical and financial assistance to identify, protect, conserve, manage, or restore habitat and species on public or private land within the Great Lakes Basin. Awards range from $50,000 to $800,000; no deadline listed.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for river and stream restoration projects specifically within the Klamath-Trinity Watershed in California. Funded under Proposition 68, with priorities including floodplain reconnection, riparian habitat restoration, and upper-watershed forest and meadow protection. Geographically limited to this specific watershed; no award amount or deadline is listed.

Illinois Community College Board · Amount varies

Open to a broad range of eligible providers under WIOA Section 203(5): local educational agencies, community-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, institutions of higher education, libraries, public housing authorities, volunteer literacy organizations, and consortia of these entities. Funds adult education and literacy services, including help earning a secondary diploma, English language instruction, civics education, and career-pathway transitions for adults 16+ who lack basic literacy or English proficiency. No specific award amount is listed; applicants must demonstrate capacity to deliver adult education services.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California for water quality, river, and watershed protection and restoration projects of statewide significance (outside the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta). Funded through Proposition 1 bond money as part of the state's broader water action plan. No specific award amount or deadline is listed in this posting.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to cities, towns, public agencies, tribal governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits for wastewater treatment, sewer, stormwater, and nonpoint-source pollution projects in California. Offered as low-interest financing (roughly half the state's general obligation bond rate) with terms up to 30 years and no maximum funding limit; small disadvantaged communities may qualify for partial or full principal forgiveness (effectively grant funding). This is primarily a loan program, though DAC applicants can receive substantial grant-equivalent forgiveness.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

Eligibility is unrestricted and open to any type of entity (subject to any clarifications in the program's eligibility text), making this NSF program broadly available. The Accountable Institutions and Behavior (AIB) Program funds theoretically grounded, methodologically rigorous basic social-science research on attitudes, behavior, and institutions related to public policy and public services, and also supports undergraduate research experiences and methodological infrastructure. Note that the program does not fund applied research, so proposals must be basic-science oriented.