Over the last few years, businesses have needed to improve their CSR efforts to please modern consumers. According to Global Giving, ‘71% of U.S. millennials hope companies will take the lead on the social issues they find important.’ Additionally, ‘40% of consumers seek purposeful brands and trust in brands to act in the best interest of society’.

Prioritizing sustainability is one of the most important aspects of CSR for modern businesses. If you’re an earth-friendly company, you might want to check out these resources. All five of these organizations offer grant opportunities on a yearly basis, for sustainable or socially responsible business projects.

EPA Grants

The Environmental Protection Agency offers $4 billion in funding every year, funding goes to state governments, small businesses, or non-profit organizations. The Environmental Protection Agency wants to help organizations to provide sustainable projects and businesses. If you’re an earth-friendly business it’s certainly worth checking out the grants section of the website.

The EPA provides several different grant options, including ‘The Environmental Justice Program’. According to the EPA website, this program ‘Provides financial assistance to eligible organizations to build collaborative partnerships, to identify the local environmental and/or public health issues, and to envision solutions and empower the community’.

Patagonia Corporate Grant

Patagonia is a long-running clothing brand, selling activewear and casual clothing. The company is famous for its sustainability achievements; all of its clothing is made out of recycled or eco-friendly fabrics.

Patagonia runs a grants program which is designed to support, ‘small, grassroots activist organizations that have provocative direct-action agendas and that are working strategically on multipronged campaigns to preserve and protect our environment.’

Patagonia are particularly interested in helping local groups that are working to preserve environmental habitats. The Patagonia Scheme is an International Grant Programme, accepting applicants from all over the world.

Countryside Productivity Scheme

The Countryside Productivity Scheme is a UK funding program, designed to improve productivity in the forestry and farming sectors. The funding scheme was designed to create new jobs and help to grow the rural economy. If you run a green business that’s related to forestry or sustainable farming you may be able to receive funding.

All grants are awarded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Businesses who work in the farming industry have a responsibility to adopt sustainable practices where possible, including working with the right suppliers. Companies who are looking to source quality roll mills for the cattle feed industry can take a look at Scherer.

Grow It Award

The Grow It Award is for entrepreneurs who are using their business to help fix a social issue. Individuals who have a social enterprise or a company can apply for grants of £3,000. To be eligible, applicants need to show that their product has generated revenue, and been tested on customers. Winners will also receive mentoring and training, as well as valuable networking opportunities. If you’ve got a sustainable business that helps our community to go greener, this could be the one for you!

Whether you’re starting your own business or you’re a long established brand, it’s important to put sustainability first.