Flourishing in Community

UPDATE: EPA Rescinds Multimillion-Dollar Grant

On Friday, May 2, 2025, Fordham University was notified that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has terminated the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, effective immediately, as “the objectives of the award are no longer consistent with EPA funding priorities.”

The grantmaking initiative—Flourishing in Community—would have supported subgrants with a Community of Practice group that includes faculty, community leaders, and graduate assistants to uplift disadvantaged communities disproportionately affected by climate change, pollution, and other environmental stressors. The need among target communities was so great, and enthusiasm for the project so strong, that Fordham surpassed its two-year goal for applications in six months, ultimately drawing 1,052 applications overall.

Subsequently, Fordham made every effort to prevent the grant from being rescinded, including extensive appeals to elected officials, and engagement with the EPA. While that effort wasn’t successful in retaining the grant, it did more deeply connect the University to the communities it seeks to serve. Fordham remains committed to helping those communities, and will continue our mission-driven work with them to mitigate the impact of climate change on their residents. Fordham is deeply grateful to our elected officials, community organizations, nonprofit partners, and countless municipalities that supported Fordham in the grant process.