NEW REGISTRATION: Sustaining and Rebuilding Resilient Communities Webinar Series
You’re all invited to join us 1-2pm eastern on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for a new monthly webinar series to provide communities and their partners with deep dives into timely topics such as “Exploring Philanthropic Funding,” “Building Financial Management Capacity for Future Federal Funding,” “Lessons Learned from Emerging Climate Resilience Hubs,” and more. We will also give updates on litigation, regulations, and funding opportunities.
– Please register here for our first webinar in this series on Wednesday, April 8, from 1-2pm eastern.
NEW REGISTRATION: Grant Termination Litigation Office Hours
Terminated grantees are invited to join L4GG on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month to receive updates on the ongoing grant termination litigation, talk to lawyers about the Court of Federal Claims, and ask litigation-related questions.
– Please register here for the next office hours on Wednesday, April 8, from 12:30-1pm eastern.
Templates to Respond to Federal Proposals
L4GG and EPN are closely tracking federal proposals that might be of interest or might impact you or your organization. To help you submit your own comments, L4GG has put together templates on the following proposals:
– The General Services Administration has proposed requiring anti-DEI and other certifications for SAM.gov registrants. Comments are due March 30. The template for comments can be found HERE.
– EPA has proposed rollbacks to Risk Management Programs that protect communities from chemical releases. Comments are due April 16. The template for comments can be found HERE.
EPA Grants Implementation Support and Grant Budget Development Updates
– EPN provides pro bono support for grantees and subrecipients managing active federal awards, including financial documentation and invoicing to support drawdowns, guidance on workplans and budget revisions, competitive procurement, subrecipient selection and management, participant support costs, routine closeout, and other aspects of compliance with federal grant requirements.
– For example, EPN can help you navigate the updated General Budget Development Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial Assistance. This guidance helps applicants accurately categorize costs when preparing grant budgets, ensuring effective grant management and facilitating approval of post-award budget adjustments. The updated “interim” guidance does not include substantive policy changes, but reflects recent regulatory updates—most effective October 1, 2024—and applicants and recipients are encouraged to reference this resource during both pre- and post-award phases. Access EPA’s high-level summary of the updates and additional resources here.
– Please reach out to Vanessa.Simms@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org if you need further assistance or support.
Philanthropic and Federal Funding Opportunities
EPN has launched Beyond Federal Funding: EPN’s Monthly Bulletin, a resource guide to funding opportunities—including philanthropic, state, and local funding.
– Please check out our Funding Bulletin.
– And please use EPN’s Technical Assistance Request Form to request 1:1 funding discovery support or other technical assistance.
– Lastly, please see a number of highlighted philanthropic and federal funding opportunities below:
T-Mobile Hometown Grants – Spring Cycle
T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants program is now open for its spring funding cycle, offering up to $50,000 to support community-driven projects in small towns across the country. This initiative is designed to strengthen local connections and improve quality of life through placemaking and community enhancement efforts.
Funded projects may include technology upgrades, creation or revitalization of outdoor public spaces, arts and cultural initiatives, and improvements to community centers or gathering places. The program prioritizes projects that bring people together and foster a stronger sense of belonging.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations, as well as local government entities, serving communities with populations of 50,000 or less. Learn more and apply by March 31 here.
National Coastal Resiliency Fund (NFWF)
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is accepting applications for the National Coastal Resiliency Fund, which supports nature-based solutions that enhance the resilience of coastal communities while restoring and protecting critical habitats.
Funding is available for projects at various stages, including planning, design, and implementation. Eligible efforts may focus on habitats such as coastal marshes, forests, floodplains, rivers and lakes, dune and beach systems, and oyster or coral reefs. These natural systems play a key role in reducing the impacts of coastal hazards, including flooding, storm surge, and erosion, while also benefiting fish and wildlife.
Grant awards range from approximately $100,000 for capacity-building and planning efforts to several million dollars for large-scale implementation projects.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, local governments, and Tribal organizations. Projects must be located in coastal areas of U.S. coastal states, including the Great Lakes, as well as U.S. territories and Tribal lands. Learn more and submit a pre-proposal by March 31 here.
FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program
FEMA has announced a $1 billion funding opportunity through the Fiscal Years 2024–2025 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, aimed at helping states, local governments, Tribal Nations, and territories invest in disaster mitigation and infrastructure resilience. The program emphasizes large-scale, ready-to-implement projects that reduce risk from hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and hurricanes—while also lowering long-term recovery costs and protecting lives and property.
This year’s BRIC cycle places a stronger focus on infrastructure projects, updated hazard-resistant building codes, and streamlined funding processes intended to move resources more quickly to communities. Funding is available across several categories, including state and Tribal set-asides, building code support, and a large national competition pool.
The application period opened on March 25 and will remain open for 120 days. Applications are due July 23. Interested applicants and subapplicants may review the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. For more information on the BRIC program, applicants should contact their FEMA Regional Office or visit www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/learn/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities.
Workshops, Trainings, and Retreats
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Transformative Infrastructure Retreat
The Transformative Infrastructure Retreat will take place in Seattle, Washington, on July 28–29, as a culminating gathering for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Equitably Reconnecting Communities in Small and Midsized Cities Initiative, for which Equivolve has served as the learning and strategy partner since its launch. The initiative supports cross-sector projects that restore community connectivity and advance racial equity in transportation investment. Four project teams (up to four members each) working on community-rooted transportation infrastructure efforts will be selected to participate in two days of strategy development and peer learning, with travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals covered. Applications are due TOMORROW, March 27; questions can be directed to stephanie@equivolve.com.
Creating a Toolkit to Make Climate Justice a 2026 Election Issue
Just Solutions is facilitating two upcoming input sessions in partnership with ClimateMax—a table of national organizations working across issues and movements—to help shape a new “Climate Justice as a 2026 Election Issue” toolkit for C3 nonprofits. This resource is being developed to support organizations engaging in voter and candidate education on climate and energy issues, particularly at a moment when climate impacts are intensifying but public discourse has shifted away from the issue.
These 60-minute virtual sessions will provide an opportunity for nonprofits to share insights from the field and help inform the development of a practical, field-informed toolkit. The sessions will take place on April 2 at 12pm eastern and April 8 at 1pm Eastern. Register here.
The toolkit will equip organizations with key messaging, context, and questions to help elevate climate, affordability, and justice in the 2026 election cycle. It is expected to be released in late April or early May, with broader distribution to follow.
Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services Workshops
Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services is a nonprofit environmental law organization that expands access to environmental justice by providing legal services regardless of income. The organization offers legal counsel, litigation support, nonprofit consulting, and community planning and outreach to individuals, community groups, and nonprofits navigating environmental law and policy. Fair Shake also hosts a monthly legal advocacy workshop series (held every third week of the month) focused on building practical law and public policy skills.
Upcoming events include “Policy, Legal, and Organizing Levers” on Monday, April 20, from 12–1:30pm eastern, which provides the opportunity to explore a “Choose Your Own Adventure” resource to find levers that you can pull to move your goals forward. Please visit Fair Shake’s events page for the most current workshop information and to register.
The Energy to Communities (E2C) Program
The Energy to Communities (E2C) Program, offered by the United States Department of Energy, is now accepting applications for its next round of peer-learning cohorts. These six-month cohorts bring together local governments, utilities, and community-based organizations from across the country to learn directly from energy experts—and from each other—on practical strategies, tools, and best practices for addressing pressing energy challenges.
This round focuses on two timely topics:
- Leveraging Data for Modern Utility Grid Planning
- Navigating Local Data Center Development
Applications are due Thursday, April 30. Selected participants will be announced in June, and cohorts will launch in July 2026. Learn more and apply at www.nlr.gov/e2c/cohorts, or reach out with questions at e2c@nlr.gov.
E2C also offers short-term, one-on-one Expert Match support for communities seeking targeted technical assistance.
