Environmental Justice Grant Programs

Please see the link here for our Open Data NY webpage that shows information about projects that have been funded in the past: Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) Grant Awards: Beginning 2006 | State of New York. Projects can contain multiple elements, but they must serve to address an environmental harm for an affected community, and be able to communicate that harm via public outreach and education.

No, OEJ Grants do not have match requirements.

Yes, most OEJ Grants may cover up to 30% of the total grant award to any individual salary, plus fringe. Please check the RFA for any specific guidance on salaries.

• Please review all information and restrictions regarding fiscal sponsors on the relevant RFA, as this is not an exhaustive list of guidance.
• A fiscal sponsor does not have to meet all eligibility requirements, but they must be a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization in New York State and submit a bid in SFS on behalf of an eligible organization. Fiscal sponsors must Register and Prequalify in SFS to submit a bid.
• The eligible organization provides the fiscal sponsor with all required forms, including their IRS 990, and answers to all questions for an open bid opportunity. 
• The fiscal sponsor should answer the eligibility questions based on the eligible organization and their information, upload all required forms, and manage the contract process on behalf of the eligible organization. 
• The eligible organization will carry out the project while the fiscal sponsor manages the administration, including quarterly and fiscal reporting.
• A fiscal sponsor may contribute to the implementation of the project as a subcontractor to the eligible CBO. The fiscal sponsor agreement in the bid submission should clearly detail the specific allocation of funds and delineation of work between the eligible CBO and the fiscal sponsor.

• It depends. Please review the relevant RFA for more information.
• We ask bidders to describe which communities they regularly serve, and the expected community benefits in the proposed project. 
• The community must be able to access the resources proposed in the bid, and have more than 50 percent of its members residing in the affected community, or more than 50 percent of the people served by the bidder community group residing in the affected community.
• Be sure to submit additional information in the bid that helps us understand your office’s proximity to the affected community, and demonstrate how your organization serves the community.
• This doesn’t necessarily disqualify bidders, however we cannot make that determination until after the bid opportunity is closed and we begin the review process.

Organizations must execute all awarded contracts in a timely manner and meet all reporting requirements to maintain good standing. If you’re unsure about your standing, please email [email protected] to inquire.

No, the Grant Payment Summary Sheet will have this information when submitting a payment package.

If your contract has not been executed and your project has started, please provide a brief update in your quarterly report. If your contract has not been executed and you are waiting to start, please send an email saying that you haven’t started project work and we will keep for our records.

Yes, as long as you are in good standing (which means you are up to date with all reporting requirements). We encourage everyone eligible to apply.

• All grant funds must be spent during the contract term. You can view your contract term start and end dates on the SFS Grants Management platform under your contract (Your contract ID should be an 8-digit code that starts with a C or a T and ends in GG or GM).
• Contract terms may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis, but a contract modification is not guaranteed. A project may be completed anytime within the 3-year contract term. Please be sure to describe in your timeline, budget, and workplan what the expected time frame is, and how you will achieve all goals within that time frame.

Extending a contract is not guaranteed. Please reach out to your DEC grant program manager to request an extension. If you’re granted an extension, you will need to provide all required forms and actions as if you are executing a new contract. Please see the section on Contract and Required Supporting Documents for more information.

This grant opportunity was release in 2025 and is now closed.

With the completion and release of the Disadvantaged Communities Air Monitoring Grant, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is excited to announce approximately $3 million in funding for projects that implement and address ambient air pollution mitigation strategies.

Projects should focus on mitigation strategies that reduce air pollution in their communities with a goal of evaluating the projects effectiveness so that successful strategies can be replicated in other communities across the State. 

Resources  

DEC’s Air Monitoring Initiative

EPA The Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook (2022)

Homepage for the NYC Community Air Survey information

Results of the NYC Air Survey

This grant opportunity was released in 2025 and is now closed.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Environmental Justice are providing $7 million in competitive grant funding for community based, not-for-profits and Tribal Organizations that will implement the support of new construction or renovation of a facility to create a Community Environmental Education Center (Center). 

