National & International Environment Program

National & International Environment Program is sponsored by The New York Community Trust. This program funds projects that mitigate climate change, make communities more resilient to climate change, protect public health from toxic chemicals and pollutants, and preserve biological diversity. National projects must benefit more than one U.

Environment - The New York Community Trust Learn more about how we fund the national and international environment. To mitigate climate change, make communities more resilient to climate change, protect public health from the hazards of toxic chemicals and pollutants, and preserve biological diversity.

Promote more environmentally sustainable, resilient, and just communities that mitigate climate change by: Promoting energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy for buildings. Shifting to electric or low-emission vehicles and greater use of mass transit. Promoting a smarter, more resilient grid and distributed (on-site) generation.

Reducing emissions from existing fossil fuel-powered facilities and extraction activities. Establishing regional programs, performance standards, and regulations that help reduce emissions. Make communities, especially the most disadvantaged, more resilient to a changing climate by: Creating infrastructure that reduces stormwater runoff and absorbs storm surges.

Protecting shoreline communities by conserving or enhancing natural barriers. Encouraging more sustainable building design and land use through policy reforms. Better planning and preparation for weather-related emergencies, especially for low-income and other vulnerable residents.

Protect public health from the hazards of toxic pollutants by: Supporting targeted scientific research that can be used to develop policy. Promoting safer chemical and heavy metal policies and practices, especially for infants, children, and other vulnerable people. Eliminating toxic chemicals from products through market campaigns focused on retailers and manufacturers.

Enhancing protections for low-income communities near polluting facilities. Minimizing the hazards of new and expanded fossil fuel extraction on nearby communities.

Preserve biological diversity through habitat conservation by: Establishing, enhancing, and monitoring wildlife migration corridors; and Supporting functional connectivity between fragmented habitat that enables species to move and live safely We encourage initiatives that cut across these program areas, especially those focused on smart growth, sustainable agriculture and regional food systems, and sustainable production.

With the exception of those focused on New York State, all projects must benefit more than one U.S. state or territory to be considered.

Each year, we make only two or three international grants to U.S. organizations that are building the capacity of government, academic institutions, private sector entities, and nonprofits to: Improve environmental health; and Reduce greenhouse gases around the world Note: Starting in 2026, we have changed how we operate our national and international environment program.

Our national environment program issued a Request for Proposals which will accept proposals through April 27, 2026, for projects working in the United States (including its territories). For our international environment program, proposals are by invitation only. Read the background paper that informed this grantmaking strategy here.

Our program directors host regular information sessions for new applicants. Register today! Advanced Energy Economy Institute to help members of public utility commissions support the transition to clean energy.

Environmental Advocates of New York, Inc. to help localities and the agricultural sector implement New York’s Climate Law. Businesses for Conservation and Climate Action to support the environmental leadership of localities and Native American business and civic leaders. to promote air pollution mitigation efforts in eastern ports.

BlueGreen Alliance Foundation to encourage responsible development of offshore wind power. Caribbean Mangrove Coalition to conserve and expand mangrove forests in the Caribbean Basin. Southern Environmental Law Center to help coastal communities in the Southeast become more resilient to climate change.

Our Climate Education Fund to support young climate activists. Coalition of Anglers for Sustainable and Thriving Fisheries to advocate for better management of Atlantic coast fisheries as climate change accelerates. to promote clean energy investments in Appalachian communities affected by the fading coal industry.

Environmental Law Institute to educate state, federal, and foreign judges about climate science. Yale School of the Environment to support fellowships for graduate and undergraduate students of color at leading environmental organizations. to protect the interests of Indigenous peoples affected by the mining of minerals needed to transition to clean energy.

Urban Sustainability Directors Network to support the use of green space as a climate mitigation and adaptation strategy in urban settings. Community Foundation Opportunity Network to create a national network of community foundations to address climate change. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources – US to develop and test an international certification system for nature-based solutions.

WE ACT for Environmental Justice to encourage federal officials to prioritize environmental justice communities when implementing new laws and policies. Trustees of Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health to foster better understanding of the public health impacts of proposed transportation policies along the Eastern Seaboard. to promote installation of renewable energy technology on brownfields across the Northeast.

to help states and localities use federal infrastructure funding to support a green recovery. to promote better use of city green spaces to manage runoff and adapt to climate change. to help governors understand and access federal funding to address climate change.

Natural Areas Conservancy to research and report on the value of urban forests for climate adaptation and stormwater management. Lawyers for Good Government to help disadvantaged communities access new federal climate and clean energy funding. Center for Biological Diversity, Inc. to protect wildlife corridors and intact habitats nationwide to encourage a global transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

to decarbonize medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in several states. Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Inc. to support implementation of congestion pricing and other mass transit reforms. Curious about what else we fund?

Are you seeking support for the following? Capital and building campaigns General operating support/routine operational expenses Unfortunately, we don’t make grants in these areas. Where will the activities you plan to request support for take place?

Only select National or International if your work falls outside of New York City, Long Island, or Westchester. Select all relevant impact areas to your nonprofit. Details on your impact areas