We hope you’re doing well! Please know that EPN and L4GG remain deeply committed to supporting you and your organizations during this trying time. We’re pleased to share the following updates with you, including an October 15th deadline to be listed with Charity Bridge Fund, which aims to direct funding to NGOs with terminated/frozen federal grants.

This just in: OMB Director Russell Vought just announced $8 billion in DOE grant terminations. Although, as of this moment, we don’t have the specifics, if you receive a termination notice, please fill out L4GG’s Fund Protection Clinic form for now. We are working closely with a newly formed DOE Alumni Network (housed at EPN) to create comprehensive support for terminated DOE grantees.

Webinars/Office Hours:

1. Reminders

Please sign up here to register for our future grants management/safeguarding federal funding calls. Our next call on Wednesday, October 8, at 12:30pm eastern, will feature a special training on Congressional Investigations. We are extending an invitation to all organizations in Energy Foundation’s “Climate Ready” cohort and will be joined by special guest presenters. The training will equip you with a better understanding of different types of congressional investigations, provide best practices to be prepared for such contingencies, and empower you with the knowledge you need to navigate immediate legal and communications responses.

In an effort to protect sensitive litigation information, we are unable to mass share slides and/or detailed recaps of some of the webinars. As a result, we recommend taking good notes or screenshots of slides during webinars, and we ask that you please keep these materials for your own reference and NOT share them broadly. In addition, we’re always happy to talk through things 1:1 after a meeting.

Litigation Updates:

2. Appalachian Voices et al. v. EPA

On September 16, 2025, the plaintiffs’ attorneys filed an emergency request asking the district court to temporarily block the EPA from treating funds under Section 138 as rescinded. They argued that allowing the agency to rescind funding while the appeal is pending is likely to cause significant harm and is not in the public interest. The plaintiffs also maintained that the court had the authority to consider their Constitutional and Administrative Procedure Act claims and could grant the requested relief. However, on September 25, Judge Leon denied the request, concluding that the plaintiffs had not shown sufficient evidence of irreparable harm and were unlikely to succeed on the merits—two key factors in deciding whether to grant such a temporary order.

On September 16, the plaintiffs’ attorneys filed an appeal in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, continuing to argue that the district court has authority to hear the case. There have been no new developments in the appeal so far.

3. Developments in the Supreme Court & the Court of Federal Claims

In American Public Health Association v. National Institutes of Health and Department of Education v. California, the Supreme Court has suggested that in order to receive direct monetary relief, grantees may need to go into the Court of Federal Claims (COFC), which is a smaller court where cases typically take longer. There are still ways to bring cases into District Court, but this decision has made it more difficult. L4GG, EPN, and their pro bono networks are working hard to make the COFC option available to all environmental justice and climate grantees on a pro bono basis. Stay tuned for more information on how grantees can prepare for the possibility of filing a lawsuit in the Court of Federal Claims.

4. State of Illinois v. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

A favorable decision was issued in State of Illinois v. FEMA, which revolves around updates to funding terms and conditions for sanctuary cities, requiring compliance with ICE activities. The court distinguished this from the Supreme Court decisions (including NIH referenced above), which suggest that grants are contracts brought before the Court of Federal Claims under the Tucker Act, and instead found that the case could be heard in district court because the plaintiffs were asking for more than just monetary damages tied to a breach of contract. The claim revolved around grant conditions that “govern eligibility for future funding,” which was enough to get passed the Tucker Act issue. Bottom line, though relief is limited to plaintiff states, this is a positive development that demonstrates the ways in which the Supreme Court decisions can be distinguished.

Funding Opportunities:

5. Charity Bridge Fund

Charity Bridge Fund, a new initiative from JustGive.org, is launching to help close the gap caused by reduced federal funding. Since 1999, JustGive has raised over $600 million for thousands of charities and continues to champion nonprofit partners. Charity Bridge Fund aims to raise awareness, showcase specific projects, and highlight the direct impact of defunding on your organization’s important projects. By spotlighting your organization’s work through a transparent, nonpartisan initiative, they aim to make it easier for new donors, foundations, and community partners to find and support your organization’s urgent, real-time needs.

Charities can join Charity Bridge by adding their impact story and funding needs at charitybridgefund.org/nonprofits, and if you register before October 15, you will have access to media and matching dollars. The only pre-requisites for joining are that your organization is a 501(c)(3) and has proof of lost funding this year due to government grant restrictions.

As an early partner, your organization will: 

6. GHHI Region 3 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Opportunity

The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) is seeking qualified providers to deliver technical assistance to subawardees of the EPA Region 3 Thriving Communities Grant Program. Selected providers will support projects in Delaware, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tribal areas, helping subawardees with compliance, project design, monitoring, Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), financial management, and community engagement. Providers may offer one-on-one support, webinars, or other tailored guidance. Contracts may provide up to $25,000 in reimbursement for services. Qualifications are due October 10, 2025; more information and application requirements are available here.

Peer Learning Opportunity:

7. Energy to Communities (E2C) Peer-Learning Cohorts

Application are now open for the next round of Energy to Communities (E2C) peer-learning cohorts, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. These six-month cohorts bring together local and regional governments, Tribes, and municipal and cooperative utilities to collaborate, learn from energy experts, and share strategies for tackling pressing energy challenges. This round of cohorts features two new topics:

Planning for Major Energy Disruptions in the Southeast

In this cohort, participants from the southeastern U.S. will explore opportunities to strengthen energy infrastructure and recover quickly in response to extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods. They will learn how to enhance hazard mitigation plans, improve emergency response procedures, learn about statewide emergency management systems, and evaluate backup power solutions for critical facilities.

Successful Energy Project Implementation From Technical Assistance to Deployment

This cohort will support participants in turning their energy project plans into action. They will focus on a local energy priority or project plan and gain tools to build stakeholder support, secure funding, and accelerate siting, procurement, and construction.

Applications are due by Friday, October 31, 2025. Participants will be announced in December, and cohorts kick off in January 2026. Learn more and apply at www.nrel.gov/e2c/cohorts.

Resources:

8. Climate Ready Project

As partners of the Climate Ready Project, L4GG and EPN are pleased to share that members of our community have the opportunity to access a limited set of pre-paid support services. These services are designed to help participating organizations strengthen their operations and maximize the impact of their work.

The range of possible services includes crisis communications, risk and resilience planning, cybersecurity, legal, accounting, financial planning, and HR support. These offerings are intended to meet organizations where they are and provide practical assistance on issues that often require quick, reliable expertise.

Because resources are limited, access to pre-paid services is determined on a case-by-case basis and provided as resources allow. The Climate Ready Project aims to ensure that supports meet the needs of the cohort while maximizing collective benefit across participating organizations.

If your organization is interested in learning more about the Climate Ready Project and the services offered, please complete this INTEREST FORM or contact ClimateReady@reimaginedstrategies.com. Be sure to mention that you were referred by EPN.