California Wildlands Grassroots Fund

The California Wildlands Grassroots Fund (Cal Wildlands) is administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Oakland, California. The fund is specifically designed to support grassroots activists and community-led organizations working to preserve and protect the natural ecosystems of California. By championing initiatives focused on wildland conservation, Cal Wildlands aims to maintain and restore the state's ecological integrity and biodiversity across public and private lands. This fund provides financial support for a broad array of conservation activities, including advocacy for permanent land protection, wildlands restoration, stewardship, and regulatory watchdog efforts. Eligible activities also encompass community-based advocacy, outreach campaigns, scientific research, and capacity-building initiatives such as training, software acquisition, and organizational development. Environmental education efforts may be supported as long as they include a significant advocacy component. The fund prioritizes projects that are community-driven, volunteer-led, and located in underserved or rural areas with limited access to traditional funding sources. Projects that foster diverse constituencies for environmental conservation, including outreach to communities of color and non-traditional stakeholders, are particularly encouraged. Additionally, Cal Wildlands supports efforts that have the potential to establish or counter legal or policy precedents affecting the broader conservation landscape. Eligibility is limited to organizations or individuals with annual expenses and income of $200,000 or less. Applicants must either be a nonprofit organization or be fiscally sponsored by one. Projects must occur within California and demonstrate a tangible impact on wildlands preservation or stewardship. Urban and suburban projects are eligible only if they demonstrate ecological connectivity to larger preserved areas or critical wildlife corridors. The fund offers grants of up to $10,000, with most awards ranging from $4,000 to $8,000. Groups with annual operating budgets under $30,000 are encouraged to request no more than $5,000. Applications are accepted four times per year: February 17 (Spring), May 15 (Summer), August 15 (Fall), and October 28 (Winter). If a deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, the application is due the following business day by midnight. Funded organizations may reapply after one year if they have completed and submitted their final report; unfunded applicants may reapply in the next cycle. Prospective applicants are encouraged to book a consultation with Aurora Heying, who can be contacted via email at aheying@rosefdn.org. Additional support resources, including application instructions and grantee examples, are available on the Rose Foundation’s website. Grantees from the past four years are also eligible for an additional "Grow Your Roots Mini-Grant" of up to $500 for organizational development purposes.

Applicants are encouraged to review eligibility, connect with staff for guidance, and submit early. Projects in underfunded communities and those engaging diverse constituencies are prioritized.