Grant and Funding Options
Discover information on various grant and funding options. This information is also summarized in our Water-Related Funding Programs booklet.
Federal Options
| Organization | Grant Name | Funding Topic | Type of Funding | Details |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) | Acres for America | Conservation | Grants | Public-private land conservation partnership |
| National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) | Agricultural Management Assistance | Conservation | Grants | Helps agricultural producers use conservation to manage risk and solve natural resource issues through natural resource conservation |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) | Bring Back the Natives | Conservation | Grants | Restore, protect, and enhance native populations of sensitive or listed fish species across the US |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) | Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program | Conservation | Grants | Restores and sustains healthy forests, rivers, and streams |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | Community Assistant Program – State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) | Flooding | Grants | Funding for floodplain management activities such as planning, ordinance assistance, outreach, map coordination, etc. |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) | Conservation Partners Program | Conservation | Grants | Supports organizations that provide technical assistance to private land owners to maximize benefits of Farm Bill |
| National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) | Conservation Stewardship Program | Conservation | Grants | Helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems |
| Small Business Adminitration (SBA) | Disaster Loan Assistance | Flooding | Loans | Loans for homeowners, businesses, renters, and nonprofits impacted by declared disasters |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) | Drinking Water | Loans | Financial support to water systems and state safe water programs |
| Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) | Emergency Watershed Protection Floodplain Easement Program (EWPP-FPE) | Restoration | Grants | Purchase of permanent easements in the floodplains to restore land to its natural condition |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Environmental Education (EE) Grants | Education | Grants | Grants for environmental education projects |
| National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) | Environmental Quality Incentives Program | Conservation | Grants | Financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers for conservation and improved natural resource management |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) | Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program | Conservation | Grants | Develop community stewardship of local naturla resources |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program (FMA) | Flooding | Grants | Grants for reducing or eliminating flood insurance claims under the NFIP |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | Hazard Mitigation Grant Program | Flooding | Grants | Grants for hazard mitigation |
| Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education | Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Grants | Agriculture | Grants | Grants for farmers, students, research, education, and more |
| Appalachian Region Commission (ARC) | Physical Infrastructure Grants | Infrastructure | Grants | Funding for infrastructure including water and sewer facilities to enhance economic development or address health issues. |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program (PDM) | Flooding | Grants | Grants to implement pre-disaster mitigation programs |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) | Resilient Communities Program | Conservation | Grants | Resiliency projects for water quality/quantity, forest health, and sea level rise |
| US Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Rural Development Water & Environmental Programs | Infrastructure | Grants and loans | Several programs for rural communities for water and waste facilities |
| US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) | Section 14: Emergency Streambank Protection | Restoration | Cost-share | Plan and construct emergency streambank protection to protect endangered highways, bridges, public facilities, churches, nonprofit schools and hopsitals, and other nonprofit public facilities |
| US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) | Section 205: Flood Damage Reduction | Flooding | Cost-share | Plan and construct small flood damage reduction projects (structural or non-structural) |
| US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) | Section 206: Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration | Restoration | Cost-share | Restore aquatic ecosystems |
| US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) | Section 206: Floodplain Management Services Program | Flooding | Grants | Provide information on flood hazards to local and state agencies to guide development of floodplains to increase knowledge about flood hazards and actions to reduce flood risk |
| US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) | Section 219: Environmental Infrastructure | Infrastructure | Cost-share | Provide assistance to non-federal interests in carrying out water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects |
| US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) | Section 22: Planning Assistance to States | Planning | Grants | Provide comprehensive planning or technical assistances to states and local governments for water resource planning |
| US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) | Silver Jackets Program | Flooding | – | Collaboration of Army Corps, FEMA, and other state and federal agencies to address flood risk reduction and communication |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) | Unassessed Waters | Conservation | Grants | Universities and non-profits to survey unassessed cold water streams in PA for wild trout |
| US Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Water & Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program | Infrastructure | Grants | Funding for clean and reiable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and business in eligible rural areas. |
| US Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Water & Waste Disposal Revolving Loan Funds | Infrastructure | Loans | Helps nonprofits create revolving loan funds to provide financing for water and waste disposal systems in rural areas |
State Options
| Organization | Grant Name | Funding Topic | Type of Funding | Details |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | Abandoned Mine Drainaged Abatement & Treatment Program (AMDATP) | Restoration | Grants | Funding from Marcellus Legacy Fund for projects involve construction of new AMD sites, remediation or repair of existing AMD projects, operation and maintenance of current AMD remediation sites, establishment of a trust fund to ensure ongoing maintenance, and water quality monitoring of these sites. |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | Baseline Water Quality Data | Drinking Water | Grants | Funding from Marcellus Legacy Fund to gather baseline water quality data on private water supplies. |
| PENNVEST | Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) | Infrastructure | Loans | Federal-state partnership to financially support water infrastructure |
