Grant Application.
The Ohio Climate Justice Fund (OCJF) provides funding to organizations across Ohio that are led and/or governed by those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The Fund awards competitive, grants between $15,000-$30,000 to organizations to host a minimum of three (3) community listening sessions focused on climate, clean energy and decarbonization. Please note that expertise is not required, a comprehensive toolkit with all you would need to successfully complete a listening session, along with technical support is provided to all grantees.
Who is eligible to apply?
Community Organizations who have a board and/or staff with of at least 60% of its members who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color
Serve BIPOC, underserved and/or underrepresented communities
Operate in one or more regions in Ohio (Northeast, Northwest, Central, Southeast or Southwest)
Willing to host and facilitate a minimum of three (3) Listen.Lead.Share. and Serve community listening sessions
Organized as a 501 c 3 non profit organization or have a fiscal sponsor who is
Please note applicants are not required to have prior climate, clean energy or decarbonization experience.
What is Listen. Lead. Share.?
Listen. Lead. Share. (LLS), is a statewide grassroots campaign that includes a goal of hosting public conversations with community members and stakeholders about the best and most effective ways to address climate and environmental justice in their communities. We see intentional and authentic community listening as the first step in organizing grassroots power in support of equitable clean energy policies.
Goals
In partnership with our grantee partners and fellow Ohioans, we seek to:
Identify and fund a cohort of BIPOC led and/or governed organizations who are eager to engage in environmental issues;
Increase the number of informed, credible voices in the people-powered campaign for clean energy;\
Grow and diversify the broad movement of support for clean energy across Ohio; and
Educate and mobilize community members, stakeholders, and legislators about the urgent need for equitable clean energy legislation to meet community and consumer needs.
Timeline
July 31, 2023, 11:59 p.m. Grant Inquiry/Applications Submission Deadline
August 31, 2023 Invitations to submit full grant applications sent
October 31, 2023* Grant Award Announcements
November 1, 2023 Grants Distributed
November 1, 2023 - October 31, 2024 Grant Period
*Dates subject to change
How to Apply
The Grant Inquiry/Application is the first part of the Ohio Climate Justice Fund (OCJF) process. It provides a brief overview of your approach to hosting and facilitating a minimum of three (3) community conversations to hear the thoughts and opinions from people you know on the topics of climate change, clean energy and decarbonization. It also includes how funds will be expended. Once submitted, the OCJF Advisory Board will review your inquiry and the contact person will notify you whether or not to complete the second part of the application process.
To be considered for the OCJF’s Fall 2023 cohort(Round 4), all interested community partners must submit an OCJF Grant Inquiry/Application by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 31, 2023. All grants will be reviewed thoroughly by the OCJF advisory board and partners. Applicants, invited to move forward as finalists, can expect to receive an invitation to submit a full grant application by August 31, 2023. The funding decisions will be announced by October 31, 2023. For questions, email admin@ohioclimatejusticefund.org.
*Please note these timelines are subject to change based on timely submission of required documentation."