EarthShare Announces Second Round Grant Opportunity for Clean and Equitable Energy Initiatives in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Arizona
The Energy of One, The Power of Many will support initiatives that create innovative approaches to community education and outreach about energy in our daily lives.
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2022 /3BL Media/ - EarthShare is supporting the transition to clean energy through a second-year grants program, The Energy of One, The Power of Many, that will continue to establish community-level initiatives in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Arizona focused on sustainable and equitable energy. Arizona represents an expansion of the program, which will provide grants from $5,000 to $50,000 for innovative proposals that promote public understanding around the complex and evolving role of energy in our daily lives.
When it comes to putting society on a more sustainable path, climate change and its direct connection to our energy future dominates today’s discussions. The complexity of these topics and the ever-changing landscape of approaches can be a barrier to understanding and joining the new energy economy for too many.
Grantee organizations’ programs will be dedicated to educating community members about the impact their energy choices can have in supporting a cleaner energy future that improves lives and the health of our planet. The results of these projects will be shared as part of EarthShare’s Powering Choice Initiative, a broader, public-facing program that will promote energy choice through education, coalition building, public outreach, and comprehensive information sharing.
“EarthShare has a vision of everyone taking action for the planet, and we know that helping people understand the issues and opportunities leads to better, well-informed action,” said Brad Leibov, CEO, EarthShare. “From grassroots home energy workshops that get neighbors talking about energy use as a justice issue, to promoting community solar and energy storage platforms, these grants are creating opportunities for more people to join the conversation. The second year of our program is even more ambitious as we expand the geography and seek to invest in projects to help shape a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
The grants are open to any eligible 501(c)(3) organization and collaborative partnerships are again encouraged, including organizations without a primary environmental focus . The funding opportunity seeks new approaches to offering education and resources that help people understand options in energy choice, particularly in low-income communities, as well as the importance of transitioning to sustainable energy sources. Projects that address equity, just transition, and job training in the clean energy and energy efficiency arenas are encouraged. Initiatives must benefit one or more specific metropolitan areas in Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Arizona.
“We are so pleased to continue and expand our work to fund effective programs that aspire to a societal shift toward an equitable and sustainable energy-based economy. We were very excited to see the results coming out of EarthShare’s first round of grants, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. We anticipate even more innovative approaches to engage these communities in understanding the impact of their energy choices with this second round of grants,” said Mary MacDonald, SVP Corporate Engagement, EarthShare.
EarthShare works to amplify positive environmental impact by providing individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with inspiration and tools to work together for a just and sustainable world. By delivering funding and new supporters to the nonprofit environmental community, EarthShare bolsters programs that deploy solutions to combat climate change, environmental injustice, threatened food systems, at-risk biodiversity, and a multitude of other issues.
Funding for the EarthShare administered grant program is provided by the charitable giving department at NRG, positiveNRG. Past grantees of the program include:
- Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN) “Energy and Children’s Health”
- Groundswell “Putting ‘Community’ in Community Power”
- Interfaith Power and Light (IFPL) “Home Energy Workshops for Baltimore/Annapolis Faith Communities”
- National Wildlife Federation (NWF) “Fair & Inclusive Energy Transition in Pennsylvania”
- Villanova University, College of Engineering “Power Forward [STEM] Program”
Grant Overview
Grant applications are due by May 3 and determinations will be announced in late May or early June 2022. Funding amounts will vary, with an anticipated mix of grantees (national and local/regional led) receiving funding support. Funding can be requested for more than one metropolitan area. The granting period will be for six-month programs, with a potential opportunity for renewal grants. An independent grant selection committee will review and make decisions on the grant awardees.
For more information, visit https://www.poweringchoice.org/home/ or contact EarthShare at info@earthshare.org.
About EarthShare:
With a vision of everyone supporting a healthy planet, EarthShare amplifies impact through a variety of tools, programs, and inspirational content to engage businesses, individuals, and nonprofits, making it possible for a larger, more inclusive community of people to help solve the environmental crisis. Our programs welcome new advocates into the fold, streamlining and enhancing efforts to create positive change by enabling more people to work together for a just and sustainable world. EarthShare.org
CONTACTS
Mary MacDonald
+1 (240) 333-0313
mary@earthshare.org
EarthShare
