The Boulder County Climate Equity Fund is a new grant program designed to advance climate justice in our community. The fund will distribute up to $2.5 million in 2025.
The Boulder County Climate Equity Fund will advance Boulder County’s racial equity goals, support those most impacted by the climate crisis, and enable grassroots and neighborhood leaders to implement impactful climate action.
The Climate Equity Fund application will open on Aug. 1. View the application and eligibility webpage for information.
Boulder County is currently recruiting community members to serve on the Community Evaluation Committee (CEC). The CEC will review and score applications, and make funding recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. Read the Community Evaluation Committee Position Description in the Grants Manual for more information.
Want to learn more about the Climate Equity Fund? Wondering if your project idea is eligible? Join us for an informational webinar. Spanish interpretation will be available during the webinar. Boulder County will also record the webinar and post online.
Date: Aug. 5, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to noon
The Climate Equity Fund uses a participatory grant-making approach. This means that affected communities help determine how to distribute the resources. Community voices are present in all aspects of the fund, including:
Do you have questions, ideas or feedback to share about the Climate Equity Fund? Share your thoughts by emailing climateequityfund@bouldercounty.gov.
Climate change disproportionately affects those who contribute least to its causes, and racial and ethnically diverse communities are most intensely impacted by climate change. Racism, economic inequality, and class discrimination are some of the root causes of climate injustice, and Boulder County recognizes a long history of harmful practices and institutional racism that have further perpetuated climate injustices
In 2024, the Boulder County Office of Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience (OSCAR) conducted a comprehensive review of climate justice best practices. Informed by recommendations from external environmental justice consultants, OSCAR staff—together with Commissioner Loachamin—began developing a vision for a Climate Equity Fund. The intent of the fund is to expand access to climate-related funding for frontline communities and individuals disproportionately impacted by climate change. In July 2025, Boulder County Commissioners directed OSCAR to launch the Climate Equity Fund.
Boulder County is committed to advancing equitable solutions to the climate crisis. Climate action and environmental stewardship is one of the Boulder County Commissioners’ Strategic Priorities.
The Boulder County Office of Sustainability, Climate, and Resilience (OSCAR) manages the Climate Equity Fund. Owing to the innovative nature, size, and community-involvement goals of this fund, the County underwent a competitive procurement process to select a vendor to co-create the fund with key community members and fiscally administer the fund. The county has selected JSI for this work.
The Boulder County Commissioners allocated $3 million from three funding sources for the Climate Equity Fund grants and administration in the 2025 budget. The Climate Equity Fund is supported by $1 million each from the Sustainability Tax, the Boulder County general fund, and the Gross Reservoir Settlement Fund.
View the application and eligibility webpage for information.
For more information on the Climate Equity Fund, please email climateequityfund@bouldercounty.gov.
Boulder County offers a variety of grant programs. Visit the grants webpage to learn more.
More Information
For more information on the Climate Equity Fund, please email climateequityfund@bouldercounty.gov.
Boulder County Courthouse
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Boulder, CO 80302
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