Regional and National Funding Opportunities
NEBRASKA RECYCLING COUNCIL
Funding to purchase or repair recycling equipment including trailers, containers, forklifts, balers, etc.
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Nebraska organizations, businesses, municipalities
Funding: Up to $25,000
Deadline: 15th of each month
More Information: www.nrcne.org/recycling-equipment-grants
NDEE WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING INCENTIVE GRANTS
Provides grants to assist in financing sound integrated waste management programs and projects.
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Nebraska businesses, organizations, municipalities
Deadline: Exact deadline announced each year
More Information: deq.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/WRRIGP
Please note that for 2024 grants, the following grant applications were available beginning June 28, 2023 with a deadline of August 9, 2023, 4:00 p.m. CDT.
NDEE LITTER REDUCTION AND RECYCLING GRANTS
Provides funds to support programs to reduce litter, provide education, and promote recycling in Nebraska.
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Nebraska businesses, organizations, municipalities
Deadline: Exact deadline announced each year
More Information: deq.ne.gov/publica.nsf/pages/WAS075
Please note that for 2024 grants, the following grant applications were available beginning June 28, 2023 with a deadline of August 9, 2023, 4:00 p.m. CDT.
NEBRASKA ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST GRANTS
Funding for multi-year grants for projects in the areas of Habitat, Surface and Ground Water, Waste
Management, Air Quality, Soil Management
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Individuals, private organizations, and public entities
Deadline: September
More Information: environmentaltrust.nebraska.gov/grants/index.html
THE RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP
Funding is only available for residential curbside recycling programs to fund carts and education.
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Local governments, solid waste authorities or federally recognized tribes.
Funding: $5 to $15 per cart
Deadline: Rolling
More Information: recyclingpartnership.org/recycling-cart-grant
EPA SWIFR
Funding : $55 million per year from Fiscal Years 2022 to 2026 to remain available until expended.
Type: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also referred to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides $275 million for Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants to support Building a Better America
Eligibility: states and territories, communities, tribes and intertribal consortia
Deadline: Refer to EPA website for openings and deadlines
More information: Sign up for updates about their Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs!
USDA/NRCS EQIP
Funding: NRCS financial assistance can cover part of the costs of implementing conservation practices.
Type: technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns
Eligibility: Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who own or rent agricultural land are eligible.
Deadline: apply by state-specific ranking dates to be considered for the current funding cycle
More information: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives
USDA/NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants
Funding: maximum of 2 million
Type: match
Eligibility: state or local governments, federally-recognized American Indian tribes, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, Pacific Islands Area)
Deadline: apply by state-specific ranking dates to be considered for the current funding cycle
More Information: https://cig.sc.egov.usda.gov/?utm_source=nrcs-cig&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=obv-redirect
USDA SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT GRANTS
Funding for organizations that provide technical assistance or training to improve the planning and
management of solid waste sites.
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Communities with a population of 10,000 or less. Nonprofits, municipalities, and academic
institutions
Deadline: October 1 – December 31
More Information: www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/solid-waste-management-grants
CLOSED LOOP FUND/CLOSED LOOP PARTNERS
Funding for replicable and financially viable recycling infrastructure projects across these categories:
collection, sortation, and processing/end markets.
Type: Loan, Venture Capital
Eligibility: Municipalities, private companies
Funding: Typical loan size is $3-$5M over a 3-10 year term, with each loan secured by collateral.
Deadline: Rolling
More Information: www.closedlooppartners.com/apply
CDBG: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
CDBG provides grants to states and localities
Type: Grant
Eligibility: States, localities, individuals
Funding: $5,000 to $500,000
Deadline: Varies Depending on the Cycle
More Information: https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/community/cdbg/
WASTE REDUCTION & RECYCLING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WRRAP)
A rebate is available for 50% of the costs to establish a recycling or composting program.
Type: Rebate
Eligibility: Businesses or nonprofit organizations in Lancaster County
Funding: Up to $750
Deadline: Rolling
More Information: https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/LTU/Utilities/Solid-Waste-Management/Recycling/Business/WRRAP
COOPER FOUNDATION
Funding: anywhere from $5,000-$20,000
Type: The Cooper Foundation considers proposals in the following Program Areas: arts, civic and community engagement, education, the environment, human services and the humanities.
Eligibility: Nebraska nonprofit organizations classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) and public charities under section 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code. We also fund units of government, public universities, and K-12 schools.
Deadline: They have four application cycles per year.
DEADLINE GRANT DECISION
January 15 March
April 1 June
July 1 September
October 1 December
The 4th quarter grant cycle starting October 1 is suspended for 2023.
More information: https://cooperfoundation.org/for-grantseekers/
ETHEL S. ABBOTT CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Grants are reviewed for the potential to influence people’s lives and to ultimately make a difference in the
community.
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Nebraska 501(c)(3)s and government entities with focus in Lincoln, Omaha, and Western NE
Deadline: Rolling
More Information: www.abbottfoundation.org
ABEL FOUNDATION
Emphasis on health and human service, higher education, and community development programs.
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Nebraska nonprofits, primarily Lincoln
Deadline: March 31, July 15 and October 31
More Information: www.abelfoundation.org
MID-NEBRASKA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Grants for non-profit organizations in the region; areas of interest include Community Development and
Environment
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Custer, Dawson, Frontier, Hayes, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, and Perkins Counties
Deadline: January 15, April 15, October 15
More Information: www.midnebraskafoundation.org
NEBRASKA DED FOUNDATION RESOURCE DIRECTORY
This directory provides information on numerous foundations, both in and out of Nebraska
Type: Other
More Information: opportunity.nebraska.gov/program/foundation-resource-directory
LINCOLN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Open Door Grants may be applied to operations, programs or capital projects.
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Nonprofits in Lincoln and Lancaster County
Funding: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Rolling
More Information: www.lcf.org/helping-nonprofits/open-door-grants
PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION (PIE) MINI-GRANT: Grant program currently paused.
Grants support the presentation and dissemination of information and perspectives that will stimulate
enhanced environmental stewardship.
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Nebraska organizations
Funding: Up to $3,000
Deadline: January, April, July, October
More Information: nebraskaacademyofsciences.wildapricot.org/PIEGrant