Heading into the December holidays, we want to recognize the strength you’ve carried through a difficult year.
In order to attempt to regain our collective strength, please note that L4GG and EPN’s offices will be closed for winter break starting on December 20. As such, for terminated EPA grantees—please reach out to us ASAP if you’re approaching your closeout deadline (some may be as soon as December 27th!) so we can assist you. In addition, we have incorporated a 4-step process below to help you stay on track over the next TWO CRITICAL weeks.
Wishing you rest, renewal, and moments of brightness—and reminding you that we’re here to support you with resources, including:
Webinars/Office Hours:
Last Grants Management Webinar of the Year on Wednesday
– Our last grants management/safeguarding webinar/office hours of the year is this Wednesday, December 10, 2025. We will NOT be hosting one on December 24!
– This week’s webinar will focus on Legal Avenues and Close Out Considerations for Terminated EPA Grantees. Please review our 4 time-critical steps for terminated grantees below (including reading our short Guidance Brief) beforehand to get the most out of the session.
– In addition, if you haven’t ever attended one of our grants webinars, please sign up here to get the Zoom links for this week’s meeting and those in 2026.
– Lastly, if you have a terminated DOE grant, please complete L4GG’s Intake Form and register for the DOE Alumni Network’s Bi-weekly Grantee Assistance Webinars. L4GG is actively supporting numerous DOE grantees.
Four Time-Critical Steps for Terminated Grantees (who have NOT already closed out) to Take Before the End of the Year:
STEP 1. Calculate Your Close Out Date
For all terminated grantees who have NOT already closed out, it is critical that you take a moment to calculate your 120-day close out deadline ASAP. The 120-day clock should start when the dispute decision official (DDO) makes a final determination on your termination dispute—for example, if you disputed your termination and the DDO reaffirmed your termination on August 29th, your deadline to close out would be December 27th. For many, this deadline is approaching or has already passed. EPA has claimed, in some cases, that the closeout deadline is 120 days from the termination, not the DDO letter. We do not agree with this interpretation and are here to help you navigate your situation if you have received this kind of notice from your PO. If you need assistance determining or fighting for your close out date, please e-mail us at SFA@L4GG.org (for Solar for All grants) or FPC@L4GG.org (all other grants).
STEP 2. Read Our Guidance Brief on Legal Avenues and Close Out Considerations
To help terminated grantees determine their options and decide whether or not to close out (and if so, how), L4GG has created a Guidance Brief. While we cannot advise on which pathway is appropriate for your organization, we encourage you to read the entire brief before deciding on your next steps, and email SFA@L4GG.org or FPC@L4GG.org before Friday if you would like to review your options.
Please note that the appeal continues in the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals. Now that the shutdown has ended, the government will have 30 days to file their reply brief. As the shutdown ended on November 15, the government’s brief will be due on December 15; however, the parties are discussing a potential revised schedule that could change this deadline to early January.
STEP 3. Court of Federal Claims Clinic Registration
Recent Supreme Court guidance has shifted the landscape for grant termination disputes, identifying them as contractual matters more appropriately litigated in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC). L4GG and EPN have launched the COFC clinic, providing free legal assistance for grantees considering bringing a claim.
If you are interested in filing a claim or learning more about COFC, please complete our COFC Clinic intake form (scroll down) at your earliest convenience. And please note that L4GG will be closed from December 22, 2025, through January 6, 2025.
Additionally, we are currently recommending that if you are nearing or past your 120-day close out deadline, you may want to consider submitting documents to Close Out Voluntarily with Reservations (see the Guidance brief on Legal Avenues and Close Out Considerations) to protect your right to litigate in the future. We will discuss this more during Wednesday’s webinar/office hours. Please note that if you choose to Close Out Voluntarily without Reservations, filing a claim in district court or COFC in the future might be very difficult.
Lastly, if you are interested in becoming a pro bono volunteer for the COFC Clinic, please fill out the volunteer form (scroll down).
STEP 4. Compliance and Close Out Support
Even after you decide on your legal path and close out (or not close out) plan, you may need assistance staying in compliance or need an extra set of eyes on a draft email or report to the agency. (Yes, even terminated grants have to submit regular reports!) If you have compliance questions, need sample language, or need draft documents or emails reviewed, please email Patricia Kwon at PKwon@trccompanies.com ASAP. She will be checking this email over our winter break, but the sooner you reach out the better!
EPA Webinar:
EPA Grants Competition Process Webinar
EPA is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, December 17, 1-2 pm ET, for assistance agreement (grant) applicants and current recipients. This session will provide a clear overview of EPA’s grants processes and requirements, and participants will have the opportunity to submit questions directly to EPA staff.
This webinar is designed to help prospective applicants learn how to find and successfully apply for competitive EPA grants. EPA staff will walk through the full competition process—from identifying opportunities and preparing applications to understanding evaluation criteria and the final selection process. Whether you are new to EPA funding or looking to strengthen future submissions, this session will offer practical guidance to improve your grant application success.
Advance registration is required, and you can sign up here.
Funding Opportunities:
Impact Fund
The Impact Fund offers recoverable grants to support litigation—including environmental justice cases—that demonstrate systemic impact and strong community involvement. Funding can cover essential costs such as travel, filings, and expert support. In addition to financial assistance, the Impact Fund provides applicants with guidance, training, and constructive feedback throughout the process. Grants are awarded on a quarterly cycle, with priority given to well-scoped cases—often multi-plaintiff or class actions—that promise clear community benefits. For more information on upcoming funding cycles and how to apply, visit the Impact Fund’s website.