The Center should inspire exploration, discovery, and learning about the community’s environment. Eligible projects for grant funding must be located within or serve a Disadvantaged Community (DAC) and/or an Environmental Justice (EJ) Community.

Please read the Frequently Asked Questions about this grant (PDF), and view the previously released RFA (PDF).

This grant opportunity is now closed.

$7 million is now available for community-based organizations for projects that address exposure of communities to multiple environmental harms and risks. Eligible applicants are Tribal Organizations and not-for-profit (NFP) community-based organizations having 501(c)(3) status.

Eligible projects must address a community's exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks and include a new research component that will be used to expand the knowledge of the affected community.

Community Impact Grants Fact Sheet (PDF)

Round 13 Community Impact Grant RFA (PDF)

Community Impact Grant, Round 13 Q & A (PDF)

Project Proposal Example (PDF)

Reviewer Instructions (PDF)

CIG R13 Webinar Recording

This grant opportunity was offered in 2026 and is now closed.

$4 million in Environmental Justice Green Jobs for Youth Grants are now available to help youth in environmental justice communities develop skills training and promote job placement in various green industries.   

DEC’s Office of Environmental Justice is launching this second round of Green Jobs for Youth funding with a focus on skills training. To date, this funding has trained 373 youth in preparation for the green economy and placed 59 youth into jobs.

Watch webinar Part 1, 2, and 3 recordings

Green Jobs for Youth Fact Sheet (PDF)

• Green Job Program Ideas (xlsx.) 

RFA: Round 2 Green Jobs for Youth – Skills Training (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

Eligible sole applicants must be 501(c)(3) not-for-profits (NFPs) and/or Tribal Organizations. 

Eligibility requirements may vary between grant opportunities. Please read the corresponding Request for Applications (RFA) for detail, application instructions, and eligibility requirements. 

Ineligible organizations with other types of tax-exempt status, such as 501(c)(4), or entities such as individuals; universities; municipalities; government bodies; water districts or similar entities; large non-governmental organizations such as serving state or national environmental groups and organizations, typically cannot apply as sole applicants. 

An ineligible organization may be involved in a proposed EJ project by partnering as a subcontractor for an eligible organization. Individuals and unincorporated groups cannot apply, but an eligible not-for-profit (NFP), known as a fiscal sponsor, may apply on behalf of an individual or incorporated group. Eligible sole applicants may also apply under a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Please see the corresponding RFA for more details.

We encourage local governments and other ineligible organizations to partner with local community-based organizations to affect meaningful and positive outcomes for all New Yorkers.

If you are a municipality or other ineligible entity, reach out to a local community-based organization to work with them on projects in your community. 

When they meet all other eligibility requirements, not-for-profits (NFPs) and Tribal organizations are named as the lead bidder, where partner entities may be subcontractors that provide support to the lead.

When submitting a bid for collaborative projects, only one eligible, designated lead bidder can submit a bid for grant funding. The lead bidder must assume responsibility for the project bid, performance of work consistent with the applicable RFA, and execution of a State of New York Contract for Grants or Letter of Agreement. Letters substantiating the collaboration from each partner are required, including information on the roles and responsibilities of each partner. These letters are to be uploaded to the SFS Grants Management System in a single PDF under the appropriate program question for the bid.

Partners and Collaborative Projects Fact Sheet (PDF)

Bids are accepted online through the Statewide Financial System (SFS). Applicants that intend to submit a bid must Register in SFS to be considered eligible for OEJ grant programs. Note: All not-for-profit, community-based organizations must Register and Prequalify. Tribal Organizations must Register, but do not need to Prequalify.

