VIBES: DANCING INTO SPRING
Springtime is a reminder of new beginning, rebirth, and reinvigoration. I’m considering it a reset on the year and focusing on being bold, present, and finding moments of joy. March Madness has been a welcome vehicle to just be.
Also! Next week things might look a bit different around here as we’ll be migrating this newsletter to Ghost!
Table of Contents
💰 Funding Opps 15+
Accelerator Program by Cleantech Open
💰 Cash and in-kind prizes (amount varies)
✍🏾 Annual accelerator program supporting 100-150 cleantech startups with mentoring, training, and prizes.
📅 Apr 6, 2026 📍 United States
💪🏾 Apply NowBlueprint: Tulsa by Visible Hands
💰 $10,000
✍🏾 12-week program in Tulsa providing $10K grants to early-stage Southern founders.
📅 Apr 12, 2026 📍 Tulsa, OK
💪🏾 Apply Now2026 Urban Future Prize Competition by ACRE
💰 $50,000
✍🏾 Two $50,000 prizes for climate mitigation and adaptation solutions with admission to ACRE climate tech incubator.
📅 Apr 27, 2026 📍 United States
💪🏾 Apply Now2026 General and Youth Grants by Native American Agriculture Fund
💰 $20,000 - $200,000
✍🏾 Grants for Native farmers and ranchers supporting business assistance, agricultural education, technical support and advocacy services.
📅 May 1, 2026 📍 United States
💪🏾 Apply NowFounder Fellowship by Blue Ridge Labs
💰 $20,000
✍🏾 20-week fellowship providing $20K stipend, mentorship, and resources to help founders build social impact tech ventures focused on economic mobility.
📅 May 3, 2026 📍 Brooklyn, NY
💪🏾 Apply Now
💼 Jobs & Fellowships 45+
SBA BDO/Lending Manager for Grow America
💵 $135,000+
✍🏾 Develop and manage business lending pipeline for SBA and non-SBA loans ranging from $150K-$5M nationwide.
📅 Apply ASAP 📍 Remote
💪🏾 Apply NowProgram Manager / Sr. Program Manager for Earth Forward Group (EFG) 💵 $35-$55/hour (35 hrs/week)
✍🏾 Manage workforce development programs training the next generation of sustainable construction workers.
📅 Apply ASAP 📍 CT, MA and other states; Hybrid
💪🏾 Apply NowSenior Manager, Policy and Programs for Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
💵 $90,000-$100,000
✍🏾 Lead regional heat pump market transformation initiative through stakeholder convening and policy development.
📅 Apply ASAP 📍 Remote (CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, or WV)
💪🏾 Apply NowSenior Policy Advisor, U.S. Climate Alliance for U.S. Climate Alliance
💵 $110,000-$120,000
✍🏾 Senior advisor supporting state governors in advancing electricity sector climate policy solutions.
📅 Apply ASAP 📍 Washington, DC; Hybrid
💪🏾 Apply Now2026 Environmental Justice & Technology Fellowship for Rooted Futures Lab ← ⚡️⚡️⚡️ (great ppl, incredible org, please share!)
💵 $3,000 stipend
✍🏾 Summer fellowship at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and environmental justice with four distinct project tracks.
📅 Apr 30, 2026 📍 Remote
💪🏾 Apply Now
📝 RFP & Contracting 10+
Call for Proposals: Shared Media Services Provider Pool for Start.coop & Defector Media
💲 Not disclosed
✍🏾 Pool of fractional business service providers for independent worker-owned media organizations.
📅 Apr 8, 2026 📍 United States
💪🏾 Apply NowRFP: Visual Designer for Rural Climate Communications for Rural Climate Partnership
💲 30,000
✍🏾 Rural-based visual designer needed for climate communications across print, digital, and presentation formats.
📅 Apr 10, 2026 📍 Rural United States
💪🏾 Apply NowCall for Applicants: Emerging Developers Capital Readiness Program for Diversified Community Impact
💲 N/A
✍🏾 6-month educational cohort strengthening community developers' capacity in capital readiness and responsible housing development.
📅 Apr 30, 2026 📍 Not specified
💪🏾 Apply Now
SOMETIMES YOU NEED A LIL EXTRA
⚜️ Lagniappe
Blue Governors Are Tacking Rightward on Fossil Fuels by Will Peischel for TNR
The Take: Many blue-state governors are embracing fossil fuels in a way that would have been unimaginable before 2025. They’re often using the framing of “affordability” to push through fossil fuel projects. Two problems with this: 1)in many contexts, natural fossil gas isn’t inherently the most affordable fuel source and 2) the infrastructure built today will have a lifespan that goes beyond this generation; locking in fossil fuel uses for the decades to come
A SECTOR IN CRISIS: How Nonprofits and Foundations are Navigating Challenge by the Center for Effective Philanthropy
The Take: This report shared during a convening facilitated by Spring Point Partners, shared about how nonprofits and social impact orgs have had to pivot during the last 18+ months. A couple stats that stick out: 42% of foundation leaders are dissatisfied with philanthrophy’s response to this moment & 93% of nonprofit leaders were dissatisfied. If you’ve been feeling this -you’re not alone.
“They call it ‘all of the above’; we call it more of the same…” “We’re already overreliant on fracked methane gas. Adding more gas locks us into costly, polluting gas for decades to come. Truly diversifying our energy resources with clean renewable energy is what is needed.”
SOME GOOD ENERGY FOR Y’ALL
⚡️ Recharge
Image Source: https://www.girlplusenvironment.org/
Creating the world that we want requires us intentional base-building, consistent advocacy, and shifting how our economy works. Girl + Environment has been leading in all of these with a membership base of 500+ and over 50k in community across social platforms. Recently, they’ve been focused on circularity economy through building a circular culture via initiative such as the Clean Beauty Justice campaign and Black Girl Businesses in Clean Energy Fellowship.
Check out this recent profile of Girl + Environment within In Between Times.
Learn more about GPE here: https://www.girlplusenvironment.org/
For those of us from the frontlines, for those in solidarity with us, for those who want to ensure that the transition of our economy away from extraction is into a regenerative one where we all have sustainable, prosperous futures — Common River is for you.
Thank you for being here.
In solidarity,
Trace