Climate Action Resource Navigator
Climate Action Resource Navigator (CARN) is a free program, offered by Seeding Justice in partnership with Willamette Partnership, that helps nonprofits across the Metro region access climate funding for projects that advance their missions while also contributing to climate action. We do this by connecting organizations with funding opportunities, introducing partnerships that make community-centered solutions possible, and providing technical assistance to strengthen project planning, design, and funding competitiveness.
Webinar: Tuesday, September 15, 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Meet the CARN team and learn how we can support your organization. We’ll share how CARN can help you explore funding opportunities, strengthen project ideas, and connect with funders and potential collaborators. You’ll also learn how CARN works, how to get started, and get answers to your questions.
How We Support Organizations
Through conversations with nonprofits across the region, we heard a consistent message: organizations need more than a list of grant opportunities. They need trusted support, meaningful connections, and practical guidance that reflects the realities of community-based work.
Building Connections (Curated Matchmaking)
- Strong climate solutions are rooted in strong relationships.
- Many funding opportunities increasingly encourage collaboration across organizations, sectors, and communities. CARN helps identify and connect organizations with potential partners whose expertise, relationships, and goals complement one another.
- Our approach goes beyond networking. We make intentional introductions designed to foster authentic partnerships, strengthen community impact, and create opportunities for organizations to pursue resources together.
Learning Together (Cohort Organizing)
- Organizations often face similar challenges, opportunities, and questions as they develop climate-related projects.
- CARN brings together nonprofits with shared interests and goals to learn from one another, exchange ideas, share resources, and build lasting relationships. Through facilitated cohorts and peer learning opportunities, organizations can strengthen their capacity while becoming part of a broader network working toward community-driven climate solutions.
Individualized Support (1:1 Advising)
- Every organization has different strengths, priorities, and needs.
- CARN offers one-on-one support tailored to your goals and the communities you serve. Assistance may include project planning, identifying funding opportunities, funding strategy, project design, budgeting, technical guidance, and grant proposal development.
- In some cases, limited financial assistance may also be available to help organizations access grant-writing support, planning assistance, or specialized expertise needed to pursue a climate funding opportunity.
How CARN Can Help
An organization is interested in establishing a solar-powered community resilience center. They have a vision and some community relationships, but they aren’t sure if it is enough or the right ones. Furthermore, they need help identifying funding opportunities, connecting with technical partners, or refining the project to make it more competitive for funding.
CARN helps move the project from concept to opportunity by:
Connecting the organization with a solar installer that has experience delivering similar community resilience projects.
Introducing the organization to funders interested in supporting solar resilience initiatives.
Bringing the organization into a cohort of peers pursuing similar projects to refine visions, share lessons learned, navigate common challenges, and build additional relationships.
Providing 1:1 guidance, feedback, and access to technical and grant-writing resources to strengthen the project and improve its competitiveness for funding.
You do not need to be a climate-focused organization to participate.
If your work supports community well-being, resilience, access to opportunity for all, or sustainability, there is a strong chance that we can help you.
Don’t Wait — Start Today!
Climate funding opportunities are continually emerging. Many have short application timelines or are highly competitive, so early partnership building and project refinement can better position you to win.
Start by taking a moment to tell us about your organization, your ideas, and the support you’re looking for. Willamette Partnership will then schedule a quick conversation to explore how CARN can assist you with connecting to potential funding opportunities, partners, collaborators, and other resources.