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SF Environment outlines ~$1.8M grant round and Carbon Fund priorities
Summary
SF Environment said it plans to release a program-wide RFP by year-end with about $1.8 million available across five grant categories; EPA awarded $1 million for community-led climate projects that will fund a portion of environmental-justice grants. The commission heard a separate update on the San Francisco Carbon Fund (current balance ~$578,498).
The San Francisco Environment Department told the Commission on the Environment on Oct. 28 that it plans to issue a program-wide request for proposals by the end of 2024 with an estimated $1.8 million to support community and climate projects.
Melissa Fondakowski, senior grants and communications coordinator, said the forthcoming round aims to support as many as 40 grants across five categories: environmental justice (approx. $250,000 available; award sizes $25,000'$50,000), toxics reduction in healthy communities (approx. $75,000; award sizes $10,000'$75,000), 0-waste projects (approx. $720,000; awards $5,000'$100,000), environmental education and engagement (approx. $300,000; awards $25,000'$100,000), and decarbonization/electrification (funding source: San Francisco Carbon Fund; amount to be determined). Fondakowski said the environmental-justice category will use part of a $1,000,000 EPA "government-to-government" grant the department received in late 2023 to support community-led neighborhood projects.
Staff emphasized that the RFP's priorities were informed by community listening sessions, feedback from past grantees and CBOs, and efforts to reduce reporting burdens and build grantee capacity. The department plans a CBO networking event on Nov. 14 and a CBO survey to gather input that will inform final criteria.
Separately, Shreba Mehta, community partnerships and engagement program manager, presented an update on the San Francisco Carbon Fund, a mitigation mechanism funded by 13% of departments' actual airline ticket prices. Mehta said the fund has historically awarded about $1.7 million across 36 grants and currently holds $578,498. Eligible uses include projects that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions within the Bay Area and reasonable administrative costs. Mehta said staff are considering prioritizing historically underfunded areas such as biodiversity, building decarbonization and clean transportation, while continuing to prioritize environmental-justice communities.
Fondakowski and Mehta said teams will coordinate community engagement, technical assistance and grant monitoring, and that the solicitation is designed to lower barriers for smaller community organizations. The RFP and Carbon Fund criteria will be refined following CBO outreach and staff interviews.
