Startup USA Guide
Part B · Startup-relevant scheme

Environmental Justice Small Grants Program (EJ Small Grants)

Environmental Protection Agency

Grant IdeationSeed / Early-Stage Energy & Clean TechSocial Impact

Running since 1994, this EPA program funds community-based nonprofits, tribal governments, and tribal organizations to research, educate about, and address local environmental and public-health concerns, particularly in overburdened communities.

Type of support
Grant
Best suited for
Ideation / Early-Stage
Headline amount
Up to $100,000

Objectives

Build community capacity and partnerships to understand and act on local environmental and health issues, especially in historically overburdened areas.

Who can apply?

  • Nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, and tribal organizations — not individual for-profit businesses directly.
  • Projects should focus on community environmental or public-health research, education, or capacity-building.

What do you get?

  • Awards up to $100,000 per project.
  • Recent expanded rounds under the Inflation Reduction Act have funded over $1.5B nationally for climate and environmental-justice capacity building.

How to apply

Apply during EPA's annual EJ Small Grants funding window via Grants.gov, typically as or with a qualifying nonprofit.

Go to official portal