Climate Reality Leadership Training
The Climate Reality Project is returning to Nashville, Tennessee, this May 1–2 for a special Climate Reality Leadership training led by former Vice President Al Gore—20 years after the very first training was held there. What began as a small gathering has grown into a global movement, equipping thousands of advocates with the tools and knowledge to take meaningful climate action.
This free, two-day training will focus on building skills in climate communication, community mobilization, and advancing clean energy solutions. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with a broader network of climate leaders and engage in ongoing advocacy efforts through Climate Reality’s programs.
For those interested in deepening their climate advocacy and joining a nationwide community of changemakers, applications are now open.
Other Resources
Yale’s Collaborative Clinic for Non-Profit Viability
The Community Compliance and Viability Network (CCNV) is a collaborative initiative supporting environmental justice and Indigenous organizations facing increasing legal, political, and financial pressures that can threaten their nonprofit status and long-term viability. Launched in Fall 2025 following its development at the 2024 Environmental Joy Conference (convened by Yale’s Center for Environmental Justice), CCNV brings together law schools, legal service organizations, and Indigenous and environmental justice partners to strengthen organizational resilience during a challenging regulatory landscape.
CCNV provides a free compliance “Health Check,” conducted by trained law students from Yale and Howard University under attorney supervision, to help organizations identify potential governance and regulatory vulnerabilities related to 501(c)(3) requirements, including areas such as lobbying activity, election-year practices, tax filings, charitable solicitations, and financial controls. When issues are identified, CCNV connects organizations to its broader network of pro bono legal service providers to support follow-up assistance and capacity building.
Environmental justice and Indigenous nonprofit organizations should submit requests for assistance via email. CCNV will then confirm availability and schedule an initial consultation.
Open Environmental Data Project Data Drop-Ins
The Open Environmental Data Project is hosting Data Drop-Ins—a simple way to get personalized support for your environmental or climate justice data questions.
Each 30-minute virtual session connects you with a specialist who understands the challenges organizations face when working with environmental data. Whether you need help thinking through a dataset, identifying useful tools, or figuring out your next steps, the goal of these conversations is to provide practical guidance and helpful resource recommendations.
To sign up, complete this short form, reserve a time, and join the web conference. Please register at least 24 hours in advance. Data Drop-Ins are held every two weeks on Tuesdays. If the scheduled times don’t work for you, additional sessions can be arranged by emailing emelia@openenvironmentaldata.org to set up a time that fits your schedule.
Supporting Conservation Leaders in Real Time
The Conservation Capacity Project provides free capacity‑building advisory services and expert guidance to U.S. conservation nonprofits and Tribal organizations working to protect land, water, wildlife, green spaces, and community access to the outdoors. From one‑on‑one coaching with field‑informed experts to timely webinars and practical tipsheets, the Project helps conservation leaders strengthen organizational infrastructure—everything from crisis planning and financial management to fundraising, HR, cybersecurity, and more—so they can respond strategically to today’s challenges and build healthier, more resilient organizations for the future. Sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about resources and upcoming pro‑bono opportunities, including:
– Elements of a strong crisis plan: Actionable steps to protect your organization on Thursday, April 2, 11am-Noon Pacific, 2-3pm eastern. Resource Media will guide participants through the core components of a crisis plan and provide practical tips on how to protect your reputation and manage unpredictable situations. This session is scheduled for one hour, but experts will stay on for an extra 30 minutes for any additional Q&A. Register here.
– Conservation Capacity Project partner Onyx Strategies Group has produced The new Strategic SprintTM Planning Guide & Framework, which is FREE to download and tailored to the conservation community. This tool replaces static plans with a practical one-year cycle of focus, action, and adaptation. It equips conservation organizations with clear tools to align leadership, prioritize under constraint, and keep strategy alive throughout the year. With the new Planning Guide, you’ll be ready to:
- Lead a multi-step strategic planning process that takes weeks, not months
- Use your values to guide priority-setting
- Engage Board, staff, and key external partners
- Ideate, experiment, evaluate, learn quickly, and pivot