California Arts Grants

The Community Impact Arts Grant (CIAG) program, funded by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, offers financial support ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit organizations and municipal departments in Los Angeles County, whose primary mission is outside of the arts, to enhance community wellbeing and solve civic problems through high-quality arts and culture programs.

Travel Paso is accepting applications for its 2025 Community Event Marketing Grant, aimed at supporting local events that align with its mission to promote Paso Robles, with a focus on collaboration, diversity, variety, and sustainability, and encourages applicants to outline their marketing strategies, event timing, measurement of overnight stays, and potential for partnership with Travel Paso.

The Zoo Labs: FUND, administered in partnership with the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), is a funding and investment initiative designed to support Bay Area entrepreneurs who are launching or growing businesses centered around music. With a strong emphasis on culturally-rooted artist teams, the program offers unrestricted funding to music ventures that align with values of cultural preservation, innovation, economic empowerment, and community enrichment. In 2025, the FUND will distribute a total of $230,000 in grants, prioritizing artist teams that face barriers to accessing capital and are committed to contributing to the Bay Area's creative ecosystem. Zoo Labs: FUND provides grants in four tiers: $5,000, $15,000, $25,000, and $50,000, with award size contingent upon the team’s business development stage. Eligibility requires applicant teams of at least two individuals, including one culturally-rooted artist, who all reside full-time in specified Bay Area counties. Teams may include various roles such as content creators, producers, engineers, and advisors, and must be operating a music-centered business, whether as a nonprofit, sole proprietorship, or for-profit organization. Prior grantees may reapply if they meet reporting and mentorship obligations from previous awards. Applicants must complete an online submission through CCI’s Submittable platform between May 19 and July 7, 2025. Required materials include a team pitch video, business matrix, one work sample, and a budget with notes. Applications are assessed based on the strength of the team, artistry and craft, entrepreneurship, and internal and external community impact. An independent panel reflecting diverse backgrounds will review the materials and recommend grantees. The notification of awards is scheduled for September 8, 2025. In addition to receiving financial support, awardees gain access to mentorship opportunities through Zoo Labs: LEARN. These include on-demand courses, virtual networking sessions, and for higher-tier recipients, a strategy session with Zoo Labs Co-Founder Vinitha Watson. All grantees must attend a virtual orientation on October 15, 2025, and participate in at least one one-on-one business mentorship session. Recipients of $25,000 or $50,000 grants are also invited to serve as voluntary mentors to future applicants. The grant supports activities from September 2025 through September 2026. For assistance, applicants can contact CCI via email at [email protected] or phone at 415.288.0530. Additional technical support is available through Submittable. Information sessions and office hours are scheduled throughout June and early July to assist prospective applicants in preparing strong submissions. All applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines, FAQs, and application preview before seeking support. The Zoo Labs: FUND is made possible with support from Vinitha and David Watson and individual donors. Contributions are welcomed to expand the program’s reach. The FUND continues to invest in artistic legacies that reflect the diversity, resilience, and creativity of Bay Area communities.

This grant provides financial support to small and mid-sized arts organizations in San Francisco that are deeply connected to their communities, helping them cover essential operating costs and foster artistic expression.

The Environmental Education and Conservation Fund, established in 2018 by biologist Roger Foote and agronomist Chuck Vaughn, aims to foster appreciation, conservation, and responsible use of the natural environment within Mendocino County. This initiative aligns directly with the Community Foundation of Mendocino County's mission to support organizations, including educational institutions, that offer conservation and/or education programs. The overarching goal is to raise awareness about the natural world through educational endeavors and to directly address significant conservation challenges. The fund targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including educational institutions and other organizations that provide conservation and education programs. The impact goals are centered around increasing ecological understanding, promoting natural resource management, highlighting the scientific method in conservation, addressing climate change and human roles in it, and encouraging land stewardship. Ultimately, the fund seeks to improve public access to natural lands, ensuring people from all backgrounds can experience and enjoy them. The fund's priorities and focuses are clearly delineated, encompassing both educational and conservation projects. Educational initiatives may include outdoor schools, science camps, college-level natural resource management programs, and natural history displays. Conservation projects, on the other hand, can involve wildlife surveys, habitat studies, restoration efforts, improving public access to conservation lands, land stewardship internships, tree planting, and invasive plant removal. The fund emphasizes a holistic approach to environmental well-being. Expected outcomes include a more informed public regarding ecological understanding and climate change, improved natural resource management practices, and tangible progress in habitat and watershed restoration. Measurable results could manifest in increased participation in environmental education programs, the successful completion of conservation projects such as a certain acreage of restored habitat, and an expansion of public access points to natural areas. The Foundation's strategic priorities are rooted in the belief that investing in both education and direct conservation efforts will lead to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious community, embodying a theory of change where knowledge and action drive positive ecological impact.

