San Manuel Cares Grant

The 2026 San Manuel Cares Grant, administered by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation through its philanthropic arm, San Manuel Cares, supports nonprofit and governmental organizations working in alignment with the Tribe’s core values and strategic priorities. The Tribe's philanthropic giving is concentrated in areas where it can make a meaningful and measurable impact, particularly within San Bernardino and Riverside counties, as well as among Tribal communities across the United States. Grants are designed to support programs and services that fall under the Tribe’s Giving Pillars, though these pillars are not enumerated in the source content. The funder provides support to a variety of entities, including 501(c)(3) organizations with at least three years of tax-exempt status, K–12 schools (public, private, charter), institutions of higher education, and Tribal governments or Tribal nonprofits. Only one application per organization is permitted during a 12-month period. Organizations must have a strong track record, financial stability, and the capacity to deliver measurable outcomes to be considered eligible. The grant specifically excludes organizations that exceed 25% administrative overhead, those involved in political or religious programming (unless secular in nature), and those without diversified funding sources. Applications for the 2026 cycle are currently being accepted and must be submitted digitally through the San Manuel Cares grant portal no later than 5:00 PM PDT on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Nevada-based applicants are required to use a separate system (Palms Cares) and will not be accepted through this portal. Applications must include numerous required documents: the latest IRS W-9 (signed), IRS tax determination letter, most recent Form 990 or equivalent, financial audits, organizational and project budgets, a list of board members on letterhead, and confirmations of secured funding. Letters of support are required from organizational leadership for government and educational institutions. The submission process is online only; mailed applications are not accepted. Applicants are advised to save their work frequently, ensure that budget amounts align with the application request, and attach all relevant and required documentation before submitting. Communication will be handled via [email protected] or through an assigned Program Officer, and applicants must respond promptly to all correspondence to avoid disqualification. Grants will not be awarded to individuals, national organizations operating outside the designated regions, booster clubs, or fundraising and event sponsorships. Additionally, organizations with open grants or overdue reports from prior cycles are not eligible to apply. Applications for multiple programs from the same organization will not be considered. Programs must demonstrate community impact, alignment with Giving Pillars, and have diversified funding to qualify. No specific evaluation criteria or award announcement dates are provided. However, the source indicates that key dates may change and will be communicated through the Strategic Philanthropy Department. Recipients can expect application reviews and communication from San Manuel Cares post-deadline. While there is no explicit mention of recurring cycles, the grant has been issued in multiple prior years, suggesting a likely annual recurrence. However, this remains implied rather than confirmed.

Submit early; align budget and request amount; incomplete applications will be declined; save application often; respond promptly to communications.