EPA Collaborative Problem-Solving Grant Program

Posted by on June 13, 2003

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) has created a new grants program called the “Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Grant Program.” The grants program provides financial assistance to community-based organizations who wish to engage in capacity building initiatives, and also utilize constructive engagement and collaborative problem-solving to seek viable solutions for their community’s environmental and/or public health issues.

Only not for profit 501 (c) (3organizations are eligible to apply. If they don’t already have the 501 (c) (3) status, be sure to obtain it before you apply (see information below).

The grants are due September 30, 2003, and will be awarded at $100,000, for a project period of up to three years.

The Request for Applications (RFA) for the new Collaborative Problem-Solving Grant Program can be downloaded from:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/recent/ej.html

To request a hardcopy of the RFA, call 1-800-962-6215 or send an email which includes your complete mailing address to:
Ms. Rosa Moore
US EPA/OEJ
MC-2201A
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460

You can have either state certification or federal 501 (c) (3) Tax Exempt Status. The information on how to obtain federal 501 (c) (3) tax exempt status can be found at the link below. DON’T FORGET, you must show proof of this status in your application. Here is the official Internal Revenue Service website for organizations looking to file under 501(c)(3) tax exempt status:
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96109,00.html

Please note: Universities are not eligible to apply for this grant program but they may be a member of the partnership.

Examples of community-based organizations involved in successful environmental justice collaborative problem-solving partnerships can be found at this EPA website:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/interagency/index.html

For issues concerning administrative and process questions, please contact the Project Officer, Linda K. Smith. Since this is a competitive program, in order to ensure that all potential applicants receive the same information, answers will be posted on the Web site. Therefore, all questions about interpretation or completion of the requirements, must be sent via e-mail to smith.linda@epa.gov or by fax to 202-501-1162. The questions with answers will be posted on the web site.