Community Action Projects – Small Grants
Description
CO-Learn focuses on researchers and communities learning from and adapting to each other’s needs, constraints, and knowledge. The overall goal of CO-Learn is to promote climate-resilient communities across Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri.
We welcome proposals from any organization, community, or resident in our four-state region. We are particularly interested in projects that involve Tribal Nations or women landowners and align with one or more of the following areas of interest: agricultural conservation practices; environmental monitoring; climate adaptation planning; food systems/sovereignty; policy and advocacy.
Community Action Project Program Objectives
- Increase adaptive capacity
- Improve climate resilience
- Build partnerships
Levels of Funding
- Level 1: Up to $1,000
- Level 2: Up to $10,000
Who can apply
- Incorporated non-profit groups
- Units of Tribal, State, and Local Governments
- Groups of people who form an informal association to carry out a project
Project Timeline Information (Approximate)
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Apply anytime or reach out to sarah-helmer@uiowa.edu to schedule a meeting to discuss your idea.
- Once you submit a proposal, we will review and get back to you within 6 weeks
- If you are creating a timeline for your project, please have it begin 2 months after you submit your proposal. Example: if you submit in June 2025, please make your project timeline August 2025 – August 2026 and indicate the planned activities for each month.
- Post project reports are due at the end the end of the project. We may check in with you periodically. Please remember to take pictures at events, document your project, and maintain receipts in the event we would need them.
How to Apply
- Apply online HERE
- Or email applications in a Word or PDF to sarah-helmer@uiowa.edu
- If you have questions, please email Sarah Helmer (sarah-helmer@uiowa.edu) or Brandi Janssen (brandi-janssen@uiowa.edu)
Examples of Potential Projects
- Water sensor network infrastructure, weather station infrastructure, or other environmental monitoring equipment and activities.
- Climate-change-related curricula for K-12 school districts in our region.
- Policy research relevant to the climate impacts
- Events that bring together community members for storytelling, conservation discussions, or climate adaptation funding.
- A needs assessment of residents in a specified area to understand local response, needs, communication challenges, or other issues related to a recent specific disaster or hypothetical disaster scenario.
- Community groups can apply for modest funding to support a climate-community action project they deem relevant. Examples include seed-saving events, community garden planning, or community discussions around climate resilience.