Mini-Grant Opportunity

The City of Coronado's Community Grant Program is designed to strengthen community ties through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations. The mini-grant portion of this program specifically supports smaller or emerging nonprofits that may not be eligible for the City's renewal grant track. The overall goal of the program is to allow nonprofits to administer events, services, activities, and acquisitions that are more economically or effectively executed outside the direct scope of municipal operations. The program is guided by Council Policy 28, which outlines operational guidelines including the mission, goals, funding formula, eligibility, evaluation methods, and reporting requirements. For Fiscal Year 2026–27, the program introduces a mini-grant track intended to expand accessibility to a broader range of applicants. Mini-grants under this program provide funding of up to $15,000 per organization. This funding is available to organizations that are not eligible for automatic renewal through the City’s primary grant track. These grants are designed to support localized, impactful initiatives within the City of Coronado, with a focus on civic engagement, community development, and the efficient provision of services and programming. The mini-grant opportunity ensures a streamlined path for newer or less established organizations to participate in the Community Grant Program. The funding supports specific programming or operational needs rather than ongoing general support or multi-year initiatives. The application window for the mini-grant opens on February 17, 2026, and closes on April 19, 2026, at midnight. During this time, applicants must also submit Letters of Intent. All materials are reviewed between April 20 and June 1, 2026, by City staff. Following the staff review, funding recommendations will be posted on June 11, 2026, as part of the City Council agenda. Final funding decisions will be made during the City Council meeting on June 16, 2026. Once approved, funding distribution is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026. Eligibility for the mini-grant track is limited to organizations that do not qualify for automatic renewal under the main program. While detailed eligibility criteria are not explicitly stated in the available overview, the program is intended for local nonprofit organizations. These may include 501(c)(3) entities or those serving community-based purposes within the City of Coronado. Applications require a Letter of Intent, and applicants are encouraged to review the Mini-Grant Process Overview presentation for more details regarding expectations and procedures. Evaluation of applications will be conducted by City staff, who will assess the applications and Letters of Intent over a six-week period. The criteria likely include community impact, cost-efficiency, and alignment with the City's goals for local enhancement and civic engagement, although specific metrics are not delineated in the overview provided. The City has not made publicly available an application form or portal details but refers applicants to additional documents such as the Mini-Grant Process Overview PowerPoint and council meeting reports. For additional guidance, applicants can contact the City of Coronado directly at 619-522-7300. The City Hall is located at 1825 Strand Way, Coronado, CA 92118. The mini-grant cycle follows an annual pattern and is expected to recur for subsequent fiscal years, with submission windows and funding allocations tied to the City Council’s annual budget process. Interested applicants should plan for future cycles based on the current fiscal calendar, with submission periods anticipated to begin each February.