California Environmental Grassroots Fund

The California Environmental Grassroots Fund is a regranting initiative that supports small and emerging grassroots organizations working within the state of California. It is administered by the Rose Foundation and is backed by a coalition of individual donors and foundation supporters. The Fund operates under the guidance of a funding board composed of community activists and seasoned funders who help shape its priorities and ensure that grantmaking decisions reflect community values and needs. The primary goal of the Fund is to support organizations that build climate resilience and promote environmental justice at the local level. Grants are directed toward groups that engage in community organizing, advocacy, education, and restoration efforts. Priority is given to groups that are rooted in the communities they serve, especially those representing historically marginalized populations including BIPOC, frontline, immigrant, and low-income communities. The Fund encourages projects with strategic vision, broad community engagement, and the potential for significant environmental impact. Funding is available for general organizational support and is intended to help grassroots organizations sustain and expand their ongoing efforts. The maximum grant size is $7,500, with most awards ranging between $4,000 and $7,500. Organizations must have an annual income or expenses of $150,000 or less to be eligible. Applicants can be nonprofits, fiscally sponsored organizations, or request fiscal sponsorship from the Fund. Only projects with a geographic focus within California are considered. Applications that include components such as community-based advocacy, litigation, habitat protection, land management, and environmental health are particularly encouraged. While environmental education and community garden projects may be considered, they are less likely to be funded unless they clearly serve impacted communities and include a strong advocacy component. The Fund does not support capital campaigns, one-time events, or activities related to political candidates. The application process is conducted through an online portal. Applicants must either create a new account or log into an existing one to begin the application. A downloadable list of application questions is available and applicants are advised to save their responses in a separate document before submission to prevent data loss. Applications are due by September 2, 2025, and applicants should expect a highly competitive selection process. Organizations that are funded may reapply after one year, while those not selected may reapply after six months. Groups that have received three consecutive years of funding must wait one year before reapplying. Applicants are encouraged to contact Aurora Heying at aheying@rosefdn.org for guidance or consultation before applying. Technical support is available for users of the online application platform. Confirmations of application receipt will be sent within three days of submission. If applicants do not receive confirmation, they are instructed to contact the foundation directly. Incomplete or improperly submitted applications may be rejected by the system, and applicants should follow specific instructions to avoid submission errors.

Save responses in a Word document before inputting them online. Save progress frequently. Review application length limits and attachment size requirements.