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This fifth round of funding is strictly allocated for community-led projects.
Welcome to PCEF's 2026 Community Grants cycle!
The application period is open through May 27, 2026.
The Applicant Handbook is your primary resource for application requirements and guidance—be sure to review it thoroughly before applying.
Welcome to the 2026 PCEF Community Grants application page! Whether you're a returning applicant or exploring PCEF funding for the first time, this page provides everything you need to apply for a grant. Here, you'll find key dates, grant types, eligibility details, and application resources to help you develop a strong proposal. We encourage you to review the Applicant Handbook explore technical assistance options and reach out with any questions. PCEF is committed to supporting projects that advance climate justice—thank you for your interest in shaping a more sustainable and equitable Portland!
How to apply
To apply for a PCEF 2026 Community Grant, follow these steps:
- Review the Applicant Handbook – Download and read the handbook for detailed guidance.
- Access WebGrants – Create a new account or log in to your existing one.
- Review our Technical Assistance page – Explore videos and guidance documents to strengthen your application.
- Decide grant type and funding area categories – Using the Applicant Handbook identify whether you will submit a planning or implementation grant. Determine the funding areas that apply to your scope of work. Determine the primary funding area that best fits your proposal.
- Review allowable expenses and funding restrictions – Ensure your budget aligns with eligible expenses and funding limits. Review restricted use of funds in the Applicant Handbook.
- Optional: Download Application Templates – Use our application templates to draft your responses with your team. Note: Templates are provided for drafting purposes only; all grant applications must be submitted through WebGrants.
- Prepare Application Materials – Gather all necessary documents and draft your proposal.
- Submit via WebGrants – Finalize and submit your application through WebGrants. Application will be live between March 25, 2026, at 10 a.m. until May 27, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Grant application timeline
- March 25 – Application period opens
- May 27 – Application period closes
- Summer 2026 – Review, scoring, and selection
- Fall 2026 – Recommendations submitted to City Administrator for approval
- Fall 2026 – Intent to award notifications shared with selected applicants
- Winter 2026 – Grantee onboarding kick-off
Types of grant applications
For detailed information on eligibility and examples of funded projects, refer to the Applicant Handbook.
Planning grants. These grants support organizations in conducting assessments or planning needed to develop a full project proposal. Eligible activities may include:
- Research and learning
- Feasibility/technical evaluation and consultation
- Community outreach and education
- Collaboration and partnership building
Planning grants cannot be used for costs associated with project implementation activities, like training community members on how to reduce their energy usage. Receiving a planning grant does not guarantee future project funding. Planning grants should be completed within two years.
Implementation grants. These grants can be used for projects that advance economic, social, and climate justice. Projects can include physical improvements (e.g., weatherization, solar installations, tree planting, or regenerative agriculture) and/or non-physical activities (e.g., workforce training). Ways that grant funds can be used include:
- Pay for staff time
- Contracted work
- Purchasing equipment
- Purchasing materials and supplies
- Costs associated with fulfilling program requirements (e.g., additional insurance or reporting)
- Other items needed to complete the project
Some planning can be a part of an implementation grant application, but implementation must be the primary focus of the application. Implementation grants should be completed within five years.
Eligibility
Nonprofit organizations who meet all the following requirements are eligible to apply for PCEF grant funds:
- Designated by the Federal government as a 501(c) or 521(a) nonprofit entity.
- Registered and certified with the Oregon Secretary of State as a nonprofit organization.
- NOT on the Oregon Department of Justice list of Disqualified Charities.
Nonprofit organizations do not need to be located within the City of Portland but all projects with physical improvements must be located within the City of Portland. Workforce and contractor development projects must serve residents located within the Portland Metropolitan Area.
Newly established or emerging groups who do not meet the 501(c) or 521(a) designation requirement, or eligible nonprofits seeking additional administrative capacity, may apply for a PCEF grant with a fiscal sponsor. A fiscal sponsor is an eligible nonprofit organization that provides necessary infrastructure and administrative support for managing a grant.
Application limits and compliance requirements for current grantees
Application limits
Organizations may submit up to two grant applications as the primary applicant. If submitting more than one, the second must either fall under a different funding category or be a different type of grant application. Implementation grant applications may include scope elements spanning multiple funding categories, but each application must identify a primary funding category, determined by the category receiving the largest share of the budget request.
