Programa de subvenciones para socios en la acción climática
The Climate Action Partner Grant Program is here to support local organizations in Bend that are working to make a difference for our environment. This program offers funding to help groups take action on the goals in the City’s Community Climate Action Plan.
The goal of the program is to help reduce pollution and make our community stronger and more prepared for the effects of climate change. By working together with local partners, the City hopes to support projects that protect our environment and create a healthier future for everyone.
This page will walk you through everything you need to know about the program—who can apply, what the requirements are, how to apply, and how applications will be reviewed.
Important Information
Thank you for applying. The application cycle for this year is now closed. Awards will be announced Octubre 23, 2025.
Plan de Acción Climática Comunitario
Bend’s Community Climate Action Plan, updated in 2025, lays out steps the whole community can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach the City’s climate goals. Since the City can’t do it alone, the plan encourages local organizations to lead key actions. The Community Partner Grant Program helps support these efforts by funding and strengthening partnerships that move us toward a cleaner, more resilient future.
Purpose
This program is here to help local nonprofit groups and government entities by offering financial support for projects that align with the goals of the Community Climate Action Plan. These projects can include starting new programs or keeping current ones running, as long as they help cut down pollution and make our community stronger and more prepared for climate change.
To be funded, a project must directly support one or more of the specific actions listed below from the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP). These actions are a subset of the full plan and are distinguished by their explicit emphasis on collaboration with community partners.
CCAP Actions Eligible for Funding
- EB2A: Increase community education on energy efficiency topics and available incentives
- EB2B: Develop and deliver targeted outreach and education to builders, developers, and contractors on high performance building topics and incentives
- EB2C: Support and expand local workforce development programs in energy trades (i.e. renewable energy, electricity generation and distribution, energy efficiency, HVAC systems, etc.)
- EB2D: Develop programs that encourage residents and businesses to pursue energy efficiency, electrification, and other emissions reductions upgrades
- EB2F: Promote energy efficiency and load management through smart controls and demand response participation
- EB3B: Support and expand low cost energy audit programs
- T1A: Expand access to community-wide public EV charging
- T1B: Expand access to multifamily EV charging
- T1C: Expand workplace EV charging
- T1D: Conduct outreach and education to promote EV adoption
- T4A: Encourage carpooling to City and community events
(T4B) Partner with large employers to promote carpooling and vanpooling for daily commutes
- MW1B: Improve multifamily recycling by expanding and improving outreach and education at multifamily buildings
- MW1C: Create a recycling and waste reduction program aimed at tourists, including hotels and resort communities
- MW1D: Work with Deschutes County and waste haulers to reduce recycling contamination through targeted outreach and education
- MW1E: Develop new programs to recover materials that make up the largest portion of the waste stream
- MW3A: Increase participation in and access to food waste collection services, particularly in multifamily and commercial sectors
- MW3B: Develop and deliver educational programs that teach and encourage residents to compost their food waste
- MW4A: Expand and develop new programs that increase the recovery of construction and demolition (C&D) materials
- MW4B: Encourage reuse of construction and demolition (C&D) materials
- MW5A: Conduct outreach campaigns to promote waste prevention and reducing consumption by connecting residents and businesses to local resources, like repair cafes
- MW5B: Implement industry-specific training programs to prevent waste, targeting sectors like building construction and food and restaurants
- MW5C: Promote and support the use of reuseable serviceware in food services
- MW5D: Promote reuse by supporting gearswap events, community garage sales, and neighborhood repair cafes
- MW5F: Research models of and support the development off centralized materials exchange forums
- MW6A: Conduct outreach campaigns that promote food waste prevention
- MW7B: Conduct outreach campaigns that promote low-carbon food choices
- ES3A: Increase community education about renewable energy and available incentives
- ES3B: Develop and deliver educational programs targeted at builders, developers and contractors focused on renewable energy, energy storage, and available incentives
- ES3C: Support and expand local workforce development programs in renewable energy trades
- ES3D: Develop programs that encourage residents and businesses to pursue renewable energy and energy storage projects
- ES4B: Support the development of local community solar projects that residents can subscribe to for access to offsite renewable energy
Examples of Projects That Can Get Funding
Community Outreach and Education
These projects help people learn more about important topics like clean energy, energy use in buildings, transportation, and how we handle waste. This can include things like hosting events or workshops, running public awareness campaigns, creating printed materials or online content. Projects that are open and welcoming to everyone in the community will be given special attention.
