Environmental Regulatory Enhancement
🏛 Administration for Children and Families - ANA
Can you apply?
This grant is for Alaska Native organizations and tribes seeking to strengthen their environmental governance and regulatory capacity. Eligible applicants typically include federally recognized Alaska Native villages, Alaska Native regional corporations, and Alaska Native non-profit organizations with demonstrated expertise in environmental management and community engagement. The program supports activities that enhance tribal environmental protection standards, build regulatory infrastructure, and improve consultation processes between Alaska Native communities and federal agencies. Geographic scope is limited to Alaska and Alaska Native communities. Funding supports capacity-building, technical assistance, and planning initiatives that enable Alaska Native governments to participate more effectively in environmental decision-making and implementation.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
Key dates
- Apr 2, 2026 Applications open
- Jul 1, 2026 Application deadline in 30 days
- Sep 30, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2026 Project start
This grant is for Alaska Native organizations and tribes seeking to strengthen their environmental governance and regulatory capacity. Eligible applicants typically include federally recognized Alaska Native villages, Alaska Native regional corporations, and Alaska Native non-profit organizations with demonstrated expertise in environmental management and community engagement. The program supports activities that enhance tribal environmental protection standards, build regulatory infrastructure, and improve consultation processes between Alaska Native communities and federal agencies. Geographic scope is limited to Alaska and Alaska Native communities. Funding supports capacity-building, technical assistance, and planning initiatives that enable Alaska Native governments to participate more effectively in environmental decision-making and implementation.
Program description
The Administration for Native Americans announces the availability of Fiscal Year 2026 funds for community-based projects for the Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (ERE) program. The ERE program provides funding for the costs of planning, developing, and implementing programs designed to improve the capability of tribal governing bodies to regulate environmental quality pursuant to federal and tribal environmental laws.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for Alaska Native organizations and tribes seeking to strengthen their environmental governance and regulatory capacity. Eligible applicants typically include federally recognized Alaska Native villages, Alaska Native regional corporations, and Alaska Native non-profit organizations with demonstrated expertise in environmental management and community engagement. The program supports activities that enhance tribal environmental protection standards, build regulatory infrastructure, and improve consultation processes between Alaska Native communities and federal agencies. Geographic scope is limited to Alaska and Alaska Native communities. Funding supports capacity-building, technical assistance, and planning initiatives that enable Alaska Native governments to participate more effectively in environmental decision-making and implementation.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and SF-424 Supplement
- Project narrative/proposal (typically 15-25 pages) describing environmental need, proposed activities, and expected outcomes
- Detailed line-item budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation (IRS 501(c)(3) status, audit reports, organizational chart)
- Letters of support from tribal leadership and/or community partners
- Proof of federally recognized status (for tribal applicants)
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
- Evaluation and performance measurement plan
Program contact
- 👤 Carmelia Strickland
- 📧 Carmelia.Strickland@acf.hhs.gov
- 📞 (202) 401-6741
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.581 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$900,000
-
$900,000
-
$900,000
-
$897,648
-
$893,952
-
$869,645
-
$823,664
-
$822,925
-
$689,239
-
$677,154
Top States by Funding
- AK 9 awards $5.0M
- CA 6 awards $3.9M
- WA 4 awards $3.1M
- ID 2 awards $1.0M
- OR 1 awards $0.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.581). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,735,712 | |
| 2025 | $2,206,151 | |
| 2026 est. | $2,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Federally recognized Alaska Native tribes, Alaska Native villages, Alaska Native regional corporations, and Alaska Native non-profit organizations are typically eligible. Some grants may also accept consortiums of these entities working collaboratively.
What types of activities does this grant support?
This program typically funds environmental capacity-building, regulatory development, training and technical assistance, planning initiatives, and infrastructure improvements that strengthen tribal environmental governance.
What is the typical funding range?
Grants under CFDA 93.581 typically range from $50,000 to $250,000 annually, though this varies by program year and available appropriations.
How competitive is this grant?
Moderately to highly competitive. ANA grants require strong demonstrated need, organizational capacity, and a clear plan for sustainable impact beyond the grant period. Preference is given to applicants with prior successful grant management experience.
When is the application deadline?
Check Grants.gov or the ANA website for the specific annual deadline, which is typically announced in early spring for summer/fall submission windows.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate the environmental challenges specific to your Alaska Native community and how your organization is uniquely positioned to address them through regulatory or governance enhancements.
- Demonstrate organizational capacity by highlighting relevant staff expertise, past successful project implementation, financial management systems, and letters of support from tribal leadership and community members.
- Include a realistic, detailed budget with clear cost justifications and a sustainability plan showing how activities will continue after federal funding ends.
- Engage federal and state environmental agencies early in your planning process and document their support; ANA values collaborative approaches that improve coordination between tribal and government environmental protection efforts.
- Develop measurable outcomes and evaluation methods that track capacity-building progress, such as staff trained, policies adopted, or increased tribal participation in environmental decision-making.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Many applications fail because they focus narrowly on short-term projects without demonstrating lasting organizational capacity-building or sustainability planning. Applicants often underestimate the importance of showing strong internal organizational systems and prior grant management experience, which ANA reviewers view as essential to project success. Additionally, applications that lack specific community input, tribal council endorsement, or clear alignment with tribal environmental priorities are less competitive.
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