For example, an organization may submit one planning grant application and one implementation grant application, or one clean energy implementation grant application and one transportation decarbonization grant application.
Each application must focus on a single project or program with interrelated milestones, forming a cohesive initiative. While proposals may include elements from different funding areas, all components must be clearly connected within a unified project. Applications cannot combine multiple unrelated projects or programs into a single proposal, as this will be seen as an attempt to avoid application limits.
If an organization submits more than two applications as the primary applicant, only the first two complete submissions will be considered; additional submissions will be deemed ineligible.
Compliance requirements for current grantees
Current grantees may submit grant applications for new scopes of work. Current grantees must be in good standing with their active PCEF grant to be eligible to apply in a new funding cycle. Organizations that are significantly underspent or delayed in their current grant implementation or have been notified that they are at risk of grant cancellation at the time of applying for a new grant, may be deemed ineligible until their current grant concerns are resolved.
Funding categories and grant caps
The 2026 Community Grants funding cycle will offer up to $60 million across all grant types and funding areas. Funding limits (grant caps) and total available funding vary based on the type of project proposed.
We will award both planning and implementation grants. Implementation grants are available in small and large sizes (see grant caps for each funding category below). Both sizes follow the same application and review process, with no scoring distinction between them. Grant sizes are structured to ensure a balanced mix of projects and to support smaller organizations. Planning grants have a shorter application and grant term but follow the same review process.
Projects must fall under one or more of the following categories. However, each application must designate a primary funding category that aligns with the majority of the budget request.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy
Includes renewable energy, battery storage, and energy efficiency projects on/in residential buildings, nonprofit occupied commercial buildings (can be privately owned), and community solar that benefits low-income Portland residents. All energy efficiency and renewable energy projects must reduce emissions.
- Total expected funding is up to $31 million.
- Large grant cap: $5 million
- Small grant cap: $2 million
Green infrastructure
Includes planting, establishment, and maintenance of trees; restoration, depaving, planting, and establishing native plants and shrubs. All green infrastructure projects must reduce emissions.
- Total expected funding is up to $1.7 million.
- Large grant cap: $1 million
- Small grant cap: $200,000
Regenerative agriculture
Includes projects that improve access to local food, fibers, and materials using practices that sequester carbon in the soil and support a healthier urban environment.
- Total expected funding is up to $5.5 million.
- Large grant cap: $1 million
- Small grant cap: $200,000
- General operations grants: Up to 25% of the organization's annual operating budget or $200,000, whichever is lower.
Transportation decarbonization
Includes projects that support transportation electrification and those that support active transportation programs. All transportation decarbonization projects must reduce emissions.
- Total expected funding is up to $12 million.
- Large grant cap: $4 million
- Small grant cap: $500,000
Climate jobs, workforce and contractor development
There are three general areas of work within the workforce and contractor development funding area.
- Total expected funding is up to $8.7 million.
Workforce training or contractor development
Workforce training includes pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and other job training programs that help to diversify the climate workforce with a focus on programs with direct job placement and workers in the construction trades.
Contractor development includes technical assistance and other support, such as business development to help support and grow diverse contractors and businesses that provide climate-focused goods and services.
- Total expected funding is up to $7.9 million
- Large grant cap: $1.5 million
- Small grant cap: $500,000
Youth education and exposure
Includes youth education and engagement that increases knowledge of, and interest in, careers in climate work.
- Total expected funding is up to $800,000
- Grant cap: $400,000
Other emissions reducing projects
Includes projects that do not fall into one of the above categories but supports program goals of addressing climate change while advancing racial and social justice.
- Total expected funding is up to $700,000
Planning grants (all funding categories)
Planning grants support the development of projects related to one of the funding categories outlined above. We aim to award 1–2 planning grants per funding area. Funding requests for planning grants should align with the scope of the project and its anticipated outcomes.
Note – Planning projects primarily focused on community engagement, general research, or curriculum development should limit their grant requestions to no more than $100,000.
- Total expected funding is up to $600,000.
- Grant cap: $200,000
Questions?
- Visit our Technical Assistance page for slides, recorded presentations, and guidance resources.
- Check our FAQ section, the fastest way to get answers to common questions.
- Review the Applicant Handbook.
- Still have questions? Submit your question through this form. All submissions will be routed to PCEF staff, and you can expect a response within 5-7 business days.