Established in July of 2001, the StEPP Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose primary mission is to increase the number of energy efficiency, renewable energy and pollution prevention projects implemented at the local, state and national levels for the benefit of the public. The StEPP Foundation offers opportunities for organizations across the country to demonstrate the positive benefits of renewable energy, energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects in their communities. Funding is provided to a limited number of projects, in one-year to three-year time frames. Projects must meet a minimum funding requirement.

Applying online and we will log your project idea into the StEPP Foundation's national database to be matched with funding sources when available.

The StEPP Foundation operates a project selection process several times during the year, which meets the following core principles:

To provide a direct strategy for improving air and water quality, and reducing solid and hazardous waste (multi-media quantifiable benefits);
To provide the state or area benefited with a winning public and environmental health strategy;
To provide incentives for the development and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects;
To maximize environmental benefit for each dollar invested;
To support investments in opportunities that have environmental benefits from renewable related projects;
To support energy efficiency/renewable energy (EERE) products, services and technologies;
To increase the number of renewable energy projects;
To increase the number of renewables in the marketplace;
To connect land use and ecosystem health; and
To connect environmental and public health issues.