Federal Funding Opportunities and Guidance – January 12, 2026

January 12, 2026

Happy 2026!?! As we once again navigate unprecedented times, our teams hit the ground running last week as we support multiple active lawsuits, advise organizations navigating grant closeout deadlines, keep a spotlight on federal agencies, and help local partners steer towards their goals for the year. Plus, we sense the tides are turning, so check out all of the upcoming webinars and new grant opportunities below, and let’s do this!

Today’s Good News: 

A federal judge just reinstated $27 million in Department of Energy grants that were terminated purely for political reasons. The judge said that terminations targeted specifically at democratic states violated the 5th Amendment of the Constitution. This is a great example of a District Court judge restoring grants for Constitutional reasons. We’re likely to see attempted appeals, but we wanted to share some good news for a change!

If You Do One Thing This Week:

If you’re a terminated EPA grantee and you do one thing this week, PLEASE designate one person in your organization to fill out this quick survey ASAP. Even if you closed out months ago, even if you don’t need any help with your pending closeout deadlines, and especially if you want a 1:1 strategy call to talk about your specific circumstances, this info is very important to our litigation partners as well as to ensure we’re supporting you in the best way that we can.

Grant Closeout Reminders:

If You Have A Grant Termination & Have Not Yet Closed Out:

– Make sure you know your 120 Day Closeout Date and have taken steps to ensure a timely closeout unless advised otherwise by your legal counsel.
– L4GG has created a Guidance Brief to help terminated grantees determine their options and decide whether or not to close out (and if so, how).
– Please join our webinar this Wednesday at 12:30pm eastern if you have questions for us or your peers.
– You can also contact us via SFA@L4GG.org or FPC@L4GG.org if you still have questions. We can provide technical assistance and, through the COFC Clinic, connect you with a pro bono attorney to provide personalized guidance.
– And, please fill out this quick survey ASAP!

Webinars/Office Hours:

Grants Management Webinars/Office Hours in 2026

– Our Biweekly Grantee Assistance Webinar series starts up again this Wednesday, January 14, 12:30-2pm eastern, and will continue the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month.
– If you do not see this on your calendar, please email kate.mason@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org), and BE SURE TO MANUALLY CLICK “ADD TO CALENDAR” IN THE CONFIRMATION EMAIL!
– If you haven’t ever attended one of our grants webinars, please sign up here.
– If you have a terminated DOE grant, please complete L4GG’s Intake Form. L4GG is actively supporting numerous DOE grantees.

Tribal Funding Registry (TFR) Live! Grant Matching Session

Also on Wednesday, January 14, at 11am eastern, TFR Live! will host an interactive Grant Matching Session designed to help tribal organizations identify relevant grant opportunities for the Winter/Spring 2026 funding cycles. Participants work with the Tribal Funding Registry team to connect their programs with actionable funding prospects. Please note: Funders will not be present. 

By the end of the session, participants will leave with 2–3 grant opportunities matched to their needs, along with clear next steps to support continued funding progress. Early sign-ups will be invited to submit their project for consideration as a live case study, with up to three projects reviewed during the session. All participants should bring the focus of their project or program, the amount they are seeking to raise, and the timeline for funding and implementation.

The session builds on the Tribal Funding Registry, a free, searchable funding database sponsored by the Hozhonigo Institute and created and maintained by the Tribal Funding Registry team to help tribal communities more easily find and track grant opportunities. Learn more about the registry here, and sign up here to join the grant matching session.

Environmental Collaboratory Report and Webinar: “Community-Level Preparedness and Recovery for Increasingly Severe Weather”

And yet another event on Wednesday, January 14, from 12-1:30p.m eastern, join Drexel University’s Environmental Collaboratory for a webinar on their new report, “Community-Level Preparedness and Recovery for Increasingly Severe Weather.” Drawing on the experiences and insights of more than 300 representatives from community groups, public health and emergency management, utilities, academia, philanthropy, and other sectors, the report documents firsthand stories of how extreme weather—from deadly flooding and historic rainfall to intense heatwaves and drought—has impacted communities across the United States and highlights the gaps in current preparedness and recovery systems.

The report outlines practical, community-centered recommendations for improving preparedness and resilience, including accessible and multilingual early-warning systems, localized real-time data integration, equitable support for grassroots organizations, and planning that centers vulnerable populations. It also calls for coordinated evacuation strategies, robust heat-response policies, and enhanced intergovernmental communication during emergencies.

Read the full report and recommendations here, and register for the webinar here.

Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services Workshops

Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services is a nonprofit environmental law organization that works to expand access to environmental justice by providing legal services regardless of a client’s income. Fair Shake offers a range of services, including legal counsel, litigation support, nonprofit consulting, and community planning and outreach. The organization works with individuals, community groups, and nonprofits to help navigate environmental law, policy, and decision-making processes.

Beginning this year, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services is launching a monthly legal advocacy workshop series, held every third week of the month, focused on building community knowledge and practical skills related to law and public policy. Registered participants receive follow-up resources to support continued learning and action.

The next workshop, “Navigating Bureaucracy,” will take place this Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 12:00–1:30pm eastern. This session will cover how local, county, state, and federal systems work, how decisions are made, and where community members can engage to advocate for the issues they care about. Register here, and please visit Fair Shake’s events page for the most current workshop information.

Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) Webinar Series Part 2: Material Sourcing: BABA, Domestic Content, and PFE Material Assistance 

On January 27, 2026, from 2-3pm eastern, L4GG is providing a webinar on material sourcing requirements. H.R.1’s rules on Prohibited Foreign Entities (“PFE”) prescribe complex rules on sourcing energy product components. In addition, there are many community projects that rely in part on federal assistance, which will implicate other federal rules and regulations, most notably the Build America Buy America (BABA) requirements. L4GG will provide a series of webinars to help Elective Pay entities navigate through these challenges. For Part 2 of the series, please join L4GG as we explain the key requirements for compliance with the PFE material assistance rules along with existing Domestic Content and BABA requirements. This webinar is great for anyone who has a clean energy tax credit question and/or will need to comply with BABA for an existing grant. Register for the webinar here.

Conservation Capacity Project: Projecting and Managing Cash Flow

Maintaining healthy cash flow is essential to the financial stability of any nonprofit organization. This interactive workshop, sponsored by the Conservation Capacity Project and presented by financial planning experts from BDO USA, explores the role of cash within an organization’s capital structure and introduces practical strategies for projecting and managing cash flow over time.

Participants will learn how to calculate and monitor key liquidity metrics, strengthen collaboration across finance, development, and program teams to improve revenue and cash flow projections, and create rolling cash flow forecasts as part of an ongoing financial planning and monitoring process.

Register here to attend on February 4, 2026, from 2-3pm eastern.

Funding Opportunities: 

EPA FY26 Multipurpose Brownfield Grants

EPA is accepting applications from eligible entities for Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grant funding. These Brownfield grants allow more vacant and abandoned properties to be turned into community assets that can attract jobs and promote economic revitalization in communities. The application submission deadline is January 28, 2026. 

For more information, visit EPA’s FY 2026 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant guidelines and application resources.

Videos on Minimum Grant Requirements: EPA has pre-recorded video overviews of the FY 2026 grants submission process and Application Information Sheet and threshold requirements for each grant type. Visit the MARC Grant Application Resources page for the recordings and a copy of the presentations.

HUD Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building Grant Opportunity

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a new funding opportunity under the Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building Grant Program (FR-6900-N-31). This program is designed to help eligible states, federally recognized Native American Tribes, and local governments build—or rebuild—the infrastructure needed to effectively identify and control lead-based paint hazards in housing.

The grant is intended for jurisdictions that have not previously received a direct HUD lead hazard control grant, or for former grantees that can demonstrate a need to rebuild capacity due to staff loss, reduced infrastructure, or other challenges. Current HUD lead hazard control grantees with active awards are not eligible.

Funding may be used to support key capacity-building activities, including:

  • Hiring qualified program, management, and financial staff

  • Improving data collection and targeting to identify communities with the greatest need

  • Strengthening collaboration between housing and health departments

  • Expanding partnerships with community-based, faith-based, and health organizations

  • Integrating lead hazard control into existing housing repair, rehabilitation, and weatherization programs

  • Developing systems to sustain lead hazard control efforts beyond the grant period

The program focuses on protecting children under six years old by increasing local capacity to reduce lead hazards in eligible owner-occupied and rental housing, while promoting lead-safe work practices and long-term program sustainability.

HUD expects to make five awards, with grants ranging from $1 million to $2.5 million, totaling approximately $4.45 million in available funding. Application Deadline: February 26, 2026 (11:59 p.m. eastern). Learn more and apply here.

Clif Family Foundation

The Clif Family Foundation supports grassroots organizations advancing environmental health, food system equity, and climate justice. Funding prioritizes U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations (or those with a fiscal sponsor) with strong community ties, operating budgets under $3 million, and a focus on local, state, or national change.

Grants provide general operating support for one year, with typical awards ranging from $5,000–$50,000. The Foundation funds work in regenerative and organic farming, food production workers’ health and safety, climate justice, healthy food access, inclusive outdoor access, and efforts to eliminate pollution.

Applications are reviewed twice annually, with deadlines on March 1 and August 1. Funding decisions are announced approximately four months after each deadline.
The next deadline is March 1, 2026. You can find more information and apply here.

Resources:

Mindful Together: A Free Practice Space for Collective Care and Wise Action

Mindful Together is a free, community-centered initiative designed to support resilience, connection, and wellbeing for individuals and organizations engaged in social and environmental change. The program is hosted by the Resilience Initiative, the Well, and the LeadersTrust, and is open to all.

The initiative integrates mindfulness and contemplative practices with social justice work, offering tools for both personal and collective care. Sessions welcome staff, community leaders, and anyone interested in strengthening resilience through mindfulness.

Mindful Together includes monthly 90-minute sessions featuring storytelling, guided practices, and small-group reflection, followed by weekly practice sessions to support continued learning and practice. Participants engage in culturally rooted contemplative practices, including guided meditation and somatic exercises, designed to foster grounding, connection, and shared humanity.

Upcoming free sessions starting at 12 pm eastern: January 12, February 2, and March 2, 2026. Register here.