U.S. Department of Energy BUILT Nonprofits Grant

Opportunity has expired

Summary

The Building Upgrades Inspiring Local Transformation (BUILT Nonprofits) funding opportunity will support nonprofit building improvement projects that reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions, and generate short and long-term energy cost saving so that operational dollars can be redirected toward mission-critical work. Eligible nonprofit participants are 501(c)(3) organizations who own and operate their own buildings. BUILT Nonprofits will provide awards of up to $100k each. The program requires a 20% cost-share.

Information

Description

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Renew America's Nonprofits Program — made possible through the Biden Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) — is a $50 million program created to...

Reduce energy use & energy costs in nonprofit buildings, generating sustainable savings that can amplify nonprofits' impacts on the communities they serve.
Lower nonprofit emissions, reducing community exposure to pollutants & putting America on a path to a net-zero energy economy by 2050.

Following overwhelming demand for the 2023 Renew America's Nonprofits Grant, the program is launching a new funding opportunity for nonprofits:

The Building Upgrades Inspiring Local Transformation (BUILT Nonprofits) opportunity will provide a total of $2 million for energy efficiency upgrades in community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Funds will support improvement projects that reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions, and generate short and long-term energy cost saving so that operational dollars can be redirected toward mission-critical work.

BUILT Nonprofits is managed by TechWerx in partnership with DOE, a collaboration made possible through an innovative Partnership Intermediary Agreement established by the DOE's Office of Technology Transitions. This agreement enables TechWerx to broaden DOE's engagement with innovative organizations and non-traditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of clean energy solutions.

Objective

Are you a nonprofit looking for energy efficiency upgrades? Through BUILT Nonprofits, DOE will provide up to $100,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits for energy efficiency equipment and installation to reduce operational costs by improving efficiency.

This grant funds equipment and installation for energy efficiency improvements such as: HVAC equipment, water heater equipment, weatherization materials, and efficient lighting sources. A more comprehensive list is provided below.

To be eligible, applicants must:

Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Own and operate its own building
Submit all required documents
Be a domestic entity
Propose only eligible projects listed below
Be able to provide the required 20% cost share (monetary and/or in-kind)

The following documents will be required to apply:

Proof of building ownership: deed, property title, or equivalent
501(c)(3) verification: IRS tax exempt letter, Form 990

Applications should:

Provide a clear plan for energy upgrades with high energy savings, cost savings, and emissions reductions.
Include sufficient justification for the proposed upgrade, including an energy audit, generating a BETTER report, or equivalent.
Outline how energy savings will translate to enhanced community benefits, including describing the community served, alignment with the Justice40 Initiative, and the anticipated reinvestment of cost savings into the nonprofit mission and its stakeholders.

DOE anticipates projects will be completed within 12 months, with the option to request a 6 months no-cost extension.

Contractors will have to adhere to Davis-Bacon wage requirements. Learn more here: Davis-Bacon Act Requirements for Recipients of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding | Department of Energy.

Recipients will receive a NEPA determination (the DOE form that documents DOE's NEPA review of a project or activities) with their award documents. The NEPA determination must be followed.

Additionally, all recipients except Guam and tribal organizations have a DOE historic preservation programmatic agreement that must also be followed. DOE's historic preservation programmatic agreements (PAs) can be found here: https://www.energy.gov/scep/historic-preservation-executed-programmatic-agreements. Guam and tribal organizations will have additional restrictions in their NEPA determination since they do not have PAs.

How to Participate

Review details on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and how to apply:
Download a copy of the opportunity information Download a copy of the application information
View the recording of the informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session on October 9, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET
View the recording of the Office Hours on October 30, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET and November 6, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET
Complete the submission and upload here:
Opportunity has expired

For any questions about this opportunity, please submit them via the Contact Us form.

Important Dates

Opportunity Announcement

October 1, 2024

Objective Strategic Session

October 9, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET

Informational “Office Hours” Session(s)

October 30, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET and November 6, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET

Submission Deadline(s)

November 12, 2024 by 11:59 PM ET

Process Details

Timeline(s)

Phase 1) Submissions Open from October 1, 2024 - November 12, 2024

Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session on October 9, 2024: DOE will provide additional details about this opportunity and how potential applicants can gain a better understanding of the scope, scale, and intent of the opportunity. Applicants will be able to ask questions during the webinar.
Informational Office Hours on October 30, 2024 and November 6, 2024: DOE will answer any remaining questions from potential applicants before the submission deadline.

Phase 2) DOE Selection is expected by mid-December: DOE will review submissions based on relevance to the program objectives, evaluate applications based on set criteria, and notify selected entities for next steps in the awarding process. Note that DOE may choose to meet with submitters or ask additional clarifying questions prior to selection.

Phase 3) Negotiations will occur for approximately 2 months after selections have been made: Selected organizations will meet with TechWerx to negotiate work, budget, timing and impact constraints.

Eligibility & Review Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Propose upgrades only to buildings which they own and operate
Submit all required documents
Be a domestic entity
Propose only eligible projects listed below
Be able to provide the required 20% cost share (monetary and/or in-kind)

Eligible energy improvements are limited to:

Insulation
Energy efficient lighting
HVAC upgrades to existing systems, may include installation of a 10 square foot pad for an HVAC system adjacent to a building foundation
Weather sealing and duct sealing
Energy/water-efficient residential and commercial appliances and equipment
- Including, but not limited to, grid-interactive building technologies, energy or water monitoring and control systems, thermostats, heat pumps, furnaces, air conditioners, and related software).
Windows and doors retrofit and replacement.
Electric appliances
- Including replacement of appliances that utilize fossil fuels with electric appliances, such as heat pumps for water heating, air heating/cooling, electric dryers, and stoves.
Energy-efficient commercial kitchen equipment, such as efficient refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ice makers, fryers, ovens, and stoves.
Roof repair or replacement- including, replacing decking material and roof, and/or changing roof material (e.g., shingles to metal).
Electrical system upgrades required to enable energy efficient/clean energy. Measures limited to electric panel upgrades, updated wiring and conduit, grounding, and arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) and ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers.