Grantmaker E_Instructions for Competitive Awards_final

OMB Control Number = 2035.NEW, Expiration Date = mm/dd/yyyy

This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. OMB Control Number: 2035-NEW. Responses to this collection of information are voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to be fifteen to twenty hours per response. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden to Director, Information Engagement Division; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T); 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address.

Tier 1-3 “Competitive Grant Application Intake Form”

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM) for [Redacted]: [Redacted]

Introduction

The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmakers (Grantmakers) will work in collaboration with EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights to issue subgrants to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations representing underserved and marginalized communities. The EPA Region [Redacted] Grantmaker, called [Redacted], will provide $40 million in grants over 3 years to communities working on environmental justice efforts. We aim to alleviate much of the burden that the federal grants process typically places on small, resource-constrained community-based organizations.

The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment for all people with an emphasis on assisting those communities adversely and disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health harms and risks. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, EPA received significant investments for environmental justice and in the health, equity, and resilience of these, and all communities, to address past, current, and future environmental health and justice challenges. Additionally, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created the Environmental and Climate Justice block grant program in section 138 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and provided EPA with $2.8 billion in grant funding for the program for projects to benefit disadvantaged communities. To maximize these significant investments, new and innovative strategies and approaches for issues such as community engagement and participation in environmental programs, equitable distribution of financial resources, capacity-building and outreach, and technical assistance and training to enhance access to financial assistance3 opportunities and promote effective grants management and performance, are necessary. This is especially true for underserved and disadvantaged communities that have, and continue to be, plagued by environmental pollution and health, and environmental justice, challenges.

Structure of the subgrants

Community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations with projects benefiting communities in Region [Redacted] seeking subgrant funding will be able to apply for subgrants through three concurrent tiers offered by the [Redacted].

Tier One will consist of grants for $150,000 for assessment, Tier Two will consist of grants for $250,000 for planning, and Tier Three will consist of grants for $350,000 for project development. In addition, $75,000 will be available for capacity-constrained community-based organizations through a noncompetitive process under Tier One.

Eligibility

Hundreds of Thriving Communities subgrants will be distributed by the [Redacted] to support capacity building in [Redacted] communities affected by environmental or public health issues to eligible applicants including:

• Nonprofit organizations, community-based and grassroots nonprofit organizations.

• Tribal governments (both federally recognized and state-recognized) and intertribal consortia.

• Local governments.

• Institutions of higher education.

• Native American Organizations.

• Puerto Rico.

• US Territories. 

Ineligible subrecipients include:

• Individuals.

• For profit businesses.

• State governments.

Eligible Subgrant Activities

Tier 1 Assessment Projects up to $150,000 (1 year performance period)

Examples:

• Research (that is incidental to the project design.

• Sampling.

• Testing.

• Monitoring.

• Investigations.

• Surveys and Studies.

• Public Education.

Tier 2 Planning Projects up to $250,000 (1-2 years performance period)

Examples:

• Planning.

• Partnership-building.

• Public outreach and education.

• Coordination with community stakeholders to address environmental issues.

• Training activities for community organizations and community members.

• Projects and activities to spur community involvement (e.g., cleanups of vacant lots).

• Smaller land purchases and acquisitions that require less than half of the total amount of subgrant funding.

Tier 3 Development of Projects up to $350,000 (2 years performance period)

Examples:

• Project Development.

• Blueprints for construction or cleanup projects, schematics, and technical development.

• Work to get permits in place directly related to an environmental project.

• Smaller land purchases and acquisitions that require less than half of the total amount of subgrant funding.

• Implementation of project plans.

• Public outreach and education.

A limited number of $75,000 non-competitive fixed-amount subawards will be available for severely capacity-constrained CBOs to access.

Application Instructions

Interested organizations should complete our pre-application screening questions that are intended to help you, the applicant, ensure that you are eligible to apply and that your project fits within this subgrant program. One note, as we are not collecting your information as part of the pre-application screening, some of these questions will be asked again during the actual application. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please reach out to [Redacted]. The pre-application screening can be found here (link).

Once the pre-application is completed and you have determined your eligibility, you can complete the Tier 1-3 competitive application here (insert link to Alchemer interface) or the Tier 1 non-competitive concept note here (insert link to Alchemer interface). A pdf and document preview of the application questions can be found in the applicant toolkit (insert link to toolkit here). Applications can be saved and returned to at a later time. For any application questions, you can reach out to [Redacted] or [Redacted].

Competitive Application

This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. OMB Control Number: 2035-NEW. Responses to this collection of information are voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to be fifteen to twenty hours per response. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden to Director, Information Engagement Division; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T); 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address.

Below outlines questions for each application area. A glossary of acronyms and terms will be included.

