Seattle, WA – February 9, 2026
EarthLab, an institute at the University of Washington College of the Environment, just announced the launch of two new grant programs designed to accelerate community-engaged climate change and environmental justice research. The Incubator Grants and Rapid Response Grants are now accepting applications through March 6, 2026.
Both programs offer twelve-month awards of up to $10,000 to eligible University of Washington faculty, staff, and research scientists across all three campuses (Bothell, Seattle, and Tacoma).
Incubator Grants: Nurturing Ideas and Launching Partnerships
The EarthLab Incubator Grants provide funding to nurture ideas and launch partnerships for climate change or environmental justice research and action. These grants emphasize interdisciplinary, community-based, and cross-sectoral collaboration, bringing together diverse stakeholders around shared research agendas.
Eligible activities include developing research agendas, hosting workshops and convenings, and presenting at conferences.
Rapid Response Grants: Addressing Urgent Climate Questions
The EarthLab Rapid Response Grants fund urgent data collection that addresses emerging climate change or environmental justice questions. These grants enable researchers to quickly respond to time-sensitive opportunities for fieldwork and data collection.
“Without EarthLab funding, our team would have remained a group of separate individuals at different organizations thinking along similar lines,” said Sam Kay, Principal Investigator of a previous EarthLab-funded project on thermal safety and housing. “There is no way that we would have been able to take on anything matching the breadth and depth of what we’ve been able to do together.”
About EarthLab Grants
EarthLab is an institute at the University of Washington taking equitable action on climate change. The EarthLab Grants Program (The Program) cultivates a vibrant community of faculty, staff, students, and partners united by a commitment to community-engaged, impact-driven climate change and environmental justice research and action. The Program offers multiple grant types and opportunities for networking, connection, and research.
Application Deadline: March 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific
For more information and to apply, visit our Grants page.
Media Contact
Allie Long
Communications Lead
Alongs@uw.edu
