Environmental Justice Fund

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FUND IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2026. PLEASE SEE APPLICATION DETAILS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT WE FUND AND HOW TO APPLY.  

Overview

The Environmental Justice (EJ) Fund was established in 2018 as part of the City of Seattle’s Equity & Environment Agenda to invest in community-led projects advancing climate justice. The EJ Fund is designed to protect and strengthen Seattle communities hit first and worst by climate change, extreme weather, and environmental inequities, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, refugees, youth, elders, and low-income residents. The EJ Fund is funded through the Seattle Payroll Expense Tax, a local revenue source not connected to federal funding.

In 2026, up to $1.6 million is available to be disbursed over two years via two funding options:  

• Option 1: grants ranging from $60,000 to $80,000 (distributed as $30,000 to $40,000 per year)
• Option 2: grants ranging from $80,001 to $120,000 (distributed as $40,001 to $60,000 per year) 

What We Fund

Meeting Seattle’s climate goals takes everyone. Investments like the Environmental Justice Fund are part of Seattle’s strategy to support grassroots, community‑driven solutions that accelerate climate action. Specifically, the EJ Fund invests in projects that align with one of its four funding priorities: 1) developing the leadership of communities impacted first and worst by climate change, 2) supporting community-led climate or environmental solutions, 3) trainings and exposure to climate careers and 4) building resilience to protect health and community wellbeing.   

Who We Fund

The EJ Fund supports projects led by or in partnership with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, refugees, youth, elders, and low-income residents. Priority will be given to projects that serve the following priority neighborhoods: Beacon Hill, Bitter Lake, Central Area, Chinatown-International District, Delridge, Georgetown, Haller Lake, Lake City, Mount Baker, Othello, Rainier Beach, and South Park. 

EJ Fund Guiding Goals

We all have a role to play in addressing the root causes and impacts of climate change. Effective solutions must happen at all scales and come from individuals, communities, businesses, and government. Through the EJ Fund, Seattle directly invests in community groups and organizations leading solutions at the neighborhood level, where people are directly feeling the impacts of climate change. To achieve this, the EJ Fund follows the Guiding Goals and Strategies outlined below which serve as the foundation for the program’s success and impact. 

Centering Community Community-centric grantmaking prioritizes the needs of the communities that the EJ Fund serves.	Building Trust Building trust is central to the grantmaking practices of the EJ Fund to establish strong relationships with grantees through intentional, trust-building efforts.
Growing Community Leadership  The EJ Fund seeks to deepen the bench of environmental justice leaders from our priority communities to grow representation in this work.	Strengthening Collaboration Recognizing the power of collaboration and partnerships, the EJ Fund Team seeks to strengthen collaboration between organizations and local government as well as facilitate collaboration amongst grantees.

5 Year Impact Report

Over the last 7 years, the EJ Fund has been a critical resource to support Seattle’s ecosystem of environmental and climate justice efforts that are grounded in the needs of our priority communities. By empowering community groups to design programs that reflect their lived experiences, beliefs, traditions, and cultural values, the EJ Fund ensures that their strengths are at the forefront of environmental justice work. Read the full impact report to learn more about how this program continues to foster meaningful, community-driven environmental change.