Water grants — page 4
629 listings tracked right now · page 4 of 14
Grants and contracts for water supply, treatment, reuse and resilience. The active funders are the World Bank and regional development banks, EU LIFE and Horizon, the US EPA, and water utilities procuring through the public-tender feeds. Listed below are the open water grant calls in that landscape, taken from each funder's own notice and re-checked on every refresh.
Water and ocean funding sits mostly with development finance and national infrastructure budgets rather than with innovation programmes. The recurring sources are the World Bank and the regional development banks, the Green Climate Fund, EU LIFE and Horizon, and national water and environment agencies. Awards tend to be tied to a specific catchment, coastline or utility, so geographic eligibility is usually the first thing to check rather than the last.
This page lists open water grants currently tracked by Raise Lens — 629 of them right now, sorted with the soonest deadline first. Every listing has been classified against the sustainability taxonomy rather than matched on keywords, so what appears here is water work rather than anything whose description happens to mention it.
The funders publishing water grants here include Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), John Ball Zoo (JBZ) Wildlife Conservation Fund, among 2 others. Who is funding matters as much as what: eligibility, reporting burden and the realistic timeline to a decision vary far more between funders than between individual calls.
Geographic coverage on this page spans ASIA, SE-ASIA, SOUTH-ASIA, OCEANIA, GLOBAL-SOUTH. Eligibility is usually tied to where the work happens or where the applying organisation is registered, and the two are not always the same — worth checking before investing time in an application.
Research Projects
••••• organisation
ACIAR funds agricultural research projects across multiple thematic areas (crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, horticulture, soil management, water) with a focus on improving productivity, sustainability, and livelihoods in the Indo-Pacific region. Projects must advance agricultural innovation and sustainability outcomes in developing countries across the region.
Compact Program
••••• organisation
The Compact Program provides large-scale, multi-year grants (typically 5 years) to eligible low- and lower-middle-income countries to reduce poverty through economic growth and infrastructure development. Funding targets institutional reforms and capital projects in water, transport, energy, education, and agriculture sectors.
Grand River Restoration
••••• Fund
This grant funds research partnerships to monitor and protect Lake Sturgeon, freshwater mussels, and native suckers in the Grand River watershed, supporting ecosystem health and species recovery. It is designed for researchers and conservation organizations working on freshwater biodiversity and watershed restoration.
Environment & Sustainability
••••• Foundation
This grant supports projects advancing sustainable use of water, earth, fire, and air—including clean water access, renewable energy, and future-oriented agriculture. It targets nonprofits, social enterprises, and research institutions working on environmental sustainability and resource management.
International Projects
••••• Foundation
DBU (the funder) funds international environmental projects with emphasis on Central and Eastern Europe and Ukraine-related initiatives. The grant supports nature conservation and environmental protection work across eligible geographies.
Project Funding for Environmental Protection
••••• Foundation
DBU funds innovative, solution-oriented environmental protection projects with emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises across building, energy, nature conservation, resources, water, and agriculture sectors. Applicants can pursue exemplary projects addressing environmental challenges in these thematic areas.
2025 Fiji Renewable Energy Art Design Competition
••••• organisation
LAGI 2025 Fiji is a design competition seeking innovative renewable energy artworks that generate clean energy while delivering community benefits in collaboration with the Village of Marou. The competition is open to artists, designers, and innovators who can integrate sustainable energy generation with artistic and social impact.
Waterschool: A programme addressing global water challenges, focused on improving water sustainability through…
••••• Foundation
Waterschool funds programmes that address global water challenges through improved water sustainability, partnerships, and education initiatives. The grant targets organizations working on water supply, treatment, watershed management, and related sustainability outcomes.
Water Innovation Prize
••••• organisation
A multi-stage business plan competition for MIT student entrepreneurial teams focused on water innovation, offering up to $30,000 in total prize money. The competition is designed to support early-stage water-sector ventures from ideation through business planning.
Health & Resilience
••••• Foundation
The funder funds technology-based solutions that build resilience to climate change in low-resource communities, with focus on built environment, agriculture, energy access, and water/sanitation. Grants up to $1M support innovators scaling climate adaptation and sustainability interventions.
Watershed Protection
••••• organisation
The funder funds protection and restoration of critical watersheds through multi-stakeholder collaboration, integrated watershed management, and regenerative agriculture practices. The grant targets organizations working on water security and climate resilience in agricultural and natural systems.
Sustainable Development and Climate II - West Bank (SDCII-WB)
••••• Municipality
A competitive grant programme supporting sustainable development and climate-related infrastructure investments in West Bank municipalities. Eligible applicants are local government units seeking to fund climate adaptation, renewable energy, water, waste management, and other environmental projects.
Emergency Grant
••••• Fund
This grant funds urgent, time-sensitive interventions related to dam removal, river restoration, and freshwater conservation emergencies. It is designed for organizations responding to critical threats to river ecosystems and freshwater resources on a rolling basis.
