Improve the Quality of Life of LGBTQ+ Community in California

The Out Reach Fund is a field of interest fund administered by the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC). Established in 2005, the fund was created to improve the quality of life for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, friends, and loved ones in Monterey County, California. The CFMC has a long-standing commitment to equity and community well-being and created the Out Reach Fund based on input from over 300 LGBTQ+ and allied community members. This fund is designed to pool resources from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support nonprofit organizations that serve the local LGBTQ+ population. The Out Reach Fund supports initiatives across five main areas: arts and culture, awareness and civil rights, health and mental health services, organizational capacity building, and targeted support for LGBTQ+ youth and seniors. The fund is particularly interested in projects that foster acceptance, promote visibility, and strengthen the infrastructure of organizations serving the LGBTQ+ community. Programs that support LGBTQ+ young people and seniors, create safe spaces, or raise awareness through creative expression are strongly encouraged. A foundational study conducted at the fund’s inception revealed key community needs, such as the desire for a central LGBTQ+ drop-in resource center and the need to uplift LGBTQ+ youth in particular. Responding to these findings, the Out Reach Fund aims to support agencies and grassroots initiatives that address systemic challenges, offer support services, and build community capacity. Successful past initiatives include events like the Latinx LGBTQ+ Film Festival, which was led by youth and focused on increasing visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals in the region. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000. Funding may be used for program support, capacity building, outreach initiatives, or events aligned with the fund’s mission. All applications must support work that benefits the LGBTQ+ community within Monterey County. Organizations must be nonprofits operating locally, and projects must be aligned with one or more of the fund's priority areas. The next grant application deadline is October 3, 2025. Awards will be announced in December 2025. Applications must be submitted through the CFMC’s online grants management portal. There are no specified pre-application deadlines, Q&A periods, or mandatory letters of intent. However, applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the fund’s goals and prepare thoughtful, well-documented proposals that align with the outlined support areas. The fund is managed by Janet Shing, Director of Grantmaking at the CFMC. She can be contacted at 831-754-5880 x137 for inquiries. The foundation operates out of two locations: 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940, and 945 South Main Street, Suite 207, Salinas, CA 93901. This funding opportunity is not recurring or rolling, and is limited to nonprofits serving LGBTQ+ communities in Monterey County.