| Coldwater Heritage Partnership | Coldwater Conservation Planning Grants | Conservation | Grants | Grants for creation of a Coldwater Conservation Plan to conserve and protect coldwater streams of PA |
| Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) | Community Conservation Partnership Program (C2P2) | Planning | Grants | Assistance for local recreation and conservation initiatives |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) | Infrastructure | Grants | Improve infrastructure critical to community health and welfare |
| Department of General Services | COSTARS | – | Purchasing | State purchasing program – find discounted goods |
| County Conservation Districts | Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Maintenance Program | Infrastructure | Grants | Funding to maintain unpaved roads to prevent pollution |
| PENNVEST | Drinking Water, Waste Water Infrastructure, and Nonpoint Source Project Financing | Infrastructure | Grants and loans | Several grant and loan programs for infrastructure |
| Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency | Emergency Management Performance Grant | Flooding | Grants | Assistance to state and county governments to improve emergency response capabilities |
| Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) | Environmental Education (EE) Grants | Education | Grants | Grants for environmental education projects |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | Flood Mitigation Program (FMP) | Flooding | Grants | Funding from the Marcellus Legacy Fund for authorized projects for flood mitigation |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program (GTRP) | Conservation | Grants | Funding from Marcellus Legacy Fund for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation, and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks, and beautification projects. |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | H20 PA – Flood Control Projects | Flooding | Grants | Projects which involve construction, improvement, repair, or rehabilitation of all or part of a flood control system |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) | Infrastructure | Grants | Grants for new construction and rehabilitation of housing units for affordable rental or homeownership opportunities including acquisition or homeownership properties. |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | Industrial Sites Reuse Program (ISRP) | Restoration | Grants and loans | Environmental assessment and remediation for industrial sites |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) | Planning/Flooding | Grants | Assistance to local governments for shared service, community planning, and floodplain management activities |
| Department of Transportation (PennDOT) | Municipal Liquid Fuels Program | Infrastructure | Grants | Funding for construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and repair of public roads or streets |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | PA Small Water and Sewer Grants | Infrastructure | Grants | Grants for small water, sewer, storm sewer, and flood control infrastructure projects. |
| Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) | PACD Grants | Conservation | Grants | Several grants for conservation, especially on agricultural lands |
| Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) | Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants | Restoration | Grants | Grant funding for nonpoint source management plans and activities in PA watersheds with Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) |
| Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) | Water Quality Projects Along MEII Pipeline | Restoration | Grants | Projects to minimize pollution and protect clean water along Mariner East 2 Pipeline Corridor |
| Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) | Watershed Restoration and Protection Program (WRPP) | Restoration | Grants | Projects related to watershed protection Best Management Practices (BMPs) |
| Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) | Wild Resources Conservation Program | Conservation | Grants | Research and conservation of the commonwealth’s flora and non-game fauna |
Search Engine Options
| Organization | Grant Name | Funding Topic | Type of Funding | Details |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection | All | All | Many funding sources for watershed protection |
| US Government | Federal Catalog of Grants | All | Grants | Database of all federal grants |
| Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) | Pennsylvania Water and Wastewater Funding Sources | Drinking Water | All | List of funding sources for drinking water and wastewater |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Water Finance Clearinghouse | Infrastructure | All | Searchable database on funding sources and resources |
Foundation Options
| Organization | Grant Name | Funding Topic | Type of Funding | Details |
| Captain Planet Foundation | Captain Plant Foundation Grants | Education | Grants | Grants for environmental education projects |
| Colcom Foundation | Colcom Foundation Grants | Conservation | Grants | Grants for priority areas: environmental sustainability, natural resource preservation, land and water conservation, and sustainable population |
| PA American Water (PAAW) | Environmental Grant Program | Education | Grants | Grants for community-based environmental projects that improve, restore, or protect the watersheds, surface water, and groundwater supplies in our local communities |
| Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds | Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds Grants | Restoration | Grants | Grants for non-profit citizen groups to support watershed projects |
| Heinz Endowment | Heinz Endowment Grants | Education | Grants | Grants for priority areas: creativity, learning, and sustainability |
| Hillman Family Foundation | Hillman Family Foundation Grants | Education | Grants | Grants from 18 Hillman foundations |
| Laurel Foundation | Laurel Foundation Grants | Education | Grants | Grants for nonprofits related to environmental issues |
Other Options
| Organization | Resource Name | Funding Topic | Type of Funding | Details |
| Allegheny County Conservation District | Conservation, Leadership, and Innovation Program | Restoration | Grants | Projects that reduce impacts of non-point source pollution, improve health of our water resources, and/or habitat restoration in Allegheny County |
| Environmental Finance Center Network | Developing a Stormwater Fee to Support Stormwater Management Guidance | Stormwater Management | Guidance | Guidance document about developing a stormwater fee, with list of active stormwater fees in SW PA. |
| SPC Water Resource Center | Developing a Stormwater Fee to Support Stormwater Management Guidance | Stormwater Management | Guidance | Guidance document about developing a stormwater fee, with list of active stormwater fees in SW PA. |
| Western Pennsylvania Conservancy | Dominion Energy Watershed Mini Grant Program | Restoration | Grants | Grants for watershed groups for water quality monitoring, restoration projects, or organizational promotion and outreach |
| Environmental Finance Center Network | Pennsylvania Water and Wastewater Funding Sources | Water & Wastewater | Various | Funding Sources for PA water and wastewater related projects. |
| SPC Water Resource Center | Water Related Funding Programs | Various | Various | Guidance document for available funding resources for water-related projects. |