2023 Energy Equity Grant Application

Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 11; Midnight, ET

To complete the application in Spanish click here. To receive this application in a language other than Spanish or English, please contact swilliams@climatenexus.org.

If you need assistance completing the grant application or would like to schedule a brief meeting to ask any questions about the grant process please contact Sabrina E. Williams: swilliams@climatenexus.org; 305.987-8739.

Energy Equity Grant Overview
Across the country, environmental justice organizations and frontline communities are leading influential campaigns and initiatives aimed at protecting public health, developing stronger climate and environmental policies, and building new economies rooted in Just Transition principles. Environmental justice groups have a history of wins, a deep bench of talent, and earned trust that enables them to mobilize the communities where they live and work.

However, the power and scale of grassroots environmental justice organizations are often misunderstood or overlooked by philanthropy, despite a long record of community organizing and action.

Climate Nexus, a strategic communications group dedicated to highlighting the impacts of climate change and clean energy solutions in the United States, is seeking to connect frontline and Black, Indigenous, and people of color-led (BIPOC) groups with resources to continue or expand their efforts against gas expansion and promote electrification of buildings in the energy transition through our Energy Equity Grants.

Winning on climate requires far deeper resourcing and engagement of communities of color who are hit first and hardest by the climate crisis, yet are the least resourced across all aspects of work — from strategic communications and mitigation to policy-making and organizing.

Climate Nexus will facilitate direct access between funders and grantees if desired, and support the establishment of a funding stream free of middle people. Climate Nexus is a 501(c)3 organization and a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Grant range: $20,000 - $40,000

Organizational Information
Organization Name*
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Annual Budget*
Number of Paid Staff*
Chapters (if this doesn't apply please put NA)*
Volunteers (if this doesn't apply please put NA)*

Contact Information (person submitting application)
Name*

First NameLast Name
Title*
Email*
example@example.com
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.

Application
Review Criteria: In addition to the eligibility screen questions, each Energy Equity Grant application will also be considered in light of these questions:

Basic Eligibility
- Does the organization have at least one campaign/issue area explicitly designed to fight oil and gas expansion and/or promote electrification?
- Does the primary oil and gas/electrification work support frontline communities?
- Does the work of the organization have an environmental justice mission/goal(s) that serves impacted communities?
Leadership
- Is the organization’s leadership(including the board of directors and/or advisory committees) and staff representative of the community it serves?
- Does the applicant have the appropriate background/experience to accomplish the organization’s mission?
Strategy
- Does the organization have a clear description of the oil and gas/electrification issue(s) your organization aims to address?
- Is the organization’s work centered on Just Transition and Climate Justice principles?
- Does the organization use a racial equity approach in its work?
- Does the organization offer an innovative response to a community need?
- Does the program bring together the community in unexpected ways, across issue areas or geography, for example?
- Will the Energy Equity Grant have a leveraging effect?
Please upload supporting materials (not to exceed 3) that demonstrate your organization meets the grant criteria. Materials can include but are not limited to existing fundraising proposals or grant reports, videos, media clips, letters of support, annual reports, etc. Make sure that any supplemental materials clearly showcases how your organization is a good fit for the Energy Equity Grant. *

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Energy Equity Grant Overview

Organizational Information

Contact Information (person submitting application)

Eligibility Determination

Application

Additional Questions