Norman Foundation Grants
The Norman Foundation supports grassroots efforts that advance economic, environmental, and social justice. Priority areas include community organizing and policy reform, prevention of toxic waste disposal in vulnerable communities, and initiatives that connect local justice work to broader systemic change. The Foundation places special emphasis on systemic impact, equity, and community-led approaches, with priority for organizations with annual budgets under $1 million.
How to Apply: Organizations begin by submitting a 2–3 page Letter of Inquiry (accepted year-round). If invited, applicants may submit a full proposal. U.S. tax-exempt organizations working on domestic issues are eligible.
For complete guidelines and submission instructions, please visit the Norman Foundation’s website.
Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation: Solar Moonshot Program
The Solar Moonshot Program helps nonprofit organizations across the United States make the transition to clean energy by reducing the financial barriers to adopting solar power. The program provides grants of up to $25,000, with award amounts determined by each organization’s level of need. Priority is given to solar projects that demonstrate strong community support and have secured additional funding sources, helping ensure long-term project success.
In addition to traditional grants, the Solar Moonshot Program also offers short-term, low-interest recoverable grants designed to bridge funding gaps created by the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). These flexible financing tools help nonprofits cover upfront project costs while they await reimbursement.
Nonprofits interested in exploring past participants, funding availability, and application details can learn more and apply here.
Indigenous Power & Light Fund
Launched in 2024, the Indigenous Power & Light Fund was originally created to help Tribes access historic federal clean energy funding by covering unfunded pre-development needs such as matching requirements and technical assessments. However, recent federal policy shifts have eliminated much of that anticipated support, leaving many Tribal clean energy projects stalled or under-resourced.
In response, the Fund now provides rapid-response grants and loans to help Tribal Nations address urgent energy challenges, bridge funding gaps, and move forward with essential clean energy and infrastructure projects. The streamlined process is designed to deliver timely assistance, strengthen Tribal control, and support long-term energy sovereignty and resilience.
To learn more or request an application, please contact:
Onna LeBeau, Managing Director
Indigenous Power & Light Fund for Energy Sovereignty
funds@tribalcleanenergy.org
Cohorts and Fellowships:
AmericaFWD Project Delivery Accelerator Lab
AmericaFWD is a new national movement connecting policymakers and community voices to build safe, affordable, resilient communities for every American within a generation. The Project Delivery Accelerator Lab is AmericaFWD’s national initiative helping communities move infrastructure projects from funding to completion. It offers technical assistance, expert guidance, and peer learning to overcome barriers in procurement, permitting, coordination, and community engagement—ensuring projects advance on time, on budget, and with equity and climate goals at the center.
The Lab offers a comprehensive suite of supports to communities designed to strengthen local capacity and drive effective delivery, including:
- Technical Assistance that provides in-depth, long-term implementation and delivery support to communities, tailored to their specific delivery challenges.
- Rapid Response Delivery Support for urgent issues, including permitting delays, city council approvals, or funding deadlines.
- Community Practice that engages additional communities for shared learning and collaboration.
For both the Technical Assistance and Rapid Response Delivery Support services, an initial cohort of three to five communities will be identified for twelve months of engagement. For the Community Practice, an initial cohort of ten to fifteen communities will be identified for twelve months of engagement. Additional communities will be added on a rolling basis as resources become available.
Application Deadline: December 18, 2025. Here is a link to the application portal.
2026 Switzer Fellowships
The Switzer Foundation is currently accepting applications for the 2026 Switzer Fellowships, supporting graduate students in New England and California who demonstrate leadership potential and a strong commitment to environmental improvement. The fellowship is designed to help emerging leaders advance their careers while making a meaningful impact in the environmental field.
Switzer Fellows receive a one-year $17,000 unrestricted award, giving them flexibility to support their studies, research, or projects. Fellows also participate in two multi-day leadership and cohort-building retreats, where they develop skills, connect with peers, and build a supportive professional network. Additionally, fellows gain access to other Switzer Foundation grant programs and career resources, and they become part of the Switzer Network, an active community of over 750 environmental leaders across the U.S. and internationally.
The fellowship is open to graduate students in New England and California who are pursuing careers in environmental improvement and demonstrate outstanding leadership potential. The Switzer Foundation encourages applications from students with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Students of color, first-generation college and graduate students, and those from groups traditionally underrepresented in environmental graduate programs are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications for the 2026 Switzer Fellowship are due January 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Learn more and apply here. If you have any questions about the Switzer Fellowship or the guidelines, please visit their website or contact Laine Kuehn.
The Climate Advocacy Blueprint Training Cohort
The Climate Advocacy Lab has launched the Blueprint Training Cohort, a five-month learning and coaching program for organizers and advocates working within U.S. climate coalitions. The cohort uses training, coaching, and peer-to-peer learning to help participants strengthen the strategic and relational operations of their coalitions.
Based on the Blueprint for a Multiracial, Cross-Class Climate Movement (Second Edition), the cohort provides a structured framework for organizers and leaders working in multiracial, cross-class coalitions. Participants will focus on:
- Identifying common goals
- Establishing decision-making processes
- Maintaining momentum and cohesion
- Navigating conflict while maintaining relationships
Through training sessions, peer discussions, and personalized coaching, participants gain the skills to run more effective coalitions.
The cohort is for full-time organizers or advocates who:
- Work in climate coalitions or hold decision-making influence within a coalition
- Can shape the structure and operations of their coalition
- Are committed to justice-centered, intersectional organizing
- Are interested in a collaborative, reflective learning environment
BIPOC organizers, youth organizers, and those working in rural or low-income communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference is given to applicants joining with a fellow coalition member. Applications are open until January 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM PT. Reach out to gabrielle@climateadvocacylab.