Renew America’s Nonprofits Grant Program

The Renew America’s Nonprofits program, funded by $50 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provides grants of up to $200,000 to nonprofit 'Prime Recipients' to implement energy efficiency upgrades for 'Subrecipients'. The program aims to reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions for 501(c)(3) organizations, with a particular focus on those in rural areas and those led by people of color. Applications are evaluated based on project team plans, energy impacts, sustainability, and community benefits, including alignment with Justice40.

• The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocated $50 million to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the Renew America’s Nonprofits program, which offers grants up to $200,000 for energy efficiency projects in buildings owned and operated by 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
• The program utilizes a structure where a 'Prime Recipient' nonprofit manages a portfolio of projects for nonprofit 'Subrecipients'. The DOE intends to award between 5 and 15 of these grants, with performance periods lasting between 36 and 48 months.
• Eligible energy efficiency measures include systems and equipment such as lighting, roofs, insulation, plumbing, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that lower energy consumption.
• Applications are scored based on four weighted criteria: Project Team and Program Plan (40%), Energy-Related Impacts of Portfolios (30%), Leverage and Sustainability (15%), and a Community Benefits Plan (15%), the latter of which must align with Justice40.

APA

Yñez-Barnuevo, M. (2023). Renew America’s Nonprofits Grant Program. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Renew_Americas_Nonprofits_2023.pdf

Chicago

Yñez-Barnuevo, Miguel. Renew America’s Nonprofits Grant Program. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2023. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Renew_Americas_Nonprofits_2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Yñez-Barnuevo |first1=Miguel |title=Renew America’s Nonprofits Grant Program |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=June 2023 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Renew_Americas_Nonprofits_2023.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yezbarnuevo2023renew, author = {Yñez-Barnuevo, Miguel}, title = {{Renew America’s Nonprofits Grant Program}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Renew_Americas_Nonprofits_2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }