Mountain Watershed Association’s Direct Support Fund offers small grants — typically under $5,000 — to grassroots groups and advocates tackling environmental justice issues across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. If your work touches shale gas, coal, petrochemicals, or related community harms, this one’s worth a look.
Who it’s built for:
- Grassroots and resident-led groups with annual budgets under $50,000 (larger budgets considered case-by-case)
- Organizations in regions where petrochemical or shale gas development is active
- Projects focused on community education, outreach, leadership development, or non-violent direct action
- Groups led by or serving historically under-resourced communities
What it covers:
- Community organizing and education around shale gas, pipelines, compressor stations, cracker plants, or coal extraction
- Travel and conference costs for networking and strategizing
- Some legal support (filing fees, expert witnesses — not attorney fees)
What it doesn’t cover: household relief, operating expenses, attorney fees, political campaigns, or matching grant funds.
Deadlines: Applications are reviewed the third Friday of every month. Submit at least one week before that date.
Apply via PDF or Google Doc at MWA’s website. Questions? Reach MWA at DSF@mtwatershed.com or 724-455-4200, ext. 10.
