DEI High Impact Grant

The 2025–26 DEI High Impact Grant, administered by the City of San Luis Obispo’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), aims to support initiatives that drive systemic and structural change through the advancement of equity and inclusion. This annual program is designed to back innovative or proven projects, programs, and initiatives that address persistent disparities within the city. The grant emphasizes supporting underserved and underrepresented communities while fostering access, belonging, and social equity for all San Luis Obispo residents. As part of the City’s continued investment in DEI principles, the funding opportunity seeks to catalyze measurable progress through community engagement, capacity building, and strategic interventions aligned with best practices or creative approaches. Funded activities under this program must align with DEI objectives and address at least one systemic or structural issue identified by the City. These include areas such as affordable housing, access to behavioral health services, environmental justice, disparities in criminal justice, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. Applicants are expected to propose initiatives that not only serve targeted marginalized populations but also extend their benefits to the broader San Luis Obispo community. For instance, past funding has supported language-access initiatives, community art projects, allyship training, and civic engagement events—each contributing to broader systemic outcomes while focusing on inclusivity. The DEI High Impact Grant supports both new and existing initiatives, and it encourages the development of sustainable, impactful programming. The City allows applicants to request funding for one-time services with long-term effects, as well as multi-stakeholder collaborations. A minimum of $5,000 and a maximum of $20,000 is available for single applicants, while collaborative projects involving two or more entities can request up to $40,000. For collaborative applications, the lead applicant must be an eligible nonprofit or public institution and will act as the fiscal agent under the grant agreement. Eligibility is strictly limited to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government or educational institutions, and faith-based organizations that have provided DEI-related programming in San Luis Obispo County for at least two years prior to application. All funded activities must occur within the City and primarily serve City residents. Applicants must submit documentation including a DEI statement, budget, organizational chart, tax-exempt status certification, and agree to City contract terms. All recipients are required to complete periodic and final impact reports, and return any unused funds. The submission deadline for the 2025–26 cycle is Tuesday, September 2, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. Completed applications must be submitted through the official City application portal. The Human Relations Commission (HRC), in coordination with the DEI Office, will review and evaluate submissions based on their alignment with systemic change goals, their potential for measurable impact, and their capacity to serve marginalized communities while benefiting the wider public. Recommendations from the HRC will then be forwarded to the City Council for final approval. This grant cycle is a single-year opportunity with one application window. While no recurring due dates are currently listed, the annual nature of the program indicates a likelihood of similar funding being available in future cycles. For further inquiries or clarification, applicants may contact the Office of DEI at 805-781-7073 or via email at DEI@slocity.org . A sample contract and reporting template are also available on the City’s grant webpage for applicants’ reference.