Deadline: No unsolicited proposals

Environmental conservation is one of The Kresge Foundation's nine overarching values. They believe the effects of climate change on the natural world is among the paramount concerns of our time, one that presents formidable challenges and risks as well as opportunities for innovation. Their Environment Program works in partnership with like-minded organizations to protect the planet and promote its long-term sustainability for future generations.

The Kresge Foundation is a national foundation that has been advocating environmental conservation for many years, especially through our Green Building Initiative. In June 2008, they expanded this interest into a major, comprehensive program to cultivate solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate renewable energy technologies, and support efforts to help society adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The Environment Team seeks to work in collaboration with others by employing the full array of tools available to support policy work, applied research, communications and advocacy, and general support for organizations whose work directly corresponds with Kresge's values and the priorities of this program.

Environmental grantmaking strategies focus in three broad areas of relevance to climate change:
* Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment
* Accelerating the adoption of renewable energy technologies, with a preliminary interest in the Midwestern United States
* Developing strategies for helping society adapt to the anticipated, negative impacts of climate change

With rare exceptions, only projects that address climate change will be competitive for funding, including awards made within their facilities capital Challenge Grant Program.

Green Planning Grants
The Green Building Initiative is now a facet of the Environment Program. Through the initiative, they award planning grants to nonprofit organizations to underwrite the integrated design process necessary for historic preservation, green renovation, or new construction that aims to achieve the highest levels of environmental sustainability.

Facilities Grants
Successful requests for facilities capital are awarded as challenge grants. Values of particular importance for facilities projects in the environmental field include environmental conservation, creating opportunity, innovation, collaboration, and diversity.

Because the program is in the development stage, they are currently accepting only foundation-initiated proposals for projects other than facilities capital and green planning grants. This practice will be in place until the program's long-term, strategic direction is determined.

They are interested, however, in learning about new projects that contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation so that their program planning can be informed by the new and novel ideas of those working in the field. Nonprofit organizations working at the state or national level on climate change projects may contact the Environment Team at EnvironmentTeam@kresge.org with an email of 500 words or less that describes how the project idea will advance Kresge's values and help us further the goals of the Environment Program.

For more information, visit Kresge Foundation Environmental Program.