Current EPA Funding Landscape
The Environmental Protection Agency administers one of the largest federal funding portfolios for environmental work. Right now, Funding Landscape tracks over 6,000 open EPA-related opportunities across multiple categories: approximately 1,500 grants, 4,100 contracts and procurement opportunities, 250 rebate programs (primarily from Inflation Reduction Act funding), and hundreds more for technical assistance, training, and RFIs. The EPA's funding priorities shift with each administration, but certain core programs remain consistent: water quality and infrastructure, air quality monitoring, hazardous waste cleanup, environmental justice initiatives, and climate-related programs. Recent legislation, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has significantly expanded available funding.
Major EPA Grant Programs
Several flagship programs offer substantial funding for environmental work. Environmental Justice Grants target communities disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental hazards. These programs fund community-based projects, capacity building, and collaborative problem-solving. Recent years have seen major increases in EJ funding. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund channel billions to states for water infrastructure. While the EPA administers these programs, funding flows through state agencies, so you often apply at the state level. Climate Pollution Reduction Grants support state, local, and tribal efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The IRA allocated significant new funding for these programs. Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grants help communities assess and remediate contaminated sites. These competitive grants are particularly valuable for economic redevelopment of former industrial properties. Pesticide Safety Education programs fund training and outreach on safe pesticide handling. Science to Achieve Results (STAR) provides research grants through a competitive process managed in partnership with universities.
EPA Contracts vs. Grants
Not all EPA funding comes as grants. The agency also awards contracts for services and products, which appear on SAM.gov. Contract opportunities include environmental consulting, laboratory analysis, remediation services, IT support, and equipment procurement. The key difference: grants support your project or mission; contracts deliver something the EPA needs. Small businesses, particularly those with certifications like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB, can find set-aside contract opportunities specifically reserved for them. Funding Landscape aggregates both grants (from Grants.gov) and contracts (from SAM.gov) so you can search across all EPA funding in one place. Filter by category to see only grants or only contracts, or search everything at once.
Inflation Reduction Act Climate Funding
The Inflation Reduction Act added billions in new EPA funding, much of it channeled through rebate and incentive programs. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund created new financing mechanisms for clean energy projects, administered through selected financial institutions. Home Energy Rebate Programs provide consumer incentives for energy efficiency upgrades and electrification. Much of this IRA funding flows through states or designated intermediaries rather than directly from EPA. Funding Landscape tracks these downstream opportunities as they become available.
How to Search for EPA Funding
On Funding Landscape, you can find EPA opportunities several ways. Search by organization: type 'EPA' or 'Environmental Protection Agency' in the search box. This returns opportunities where EPA is listed as the funding organization. Search by topic: terms like 'environmental justice', 'water quality', 'brownfields', 'air quality', or 'climate' will surface relevant opportunities across multiple agencies, not just EPA. Filter by category: use the category filter to show only grants, only contracts, or specific types like rebates or technical assistance. Combine filters: search for 'remediation' and filter to EPA-related sources to find cleanup-focused opportunities. The MCP integration lets AI assistants search on your behalf with natural language queries like 'find EPA grants for water quality monitoring that a small nonprofit could apply for'.
Eligibility and Requirements
EPA grant eligibility varies significantly by program. Some programs target specific applicant types: states and tribes, local governments, nonprofits, universities, or small businesses. Others are open to multiple entity types. Environmental Justice grants often prioritize community-based organizations. Research grants typically require institutional backing. Infrastructure funding frequently flows through state agencies even when the federal program is administered by EPA. Contract opportunities generally require SAM.gov registration and may require specific certifications for set-aside work. The NAICS codes relevant to EPA contracts include environmental consulting (541620), engineering services (541330), and scientific research (541711, 541712). Funding Landscape shows eligibility information where available in the source data. For complete requirements, always reference the full solicitation or FOA.
Application Tips
EPA grants are competitive. A few practices improve your chances. Start early. EPA solicitations often have 60-90 day application windows, but competitive applications require substantial preparation. Give yourself time to understand requirements, gather supporting documents, and build relationships if partnerships are required. Address stated priorities. EPA clearly communicates program priorities in each solicitation. Successful applications directly address these priorities rather than force-fitting an existing project. Demonstrate community engagement. Many EPA programs, especially Environmental Justice grants, prioritize projects with genuine community involvement. Document how affected communities participated in project design. Budget realistically. EPA reviewers can spot inflated or unrealistic budgets. Build your budget from actual costs and be prepared to justify line items. Follow format requirements exactly. Applications that deviate from page limits, formatting requirements, or submission procedures may be disqualified without review.