How to Apply for OFN's CCIA Program
Overview
OFN is implementing its pilot round of the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA), a program of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
OFN’s approach is member-forward, with the goal of designing the best possible application experience and preparing our members to effectively use and manage this program as we test the process and user experience of the application for future funding rounds.
As part of our member-forward approach, we’ve also released a Request for Applications, and tools and resources to demystify the program, all of which can be found below.
Our first full round of funding will begin in early 2025. Grant awards will range from $2–$10 million for capitalization funding and up to $1 million for technical assistance to build capacity for climate lending. This is a six-year program, and OFN’s target is to make more than 300 CCIA awards across multiple rounds of funding.
CCIA Program Eligibility
To have been eligible for funding in the CCIA pilot round, for which applications closed on November 7, 2024, your organization must have met the following criteria:
- Be an OFN member in good standing. Good standing means annual dues paid and the most recent Annual Member Survey completed. Your organization must have become a member by Sept. 30, 2024.
- Be a nonprofit financial institution and/or a certified CDFI
- Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov and have an active SAM.gov account
- Have submitted one of the following items requested for OFN’s CCIA application in 2023: Letter of Interest, Letter of Support, or Climate Lending Pipeline Form
- Have completed the Nascent Climate Lender Self-Assessment (built into the application) to determine your readiness to deploy CCIA funding. Organizations that are assessed as “Nascent” are not eligible for the funding pilot but may apply for the training pilot program.
Use of Funds
Eligible members will receive funding in the form of Capitalization Funding and Technical Assistance subawards.
Capitalization Funding is a permanently restricted grant for financing CCIA-eligible projects. This financing can include loans and other financial products and has a three-year deployment period. The Project Eligibility Summary has additional information about CCIA-eligible projects.
A Technical Assistance subaward is a restricted grant to increase members’ capacity to finance CCIA-eligible projects. Applicants must be approved for Capitalization Funding to receive a Technical Assistance subaward.
OFN will provide capacity-building resources to help members find a path to access CCIA funding.
Selection Criteria
For the pilot, for which applications closed on November 7, 2024, OFN selected applicants based on the following criteria, among others:
- Strength of climate funding strategy
- Strength of eligible project pipeline
- Track record of financing to CCIA-eligible project categories
- Level of projected private capital mobilization
Full selection criteria are available in the Request for Applications.
How to Apply
The first full round of CCIA funding is anticipated to open in spring 2025.
Ahead of our Round 1 application announcement, members are encouraged to:
- Create an account. OFN is using Submittable, a third-party platform, for the CCIA application.
- Check eligibility. Complete a brief eligibility check. You will receive a determination of your eligibility shortly after submission.
- Review Pilot Funding Round application resources.
Application Resources
The following resources will assist members in the completion of their application.
Understanding the Opportunity
- Pilot Round Request for Applications
- Pilot Round Request for Applications Overview (Recording)
- Pilot Round Request for Applications Overview (Slide Deck)
Completing the Application
- Pilot Round Application Guidance
- Offline Version of Pilot Round Application (MS Word)
- Pilot Round Application Checklist
Application Tools and Templates
- Project Eligibility Summary
- Project Eligibility Tool (MS Excel)
- Pilot Round Closed Loan Template (MS Excel)
- Pilot Round Pipeline Template (MS Excel)
- Private Capital Mobilization Overview
Technical Support (Submittable)
General Questions
Get Help
If you have a question that is not answered in any of the above resources, contact our help desk to receive assistance!
OFN can provide assistance on the requirements of the application. However, OFN cannot provide an evaluation or opinion of the competitiveness of your application, nor can we assist with drafting any materials.
CCIA Application Support Request
Accessibility Statement
If you require assistance at any stage of the application due to an accessibility issue, including translation services, please contact OFN’s disability coordinator, Vanessa Toure (202.869.1261 or email). Read about our commitment to fairness and equity.