Research Grants - Environmental Research and Education Foundation
EREF Research Grants fund innovative research on sustainable solid waste management, climate impacts, emerging contaminants, and recycling, with results made publicly available to advance the field.
Funder: Environmental Research and Education Foundation
Due Dates: May 1, 2026 (Pre-proposal) | December 1, 2026 (Pre-proposal) | May 1, 2027 (Pre-proposal)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards: $15,000–$500,000; average ~$160,000; project duration ~2 years; larger/longer projects possible with strong justification.
Summary: Supports innovative research advancing sustainable solid waste management, with results made publicly available.
Description
The Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) Research Grants program is a major private funding source in North America for research on sustainable materials and solid waste management. The program funds projects addressing significant challenges in the field, especially those with broad applicability and impact. Research must align with EREF’s mission and focus on innovative solutions in areas such as climate change impacts, emerging contaminants, and materials circularity or recycling. All funded research must be unbiased and publicly disseminated to advance knowledge and best practices in sustainable solid waste management.