Workforce Development
These programs help people learn the skills they need for jobs in areas like clean energy, eco-friendly transportation, and reducing waste. This helps make sure our community has the workers it needs for a cleaner, healthier future. Examples include hands-on workshops, classes or technical training, creating guides or lesson plans.
General Programs or Technical Assistance Programs
These are programs that give direct help to people, businesses, or groups so they can lower pollution or become more prepared for climate change. This category is flexible and can include many different ideas, such as free home energy check-ups, events that promote reusing materials, or tool lending libraries.
Planning and Early-Stage Projects
These are smaller projects that focus on planning and figuring out if a bigger idea will work. This might include research and studies, creating detailed plans or designs.
What the Funding Can Help Pay For
The program can help cover many different costs, including:
- Staff time and expert help.
- Program materials and translation services.
- Supplies and equipment.
- Costs for events, like renting a space or providing food.
- Payments or thank-you gifts for participants.
Other costs might also be covered, depending on the project. The City will review and consider each request.
Who Can Apply
To be considered for funding, your application must meet the following requirements:
- You must be a local nonprofit or government entity. If you plan to work with another group, like a private company, that’s okay—but you’ll need to clearly explain that in your application.
- Your project must take place in Bend or directly benefit people who live in Bend. We want to make sure the support goes to programs that help our local community.
- Your project must support at least one Community Climate Action Plan action listed under “CCAP Actions Eligible for Funding”. This helps make sure all funded projects are working toward a cleaner, healthier future for everyone.
Cómo presentar la solicitud
We’ve designed the application process to be simple and flexible, while still collecting the information needed to make fair and thoughtful funding decisions.
Grants are awarded once each year. After all applications are received, the Environment and Climate Committee—working closely with City staff—will review them and suggest how the funding should be awarded. The final decision will be made by the City Manager.
Here’s what the process looks like:
- Step 1: Submit Your Application: If your organization is eligible, you’ll fill out and submit the online application form. After you submit the form, you’ll receive instructions prompting you to send an encrypted email to climateaction@bendoregon.gov with your required supplemental documents.
- Step 2: Application Screening: City staff will review each application to make sure it meets the program’s requirements. Based on the evaluation criteria, staff may also suggest which projects they believe are strong candidates for funding.
- Step 3: Review by the Committee: The Environment and Climate Committee will look over all eligible applications. They may invite some applicants to share more about their projects at a public meeting. After that, the committee will recommend which projects should receive funding.
All applications will be reviewed fairly and equally, following local, state, and federal laws. - Step 4: Final Decision and Award: The City Manager will consider the committee’s recommendations and make the final decision about which projects will receive funding.
- Step 5: Agreement, Funding, and Reporting: If your project is selected, you’ll enter into an agreement with the City. You’ll have up to two years from the date of the agreement to complete your project. If you need more time, you can ask for an extension before the deadline.
What You’ll Need to Apply
To apply for this grant, you’ll need to fill out one complete application form and submit your W-9 via email.
What to Include in Your Application
Your application should clearly and simply explain:
- What your project is about.
- How the funding will help you carry out one more of the specific actions listed above from the Community Climate Action Plan.
- How your project will help reduce pollution or make Bend more prepared for climate change.
- How your project meets the goals and rules of this program.
- How much money you’re asking for and a basic budget showing how the funds will be used.
Important Notes About Public Information
Any documents you send to the City might be shared with the public. Your application will be reviewed by the City’s Environment and Climate Committee and posted on the committee’s webpage.
If your application includes information that you believe should stay private, you must clearly mark those sections as “Proprietary.” The City will review those sections and decide if they can be kept confidential under Oregon’s public records law. The City will do its best to protect any information that is properly marked.
Review Process
Once applications are confirmed to be eligible, City staff may review and score them based on the categories below. These scores help guide the Environment and Climate Committee as they discuss which projects to recommend for funding. The final decision will be made by the City Manager.
Here’s how your project will be evaluated:
Project Impact – Up to 42 points
This looks at how much your project will help reduce pollution and how it will benefit the Bend community. Reviewers will also consider how cost-effective your project is and how well it supports other City and community goals.
Organizational Experience – Up to 12 points
This considers your organization’s past experience with similar projects. Reviewers will look at your track record and how successful you’ve been in the past.