Access to Safe Drinking Water
••••• organisation
The funder provides impact investment capital, expertise, and network support to innovative enterprises improving access to safe drinking water for vulnerable populations. The fund targets early-stage to growth-stage water access ventures globally.
Skills Sponsorship programme
••••• Foundation
This programme deploys Veolia employee expertise and emergency water/sanitation equipment (Aquaforces, Saniforce) to NGO partners through volunteer missions. It targets NGOs working in WASH and humanitarian contexts, offering in-kind technical capacity and equipment support rather than direct cash grants.
Environment & Biodiversity
••••• Foundation
The funder provides financial grants and skills sponsorship to support environmental conservation and biodiversity protection projects. Eligible applicants can receive funding for initiatives that advance habitat protection, species conservation, and ecological restoration work.
Water and Energy for Food Program
••••• Foundation
This grant funds scaled innovations integrating water, energy, and food systems in emerging markets, with explicit focus on gender equity, food security, and poverty reduction. It targets organizations developing integrated solutions that advance sustainability outcomes across these three interconnected sectors.
Leveraging Finance
••••• Foundation
The funder's Leveraging Finance programme mobilises financial flows toward climate, water, and nature outcomes through targeted finance mechanisms. The grant supports projects and initiatives that direct capital toward environmental and climate solutions across these three focus areas.
LOVE BLUE Grant
••••• Fund
LOVE BLUE is a grant program supporting marine and aquatic environmental conservation activities, funded through corporate partnerships by the Japan Fund for Global Environment. The grant targets organizations working on ocean and water ecosystem protection and restoration.
Grants Program: A Japanese foundation provides grants to NGOs and NPOs working on global environmental conservation activities
••••• Fund
JFGE provides grants to NGOs and NPOs for global environmental conservation projects, supporting both domestic and international initiatives. The program funds a broad portfolio of environmental activities without sector-specific restrictions.
Water and Sanitation Grants
••••• Foundation
Viva con Agua funds water supply, sanitation, and access projects in Nepal, Guatemala, Mozambique, Uganda, and Switzerland. The grant supports international development organizations and nonprofits working on water infrastructure and community water security.
Basic Infrastructure
••••• Foundation
This grant supports the development and deployment of essential infrastructure—such as water systems, energy access, and transportation—in developing communities while ensuring environmental protection and habitat conservation. It targets nonprofits, local authorities, and community groups working at the intersection of infrastructure access and environmental stewardship.
Aquassistance Support
••••• Foundation
This grant supports Aquassistance, an NGO run by SUEZ employees, to fund water access, sanitation, and waste management projects in developing regions. The funder backs humanitarian and development projects that improve essential services in underserved communities globally.
A French Agricultural University–Major Water Company Research Chair
••••• Foundation
This grant funds a specialized training chair at AgroParisTech in partnership with the funder, delivering executive education and capacity-building for water and sanitation service managers in emerging and transition countries. The program aims to transfer knowledge and skills to improve water and sanitation service delivery in resource-constrained regions.
Access to Essential Services in Emerging and Developing Countries
••••• Foundation
This grant funds NGOs and charities implementing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects in emerging and developing countries where SUEZ operates. It supports local community-based initiatives to improve access to essential water and sanitation services.
Research & Innovation
••••• Foundation
This grant funds research and innovation projects addressing global water challenges and supporting circular economy transitions in industrial production, with a primary geographic focus on Denmark. Eligible applicants include research institutions, companies, and organizations working on water sustainability and circular industrial systems.
Water & Development
••••• Foundation
This grant funds projects that build societal resilience to water challenges and climate change impacts, with a primary focus on Africa where water scarcity is acute. Eligible applicants can pursue water supply, treatment, watershed management, and climate-adaptation infrastructure that strengthens communities' ability to cope with water-related climate risks.
Public Sector Lending
••••• Fund
The OPEC Fund provides concessional loans to governments and public institutions in developing countries to finance infrastructure and development projects addressing basic needs including energy, water, sanitation, healthcare, education, and food security. Eligible applicants are sovereign governments and public sector entities in OPEC member countries and other developing nations.
Call for Projects
••••• Foundation
The funder funds innovative and sustainable non-profit projects in water, nature, and physical living environment that advance UN SDGs 6, 7, 11, and 13. Eligible projects must demonstrate contribution to clean water, clean energy, sustainable cities, or climate action.
Drinking Water
••••• organisation
This grant funds the construction and maintenance of drinking water wells across Africa, addressing water access and infrastructure needs. It is open to organizations working on water supply and sanitation projects in African countries.
Deal-by-Deal Investing
••••• organisation
The funder offers deal-by-deal equity investment in early to growth-stage impact-driven tech companies across agri-food, decarbonization, water, ocean, transport, mobility, and energy sectors. This is a flexible investment vehicle for startups and scale-ups with a double bottom line (financial returns + environmental/social impact).
Regenerative Growth I
••••• organisation
The funder' Regenerative Growth I is an impact investment fund targeting early to growth-stage tech companies across nature-tech and climate solutions including agri-food systems, decarbonization, water, ocean, transport, and energy. The fund uses both specialized fund and deal-by-deal investing strategies to scale companies addressing environmental and climate challenges.
