New Grant Opportunities for Community Climate Resilience Efforts

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) supports local leaders and adaptation professionals in advancing climate resilience plans and projects in communities across the U.S. The initiative is managed by multiple partners, including the Climate Resilience Fund, EcoAdapt, Fernleaf, Geos Institute, ICF, and the Environment, Equity, and Justice Center at the Natural Resources Defense Council, while working closely with the NOAA Climate Program Office. 

There are currently two opportunities with CSCI.

• Registry of Climate Adaptation and Resilience Professionals
Apply to join this searchable database to help community leaders connect with organizations that offer climate adaptation and resilience services. Organizations of various types (e.g., academic institutions, consulting firms, non-profit organizations, sole proprietorships) can apply to join.

Read more details, including benefits of joining the registry, eligibility requirements, and the application process and timeline here.

• Grant Opportunity: $100,000
The CSCI is currently accepting applications for grants to advance community-based climate resilience efforts. The grants can help communities at any step in the planning process, and include funding, as well as training and technical support. The funding can be used to advance activities ranging from risk assessments and community engagement to project prioritization and implementation.

An application must be submitted by a team composed of a climate adaptation and resilience professional, at least one community-based organization (CBO), and at least one government partner. See the graphic below for the three application pathways, in which a CBO can be matched with an adaptation professional/practitioner (and vice versa). 

Read more details, including the full funding opportunity, benefits, eligibility requirements, selection criteria, application pathways, and timeline here. While there are multiple deadlines to consider if a match to a community or adaptation professional is required, please keep in mind that the deadline for applicant teams to submit their final applications is no later than 8pm ET on March 3, 2025.

NIHHIS is announcing awards over three years to promote community heat resilience across the U.S. The awards will fund two Centers of Excellence that will 1) conduct community science research projects designed to improve equitable community heat resilience and expand actionable, place-based climate information and 2) improve the state of the science and practice by learning from, scaling up, and openly sharing approaches, policies, protocols, and lessons to benefit all communities. The centers will create a network of sustained collaboration for all levels of government and community-based organizations to collaborate on reducing heat risk and advancing heat resilience strategies. 
 
There are currently two funding opportunities for community heat-related resilience through these two Centers.

Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring – Funding Opportunity: $10,000

• The NIHHIS Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring will support community science observations and data collection on extreme heat so communities can observe, monitor, and evaluate factors influencing heat risk at a local scale. This work builds on the NOAA Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaigns. 

Applications are now open to help communities collect heat distribution data through a co-developed community science project, training, and a $10,000 stipend. The application deadline is January 17^th, 2025. 

Read more about this funding opportunity, eligibility requirements, application instructions, and webinar with Center staff here.

Center for Heat Resilient Communities – Funding Opportunity: $10,000

• The NIHHIS Center for Heat Resilient Communities will support communities in determining best strategies for local heat mitigation and management, leveraging federal investments to enhance heat resilience, and using decision-support tools to develop data-driven and equity-centered heat strategies. 

Selected communities will receive the following benefits:

• Guidance in producing a strategy document with fundable ”shovel-ready” actions aligned with local, state, and federal funding sources and priorities
• Guidance and support from international experts
• Access and membership to a national network of heat leadersAccess and membership to a national network of heat leaders
• The opportunity to influence federal policy, regulatory, and funding priorities
• Financial support through a $10,000 micro-funding award

The application deadline is January 24^th, 2025. 

Read more about this funding opportunity, eligibility requirements, application instructions, and Q&A sessions with Center staff here.