TCTAC Partner Spotlight: University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center

Get Grant Development Assistance with the University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center

It’s been almost a year and a half since the Region 3 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center grant (TCTAC) launched as the Mid-Atlantic Climate Action Hub, composed of the National Wildlife Federation, the University of Maryland, and the following nine organizations and institutions that serve environmental justice communities across the Mid-Atlantic region:

Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, the Region 3 TCTAC program offers capacity-building support to environmental and energy justice communities. The Region 3 program objectives are to:

  1. Provide outreach to underserved, overburdened, rural, and capacity constrained communities in Region 3 to receive technical assistance;
  2. Deliver technical assistance to increase the capacity of Hubs and communities of concern in Region III to assess environmental and energy justice concerns;
  3. Deliver training and technical assistance to increase the capacity of underserved, overburdened, rural, and capacity constrained communities in Region III to obtain funding to address environmental and energy justice issues; and
  4. Deliver technical assistance to increase hub and community capacity to engage policymakers, government agencies, and industry in projects, programs, and initiatives that will address local environmental and energy justice issues in Region III.  We will also work in partnership with TCTACs around the country to assist as needed.

University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center

As a core partner in the Region 3 TCTAC, the University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center (EFC) provides grant development assistance to TCTAC program participants. For over 30 years, EFC has focused on “advancing finance solutions to environmental challenges” by directing resources and tools to communities working on environmental initiatives. Through the TCTAC program, EFC supports program participants to develop and strengthen funding applications and opportunities.

Grant development assistance is one of the most highly requested TCTAC services. With an influx of public and private funding to support environmental justice projects in recent years, many under-resourced and underserved communities looking to access this funding want help navigating these often complicated processes.

While EFC and the broader Region 3 TCTAC does not write grants on behalf of participants, EFC can help TCTAC participants in key stages of the grant process: 1) identifying grant opportunities, 2) strengthening grant applications through a feedback and consultation process, and 3) managing post-award processes.

Finding Grants

Upon completing a successful intake form to become a Region 3 TCTAC program participant, EFC can provide access to a curated database of grant opportunities. If a TCTAC participant has already identified a grant of interest, EFC can help assess eligibility for the grant, develop application checklists, discuss project ideas, and provide other forms of consultation before starting the grant application.

This process not only ensures that participants will have access to grants relevant to environmental, energy, and community justice needs, but that participants will also gain the skills to identify and pursue relevant funding opportunities in the future.

Strengthen Grant Applications

University of Maryland’s EFC can also play a valuable role in the grant application process by reviewing application packages, project proposals, and milestones/timelines; providing support in navigating online application portals; and other crucial components of the grant application. Through this close consultation, program participants can gain key insights from grant experts that they can carry into future grant applications. 

Managing Post-Award Processes

And, the support does not stop if you’ve already been awarded a grant! From interpreting procurement rules and processes to understanding grant reporting, EFC can share tips and best practices on how to manage the next steps after receiving an award. Whether the grants are federal, private, or from a non-profit, it is common for organizations to require awardees to share updates on their projects, detailed accounting for the funds, and other forms of recordkeeping.

Understanding these stipulations is essential to ensuring that funds are used and accounted for appropriately. For first-time grant recipients, this support from EFC can be especially useful in setting an organization up for future success.

If you are a part of a community working on environmental and energy justice in the Mid-Atlantic region and would like to be connected to TCTAC hub organizations in your state for support, including grant development assistance, please complete this intake form. If you would like to sign up for newsletter updates from the Region 3 TCTAC, please sign up to our mailing list.

Frontline and fenceline communities are often dealing with time, labor, and financial constraints to access available resources for their environmental justice work. Even for the most experienced grant recipients, applying for funding and managing awards can be confusing and burdensome. The Region 3 TCTAC aims to demystify these processes and support environmental and energy justice groups’ efforts to grow their capacities and serve their communities.