Caribbean Innovation Competition (CIC)
••••• Trust
The Caribbean Innovation Competition funds innovative solutions that improve quality of life with emphasis on sustainable development across the Western Hemisphere. It targets entrepreneurs and innovators developing solutions aligned with SDG outcomes in the Caribbean and Americas region.
InnovAction: Focuses on development of innovative solutions that augment quality of life with a focus on Sustainable Development Goals
••••• Trust
InnovAction funds development of innovative solutions that improve quality of life through sustainable development initiatives across the Western Hemisphere. The grant targets entrepreneurs and organizations creating solutions aligned with SDG objectives in the Americas region.
One Water: Shapes the future of water-related sectors in Portugal
••••• organisation
One Water is an accelerator programme that shapes the future of water-related sectors in Portugal by uniting industry, academia, public bodies, and investors. It supports startups and innovators developing solutions for water management and blue economy challenges.
Blue Bridge: Connects innovative blue economy startups and SMEs with industry partners, fostering collaboration and…
••••• organisation
Blue Bridge connects early-stage blue economy startups and SMEs with established industry partners to accelerate sustainable ocean solutions through collaboration and mentorship. The programme targets innovations across aquaculture, renewable energy, fisheries, maritime transport, and related ocean sectors.
a US venture capital fund
••••• organisation
Venture capital fund investing in early-stage companies developing breakthrough innovations in healthcare, environmental solutions, clean energy, water, green chemistry, agriculture, and waste reduction. Targets founding teams with 20+ years of combined experience.
A Hardtech Venture Fund
••••• organisation
ATOMS Hardtech Fund invests in engineering and science-driven hardtech companies at or near commercialization across health, sustainability, and automation sectors with defensible IP. The fund prioritizes the US market, especially the Midwest and undercapitalized regions.
A US Asset Manager – Resource Efficiency Investment Vehicle
••••• organisation
The funder Partners is seeking mid-market private equity investments in Resource Efficiency businesses valued between $250m–$2.5bn, leveraging technology to drive sustainable value creation. This is a direct equity investment vehicle targeting established resource-efficiency companies, not a grant or donation programme.
Urban Climate Solutions Investment Fund
••••• organisation
B2B pre-seed and seed-stage investment fund for urban climate tech companies across North America and Europe, focusing on five sectors: Mobility & Logistics, Buildings, Water & Waste, Energy, and Adaptation. Prioritizes companies with beta-stage products and 2+ pilots.
CVC-as-a-Service: Corporate venture capital service connecting corporates with sustainability investment opportunities
••••• organisation
The funder operates a corporate venture capital service that connects large corporations with sustainability-focused investment opportunities across energy, materials, water, automation, and food-agriculture sectors. The fund manages CVC functions on behalf of blue-chip corporate limited partners seeking to deploy capital into sustainability ventures.
100+ Accelerator Program
••••• organisation
The funder Program provides up to $100K in funding and pilot implementation support for early-stage sustainability startups across water, climate, packaging, agriculture, and biodiversity sectors. It is co-funded by major consumer goods corporations (AB InBev, Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Danone, Mondelēz, Unilever) and targets startups ready to pilot solutions within corporate supply chains.
Water Fund: Invests in companies addressing water protection and global water problems, at seed to growth stages
••••• organisation
The funder invests in early-stage to growth-stage companies developing solutions for water protection and addressing global water challenges. The fund targets startups and companies across seed to growth stages working on water-related innovations.
Anthropocene Fund I
••••• organisation
Anthropocene Fund I provides pre-seed, seed, and Series A equity investments in climate tech companies developing hard science and novel engineering solutions across water, built environment, alternative materials, renewable energy, and decarbonization. The fund targets science-based deep tech founders working in undercapitalized climate verticals.
AquaCerta2: Call for innovations in water security and aquatic resource management
••••• organisation
AquaCerta2 is a call for innovations addressing water security and aquatic resource management, likely seeking novel solutions, technologies, or business models to improve water availability, quality, and ecosystem health. The grant is open to innovators and entrepreneurs working on water-related challenges, with funding amount and deadline details available in the full listing.
San Francisco Bay Area Conservation
••••• Foundation
This grant supports conservation and habitat restoration efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area, funding local organizations working to improve the ecological health of the Bay ecosystem. Eligible applicants are nonprofits and community groups engaged in environmental stewardship and nature-based conservation work.
Unreasonable Fellowship
••••• organisation
An invite-only fellowship for growth-stage entrepreneurs building ventures that address global challenges in energy, environment, food, water, health, and education. Fellows receive access to a curated network of investors, mentors, and institutional partners to accelerate company scaling.
Growth Equity in Water Technology
••••• organisation
The funder provides growth equity investments in water-focused companies operating across water infrastructure, quality, efficiency, and related technologies and services. The fund acts as a strategic partner to help portfolio companies expand markets, forge partnerships, and scale their customer bases.