Full eligibility requirements can be found on the program's Request for Application (RFA). Please review the opportunity closely for all organizational and location eligibility requirements. Note that OEJ Grants cannot determine eligibility until after the bid event is closed and bids are submitted. Our support comes through open grant program opportunities and is funded by the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

For full program details, view previous rounds of our program RFAs below:

• Community Impact Grant (PDF)
• Community Environmental Education Center (PDF)
• Green Jobs for Youth (PDF)
• Air Pollution Mitigation (PDF)

The links below are interactive maps that will help you to view public data and areas of the state that are designated as Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJAs) or Disadvantaged Communities (DACs). 

• DECinfo Locator – Interactive map that shows PEJAs, DACs, DEC documents, and other public data about previously awarded OEJ grants, environmental quality, and outdoor recreation information. 
• DEC Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJAs) Map
• NYSERDA Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) Website

If you think you may be ineligible for our grant programs, please view other DEC Grant Programs at the Grant Applications webpage or by using the Funding Finder Tool.

On the SFS Grants Management registration website, download a copy of the Registration Form for SFS Vendors. A signed, notarized original form must be sent to the NYS Grants Management Team at [email protected]. You will be provided with a Username and Password allowing you to access the SFS Grants Management Vendor Portal.

All NFP Applicants must be Prequalified in the SFS Grants Management System at the time and date that the application is due. Applications from non-prequalified entities will be rejected and the system will not allow you to submit your bid. Note that Tribal Organizations only need to Register and do not need to Prequalify.

If your organization is already Prequalified in SFS through another New York State Agency, DEC will accept this status so long as it is not expired. Please note that organizations will need to maintain prequalified status when going into contract.

Our peer agency, NYSCA, developed some great tips on how to get Prequalified, which we've adapted below for DEC's OEJ Grants:

1. Don’t Wait: You may Prequalify at any time – we recommend you start now. New organizations have to register before you can start submitting documents. Once you are registered, review of the required documents may take 5-10 business days once all correct documents have been uploaded and your Document Vault has been “submitted” by you for review.
2. Update Contact Info: Make sure email addresses you have provided to SFS are up-to-date. If the address on file are incorrect, you will miss important email notifications, instructions, and requests.
3. Check your Status: Check that you are Prequalified well before the grant bid deadline to ensure a timely submission of your bid. Please note that if you are not Prequalified by the deadline, the system will not allow you to submit your bid.
4. Designate Roles Carefully: You must be logged into SFS as the Delegated Administrator to upload and save documents and submit your vault for review. Be sure the Delegated Administrator is available when you need to submit; DEC cannot submit Vault materials on your behalf. Read more about roles on the Grants Management website. Additionally, signatory role usernames must be the legal first and last name of the responsible signatory. Please note, staff with a Bid Response Initiator role can begin a bid, but only staff with the Bid Response Submitter role can submit the bid response.
5. Prepare Policies: You must certify that you have the required policies for your size organization. For example, DEC understands that a small organization with no current staff may only need a simple pragmatic policy regarding management review of staff should there be any in the future. Generally, these policies need to be approved by your board, so do not wait until the last minute. DEC does not mandate any particular policy form or language and the policies do not need to be uploaded at this time.
6. Format Board Information: SFS requires your organization to upload your Board information. This document should include board member names and affiliations, a list of the board committees and chairs, a list of board officers, and the year they were appointed. Please do not submit a copy of a website page.
7. Update Audit: You must update the Audit/Reviews and Findings Section annually-regardless of the size of your organization’s budget.
8. Review Contract Question: If you answer Question 1 in Organization Capacity and Question 8 in Organization Compliance that the same person signs your contracts and pays them, you will not be Prequalified.
9. Check Dates and Documents: Delays can result if fiscal year dates you enter when Prequalifying do not correspond to the financial documents you are uploading, or if documents are incorrect or incomplete.
10. Hit Submit: After your updates have been completed be sure to submit your Vault for review -- DEC is not able to review any Vault materials that have not been technically submitted to SFS for review. To submit your document Vault for review, scroll halfway down the main document Vault page to the Status Change section, click the link to submit document Vault, follow the prompts to review, update if necessary, and save the three indicated pages, click submit again, and then click "I Agree" to submit. Your Vault status will change to “In Review” and an automated message from SFS will be emailed to the email addresses on file in SFS immediately.

