2013 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 industry 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 affected 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 - $5,000. 

Groups that have been funded for more than four years will be considered for smaller grant amounts.

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 led 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 here 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 April 12, 2013 to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 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 and all other attachments by the April deadline. We prefer to receive applications by email (and in one consolidated PDF file, if possible), 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 Laura Hoover at (510) 655-3900 x 317 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS & TIMELINE: Completed applications must be received by April 12, 2013.  A committee of CEH’s current and past board members and nonprofit community leaders reviews applications to the Justice Fund.  The committee will meet in May 2013 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 the end of June 2013. 

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 Laura Hoover to explore eligibility. 

EVALUATION:  The Center for Environmental Health’s board and staff aspire to provide effective support to communities disproportionately affected 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. The Justice Fund awardee feedback form is available here in MS Word  and PDF Formats.