Application Area	Application
Applicant Background Information
Project Title
Applicant Information	Entity Applicant Legal Name: Point of Contact for Application: Email: Organization Address: Unique Entity ID (UEI) Number: [will need to be verified via sam.gov] Phone #: (Optional) Website or other relevant organization links (if applicable):
Entity Eligibility	Select from dropdown list (note: if organization type is not listed below, please email [Redacted] before continuing with the application): [ ] Nonprofit organization, community-based and/or grassroots nonprofit organization [ ] Tribal government (both federally recognized and state-recognized) and intertribal consortia (i.e., a partnership between two or more tribes that work together to achieve a common objective)  [ ] Native American organization (includes Indian groups, cooperatives, nonprofit corporations, partnerships, and associations that have the authority to enter into legally binding agreements)  [ ] Local government (as defined by 2 CFR 200.1 – includes cities, towns, municipalities, and counties, public housing authorities and councils of government)   [ ] Institution of higher education (e.g., private and public universities and colleges, including community colleges)  [ ] Puerto Rico  [ ] U.S. Territories
Nonprofit status (if indicated above)	If you are a nonprofit, please provide documentation that shows your organization is either a 501(c)(3) non-profit as designated by the Internal Revenue Service OR documentation that shows that the non-profit organization is recognized by the state, territory, commonwealth, or tribe in which it is located.
Tribal Status	[Y / N] Are you a federally recognized Tribe in [Redacted]? If Yes, please select from the drop down list: [Redacted] Are you a member of a state-recognized tribe? [y/n] If so, which tribe? ______________________________ Are you a member of a tribe that is not formally recognized by a state or federal government? [y/n] If so, which tribe? ______________________________
Funding Type(s) of Interest (select all that apply)	[ ] Tier I Assessment: 1 year project, up to $150,000 [ ] Tier II Planning: 1-2 year project, up to $250,000 [ ] Tier III Development: 2 year project, up to $350,000
Project Location	Please upload a map of the project area using the EPA EJ Screen: https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/ Instructions for how to create a project area map using EJ Screen can be found here: [link added here when available] Project Zip Code(s): (Select all that apply) Project Location: [Redacted] OTHER (If other, please list: ____) If located in Federally Recognized Tribe(s), please select all that apply: [Redacted] Is this area predominantly: [ ] Urban [ ] Rural Proposed projects must serve “communities of focus.” For the sake of this project, “communities of focus” are defined using the Inflation Reduction Act Disadvantaged Communities Map. Applicants can use the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) which outlines Census tracts that are overburdened and underserved. Access the map and tool here: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/inflation-reduction-act-disadvantaged-communities-map Does your project location fall into a community of focus as defined by Inflation Reduction Act Disadvantaged Communities Map? [y/n] If no, why do you think this community should be considered overburdened or underserved for the purpose of this project?
Past/future funding	Does your organization currently have a federal grant award? [If yes] What is the funding agency? [If no] Do you have prior experience with managing federal grant awards? If so, when was your most recent award? Have you received a Thriving Communities Grant (TCG) previously either through the [Redacted] Grantmaker or another Grantmaker? (Y/N)
Expected Project Period	Project Start Date: [will be a dropdown list] Project Length: [drop down list of months/years]
Applicant profile	[Y/N] Has your organization worked in areas of environmental and/or climate justice previously? If yes, in up to 500 words: Please describe how your organization’s work furthers environmental and climate justice in [Redacted]. Describe how your organization actively serves, educates, gives power to, and/or advocates for communities highly impacted by environmental and climate harms Describe how the leadership composition of the organization(s) reflects the community being served.
Project Description
Need & Centering Community	In up to 500 words: Provide a brief summary of the project that you are seeking funding for, including the communities who benefit, project location, environmental justice issue(s) to be addressed (including data if available), and major activities. Describe how the project will be informed by, involve, and ultimately benefit “communities of focus.” For the purposes of this project, “communities of focus” are defined using the , Inflation Reduction Act Disadvantaged Communities: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/inflation-reduction-act-disadvantaged-communities-map) If this project will involve Tribal communities, how will this project engage local Tribal communities, support Tribal-led priorities, and/or contribute to Tribal economies? Please include a description of the most pressing environmental justice issues impacting these communities that your organization is working on, and who is most directly impacted within these communities.
Partnerships , assets and meaningful community engagement	In up to 500 words: Please describe any key partnerships relevant to achieving the goals of your project. Include the length of time and scope of your work together. If partners will receive any funding under this grant, include contact information, role on the project, and funding amount. Please also describe how you will use this grant to seek and develop new partnerships if relevant. Please describe meaningful involvement by those this project aims to benefit. What are the barriers to community engagement and involvement and how will they be addressed? How do you see your organization fitting into a larger movement for social change, and how does your work strengthen that movement? How do the proposed project activities build on existing resources of the organization and assets of the community?
Project Goals, Activities, and Milestones
	In up to 1000 words: State your goals and your vision of success for your community through this grant opportunity. What changes do you hope to see if you are successful in the work, both during the project and after? List your primary activities under this grant. If you are working with partner organization(s), please indicate which is responsible for each activity. Outline the major objectives and milestones (e.g. products, events, achievements or other significant changes) for this project. How will you achieve them? What are the anticipated community benefits upon completion of the work?
