West Virginia Rivers Community Action Mini-Grant Program

Mini-grants of up to $2,500 for West Virginia grassroots groups organizing and advocating on clean water, industrial pollution, and environmental justice in their own communities.

The Community Action Mini-Grant Program is run by the West Virginia Rivers Coalition and has put more than $100,000 into over 60 community projects since 2019. It is built for the small, unincorporated, volunteer-run groups that most funders will not touch. Awards are typically up to $2,500 and go to work like PFAS testing, coal mine and air monitoring, stream cleanups, rain barrel workshops, community mapping and mural projects, youth engagement at the Capitol, and organizing around pipelines, petrochemical buildout, and coalfield pollution. Every proposal has to carry a clear advocacy component, meaning something that moves policy, shifts public opinion, or builds community power, such as letter-writing campaigns, community meetings, rallies, or petition drives. The committee prioritizes groups organizing in directly impacted communities, groups led by under-represented and under-resourced people, and groups with annual budgets under $50,000, though budgets between $75,000 and $100,000 are still considered. Groups without their own bank account can apply through a fiscal sponsor. Proposals are reviewed in January, March, June, August, and October, with awards made by the 30th of the review month, and applications arriving after a deadline roll into the next cycle. Grantees also get more than the check: optional peer learning cohorts, access to WV Rivers staff scientists and policy experts, organizing support, and communications help. Rapid response requests for time-sensitive matching opportunities or crisis mutual aid are considered case by case if you contact the team before applying. Funders behind the program include The Cloud Mountain Foundation, The Justice and Peace Fund, The Heinz Endowments, Erol Foundation, and Beyond Petrochemicals.