What We Do

Justice Fund 2010 cycle is now closed. Off-cycle applications can be sent to christine@ceh.org and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Community Environmental Action & Justice Fund

2010 Grant Application

BACKGROUND:  The Center for Environmental Health is an Oakland-based nonprofit organization that helps protect the public from toxic chemicals.  As an important part of our work, we file public interest lawsuits against corporate polluters who endanger the health of children, families, and communities in California.  Our cases have:

• stopped a central dry cleaning repository from exposing workers and residents of a low income neighborhood to cancer-causing chemicals;
• forced companies to remove lead from candy, baby powder, and jewelry; and  
• led to industrial changes that are now protecting public health throughout California and beyond.

For other success stories and more information, please click here.

Our victories in these lawsuits sometimes force polluters to pay settlements to our organization.  We set aside part of these settlement funds to provide small grants to grassroots, community-based organizations that serve and are led by low-income people, people of color, Indigenous peoples and residents of disproportionately impacted communities in California. 

The Center for Environmental Health makes these donations through an annual grant cycle through our Community Environmental Action and Justice Fund (the Justice Fund).  The amount of money available for Justice Fund grants varies from year to year, depending on the success of our lawsuits and the amount of the settlement awards. The majority of Justice Fund grants will range in size from $250 - $2,500.  

ELIGIBILITY:  Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) organizations (or projects fiscally sponsored by 501(c)(3) organizations) working in pursuit of environmental justice and community empowerment in California.  The Justice Fund Committee will only consider applications from California grassroots, community-based environmental justice groups with annual budgets of less than $500,000.  

Most grants will be for specific campaigns, projects, or activities, such as attendance at conferences and trainings, strategic planning, producing outreach materials, or providing internship stipends.  However, the Justice Fund will also consider applications for general operating support, emergency assistance, and for filling small gaps in organizations' budgets.  Grants will not be made to government agencies or to support religious activities or lobbying.  Grants will only be made to groups lead by and serving low-income communities in the state of California in support of environmental justice efforts.

APPLICATION FORM INSTRUCTIONS: The Justice Fund application is available on our website in MS Word and PDF Formats.  To be considered for funding during the current grant cycle, please submit your application and all supporting materials by February 19, 2010 to: christine@ceh.org with the subject line, "Justice Fund Application."  We cannot consider incomplete applications, so please submit your completed application, including your 501(c)(3) letter or that of your fiscal sponsor by the February deadline.  We prefer to receive applications by email, but we can also accept hard copies via USPS mail at this address:

Center for Environmental Health - Justice Fund

2201 Broadway, Suite 302

Oakland, CA 94612

IMPORTANT:  We will be sending emails to confirm receipt of your application.  If you do not receive a confirmation email within one week of submitting your application, this means we have NOT received your application.

If you have questions about the application, the process or do not receive a confirmation email, please contact Christine Cordero at (510) 655-3900 x 307 or by email at christine@ceh.org.

APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS & TIMELINE:  Completed applications must be received by February 19, 2010.  A committee of CEH's current and past board members reviews applications to the Justice Fund.  The committee will meet in March 2010 to review applications and determine funding decisions.  CEH staff or board members may contact applicants for further information to inform the decision-making process.  Applicants will be notified and grant checks posted by April 2010. 

To allow us to respond to unanticipated and timely needs, the Justice Fund also makes occasional awards outside this schedule.  If your organization would like to apply for emergency, off-cycle funding, please contact Christine Cordero to explore eligibility. 

EVALUATION:  The Center for Environmental Health's board and staff aspire to provide effective support to communities disproportionately impacted by chemical pollution.  We also seek to create meaningful alliances and partnerships with the leaders and organizations that work in affected communities.  To help us pursue these goals, we ask that grantees complete a brief, one- to two-paragraph evaluation after the grant year has been completed.  We might also invite grantees to share their work at an informal workshop or brown-bag lunch.