American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation (AWCF) are thrilled to announce the 2025 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 3 – March 7, 2025. Grant decisions will be announced by April 14. To apply online, please visit amwater.com/awcfgrants or click the image below. Paper applications will not be accepted.

American Water Environmental Grant Program

In 2024, 15 Environmental Grant recipients, listed below, received a share of grant funds totaling more than $267,500 for their community-based projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds. You can learn more about the impact of projects on local watersheds by visiting our Environmental Stewardship Map.

The 2024 grant projects are:

  • Allegheny CleanWays, Allegheny County – Cleanup of illegal dumping sites and litter on Allegheny County waterways ($10,000)
  • Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, York County – Train and empower community champions to improve, restore and protect their local watershed ($51,776)
  • Berks Nature, Berks County – Support construction of a vernal pool to enhance water quality, biodiversity and environmental education at Neversink Mountain Preserve ($4,941)
  • Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, Cumberland County – Create safe, accessible, elevated viewing areas of the wetlands and stream at Letort Spring Garden Preserve ($4,941)
  • Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Luzerne County – Conduct a water quality assessment of fishery and impacts from abandoned mines in Southern Wyoming Valley ($18,000)
  • Lehman Sanctuary, Luzerne County – Restore native wildflower watershed habitats alongside watershed education to regional students ($10,000)
  • North Branch Land Trust, Luzerne County – Implement an invasive species management plan that increases stormwater retention, water quality and public access at the Hanover Crossings Marsh Sanctuary ($25,000)
  • Old Forge Elementary PTO, Lackawanna County – Restore arboretum to create an outdoor classroom with seating, shade, plants and a pond/water source ($10,000)
  • Pennsylvania Envirothon, Snyder County – Support statewide high school environmental science competition ($15,000)
  • Pennsylvania Resources Council, Allegheny County – Provide residents of Mon Valley with free rain barrels and education to reduce watershed pollution ($10,000)
  • Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, Montgomery County – Provide on-water education for 600 students in Norristown Area School District through The Floating Classroom Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program ($20,000)
  • Scranton Tomorrow, Lackawanna County – Purchase landscape materials for City Pride 2024, including soil, plants, signage, and litter abatement supplies ($38,200)
  • The Greater Pittston Land Revitalization Corporation, Luzerne County – Empower the community through The Gardens at Pittston Housing Authority shared green space: fostering growth, connection and sustainability ($10,200)
  • The Pennsylvania State University, Dauphin County – Engage underserved communities by exposing K-12 students to a pilot scale water treatment plant at Penn State Harrisburg ($23,663)
  • Three Rivers Waterkeeper, Allegheny County – Provide an ambassador program focused on community engagement to protect source drinking water ($15,000)

A panel of judges selected the grant recipients from more than 50 applications, which were evaluated on such criteria as environmental need, innovation, community engagement and sustainability.

pennsylvania american water environmental grant program winners

2024 Grant Recipient Scranton Tomorrow will use funds their annual City Pride plantings and cleanups throughout the city of Scranton. Pictured are Leslie Collins, executive director, Scranton Tomorrow; Susan Turcmanovich, external affairs manager, Pennsylvania American Water; Steve Ward, project manager, Scranton Tomorrow; and Liz Baldi, business development director, Scranton Tomorrow.