American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation (AWCF) are thrilled to announce the 2024 Water and Environment Grant Program.

Important: If your organization historically applied to both American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation environmental grant programs, please note only one environmental-focused grant program will be offered in 2024. The American Water Environmental Grant Program has been discontinued and blended into the Foundation’s Water and Environment Grant Program.

Applications will be accepted in the following states served by American Water, in addition to its Military Service locations: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Grants will be awarded to help fund innovative, community-based projects that:

  • improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies
  • promote water conservation
  • improve equitable access to water-based recreation in underserved communities

To qualify:

  • Applicants must be classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or K-12 public school, college or university.
  • Projects must be completed within 12 months of the grant being awarded
  • Projects must be located within and benefit American Water’s service areas

Deadline:
Applications must be received online between February 5 – March 15, 2024. Grant decisions will be announced by April 30. To apply online, please visit amwater.com/awcfgrants or click the image below. Paper applications will not be accepted.

American Water Environmental Grant Program

The 2024 Environmental Grant Program is now closed. 

In 2024, New Jersey American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation issued seven grants totaling more than $108,000 to the following organizations: 

The Watershed Institute
The Watershed Institute was awarded $33,500 to expand StreamWatch Schools, a water quality monitoring program that works to protect streams and rivers in central New Jersey. The project allows students to see and share water quality data via an online platform. Grant funding will support the expansion of this program to more school to educate students across New Jersey about the importance of preserving the quality of our water.

National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation was awarded $30,523 to create an online community resource hub for nonprofits and communities to educate utility users on where their water comes from, how its treated, and how nonprofits can foster trust between companies and local residents. The goal of the hub is to equip nonprofits with the tools and information needed to educate residents about how utilities work in order to build trust and confidence in utilities.

Raritan Baykeeper
The Raritan Baykeeper was awarded $20,000 to engage more students and community members in water quality monitoring at waterfront access sites in Red Bank, Keyport and Hazlet, supporting the organization’s efforts to protect and preserve the health of the NY/NJ Bay watershed. The grant will support efforts to identify and train more volunteers to conduct bi-monthly assessments of key public waterfront locations. Funds will also go towards attracting more students to participate in organized educational visits to these sites to foster a sense of stewardship and responsibility towards the local environment.

Raritan Headwaters Association
The Raritan Headwaters Association was awarded $10,000 to support the management, analysis, visualization, reporting and communication of surface water quality data in a 2024 Water Quality Report on the health of the Upper Raritan watershed. The report, which is part of their Stream Monitoring Program, impacts state regulatory decision-making across the Raritan Basin and will be used by state and local leaders, government agencies, conservation partners and the public to inform critical climate adaptation and mitigation work.

Whale Pond Brook-Takanasee Lake Watershed Association
The Whale Pond Brook-Takanasee Lake Watershed Association was awarded $6,754 for projects to restore eroded banks and water quality in the Whale Pond Brook watershed. The Whale Pond Brook watershed is a 3,870-acre coastal watershed, where 72% of the land is urban with 28% impervious cover. The project includes the construction of rain gardens to redirect runoff from impervious surfaces — preventing flooding and making the water more fishable by storing, filtering and saving about 700,000 gallons of water from flowing directly into the lake.

Zoological Society of New Jersey
The Zoological Society of New Jersey was awarded $5,000 to support their Zoo Team Go (ZTG) volunteer conservation fieldwork program. Established in 2019, the Zoo Team Go program works with people and organizations from all communities, including individuals with disabilities and volunteers from overburdened communities, to host in-person and virtual cleanup events. For those who are unable to participate in cleanups, Zoo Team Go offers alternative activities such as creating bird boxes and pollinator gardens.

Agraj Seva Kendra
Agraj Seva Kendra was awarded $2,500 to support environmental protection and education initiatives. Agraj Seva Kendra will partner with the Division of Environmental Protection in the Township of Monroe to educate students about the importance of maintaining and protecting air, water, land and energy resources through a volunteer program. The program will involve student volunteers and adult mentors throughout the community in cleanup initiatives for 15 weeks to clean roads, parks and waterways.

To see previous grant recipients: 

List of towns and map of New Jersey American Water Service areas