About TCGM Region 7
TCGM Region 7 is a cooperative agreement between EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) and RTI International.
We make awards to community-based organizations and other eligible organizations to support the planning, assessment, and development of community-based projects.
If you are located in EPA Region 4, 5, or 6, visit the TCGM Region 4, Region 5, or Region 6 websites to learn more about their program. If you are an organization represented across EPA Regions 4-7, visit the TCGM National-Central website to learn more.
Cultivating Community-Driven Change
We believe that meaningful community engagement is possible when we are willing to bring community members’ perspectives into the design process by sharing the power and influence that comes with decision-making authority.
We, as the Grantmaker, see our role as conduits and facilitators of a set of coordinated activities that will reach communities that have been disadvantaged and underserved.
How We Work
We center diverse community perspectives and expertise, engaging community representatives who are directly affected by environmental inequities and historically excluded from environmental policymaking and regulation processes.
No single organization can advance racial equity and environmental justice alone. Our community-based approach addresses local environmental and public health issues through multiple collaborations with diverse partners.
Our community-engaged transformative governance model supports decision-making that acknowledges that community organizations have the authority to define success for their projects.
Our approach advances racial equity by positioning community members, as part of community advisory boards (CAB), as decision makers in selecting grant recipients.
Our applications are inclusive and accessible to all potential applicants, available in multiple formats, and tailored to reach diverse communities across regions.
Our team brings expertise in grant management, environmental science, environmental justice, and equity-centered research and evaluation to best support applicants and grantees.
For years, community advocates have been calling for federal support and resources to help address our country’s most pressing environmental justice concerns. We’re responding to these calls by removing barriers that have traditionally held communities and applicants back from accessing these historic investments in America.
Michael S. Regan, former EPA Administrator
Who is TCGM Region 7?
RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. RTI’s Transformational Research Unit for Equity (TRUE) is an interdisciplinary team of dedicated experts leading a new way forward with equity-centered transformative research. The TCGM Region 7 grantmaking team brings together RTI’s breadth of experts and innovations in equity-centered research, environmental justice, community engagement, health, environmental sciences, communications, analytics, education, workforce development, and climate solutions.
Since its inception in 1992, Bridging the Gap (BTG) has worked to make the Midwest more sustainable by connecting environment, economy, and community. What started as a community-based recycling program in Kansas City has grown to provide environmental education and volunteer action through more than 1,400 volunteers annually. Individuals, recognizing the need to protect the environment, wanted to leave a positive legacy for the generations that would come after them. Their passion for a better future drove BTG to develop new programs and absorb two other citizen-created programs. BTG’s long history of being a major force in environmental education makes them a valuable resource to TCGM Region 7.
Sow Joy Peoples Fund has led work that advances environmental initiatives in the Midwest across the EPA Region 7 states and Tribal Nations. Sow Joy Peoples Fund’s mission is to center the voices of those most impacted, trusting in community wisdom to guide environmental practices. They are committed to change, moving away from traditional philanthropic approaches to embrace a community-centered model that fosters trust, empowerment, and lasting impact. In support of TCGM Region 7, Sow Joy Peoples Fund will lead local recruitment for identifying members of CABs and community liaisons across the region.