Community Outreach
Creating community-wide awareness of projects is critical to encouraging the replicability of pollution prevention efforts to achieve wider impact across the state.
NYSP2I provides opportunities to educate businesses, organizations, environmental justice communities, and the public on using sustainability tools and methods to prevent waste, reuse materials, and avoid toxics. Community outreach is a critical means to achieve large-scale impacts.
We structure outreach activities to include the processing of results and lessons learned at the conclusion of every project. We share our learnings and amplify best practices and innovations through webinars, workshops, educational toolkits, events, conferences, and case studies. Throughout our work, we encourage others to replicate successful approaches.
Community Grants Program
The application period for the 2023-2024 Community Grants Program is opening soon.
The 2023-2024 Community Grants Program is Now Open
The application period for the 2023-2024 Community Grants Program is now closed.
Please check back in early 2024 for information on our next application period.
An annual grants award program
Each year, NYSP2I awards funding to projects that seek to improve the health, environmental quality, and economic vitality of communities across New York State.
The program is designed to support initiatives that raise public awareness and understanding of environmental issues and that lead to adoption of sustainable practices.
What kind of projects receive funding?
We give preference to projects that:
- Utilize partnerships and collaborations with other organizations
- Demonstrate a broad community impact
- Address populations and communities affected by, experiencing, or susceptible to environmental harms and risk
- Are replicable and transferrable to other organizations
- Are located in Environmental Justice (EJ) communities
Who can apply?
NYSP2I Community Grants are a funding opportunity for community organizations and local government agencies based and operating in New York State.
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 the following: lawfully incorporated/registered organizations with a focus in 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; and other nonprofits. Community organizations do not need to be 501(c)(3) organizations, but they must submit a W-9 form with their application.
Local government agencies
Local government agencies are defined as offices or departments of a city, town, county, or primary and secondary schools in New York State. 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.
Contact us to learn more: Ambika Walker, apwgis@rit.edu
Featured Awardees
The success stories below showcase New York State organizations that received financial and technical assistance through the NYSP2I Community Grants Program.
Shift2 (formerly The Shore Foundation)
How Shift2 is closing the Digital Divide by keeping laptops out of landfills.