Community Impact Accelerator Grant Program

The 2026-2027 Community Impact Accelerator Grant Program is Now Closed

Funding at a glance:

Grant Awards: $30,000–$50,000
Projects Funded: Up to 10 statewide
Focus: Scalable pollution prevention implementation projects
Priority Areas: Source reduction, circular economy, durable systems change
Special Emphasis: Replicable models and measurable outcomes
Eligible Projects Must: Demonstrate statewide impact potential

Grant Program Overview

NYSP2I Community Impact Accelerator Grant Program Overview title on green leaf with water droplets

An informational presentation about the NYSP2I Community Impact Accelerator Grant Program.

A new grants award program from NYSP2I

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) is now accepting proposals for its new Community Impact Accelerator Grant (CIAG) Program—a funding opportunity designed to support scalable, community-led pollution prevention initiatives across New York State.

The CIAG Program advances awareness, understanding, and adoption of pollution prevention (P2) practices at the local level while supporting implementation projects that can be replicated across organizations and communities statewide. Funded projects are intended to generate measurable environmental and public-health benefits that extend well beyond the direct grant investment.

Projects funded through the program must be designed for replication and statewide impact and align with NYSP2I’s Impact Accelerator Requirements.

Award Amount: $30,000–$50,000

Funding Available: Up to 10 projects will be selected for funding

All proposed activities must align with NYSP2I’s mission and support one or both of the following policies:

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA)

The New York State Solid Waste Management Plan 2023–2032 (SSWMP)

What kind of projects receive funding?

The CIAG Program supports community-led implementation projects that:

  • demonstrate effective pollution prevention solutions
  • achieve measurable environmental outcomes
  • build tools, knowledge, and local capacity for replication across New York State

Pollution prevention (P2) focuses on preventing pollution before it is created rather than managing waste or emissions after generation.

Projects should primarily focus on:

  • source reduction (reducing material, energy, or chemical inputs)
  • product or practice substitution (safer chemicals, reusable systems)
  • operational or behavioral change that permanently reduces pollution

Projects focused primarily on treatment, recycling, disposal, or end-of-pipe controls do not meet the definition of pollution prevention for this program.

See the Request for Proposals document for details on ineligible projects.

We give preference to projects that:

  • prioritize and benefit communities with historically low participation in NYSP2I Community Grants Program, including Priority Impact Areas and disadvantaged communities.
  • address specific New York State community, institutional, or sector needs with measurable benefits.
  • advance source reduction, pollution prevention, and circular economy strategies.
  • demonstrate collaboration with local governments, community organizations, or New York State businesses.
  • quantify expected environmental outcomes using clear metrics such as waste reduction, energy savings, emissions avoided, or material diversion.

Examples of project focus areas:

  • Reducing energy use or greenhouse gas emissions
  • Preventing hazardous chemical use
  • Reducing waste generation at the source
  • Expanding reuse and repair systems
  • Implementing circular economy strategies
  • Improving procurement or operational practices to reduce pollution
  • Community-based pollution prevention education paired with implementation
  • Replicable institutional or municipal pollution prevention models

Characteristics of Impact Accelerator Projects

Strong Impact Accelerator projects typically demonstrate one or more of the following:

  • Scale: Benefits multiple institutions, neighborhoods, or municipalities
  • Durability: Creates lasting operational, procurement, behavioral, or policy change
  • Leverage: Produces tools, processes, or trained leaders that enable replication elsewhere
  • Equity: Advances pollution prevention in Priority Impact Areas or communities facing disproportionate environmental burdens

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include New York State based nonprofit community organizations and local government agencies that have been legally established and actively operating for at least two years.

Community organizations

Community organizations are defined as any nonprofit group based in New York State that conducts the majority of its work within the state. Eligible organizations may include, but are not limited to: lawfully incorporated/registered organizations with a focus on environmental, public health, or occupational health protection; academic institutions; neighborhood associations; environmental justice organizations; community development corporations; public benefit corporations; health centers; local unions and labor organizations; groups supporting or serving Indian nations or tribal organizations within New York State; and other nonprofits.

Local government agencies

Local government agencies are defined as offices or departments of a city, town, county, or primary or secondary schools in New York State. Specifically, these may include but are not limited to local environmental agencies, boards of health, departments of public works, local emergency response offices, town commissions, planning and zoning boards, libraries, and schools. In addition, this would also include an Indian nation or tribe recognized by New York State or the federal government seeking to conduct a project on land located within New York State.

To be considered for funding, proposed projects must:

  • advance pollution prevention practices and reduce environmental impacts
  • demonstrate measurable outcomes such as reductions in energy use, waste generation, hazardous chemical use, or greenhouse gas emissions
  • show strong potential for replication across organizations, communities, or sectors
  • align with New York State priorities, including the CLCPA or SSWMP

Projects that include collaboration among community organizations, municipalities, institutions, and businesses are strongly encouraged.

How this program differs from NYSP2I’s standard Community Grants Program

The CIAG Program is designed for projects that deliver deeper, more scalable pollution prevention outcomes than NYSP2I’s standard Community Grants Program.

