US residential solar power company SunPower Corporation’s philanthropic arm SunPower Foundation is offering 3 new grants to award non-profits working towards equitable clean energy transition with the help of solar energy.  

Grant amount ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 annually is available for qualified entities. The funding is available in the following 3 domains:  

• Workforce Development Grant for increasing workforce diversity in solar by providing career opportunities for women, minorities, and people of color. This includes training programs, career awareness and STEM education 
• Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Grant for ensuring industry equity and supporting entrepreneurs in solar with coaching and business development. 
• Solar Accessibility, Affordability, and Resiliency Grant for helping communities that have been historically underserved or impacted by climate disasters adopt solar solutions. 

Interested entities must have a 501(c)(3) status in the US which grants federal tax exemption. Such organizations can have either US and/or Philippines operations and at least 1 of the SunPower Foundation areas of focus.    

“The climate crisis most severely impacts individuals from underserved communities that are less prepared and have limited financial resources to address these impacts,” said  Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at SunPower, Maribelle Bostic. “SunPower Foundation invests in projects that move us closer to a solar-for-all future and mitigate climate change in a meaningful way.” 

Announced on September 6, 2023, applications for the grant can be submitted till October 20, 2023. Interviews with qualifying applicants will be held between October 2023 and November 2023, followed by grant awardees announced in early December 2023.