Hearts & Minds Educational Technology Fund

The El Dorado Community Foundation offers a variety of grantmaking opportunities designed to support nonprofit organizations that serve the residents of El Dorado County, California, and its surrounding communities. These opportunities span several funding cycles throughout the year, each with specific focus areas and eligibility requirements. All organizations must comply with applicable state and federal regulations and be in good standing with the IRS, California Secretary of State, and Department of Justice. Organizations from outside California are welcome to apply if they provide services within the target region and can provide equivalent compliance documentation. One major funding stream is the Endow El Dorado Grant, a competitive program open to all nonprofits serving El Dorado County. Organizations may apply for up to $5,000 in support for capacity building or project-specific initiatives. Applications for this cycle must be submitted by May 1 at 11:59 PM. Awards from this grant may be supplemented by contributions from multiple Donor Advised Funds managed by the foundation. In addition to standard grant opportunities, the Foundation also accepts Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for its Pay It Forward Project Fund and the Sierra Nevada Foundation Fund. These LOI-based funding streams focus on volunteer-driven community improvement projects. The Pay It Forward Project specifically supports efforts on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Minden, and Gardnerville. Funded initiatives may include environmental stewardship, park maintenance, and services for youth and seniors. The deadline to submit LOIs for this opportunity is June 1, 2025, and only one submission per nonprofit will be accepted. Each LOI must include key organizational information, a project description, volunteer recruitment plans, and a narrative budget overview. Anticipated annual funding averages around $10,000, although amounts may vary based on project scope and needs. The Foundation also outlines clear restrictions for its competitive grantmaking: funds will not be awarded for debt reduction, fundraising events, religious activities, or political campaigns. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, schools, county agencies, religious organizations, and federally recognized Native American Tribes. Grant applications are reviewed by committees made up of community members and Board representatives. Evaluators focus on five core areas: the organization’s capacity, alignment with the mission and funding focus, the demonstrated need for the project, the clarity of goals and methods, and the sustainability and feasibility of the budget. Recommendations from the committees are subject to final approval by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Successful applicants must submit narrative reports detailing the outcomes of their funded projects. For the Pay It Forward LOI, applicants should email submissions to Kathy Haven, Director of Grants, Programs, and Community Impact, at kathy@eldoradocf.org. Other applications can be submitted through the Foundation’s online grant portal as specified in each funding cycle announcement.