The mission of the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) is to assist local communities in the fight for environmental health and justice. CHEJ fosters the growth of strong community-based organizations to lead the movement for social change, focusing on supporting those most impacted by environmental harms, particularly in communities of color and low wealth areas.
The CHEJ Small Grants Program is designed to empower grassroots groups that are working on environmental health and justice issues. Its broad goals include building leadership, increasing organizational capacity, and providing training and education. It encourages applications from grassroots communities of color, low wealth, rural, and urban groups, including coalitions. Key activities supported by the grant include board development, membership outreach, fundraising efforts, strategic planning meetings, educational activities linked to the organization’s strategic plan, and the purchase of equipment for communications. The program prioritizes projects that align closely with CHEJ's focus, supporting community-based organizations with the aim of making a local, state, and regional impact in the health and environmental justice movement.