Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) – 2026 Climate Resilience Grants
Community-Based Climate Adaptation & Resilience
Application Deadline: March 12, 2026
The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) is now accepting applications for its 2026 grants cycle, supporting community-based climate resilience projects across the United States. CSCI awards combine flexible grant funding with technical assistance and cohort-based learning to help highly vulnerable communities plan for and adapt to climate change impacts.
Organization: Climate Smart Communities Initiative
Support Type: Grants + technical assistance
Geographic Focus: United States and U.S. territories (including Tribal nations)
About the Funder
CSCI advances climate resilience by investing in locally driven partnerships that center equity, build capacity, and deliver measurable adaptation outcomes. The initiative prioritizes communities facing disproportionate climate risks due to both environmental exposure and historic disinvestment.
Funding Overview
- Total Program Budget: $1.5–$2 million
- Grant Size: Typically $75,000–$115,000
- Awards: Approximately 16–20 grants
- Grant Term: 12 months
Funding may support new resilience efforts or build on prior work, and can cover a wide range of planning, analysis, engagement, and implementation activities related to climate adaptation (not mitigation).
Who Can Apply
Applications must be submitted by project teams that include all three partner types:
- Climate adaptation practitioner
- Community-based organization
- U.S. local or regional government entity
Partnerships may be new or ongoing. Projects should be locally rooted and reflect community priorities where Chemours operates—sorry, correction: where CSCI-eligible communities face climate risk.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, projects must meet the following requirements:
- Location: U.S.-based, including all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Tribal nations
- Community Size:
- Primary focus areas under 300,000 residents
- Regional projects may include up to 500,000 residents
- Climate Focus:
- Must be strictly focused on climate adaptation and resilience
- Projects primarily focused on mitigation, emissions reduction, carbon sequestration, or energy efficiency are not eligible
- Climate Risk:
- Applicant communities must face significant climate change-related hazards
Funding Priorities
CSCI prioritizes proposals that demonstrate:
- Climate Change Vulnerability
Projects that help communities plan for and respond to climate-related hazards. - Equity-Centered Approaches
Initiatives that center historically disinvested populations and integrate equity into planning and implementation. - Nature & Nature-Based Solutions (NbS)
Consideration of natural systems and NbS as part of climate resilience strategies (where appropriate). - Readiness for Impact
Proposed work should align with or build upon prior planning and be clearly connected to identified climate hazards. - Capacity Building
Projects that strengthen a community’s ability to advance resilience efforts beyond the grant period.
Additional Benefits for Awardees
In addition to funding, grantees receive:
- Access to CSCI’s cohort support program, including training and peer learning
- On-demand technical assistance and potential supplemental funding for expert support
- Participation in CSCI’s learning and evaluation program, contributing to shared metrics and best practices in climate adaptation
Timeline & Key Dates
📅 November 13, 2025: Applicant webinar recording available
📅 Early February 2026: Recommended partner team assembled
📅 March 12, 2026: Application deadline
Application Process
Applications must be submitted through CSCI’s online application portal. Teams should ensure strong partner coordination, clearly defined outcomes, and alignment with climate adaptation goals and equity priorities.
Apply / Learn More
➡️ https://climatesmartcommunity.org/funding/
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This program is a strong fit for organizations that:
- Work in climate-vulnerable, under-resourced communities
- Center equity and community leadership in resilience planning
- Utilize or explore nature-based solutions
- Are prepared to collaborate across government, community, and technical partners
- Seek funding paired with capacity building and peer learning
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Competitive
Deadline: March 12, 2026
Grant Size: $75,000–$115,000
Best Suited For: Community-based climate adaptation partnerships focused on equity-driven resilience planning and implementation