Please do not delay in beginning and completing the prequalification process. Visit the Grants Management Prequalification page to get started.

The state reserves 5 days to review submitted prequalification applications. Prequalification applications submitted to the state for review less than 5 days prior to any OEJ grant application due date may not be considered.

Applicants should not assume that their prequalification information will be reviewed if they do not adhere to this timeframe.

Once you've Registered and Prequalified, you may complete a bid on the Statewide Financial System website (SFS). Bids must be submitted through the NYS SFS Grants Management System. Using a certified browser to access the Statewide Financial System is recommended. Using other browsers may cause errors in the Budget and/or Work Plan section of the application.

For additional guidance using the SFS Vendor Portal, please view the SFS Vendor/Grantee User Manual (PDF). If you do not have access to the SFS Vendor Portal and if your organization is already established within the SFS Vendor portal, an SFS Delegated Administrator has been authorized within your organization to provision user login credentials, unlock accounts, or reset passwords. Please reach out to your SFS Delegated Administrator directly.

If you do not have a login and you are new to the SFS Vendor Portal and would like to establish an account for the purposes of doing business with the State of New York, contact the SFS Help Desk at 518-457-7717, 855-233-8363 or [email protected] for more information. The SFS Help Desk is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The NYS SFS Grants Management system offers a Vendor User Manual, training videos and webinars for applicants requiring assistance. Please visit the Grants Management webpage on transition to SFS.

Paper applications will not be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications in SFS prior to the application deadline. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Please note, staff with a Bid Response Initiator role can begin a bid, but only staff with the Bid Response Submitter role can submit the bid response.

All applicants must be Registered with SFS Grants Management to apply. Please visit the Grants Management webpage on transition to SFS.

Tribal Organizations must Register in SFS, but do not need to Prequalify. 

In addition to registration, not-for-profits must also be prequalified at the time and date that the application is due. If you are not Prequalified at that time and date, your application will not be considered.

If you have questions about user roles, please refer to the SFS Vendor Portal Access Reference Guide (PDF) or contact the SFS Grants Management help desk, which can be reached at (855) 233-8363 or (518) 457-7717 and [email protected], Monday through Friday 8 AM through 4 PM.

EJ Community Impact Grant Program Declaration (PDF)

Executive Order No. 16 (PDF)

Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification Form (PDF)

Gender-Based Violence (PDF)

If applicable: Smart Growth Assessment Form (PDF)

To submit a bid, applicants must upload or enter into SFS the required documentation for a complete submission. Work plans and budget must be entered manually into SFS and cannot be uploaded. Please see the SFS Grantee User Manual and the applicable RFA for guidance. 

SFS Grantee User Manual (PDF)

Map Instructions (PDF)

Map Example 1 (PEJA/DAC Region) (PDF)

Map Example 2 (Project Site) (PDF)

Timeline Example (.xslx file)

Budget Example (PDF)

Budget Template (fillable PDF)

Work Plan Example (PDF)

Work Plan Template (fillable PDF)

Certificate of Attestation of Exemption (CE-200) (PDF)

Municipal Endorsement Sample (PDF)

Congratulations! Here's how to get started in setting up your contract.

You will need to complete, fill out, and/or request the following to submit online and/or to your DEC Grant Program Manager:

• Certificates of Insurance: Disability and Workers' Compensation (additional guidance below including exemptions, as applicable)
  • Sample of NYS Workers’ Compensation Certificate (PDF)
  • Sample of NYS Disability Insurance Certificate (PDF)
• EEO Staffing Plan Form (PDF)
• MWBE/SDVOB Policy Statement Form (PDF)
• Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire (NY OSC website)
• Charities Filing (NY AG website)
• If applicable to your project: SDVOB Utilization Plan Form (PDF)

Grant recipients (Vendors) will upload the following information into SFS or complete online: 

