District of Columbia Donation and Reuse Award Program

The Chesapeake Bay Trust and the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment are excited to announce the District of Columbia Donation and Reuse Award Program. The goal of the District’s Donation and Reuse Award Program is to fund projects that reduce needless waste and increase diversion of reusable material, including edible food, from landfills and incineration through donation or reuse (Reuse is defined as: the use of a product or material again, either by another entity or after repair).

Reuse DC, the District’s Donation and Reuse Program, represents an investment of resources towards source reduction (source reduction is defined as the practice of reducing the number of materials used through redesigning products, changing manufacturing processes, changing purchasing habits), and reusing materials, to minimize the quantity and/or toxicity of waste produced from a product or process. The District has adopted the Zero Waste International Alliance’s waste hierarchy, which prioritizes waste reduction and reuse above other forms of waste diversion.  Beyond waste diversion, DOEE recognizes previously owned household items are still valuable and can service our community and create green economic opportunities in the District through the local circular economy.

This award program seeks to provide funding to projects that reduce needless waste and increase diversion of reusable material, including edible food, from landfills and incineration through donation or reuse.

What this funds:

The purpose of the Donation and Reuse Award Program is to provide funding for donation, reuse, and repair projects, programs, and services for increased donation and reuse opportunities of materials otherwise headed to the waste stream in the District. This program will support community-oriented projects that are designed to meet the needs of the community and/or encourage behavior change around donation, reuse, and repair of household items and food recovery. The awards may also fund education and engagement efforts to increase the public’s understanding of the importance of donation and reuse and increase awareness of current donation and reuse opportunities and best practices. See the RFA for more information on eligible project types.

Who can apply: The funding partners welcome requests from nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, government agencies, universities/educational institutions, or private enterprises. If located outside of the District, application must clearly show how proposal serves District residents, businesses, and/or other entities. See the RFA for full list of eligible applicants.

How much can be awarded: Up to $10,000.

Is match required? In-kind and Cash match is not required but can be included, if necessary, to accomplish project goals.

Grant Application Process: The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s award applications are all submitted through an online system, using the “New Award” button to the right.

Grant Application Budget Forms: Applicants are required to submit a budget using the Financial Management Spreadsheet found here.

Narrative Questions Template

For more resources, including information on reusables, please see the Resources for Applicants page.