Funding Sources
State and Federal agencies, foundations and private organizations may be potential sources to provide funding to qualifying groups and local governments within rural areas.
The following list represents entities that have contributed funds in the past, and that may have programs to offer assistance to rural watershed groups and partnerships for specific studies and projects.
Time-Sensitive Funding
FY24 Water Energy and Efficiency Grants funding opportunity was posted November 14, 2023. The first round of applications were due February 22, 2024 and are currently under review. The second round of applications are due October 30, 2024.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides funding for projects that result in quantifiable water savings and wider sustainability goals. These projects will need to conserve and use water more efficiently, mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict, and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States. These grants are available to local and regional governments, Federally recognized Native American Tribal Governments, and irrigation or water districts.
- The River Friendly Living grant program is made possible by businesses that support a healthy Verde River. The grants offer funding to support conservation projects
- Eligibility: Homeowners, businesses, non-profits, and municipalities can apply for grants. All funded projects are to be completed within a 12-month period. River Friendly Living projects address the following areas of focus: Sustainable Water Supply, Clean Water, Healthy Habitat, and Connected Communities.
- Homeowners can apply for up to $1,000, and businesses/organizations can apply for up to $5,000 annually. Businesses/Organizations must submit a proposal AND budget to be considered for funding. Submit application materials to [email protected].
Application due: October 31, 2024. Grant awards announced December 2024, and Awards distributed January 2025.
The Trust offers a unique opportunity for non-profit 501(c) (3) organizations focused on watershed and environmental health within the State of Arizona.
- The grant is available primarily to fund operating costs of conservation projects, with rare occasions funding being used for capital support for projects.
- These funds are not available to local governments or private individuals. Usually only 501(c) (3) organizations that match the organization's requirements are eligible.
Interested applicants should familiarize themselves with the Trust’s website to ensure what projects and groups fit within their funding priorities and geographic areas of interest if this aligns with your organization.
- NOTE: The first step in the application process is to talk to a Trust program officer. If the Trust program officer believes that your project or organization is a good fit, you will be invited to submit a grant application. Reach out to Laura McBride ([email protected]
) to see if your project is eligible.
Applications are invite only and require contact with the Trust at least two months in advance. The next application deadline is July 12, 2024, with the following application deadline December 5, 2024.
NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) has announced up to $4 million in funding for 8 two-year projects with the goal of understanding more accurate drought assessments that support communities in preparing for, mitigating, and responding to drought.
Over the last several years, concerns have been raised about the intensity, duration, and frequency of droughts changing in the future. This poses new challenges for drought assessment. Current methods for assessing drought conditions do not consistently and deliberately consider drought in the context of climate change, thereby unintentionally promoting drought response strategies that are limited in building long-term resilience in a changing climate.
Letters of Intent (LOI) are due on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. ET. The deadline for application submission is Monday, December 9, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. ET.
- The purpose of the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Control Program is to assist Tribes develop and implement polluted runoff control programs that address critical water quality concerns at a watershed level.
- Eligibility: Federally recognized Tribes must be determined eligible to apply for CWA Section 106 funding before applying.
- Eligible Activities (not limited to this list) include: Road stabilization/removal; Riparian planting; Stream channel reconstruction; Low impact development projects/storm water management; Livestock exclusion fencing; Springs protection; Septic system rehabilitation; NPS ordinance development; Project monitoring (pre-project, during project, post-project); Development of a watershed-based plan; Training which assists the applicant in development NPS implementation projects; Staff time and materials towards implementing projects; NPS education and outreach relevant to successful implementation of NPS projects; and Post-wildfire restoration
- Funds are allocated based on the Tribe's land area. For Tribes with less than 2 square miles, the base allocation is $45,000; for Tribes with 2-50 square miles, the base allocation is $50,000; for Tribes with 50-500 square miles, the base allocation is $55,000; and for Tribes with 500 square miles or greater, the base allocation is $70,000. After all base allocations are made to Tribes, the remaining amount from overall national allocation is up for competition to all eligible Tribes, regardless of land size. Tribes applying for competitive funds can request up to $125,000 of federal funding.
Deadlines: FY2025 CWA §319 Competitive Applications Due in Grants.gov: December 11, 2024, and CWA §319 FY2025 Proposed Workplans and Budgets due to Project Officers by February 28, 2025.
- For additional information contact: Howard Kahan, [email protected], (415) 972-3143, OR Larry Maurin, [email protected], (415) 972-3943
- This grant provides funding for projects that result in quantifiable water savings, implement renewable energy components, and support broader sustainability benefits. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of renewable energy; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States.
- Eligibility: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized); City or township governments; State governments; Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; County governments; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Special district governments; Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Funding, up to $125,000 for projects to be completed within two years. Total project costs cannot exceed $250,000. Non-Federal Cost Share: 50% or greater.
Deadline: Jan 14, 2025. *Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time on the listed application due date.
Rolling Funding
Grant funds may be used to connect service lines to a residence, pay utility hook-up fees, install plumbing and related fixtures, e.g., bathroom sink, bathtub or shower, commode, kitchen sink, water heater, outside spigot, or bathroom.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Own and occupy a dwelling located in a colonia (Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas) and have evidence of ownership.
- Have a total taxable income (based on the latest federal income tax form from all individuals residing in the household) that is below the most recent poverty. income guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Have no delinquencies on any federal debt.
Applications for this program are accepted year round. Please apply through your local Rural Development office.
- Water is Life projects help to expand water, sanitation and hygiene services at the community level in Arizona with a prioritization given to projects focused on the Navajo Nation.
- Projects that are creative, community-led, and long-lasting are preferred. Each project must measurably improve access to water, sanitation, and/or hygiene for the target recipients. The focus must be on human needs, livestock and agricultural water projects are not eligible. If applying on behalf of an organization, the organization must have an annual operating budget of less than $3 million.
- Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Decisions will be made in June and November. To find more, visit their website or contact Dig Deep at [email protected] and (424) 285-0773.
- The Water Supply Development Revolving Fund (WSDRF) was created to provide low-cost financing, grants, and technical assistance for water supply development projects outside of Arizona’s major urban centers. This fund is specifically designed to meet the unique water supply needs of small, rural communities.
- WIFA can provide up to $2 million in grant funding and up to $3 million in the form of a low-interest loan for a total of $5 million in financial assistance per application.
- Interest rate discounts and grant eligibility will be determined based on the criteria listed in ARS § 49-1274(B)(3), including:
- Water Demands: existing, near-term and long-term water demands compared to the volume and reliability of existing water supplies
- Project Benefits:impact on water supply, benefits to multiple jurisdictions, conservation efforts, BMPs being implemented, and long-term reliability of supply being developed
- Project Feasibility:engineering specs, the cost and effectiveness of the proposal, funding sources, and public comment
- Financial Need:median household income
- Eligible Entities: Water providers and political subdivisions located outside of the Phoenix, Tucson, or Pinal AMAs.
- Applications currently being accepted.
- Being climate-smart means recognizing that we are living in drier and hotter times and producing food using less water. The Arizona Climate-Smart Practices Program is a pilot program designed by Arizona’s Conservation Districts, AACD, and diverse partner groups to encourage growers in Arizona to adopt climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices that will allow for abundant agriculture while using practices that conserve water, promote healthy soil, and mitigate climate change providing beneficial ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration. The Program also emphasizes cross-cultural knowledge sharing between Native American producers and other participants.
- Producers who participate in the program will receive grant funds to help implement climate-smart practices that reduce pesticide and fertilizer inputs, reduce tillage, use diverse cover crops, rest pastures, and use rotational grazing on farms and ranches, and climate-smart commodities will be marketed through partnership networks.
- Annual Incentive of $11,000, + Marketing assistance for desert-adapted crops.
More Information or Apply Here for the Climate-Smart Program
The Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) Initiative provides drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities with practical tools, training, and technical assistance to increase system resilience to climate change impacts. CRWU primarily provides technical support for applying climate and asset condition data as part of risk assessment, as well as support for climate adaptation planning. CRWU also conducts workshops, training, and webinars for information sharing and education purposes.
Exercises with individual utilities and communities help establish utility partners and build adaptation planning experience that can be shared with others. The information collected through these exercises can inform effective management, hazard mitigation, capital investment planning, and upgrades of critical facilities.
The Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF), for project implementation, and the Project Development Assistance Program (PDAP), for project development, are grant programs funded by the U.S. Congress through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by NADBank.
This program offers grant financing exclusively for the implementation of high-priority municipal drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects located within 100 kilometers of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Applications are received throughout the year and are evaluated periodically for placement within the ranked project application list. As additional BEIF funding becomes available, new projects will be selected and incorporated into the development pipeline.
NADBank offers grants to support the implementation of critical environmental infrastructure projects for economically distressed communities in the U.S.-Mexico border region. All projects must be located within 62 miles of the southern border in the state of Arizona.
Projects are available three project sectors are:
- Drinking Water: Projects that support access to sustainable and safe drinking water, including supply, treatment, transmission, storage, distribution, metering, conservation and point-of-use technologies.
- Wastewater: Projects that help eliminate exposure to unsanitary water conditions, including service connections/on-site systems, collection, conveyance, treatment and reuse.
- Storm water: Projects that support adequate storm water management, including piped systems, retention basins, culverts, canals, berms, erosion control, flow velocity control and green infrastructure.
NADBank provides direct financing to public and private entities for the implementation of environmental infrastructure projects located within the U.S.-Mexico border region. It also offers a variety of financial services to support border communities and other sponsors in developing sustainable projects with sound financial structures.
Financing may be provided in a number of ways, including:
- Direct loans: Term, bridge, A/B, etc.
- Revolving lines of credit
- Participation in municipal bond issues
Additionally, NADBank may act as the sole lender or co-finance projects with other public or private financiers, depending upon the characteristics and financing needs of the project. NADBank cannot finance more than 85 percent of the eligible costs of a project. Funding from other sources in the form of equity contributions, subordinated loans, grants or co-financing is required.
NADBank offers technical assistance to help border communities and other project sponsors develop environmental infrastructure projects for financing and implementation, as well as to strengthen their financial performance and reinforce the long-term sustainability of their projects.
- Project development assistance grants are available to project sponsors who are applying for infrastructure financing from NADBank.
- Technical assistance is only available to support the development of projects located within the geographic jurisdiction of NADBank.