• Upload: An EEO Staffing Plan (PDF) and MWBE/SDVOB Policy Statement (PDF) must be completed and uploaded to the Grantee Document folder prior to contract execution.
• Complete Online: Vendor Responsibility Questionnaires - DEC requires a Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire (VRQ) for both construction and non-construction sub-contracting entities and for all not-for-profit grant recipients. You may need to file an updated VRQ as often as every 6 months while your contract is in the pre-execution stage. Please note that your VRQ must be up-to-date when executing a contract with DEC. All subcontractors that will claim $100,000 or more in grant funding must also complete a VRQ. Additional information is available on the NYS Office of the State Comptroller's VendRep webpage.
• Complete Online: DEC OEJ requires that Vendors complete a Charities filing with the New York State Attorney General's office. Please note that Tribal Organizations are exempt from this requirement. Per their website, "All charitable organizations operating in New York are required by law to register and file annual financial reports with the Office of the New York State Attorney General. This includes any organization that conducts charitable activities, holds property that is used for charitable purposes, or solicits financial or other contributions."

Grant recipients may submit the following to the Grant Program Manager directly via email:

Certificates of Insurance or Certificate of Exemption (CE-200)

Tribal organizations are exempt from submitting Certificates of Insurance. Tribal organizations must submit the CE-200 form in lieu of Workers’ Compensation and Disability Insurance proofs. Please see guidance here: New York Business Express - Certificate of Attestation of Exemption (CE-200)

Not-for-profits must submit Workers’ Compensation and Disability Certificates of Insurance:

• Workers' Compensation Certificate of Insurance - Grant recipients must provide and maintain full New York State coverage during the life of this contract for the benefit of such employees as are required to be covered by the New York State Worker's Compensation Law. Evidence of Worker's Compensation and Employers Liability coverage must be provided on one of the following forms:

• Disability Certificate of Insurance - Grant recipients must provide and maintain full New York State coverage during the life of this contract for the benefit of such employees as are required to be covered by the New York State Disability Benefits Law. Any waiver of this requirement must be approved by DEC and will only be granted in unique or unusual circumstances. Evidence of Disability Benefits coverage must be provided on one of the following forms:

Recipients of OEJ grant funding are required to enter into a contract with DEC. Grant recipients receive written notification of their award, which begins the process of entering into a contract. Grants awarded use the Statewide Contract for Grants, which is administered via the Statewide Financial System (SFS). All grant recipients should visit the NYS Grants Management website and become familiar with the applicant resources available.

The following steps are necessary to complete the contract process in SFS: 

1. DEC develops the contract shell in SFS.
2. The grant recipient will be notified that their contract is available to enter workplan and budget information and uploads supporting documents.
3. DEC OEJ reviews the workplan, budget, and supporting documents to approve or request edits.
4. When DEC approves, the grant recipient electronically signs the contract in SFS using the appropriate role.
5. DEC connects the awarded funding to the contract, and once approved, may submit the grant recipient’s first advance payment Claim for Payment voucher and Certification of Compliance (found below in “Payment Package Forms”).
6. The grant recipient will be notified that the contract has been executed via email. 
7. DEC connects the awarded funding to the contract, and once approved, may submit the grant recipient's first advance payment Claim for Payment voucher and Certification of Compliance (found below in "Payment Package Forms"). 

Contract Timelines

It usually takes about three to six months to execute a contract after a grant is awarded. Awardees are required to submit further information to complete the contracting process. This process is driven by the responsiveness of the awardee, and the completeness and accuracy of the submissions. Note that payments cannot be issued until the contract has been executed. 

Project Workplan/Budgets

The work plan and budget worksheets below may be drafted offline (not in SFS) in coordination with DEC staff. Grant recipients will receive an email from DEC when their contract is available in SFS.

