Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) Grants 2026: Funding for Climate Resilience Projects in the United States

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) has opened purposes for its 2026 grants program, providing important monetary help and technical help for early-stage or ongoing local weather resilience tasks throughout the United States. With a complete program funds of $1.5–$2 million, CSCI expects to award 16–20 grants, every starting from $75,000 to $115,000, relying on the undertaking’s scope and wishes.

These grants purpose to strengthen community-driven local weather adaptation efforts, particularly in areas going through disproportionate local weather impacts and amongst traditionally disinvested populations. CSCI helps tasks led by cross-sector collaborations, bringing collectively:

• A local weather adaptation practitioner

• A native or regional authorities entity

• A community-based group

This tri-partnership mannequin ensures that funded tasks are domestically related, scientifically grounded, and community-centered.

Timeline & Key Dates for Climate Smart Communities Initiative

• November 13, 2025 – Informational Applicant Webinar recording obtainable

• Early February 2026 – Recommended deadline to assemble all required companions

• March 12, 2026 – Grant Application Deadline (8:00 PM ET)

Applicants are inspired to start assembling their groups early to make sure ample time to finish all submission necessities.

Grant Benefits

CSCI grants are deliberately versatile, permitting communities to design local weather resilience actions that align with their native wants. Grant funds could also be used to:

• Launch new local weather adaptation initiatives

• Expand or refine present resilience tasks

• Conduct vulnerability or sensitivity analyses

• Facilitate planning processes and neighborhood engagement

• Support undertaking prioritization and financing pathways

In addition to funding, grantees obtain entry to CSCI’s strong cohort help system, which incorporates:

• Training and workshops

• Technical help from sector consultants

• Peer-learning alternatives

• Supplemental funding for specialised consulting

• Inclusion in CSCI’s studying and analysis program

This multi-layered help helps undertaking groups strengthen their long-term resilience methods and construct institutional capability past the grant interval.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the 2026 CSCI grant cycle, candidates should meet the following standards:

Location

Projects have to be primarily based in the U.S., together with:

Climate Impacts

Communities should face important climate-related dangers pushed by each environmental and socioeconomic elements.

Focus on Climate Resilience

Proposed actions should tackle local weather adaptation and resilience, not mitigation. Projects centered on emissions discount, power effectivity, electrification, or carbon sequestration won’t be thought of.

Community Size

• Under 300,000 residents for most tasks

• Up to 500,000 residents for regional initiatives

Required Partnerships

Applications should embody all of the following:

1. Adaptation Practitioner

2. Community-Based Organization

3. Local or Regional Government

Applicants missing companions could seek the advice of the Registry of Adaptation Practitioners for help.

Funding Priorities

CSCI locations sturdy emphasis on:

1. Climate Vulnerability

Supporting communities going through pressing, extreme local weather hazards.

2. Equity

Projects should heart fairness, significantly for traditionally underserved and disinvested populations.

3. Nature-Based Solutions (NbS)

While not obligatory, tasks are inspired to combine NbS as a consequence of their cost-effectiveness and co-benefits.

4. Community Readiness

Applicants should display alignment with the Steps to Resilience (StR) framework or present proof of earlier planning work.

5. Capacity Building

Projects ought to meaningfully strengthen long-term native capability past the 12-month grant interval.

Selection Criteria

Applications can be evaluated on:

• Community local weather vulnerability

• Inclusion of traditionally marginalized populations

• Integration of range, fairness, inclusion, and justice ideas

• Consideration of nature-based options

• Readiness for measurable progress

• Potential for long-term capacity-building

• Expected ecological and neighborhood influence

A various panel of local weather resilience consultants will evaluate and rating purposes utilizing a standardized rubric.

Requirements & Deliverables

For Community-Based Organizations & Government Partners

• Co-develop undertaking budgets

• Attend orientation periods

• Collaborate with adaptation practitioners throughout the grant interval

• Complete post-grant analysis surveys

For Adaptation Practitioners

• Lead the grant application

• Attend obligatory orientation periods

• Complete kickoff and end-of-grant surveys

• Participate in progress check-ins

• Contribute to undertaking case research

Use of Funds

Eligible bills embody:

• Climate vulnerability assessments

• Community engagement planning

• Facilitation and technical help

• Project prioritization and pre-implementation planning

• Securing financing for resilience initiatives

Funds could also be distributed throughout all undertaking companions. Subgrants, stipends, and contractor funds are allowed, offered they align with undertaking objectives.

Restrictions

CSCI funds can’t be used for:

• Climate mitigation tasks (e.g., renewable power, emissions discount)

• Lobbying or political advocacy

• Competitive subgrants

• Projects extending past 12 months

• Government-led direct grant receipts

• High-overhead prices (capped at 10%)

• Standalone catastrophe preparedness tasks

Any proposed relocation efforts require clear justification concerning local weather resilience at the new web site.

How to Apply

Step 1: Assemble Partners

Each application should embody one consultant from:

• A Local/Regional Government

• A Community-Based Organization

• An Adaptation Practitioner

Step 2: Submit the Application

Once the adaptation practitioner is registered and all companions are assembled, the application could also be submitted.

Deadline: March 12, 2026 — 8:00 PM ET
Lead candidates are sometimes adaptation practitioners, however exceptions could also be thought of.

To know extra about such alternatives, click on right here.

Related