Please see our past updates if you weren’t getting them, and please take a moment to register for our new webinar series!
Join us this Wednesday
– Register here for “The Threat Landscape for Nonprofits and How to Prepare” on Wednesday, May 13, from 1-2pm eastern. We will walk through the many threats the federal government has made towards nonprofits over the past year so that you better understand how tools like the False Claims Act, Foreign Agents Registration Act, and IRS Tax Exemptions could be weaponized. You can register for this monthly series and find slides from previous webinars on our website.
– Register here for Updates on Ongoing Federal Grant Termination, Litigation, and Compliance on Wednesday, May 13, from 12:30-1pm eastern. This bimonthly series (on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month) is an opportunity for federal grantees to talk to lawyers about ongoing litigation, the Court of Federal Claims, and ask grant and litigation-related questions.
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 EPN’s latest Funding Bulletin, and please use EPN’s Technical Assistance Request Form to request 1:1 funding discovery support or other technical assistance.
– You can also access L4GG’s Sprint Hub for direct legal support for all types of green finance needs for community projects. L4GG will work with you to identify potential investors or mission-driven lenders, including Green Banks and CDFIs, to close any funding gap. In addition, L4GG’s Green Finance Team can help you navigate the complex world of alternative funding sources. Get direct pro bono assistance for your project here!
– Lastly, please see a number of highlighted philanthropic funding opportunities below:
Grassroots Communities Mining Mini-Grant Program
The Indigenous Environmental Network and Western Mining Action Network are now accepting applications for their Grassroots Communities Mining Mini-Grant Program, offering $4,000 in funding to support non-profit grassroots communities in the US and Canada that are adversely affected by mining. The program prioritizes at least 50% of grants for Indigenous communities and supports work such as legal and technical assistance, communications, mobilization, travel, and community gatherings. Applications must be submitted by June 1, and guidelines are available here. Past grantees must submit a brief final report before reapplying. For questions, contact Laura Pitkanen (laura@wman-info.org) or Talia Boyd (talia@ienearth.org).
Center for Health, Environment & Justice’s Small Grants Program
The Texas Health and Environment Alliance’s Center for Health, Environment & Justice’s Small Grants Program is designed to help community-based organizations strengthen their ability to take action. Funding supports efforts to build leadership, expand organizational capacity, and advance education, organizing, and outreach. This can include activities such as hosting community meetings, developing strategic campaigns, conducting leadership training, and creating communications tools—resources that help groups move their work forward and make a meaningful impact locally. Applications must be submitted by Friday, June 5, at 11:59pm central.
Webinars and Workshops
Direct Pay/Elective Pay Office Hours
Join We Build Progress and Lawyers fro Good Government on Thursday, May 14, at 1pm eastern for a Direct Pay/Elective Pay Office Hours session designed for community-based organizations, local/state/Tribal governments, schools, houses of worship, nonprofits, and others interested in accessing clean energy tax credits for projects like solar, wind, geothermal, EVs, and EV chargers. The session will provide space to ask questions and receive guidance on Direct Pay eligibility and filing requirements, including the upcoming May 15 filing deadline for calendar-year taxpayers seeking to claim direct pay for projects placed in service in 2025. Participants new to Direct Pay are encouraged to review the 5-minute overview and FAQs in advance. RSVP here. Please note these sessions are educational and do not constitute legal or tax advice.
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 Data Center Decision Tree Open House on Monday, May 18, from 2-3pm eastern, where they will present a visual roadmap for communities to see what can be done to advocate against data centers or mitigate harm from data centers in communities. Please visit Fair Shake’s events page for the most current workshop information and to register.
Climate Ready: Fundraising Tactics for Lean and Diverse Organizations
Climate Ready is offering fundraising support for Climate Ready members (you can join here), led by Strategic Fundraising Advisor Jasmine Sessoms (Firm 1968), to help organizations navigate funding uncertainty and strengthen fundraising strategy in today’s landscape. The next webinar, “Fundraising Tactics for Lean and Diverse Organizations” will be held on May 19 at 3pm eastern, and follow-up office hours will be on May 27 at 3pm eastern. The webinar will cover:
- Practical donor prospecting without expensive tools
- Relationship-based fundraising
- Realistic digital strategies for small and mid-sized organizations
The follow-up office hours will provide an opportunity to ask questions and receive real-time, scenario-based guidance. These sessions are designed to be practical, accessible, and immediately applicable for lean teams. Register for the May 19 webinar here and the May 27 office hours here.
EPA Grants Compliance Webinar
On May 19, from 1-2pm eastern, EPA will host a webinar for current grant recipients focused on key policies and procedures required for effective grants management and compliance. EPA staff will provide an overview of core requirements, including financial management, reporting, and adherence to federal guidelines, as well as highlight common compliance challenges and how to avoid them. Participants will also have the opportunity to submit questions during the session. This webinar is intended to help ensure recipients are well-equipped to manage their awards successfully and remain in compliance with EPA standards. Register here.
EPA ASAP Overview Webinar
On May 27, from 1-2pm eastern, EPA will host a webinar providing a high-level introduction to the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system. This session will walk participants through the system’s purpose, core functions, and key workflows used to manage grant payments. Attendees will gain a foundational understanding of how ASAP supports financial operations, along with practical guidance and best practices for using the system effectively. Time will also be available for questions. Register here.
University of Arizona 2026 National PFAS Conference
The 2026 National PFAS Conference will be held June 8–10 at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, bringing together experts, community representatives, policymakers, and other stakeholders working on PFAS issues. The conference series is designed to facilitate the exchange of current research and information, support PFAS-impacted communities, and encourage cross-sector collaboration to advance efforts that protect human health and the environment. Visit this website for program and registration information.
Resources
Community Benefits Ordinance Hub
The Data Center Freedom Coalition—led by Young, Gifted & Green and the Mid-South Environmental Justice Center—has launched the Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO) Hub, a free, open-access organizing platform built from Memphis’s frontline fight for environmental and economic justice. Designed to help communities push back against extractive development, the hub equips organizers with practical tools to demand legally binding Community Benefits Ordinances from corporations and industries operating in their neighborhoods, from data centers to pipelines and warehouses. It includes step-by-step guides, downloadable templates, and other resources. The resources are rooted in Memphis but intended for replication everywhere. Explore the hub, download the toolkit, and request consultation or training for your community, organization, or agency at bit.ly/CBOHub.