• Attachment B-1 - Expenditure Based Budget (PDF)
• Attachment C - Work Plan (PDF)

Workplans and budgets should only include eligible activities and costs that are listed in the RFA for the round of funding the project was awarded under. You may find fillable PDF copies of these documents under Examples and Templates. Note: SFS does not preform calculations, so be sure to check your math!

Editing the Workplan during Contract Collaboration

Do you need to make edits to your workplan before executing on your new contract? Here is a video that explains how to enter or update your work plan when collaborating on the grant contract in SFS: https://vimeo.com/1155194024/91a6a8f53e?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Quarterly Reporting

OEJ grant recipients must submit quarterly reports for work performed during the contract term.

Reporting will be done via Microsoft Forms. DEC program managers will provide the link to the appropriate Microsoft Form, and reporting will be specific to each grant program.

If you do not have a Microsoft account, you may still submit your reporting online, but you will need to keep a copy for your own records and transfer the information into the Form. Please note that you will not be able to access your online submissions without a Microsoft account.

Download Payment Package forms:

• Fill out required info (outlines in blue): Claim for Payment Form (PDF)
• Certificate of Compliance Form (PDF)
• Grant Payment Summary Form (.xlsx)
• Final Payment Release Form (PDF)

Payments are issued on an advance basis, with four total payments during a typical three-year contract term. All payment requests will be submitted to the DEC grant program manager directly.

Each payment request requires a Claim for Payment Form and a Certification of Compliance. Payments 2, 3, and 4 will require a Grant Payment Summary Form with supporting proof, scanned and submitted as backup documentation with receipts, bank statements, payroll logs, etc. Payment 4 will also require a Final Narrative Report (see Final Reporting section below) and the Final Payment Release Form. Final payments are issued as a reimbursement.

Required fields for the Claim for Payment form are the Vendor Name, Vendor Identification Number (SFS ID), Address, City, State, Zip, Invoice Number (Your 8-digit Contract ID, followed by a dash (-) and the payment number (1-4).) Under "Description of Materials/Service", you'll type in "30% Advance for State Assistance" for the first three payments, and "10% Final Payment for State Assistance" for the final payment. Under "Price", enter either 30% of your total grant award (for the first three payments), or 10% for your final payment.

OEJ competitive grant programs offer advance payment requests in 30% increments of the total grant award. The fourth and final payment is a reimbursement of 10% of the total grant award and must contain all remaining outstanding items to complete the contract before the final payment is issued. 

Other EJ projects managed by OEJ Grants are typically issued as advances in 25% increments of the total grant award. The fourth and final payment is a reimbursement of 25% of the total grant award and must contain all remaining outstanding items to complete the contract before the final payment is issued.

Please see the Final Reporting section for more information or contact your DEC grant program manager.

Grantees who have completed their projects will need to ensure they submit the following to [email protected] and cc the DEC grant program manager:

• All previous payment requests and quarterly reporting submitted
• The fourth and final Claim for Payment Form (grant recipients will be paid in 4 total payments)
• Certification of Compliance 
• Final Payment Release Form
• Grant Payment Summary Form
• Final cumulative narrative report covering the entire contract term
  • Note: Final reports will be posted for public view on the DECinfo Locator website, so please be mindful of personal or private information that may have been included. Please provide or discuss the following:
    • Is your organization name and contract number on the first page?
    • Were the objectives, tasks, and performance measures of the project met?
    • Did you stay within your funded budget? If there were setbacks, can you describe what was needed for the project to move forward?
    • Can you provide any project statistics or metrics that show the impact of the grant on the community? (These are often referred to as KPIs or Benchmarks. For example: how many people benefited overall from your project, how many volunteers engaged, how many community events hosted, how many trainees were placed in jobs, how many dollars in stipends offered, etc.)
    • For Community Impact Grant only: What was your research component?  What were the findings of the research and how was that information disseminated to your community?
    • What was your outreach strategy, and was it effective?
    • If you had a collaborative project, are all your partners and their respective roles mentioned? How did this partnership contribute to the overall project completion?
    • Do you have pictures to share? If so, please include them!