The Environmental Protection Network’s (EPN) Pro Bono Capacity-Building Technical Assistance Program aims to help disadvantaged communities, community-serving NGOs, and under-resourced agencies navigate and understand government programs, data, and processes; gain access to partners, allies, and decision-makers; and apply for funding.
Our Community Outreach Team, along with our 650+ EPA alumni volunteers across the country, have assisted on over 1,500 requests for technical assistance on community-identified issues including petrochemicals, air quality, safe drinking water, brownfields redevelopment, Superfund cleanups, climate resilience and more, and directly helped communities access over $700 million in federal funding.
Specifically, here are some of the resources we provide and how to access or explore them:
- Updates and Guides: We distribute a bimonthly(ish) federal funding and opportunities guidance email to thousands of our contacts with information about current funding and technical assistance opportunities. We also create federal funding application guides with templates, samples, FAQs, checklists, partner surveys, etc. You can subscribe here to receive our latest resources.
- Webinars and Convenings: We participate in and host events for specific groups and create opportunities for potential applicants to ask questions, brainstorm ideas, and find potential partners. Email us to join us for, or invite us to, a gathering.
- Office Hours: We provide additional hands-on support to small groups, including our SAM.gov office hours every 2 weeks on Wednesdays from 2pm-3pm eastern, Grantmakers AI Office Hours every two weeks on Tuesday from 1-2pm ET, the monthly meetings of the Community Air Monitoring Network. You can sign up for SAM.gov office hours here, Grantmakers AI Office Hours here, and request to join our air monitoring network here. Please reach out if you would like to co-create or suggest additional office hours to help small groups work through other challenges or documents/forms.
- 1:1 Support: We have a Community Outreach Team who provide one-on-one support to communities on their self-identified needs, including accessing funding and achieving environmental justice. Fill out our Inquiry Form to request individualized assistance.
Please note: EPN’s volunteers engage internally with organizations to support and help advance their work, but they do not play public-facing roles, including:
- Speaking to reporters on behalf of communities or NGOs
- Representing communities or NGOs before regulatory agencies or at public meetings
- Appearing as an expert witness
In addition, as volunteers, they do not accept financial compensation for any completed or future work.