CIAG awards:

  • prioritize implementation activities rather than planning-only efforts
  • require replication tools that enable other communities to adopt the project model
  • emphasize durable systems change, including procurement or operational improvements
  • include structured peer learning and regional knowledge sharing
  • provide higher funding levels to support broader and more sustained impact

Applicants are encouraged to propose ambitious, replicable projects designed to extend benefits well beyond the immediate grant period.

Grant Program Comparison at a Glance

See the RFA for complete details.

 

  NYSP2I Community
Grants Program		 NYSP2I Community Impact
Accelerator Grant (CIAG) Program
Award Amount $10K – $20K $30K – $50K
Application Period March – April
(may be subject to change)		 May – June
(may be subject to change)
Funded Period 12 months
(Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027)		 12 months
(Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027, plus required 6-month post-project expansion reporting through March 31, 2028)
Number of Projects Selected Annually Up to 15 Up to 10
Requirements
  • Must focus on P2 at the source
  • Must include an education and implementation component, at the community level
  • Must demonstrate a clear and actionable project plan tied to actionable steps that will occur within the funded timeframe
  • Must implement P2 activities (not just planning)
  • Must reduce waste at the source, decrease hazardous chemical use, conserve natural resources, or strengthen reuse/repair/circularity systems
  • Must align with statewide climate and materials management priorities established under the CLCPA or the SSWMP
  • Must meet all Impact Accelerator Requirements, including replication toolkit, demonstration site, regional sharing, and cohort participation
Measurable Outcomes The project must include a list of expected behavioral and/or environmental outcomes
  • Must include quantifiable outputs (i.e., tons diverted, gallons saved, emissions avoided, households reached)
  • Must demonstrate measurable P2 outcomes
  • Must include post-project expansion metrics (6-month reporting requirement)
Replicability The project must include a description of replicable and transferable outcomes
  • Must include replicable and transferable outcomes
  • Must develop a replication toolkit
  • Must include a 12 – 24 month action plan for expansion

Frequently Asked Questions

Responses to questions received during the open request for applications period will be posted here. Check back for periodic updates. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, please contact: Allen Luccitti
 

Eligible applicants include established organizations, such as community based organizations, nonprofits, local institutions, schools, and small business support entities, that have been legally formed and actively operating for at least two years at the time of application. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Projects must focus on pollution prevention through community led implementation. Eligible project categories include:

  • Organics waste prevention and diversion
  • Source reduction and reuse
  • Circular economy infrastructure and materials recovery
  • Toxics reduction and safer alternatives

Projects should demonstrate measurable environmental or behavioral outcomes and support long term, community scale impact.

Yes. Applicants may propose integrated projects that combine elements from multiple categories (e.g., organics prevention + culturally relevant outreach). The proposal should clearly describe how activities fit together and how outcomes will be measured.

Applicants must identify quantifiable metrics appropriate to their project type. Examples include:

  • Tons of food waste prevented or diverted
  • Pounds of materials repaired, reused, or recovered
  • Number of households, students, or businesses adopting new practices
  • Participation rates in workshops, pilots, or collection programs
  • Number of items refurbished, redistributed, or kept in circulation
  • Reductions in single use product consumption
  • Number of residents trained or engaged through outreach

Not all outcomes must be achieved within the project period, but applicants should describe the expected trajectory of impact.

No. While projects support broader pollution prevention goals, applicants are not required to quantify CLCPA co pollutant reductions. Metrics should focus on achievable, project specific environmental or behavioral outcomes.

Yes. Schools, childcare centers, and youth serving organizations are eligible if they meet the two year organizational requirement. Youth focused initiatives—such as ambassador programs, school composting, or repair education—are encouraged.

Yes. While small businesses cannot apply as individual for profit entities, they may participate as partners or beneficiaries in projects led by eligible organizations. Examples include food waste audits, safer product transitions, or reuse pilots.

Allowable costs include staff time, supplies, equipment essential to project implementation, outreach materials, training costs, and reasonable participant support costs. Capital intensive infrastructure is not the focus of this program; projects should emphasize community scale systems.

All projects must produce:

  • A Replication Toolkit that enables other communities to adopt the model
  • A Demonstration Site or Demonstration Activity
  • Quarterly reports and invoices
  • Final metrics and a summary of lessons learned

Deliverables should be clear, accessible, and designed for statewide replication.

Yes. Partnerships are encouraged, especially when they strengthen community engagement, technical expertise, or project reach. Applicants should clearly describe partner roles and responsibilities.

Projects will run for one year with a 6 month post project replication, implementation , with quarterly reporting due 15 business days after each quarter ends. Final metrics are due 15 business days after the end of the final reporting period.

No. Match funding is not required. However, applicants may describe leveraged resources or partnerships that enhance project impact.

Competitive proposals demonstrate:

  • Strong community engagement and relevance
  • Clear, measurable outcomes
  • Feasible implementation plans
  • Replicable models and accessible materials
  • Equity centered outreach and participation
  • Demonstration activities that show the project in action

Organizations may submit more than one proposal, but each must be distinct, feasible, and independently implementable.

Applicants may contact the program’s administrative team via the email address listed in the solicitation. Staff can clarify requirements but cannot review or comment on draft proposals.