Funding Opportunities for Environmental Justice Communities

San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund: A Focus on EJ Communities

Fisherman along the Carquinez Strait in Vallejo California. Photo credit: SFEI — Fisherman along the Carquinez Strait in Vallejo California. Photo credit: San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI).

On this page:

Program Overview and New Funding
What Funding is Available?
Who Can Apply?
How to Apply
What are Some Project Examples?

Program Overview and New Funding

The San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) is a competitive grant program to restore wetlands and water quality in SF Bay and its watersheds. 2022 marked the beginning of 5 years of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to improve access to Federal funding and support projects that build climate resilience in underserved communities.

Application Assistance

What Funding is Available?

Approximately $14 million
No match requirement
Project budget range (approximately $500,000 - $2 million)
Project time frames (suggested 1-4 years)

Who can Apply?

Public or private nongovernmental, non-profit institutions; federally and non-federally recognized tribes; state, local government agencies, districts, and councils; regional water pollution control agencies and entities; state coastal zone management agencies; and public and private universities and colleges
Where? The nine Bay Area counties (Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco) that drain to San Francisco Bay

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Deadline for grant funding is April 17, 2025. Learn more about this funding opportunity.

Webinar: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Webinar reviewing the Notice of Funding Opportunity for Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation grant funding through the San Francisco Water Quality Improvement Fund. Program staff will answer questions and provide technical assistance for the application.
- Date: January 30, 2025

What are Some Project Examples?

Green Stormwater Infrastructure By and For Communities creates urban green spaces in cooperation with local communities in East Oakland and Richmond. Photo Credit: SFEI — Green Stormwater Infrastructure By and For Communities creates urban green spaces in cooperation with local communities in East Oakland and Richmond. Photo Credit: Photo credit: San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI).

Community visioning and planning to help protect shoreline communities from sea level rise and contaminated sites
Installation of green stormwater infrastructure (e.g. rain gardens, bioswales) to treat stormwater
Contaminant investigations in local communities
Trainings and outreach programs to improve use of indigenous knowledge in the environmental field
Solutions that reduce water quality impacts associated with people and communities experiencing homelessness
Fish consumption outreach programs
What are you working on? We are excited to hear your project ideas!
Check out Previously Funded Projects on our StoryMap