Feasibility – Up to 12 points
This focuses on whether your project plan and budget are realistic. Reviewers will check if your timeline and steps make sense and if the project can be carried out successfully.
Connection to Climate Goals – Up to 12 points
This measures how well your project supports the goals of the Community Climate Action Plan. The stronger the connection, the better your score.
Equity and Accessibility – Up to 22 points
This looks at how your project includes and supports people from underserved or underrepresented communities. Projects that are welcoming and inclusive will score higher in this area.
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
Members of the Environment and Climate Committee must step back from any discussions or decisions about funding if they, or their family members, are connected to the organization or project being considered. This includes situations where they work for the organization or could benefit financially from the project.
Informational Session Resources
The following resources are available from our recent Informational Session:
Preguntas frecuentes
This grant program offers funding to local nonprofit groups and government entities for projects that support the City of Bend’s Community Climate Action Plan. The goal is to help reduce pollution and make our community stronger and more prepared for the effects of climate change—through projects led by the people who live and work here. View our Program Overview document to learn more.
You can apply if you are:
- A nonprofit organization.
- A government entity.
Your project must take place in Bend or directly benefit people who live in Bend.
Your project must support specific actions from the Community Climate Action Plan. Here are some examples:
- Community Outreach and Education: Events, workshops, campaigns, or media that help people learn about climate action.
- Workforce Development: Programs that teach skills for clean energy, eco-friendly transportation, or waste reduction.
- General Programs or Technical Assistance Programs: Things like home energy check-ups or tool lending libraries.
- Program Scoping and Planning: Early-stage work like research or design to prepare for a future project.
- You can request any amount, but you must include a clear budget and explain why you need that amount.
- You might receive full or partial funding. If your project can be adjusted to fit a smaller budget, be sure to say so.
- A total of $150,000 is available for the first year. Future funding may change based on how the program goes and what the community needs.
- Application Period: julio 21 – Septiembre 21, 2025.
- Deadline:
- The online application form must be submitted by 5:00 PM (PST) on Septiembre 21, 2025
- All required supplemental documents—such as your W-9 and, if applicable, a budget breakdown—must be submitted by 11:59 PM (PST) on Septiembre 21, 2025. After submitting your application, you will receive an encrypted confirmation email from the City of Bend Environment and Climate Team. To complete your application, reply to that email with your documents attached. If you prefer not to email over this information, you may instead drop off your documents in person.
- In-person drop-offs must be made by 5:00 PM (PST) on Septiembre 21, 2025, at the City Manager’s Office, City Hall, 2nd Floor (710 NW Wall Street). The office is open Lunes through Viernes, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PST).
- Important: Regardless of how you choose to submit your supplemental documents, please reply to the confirmation email to let us know which method you used.
- Award Announcements: Octubre 23, 2025.
Applications will be reviewed based on the following:
| Category | What Reviewers Look For | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Project Impact | How well the project reduces pollution and benefits the community. | 42 |
| Organizational Experience | Your group’s past success with similar projects. | 12 |
| Feasibility | Whether your plan and budget are realistic and doable. | 12 |
| Connection to Climate Goals | How well your project supports the Community Climate Action Plan. | 12 |
| Equity and Accessibility | How your project includes and supports underserved or underrepresented groups. | 22 |
Fill out the online application below, then follow the instructions that appear on the screen after submission to provide your required supplemental documents:
You can find the full list of eligible actions in the program overview on the page above or listed in our Program Overview. These actions fall into four main areas:
- Suministro energético
- Energy Use in Buildings
- Transporte
- Materials and Waste
Yes. Applications may be shared with the public under Oregon law. If your application includes private or sensitive information, clearly mark those sections as “Proprietary” on the online application.
Yes. As part of the application, we ask applicants to identify at least three (3) measurable goals to assess your project’s impact and outcomes. Examples: number of community members engaged, amount of waste diverted, energy saved, trees planted, workshops conducted.
These performance measures will help track your progress toward project completion. You will be asked to report on these metrics during each reimbursement period and at project closeout. When submitting for reimbursement, you must include details on how funds were used and how the project is performing relative to the goals identified in your application. Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all reporting framework, this approach is designed to be flexible and accessible. We recognize that projects will vary widely in scope and focus, so we ask you to define success in a way that’s meaningful and relevant to your work. This ensures that reporting is both applicable and useful—for you and for the City.
Reach out to our Environment and Climate program at climateaction@bendoregon.gov if you have questions or need help with your application.