Community Support Grant Program

The Community Support Grant Program is administered by the Community Foundation of Mendocino County (CFMC) to provide targeted financial assistance for local events and public educational opportunities that align with the Foundation’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities. With a total program budget of $7,000 for the 2025–2026 cycle, grants range from $500 to $1,000 and are reviewed on a rolling basis starting August 6, 2025. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, school districts, special districts, tribal organizations, and community groups with a qualifying fiscal sponsor. All proposed projects must directly benefit Mendocino County residents, regardless of where the organization is based, and must adhere to the Foundation’s nondiscrimination policy. The Community Support Grant prioritizes events and educational initiatives that demonstrate a clear alignment with CFMC’s values, have strong planning and execution components, meet immediate community needs, and engage a broad segment of the population. Funding cannot be used for political activity, scholarships, religious purposes, or events that benefit a single organization for the primary purpose of fundraising. Groups using a fiscal sponsor must have at least three unrelated members on an advisory board or steering committee and must submit a Memorandum of Understanding clarifying roles and responsibilities. The project must clearly serve a public charitable purpose and comply with all applicable nonprofit guidelines. Applications are submitted online and reviewed in the order received. CFMC staff screens applications for completeness and eligibility, and the Community Leadership Committee reviews qualified proposals. Applicants are notified of decisions within 14 business days of review. All funded organizations are required to publicly recognize CFMC’s support and submit a follow-up report three months after receiving funding. For questions, applicants should contact Hayley Moore, Program Officer, at hayley@communityfound.org or call (707) 468-9882 ext. 110.

Apply early and at least four weeks before your event. Confirm eligibility with Foundation staff to avoid delays. Include well-documented planning and clear community impact.