Performance Measures / Evaluation
Performance Measures / Evaluation	In up to 500 words: Please describe how you plan to track project activities, milestones, and project benefits for your communities of focus. What do you think you might learn, and how might you use that information to inform future work? (Please note: if awarded, you will work with your grant manager on an evaluation plan.)
Next Steps/ Sustainability	In up to 250 words: Please describe how you hope to apply or continue this work beyond the grant period. How do you see this project fitting into broader environmental justice efforts in your community? What additional resources might be needed to achieve your project’s long-term goals?
Programmatic CapabilityProgrammatic Capability
	In up to 500 words, please describe the following: Organizational Experience: a brief summary or bulleted list of 2-3 similar projects that showcase your ability to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project. Staff Experience / Qualifications of proposed people working on the project - Provide names and short bios for participants that demonstrate the qualifications or lived experience that will allow them to complete the project successfully.
Budget
Budget Summary	Funding Amount Requested: __________ Budget Total Project Costs (if total is greater than the amount requested): ____________
Detailed budget and budget narrative:	[details can be elaborated on in the criteria for what the budget and budget narrative should include] Attachments: Required budget template form (see attached) Itemized Budget Sheet - Clearly explain how funds will be used. This document will supplement the budget information you provide in your required budget form. Applicants must itemize costs into the budget categories in the template. Describe itemized costs (including calculations) in sufficient detail to determine the reasonableness and allowability of costs for each goal, milestone, and activity.
Matched Funding	[Y/N] Does this project have additional funders? If so, who and for what amounts? (Please note that matched funds are optional and have no weight on the scoring.)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The sections below are optional and do not impact the scoring of your application. They provide additional information to the [Redacted] to improve the grantmaking process and to provide useful technical assistance to applicants and subgrantees. It also provides more information about activities that will be expected of subgrantees if your application is successful.
Subgrantee Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Information	Does your project have technical components (like air/water/pollutant monitoring, sampling, testing) or involve conducting research or investigations? (Y/N) If you answered “yes” above, you may be required to develop a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). QAPPs are required by the EPA for any project that collects environmental data. You are NOT required to develop a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) at the time of application. Applicants are only being asked to determine whether or not a QAPP is required should your project be selected for funding. If required, then an approved QAPP must be in place prior to the initiation of project activities. This section has no bearing on the scoring of the application. For more information about Quality Assurance Project Plans, please consult the following website: Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans If you answered “Yes” above: Please list the technical component(s). Please mark the kinds of technical assistance you may need to conduct a project with technical components (select all that apply). Creating goals and developing a monitoring strategy Accessing contractors and labs that can play a role on my project Assistance finding a technical expert with values that align with my organization Assistance in creating a budget for my project Help translating technical or scientific findings to impacted communities and other audiences Help in measuring and monitoring the activity. Help in communicating about the activity. Human subject research/Institutional review board I’m not exactly sure, but I will need help. Other; please describe: Not Applicable Please also let us know your organization’s experience with projects that have technical components (select one): We have past experience with these types of projects at a regulatory level of monitoring. We have done some community monitoring projects, but not at a regulatory level of monitoring. This is our first project with technical components. Please feel free to add additional information about your experience.
Support services	[Y/N] Have you received technical assistance (TA) in finding and or applying to this TCG funding opportunity through: (Please select all that apply) Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center(s) (TCTACs) Other (Please describe _______________________________________) Please answer this question if you replied ‘YES’ to the above question. Select the type of technical assistance received through the federally funded entity noted above: Provided capacity building to engage with decision-makers at all levels of government Identified this funding opportunity or others funding sources to apply to (federal, state, local or private) Assistance navigating sam.gov and/or grants.gov reservation process and other grants related portals Assistance preparing grant proposal Other________ [Y/N] Are you interested in learning more about the Technical Assistance available under the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center? If yes, in which areas? Please select all that apply: Creating goals and/or developing a monitoring strategy Accessing contractors and labs that can play a role on my project Assistance finding a technical expert with values that align with my organization Assistance in creating a budget for my project Assistance with financial management (writing and reporting) Help translating technical or scientific findings to impacted communities and other audiences Communications: Social Media / web design/ publications Help in measuring and monitoring my activities Help in communicating about my activities Local policy (zoning/coding) research and navigation, including local and state government regulations and permits Human subject research/Institutional review board Identifying (other) funding opportunities Quality Management Plan (QMP) Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP) I’m not exactly sure, but I will need help. Other; please describe: Not Applicable
Interest in Future Funding	Do you intend to apply to other tiers of this funding opportunity in future funding cycles? Yes, No, Unsure If yes, please describe: