Agriculture, Climate, Environment, Energy & Food: May 2025 Funding Opportunities
Latest funding opportunities for social enterprises and non-profits in the Agriculture, Climate, Environment and Food sectors.
The grants are organized into three categories:
Open Calls: Current grant and opportunities with a deadline. Grants are listed by closing date.
Rolling Applications: current grant and opportunities with rolling applications (but it’s still best to submit as early as possible).
Long term planning: Grants that have closed their current rounds, but are expected to open new windows.
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Open Calls:
Innovative Tech for Water Security, Climate Venture Lab, Mercy Corps Ventures. *Closing soon!*
Accepting applications to test potential solutions to enhance water security in emerging markets. They are looking for groundbreaking solutions that benefit low-income and underserved populations that address one or more of the following areas: 1. Increasing water supply. For example, solutions around rainwater harvesting, desalination, recycling / wastewater, water reuse, or boreholes. 2. Optimizing water usage / demand. For example, smart irrigation, nature-based water conservation systems, or water efficiency tools. 3. Strengthening infrastructure. For example, storage, treatment, or reducing losses in the network.
Geographies: Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Who can apply: Early stage for profit startups and organizations.
Funding amount: Equity-free grants of up to $50,000.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Water security, water efficiency, access to water and conservation.
Deadline: May 2, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline.
Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, Tyler Prize. *Closing Soon!*
Seeing nominations for visionary environmental leaders working to deliver global impact for the environment. The work of nominees is expected to be based on strong science, including natural and/or social sciences, demonstrate measurable and scalable impact(s) on policy and/or practice, address global inequalities and solutions, and demonstrate engagement with younger generations.
Geographies: Global.
Who can apply: Any individual or organization from any part of the world that has worked to deliver global solutions for environmental impact may be nominated for the Prize. All nominations must come from a third party (self nominations are not permitted)
Funding amount: Award of USD $250,000.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Environment, research,
Deadline: May 2, 2025.
Africa Research Grant, Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant. *Closing soon!*
Seeking applications from early career scientist conducting research that demonstrate a strong link to biodiversity and conservation. They are looking for research that: Advances the frontiers of knowledge within the chosen field; Facilitates solutions to African challenges: The research should try and solve an African challenge that occurs in more than one geography and is scalable to other areas. The research should include multiple research sites; Demonstrates innovative methodologies and approaches; Exhibits scientific rigour and excellence; Contributes to human capital development (e.g. mentorship, support, and professional development opportunities) for the next generation of researchers; Incorporates a holistic perspective and involves inter-and multi-disciplinary collaboration with partners (preference intra-African) to leverage time, expertise, skills, materials, and resources and reduce duplication; Articulates the potential to create impact both during and beyond the grant period; Displays knowledge of associated recent or ongoing work on the continent.; Defines a clear plan for disseminating research outcomes both inside and outside the scientific community; and Endeavours to open access publications (popular and scientific.
Geographies: Africa.
Who can apply: An early career scientist with strong links to a credible African institution.
Funding amount: Grant of USD $150,000.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Biodiversity and conservation.
Deadline: May 2, 2025.
Climate & Biodiversity Initiative - Ocean and coastal ecosystems, BNP Paribas Foundation. *Closing soon!*
The 2025 call for projects is inviting submissions for scientific research projects (fundamental and/or applied research) with a strong focus on climate and biodiversity in connection with ocean and coastal ecosystems. The proposals must show that the project advances understanding and future solutions in line with both climate and biodiversity. The submitted projects must focus on the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss on marine ecosystems, and/or potential solutions to mitigate these impacts. It can also investigate the influence of climate change on biodiversity and/or of biodiversity on climate change, or on the adaptation of marine ecosystems and human activities to global changes. Dedicated to Ocean and coastal ecosystems, this new call for projects has been awarded the “Ocean Decade” label by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, which aims to accelerate the conservation and sustainable use of Ocean, seas and marine resources.
Geographies: Global.
Who can apply: Scientific research teams Affiliated to a research institution in the European Economic Area (EEA)
Funding amount: Projects should request up to €800,000 and can fund 25%-60% of the total project budget. Total envelope for the funding call is €7 million, between 7 and 15 research projects will be funded over a period of three years (2026–2028).
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Ocean and coastal ecosystems, conservation, biodiversity, climate
Deadline: May 4, 2025.
Smart and Connected Energy Management, The Water Research Foundation. *Closing soon!*
Seeking research proposal to support the development of a comprehensive understanding of the current state of smart and connected energy management in water and wastewater utilities, and recommend tools and guidance for implementing smart water networks to reduce waste and improve overall energy efficiency.
Geographies: Global.
Who can apply: Educational institutions, research organizations, governmental agencies, and consultants or other for-profit entities.
Funding amount: Up to $150,000, applicants must contribute additional resources equivalent to at least 33% of the project award.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Water, climate, IoT.
Deadline: May 7, 2025.
Learn more and apply here.
Integrating Equitable Outcomes into Water Reuse Projects, The Water Research Foundation. *Closing soon!*
Seeking research proposal that support the project outcomes: 1. Equip utilities and decision-makers to holistically assess an alternative water system's potential benefit and/or impact; 2. Quantify or operationalize equitable impacts from alternative/diversifying water systems; 3. Identify metrics to assess and inform decision-making processes for equitable implementation of diversifying water systems. All projects should seek to strengthen the definition of “water equity” in the context of diversifying water, develop an equity framework for diversifying water systems, and operationalizing the framework with case studies.
Geographies: Global.
Who can apply: Educational institutions, research organizations, governmental agencies, and consultants or other for-profit entities.
Funding amount: Up to $200,000, applicants must contribute additional resources equivalent to at least 33% of the project award.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Water, climate, access to water.
Deadline: May 7, 2025.
Learn more and apply here.
Research Grant Program, Good Food Institute. *Closing soon!*
This Request for Proposals is soliciting early to mid-stage research proposals aimed at tackling urgent scientific and technological challenges within the alternative protein industry. All proposals must address at least one of the priority research areas: 1. Functionality from Fermentation- Ingredients for Plant-based Meats and 2. Pathways to propel cell line development.
Geographies: Global.
Who can apply: All types of researchers and organizations welcome to apply, including academia, government, industry, and nonprofits.
Funding amount: Up to US$250,000, with up to US$50,000 additional funding for projects partnering with researchers and/or industry stakeholders not previously engaged in alternative protein research.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Food, alternative proteins, research.
Deadline: May 15, 2025.
Learn more and apply here.
Start-Ups Call for Proposals, Digital Energy. *Closing soon!*
Seeking applications from start-ups looking to scale up their digital innovation project in the energy sector in Africa. Proposed projects should apply to one of the three themes: 1. Universal electricity access and mini-grids, 2. Efficient grid management, and 3. Resilience and decarbonation of power systems.
Geographies: Africa.
Who can apply: Pre-seed/ early stage start-ups, created less than 10 years ago, with an annual turnover of less than €1M. Non-profits may also apply if they meet additional criteria (including a business plan targeting sustainability/ profitability). Applicants must be Local i.e. headquartered or with project management activities in the country of the project.
Funding amount: Grant of up to €150,000, as well as additional benefits, technical assistance and support.
Targeted Sectors/ SDGs: Energy, climate.
Deadline: May 16, 2025.
2025 Digital Energy Challenge Partnership - Senegal, Digital Energy. *Closing soon!*
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