Climate Equity Fund

Program Summary

The Boulder County Climate Equity Fund is a grant program designed to support frontline communities, and others most impacted by the climate crisis, by enabling grassroots leaders to design and implement community-led climate action initiatives.

The fund distributed more than $2 million to 15 organizations in its first year, 2025. Read about the 2025 grant recipients.

Boulder County offers over a dozen grant opportunities to organizations throughout the year, including additional grants focused on climate and sustainability. Learn about Boulder County’s grant programs.

Program Information

The 2026 Climate Equity Fund will award grants across two grant categories, Community Roots Grants ($20,000 to $100,000) and Community Reach Grants ($100,000 to $400,000). Up to 28 grants will be awarded, targeting approximately 10 to 20 Community Roots Grants and approximately five to eight Community Reach Grants. To receive updates on the fund, sign up for our mailing list.

At a Aug. 4 work session, the Boulder County Commissioners (BOCC) heard an update on the county’s budget, structure, and operations, which included recommendations for budget savings. One recommendation is a possible reduction to this year’s Climate Equity Fund award budget, originally planned to be up to $2 million. The budget process is ongoing, with several touchpoints with the BOCC and public throughout the fall. For more information, visit the budget webpage.

Program Timeline

The 2026 Climate Equity Fund has closed. Applications are now being processed for eligibility and applicants will hear from program administrators in the coming weeks about next steps.

Background Information

The Disproportionate Impacts of Climate Change

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.

Strategic Priority

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.

Fund Administration

The Boulder County Office of Sustainability, Climate, and Resilience (OSCAR) manages the Climate Equity Fund. Due 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.

Sources of Funding

The funding sources for the 2026 CEF are the Boulder County general fund ($1 million), Sustainability Tax (approximately $1.1 million), and unspent CEF allocations from 2025 (approximately $370,000).

Other Grant Opportunities

Boulder County offers a variety of grant programs, including additional grant programs focused on climate and sustainability. Visit the grants webpage to learn more.