The Beacon House Request for Proposals (RFP) from the Gateway Foundation aims to expand substance use disorder (SUD) services in Monterey County, California, through community-based funding. This initiative directly aligns with the Foundation's mission to re-invest in the Monterey County community by providing flexible grant funds to support local organizations. The program seeks to infuse financial resources for the operating, supporting, and/or renovation of SUD services, thereby improving access to treatment and recovery supports in the region. The target beneficiaries are individuals in Monterey County experiencing substance use disorder, with a specific focus on residents who make up at least 50% of the clients served by recipient organizations. The impact goals are centered on expanding access to SUD services and recovery support, as well as increasing the capacity of service providers. By providing flexible one-time costs, the Gateway Foundation intends to address critical gaps in service provision and enhance the overall health and well-being of the community. The program prioritizes established 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that are licensed by the state of California to provide behavioral health services, currently operate in Monterey County, and utilize evidence-based services. Grant funds can be used for a variety of purposes including staff development, training, equipment, repairs & maintenance, expansion of services/access, and reasonable start-up operational costs (not exceeding 50% of the total funding request). This flexible approach ensures that the funds can be tailored to the specific needs of local providers to achieve the greatest impact. Expected outcomes include improved access to SUD treatment and recovery services, enhanced capacity of behavioral health organizations in Monterey County, and a strengthened network of local service providers. The Gateway Foundation's strategic priority is to support organizations that can demonstrate a history of providing behavioral health services, sound financial management, and a client base predominantly from Monterey County. The underlying theory of change is that by investing directly in local, established providers, and allowing for flexible use of funds for one-time costs, access to essential SUD services will significantly improve, leading to better community health outcomes. The project period for funding is September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025.

The City of Tustin, through its Tustin Cares program, is offering the Main Street Digital Training and Grant Program (Main Street Digital Program) in collaboration with the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network (OCIE SBDC). This initiative aims to provide training and funding to local retail businesses, home-based businesses, and nonprofits, collectively referred to as "Businesses," that are looking to enhance their social media presence and/or increase revenue. This program aligns with a broader mission of supporting local economic growth and resilience, particularly for entities impacted by external factors such as COVID-19, as indicated by the allowance for businesses not in good standing due to pandemic-related issues. The target beneficiaries of the Main Street Digital Program are retail businesses, home-based businesses, and nonprofits physically located in Tustin. These entities must also possess an active Tustin business license since the first quarter of 2023 and have a minimum of two employees, including owners, and no more than twenty-five full-time equivalent employees as of December 31, 2023. Certain businesses are explicitly excluded, such as cannabis-related businesses, gambling facilities, adult entertainment businesses, massage parlors, largely cash-based businesses, and residential or real estate projects including short-term rental operators. The program's impact goals center on empowering these eligible businesses to improve their digital marketing capabilities and ultimately boost their financial performance. The program's priorities and focus areas are clearly on digital transformation and revenue generation through enhanced social media presence. By offering training, the program aims to equip businesses with the necessary skills to navigate the digital landscape effectively. The grant component provides crucial financial support, enabling businesses to implement these new strategies. This focus reflects a strategic priority to modernize local businesses and help them adapt to contemporary market demands, thereby strengthening the local economy from within. Expected outcomes include a significant increase in the social media presence of participating businesses and a measurable improvement in their revenue. While specific metrics for "measurable results" are not detailed beyond "increase their social media presence and/or revenue," the implicit theory of change is that by providing targeted training and financial assistance for digital marketing, businesses will become more competitive, attract a wider customer base, and achieve sustainable growth. The program's success will likely be evaluated based on the number of businesses trained, the grants disbursed, and the reported improvements in their digital engagement and financial health.

The City of Hyattsville's Commercial Façade Improvement Program is a grant initiative designed to enhance the visual appeal, quality, and vitality of the city’s commercial districts. The program aims to facilitate private sector investment in exterior improvements for commercial buildings, aligning with the city's broader mission of supporting local businesses and fostering a vibrant urban environment. It recognizes that individual façade improvements contribute significantly to the overall aesthetic and economic health of the commercial areas. This program targets business or property owners within three specific investment areas: the West Hyattsville Transit District, the Route One/Gateway Arts District, and the Prince George’s Plaza Transit District. The primary impact goals are to remove accessibility barriers, stimulate further investment in commercial properties, and achieve significant visual enhancements in commercial façade appearance. Projects that directly address these goals will receive preferential consideration, ensuring that the grants contribute effectively to the city's development objectives. The program prioritizes well-designed façade improvements that extend the longevity of buildings. Eligible improvements are diverse and include signage, exterior painting, storefront reconstruction, siding, exterior lighting, window and door upgrades, public-facing masonry or cornices, murals, and the removal of unattractive exterior finishes, as well as roof repairs and other approved uses. Eligibility requirements stipulate that structures must be commercially zoned and in use, or planned for commercial use, within Hyattsville. Correction of building code violations must be integrated into the improvement work, and vacant properties must secure a tenant within six months of project completion. The grant operates on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis, providing financial assistance ranging from $5,000 to $35,000. This structure is intended to leverage private investment and maximize the program's reach. The expected outcome is a series of visually improved commercial facades that enhance the city's commercial districts, attract new businesses, and encourage community engagement. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the scope of "significant visual improvements," the program implies that an increase in commercial vitality and accessibility, alongside the tangible improvements listed, will serve as indicators of success. The city's strategic priority is to empower the private sector to make these improvements, underpinned by a theory of change that postulates that financial assistance for façade upgrades will directly lead to a more attractive and economically robust commercial landscape.

The City of Riverside Small & Micro Business Grant Program is designed to foster local small business resiliency by offering consultation services to identify areas for improvement and develop tailored strategies. The program aims to enhance financial stability, promote long-term sustainability, and build capacity for success among local businesses. This initiative addresses ongoing pandemic recovery needs and aligns with the Department of Treasury State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to support long-term growth and reduce barriers for small businesses in disadvantaged communities. The target beneficiaries of this program are privately-owned, for-profit businesses that were in operation prior to March 13, 2020. This includes self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, sole proprietors, 1099 independent contractors, home-based operations, LLCs, and C-Corporations. Individuals who started a business due to COVID-19 employment challenges before January 1, 2023, are also eligible. All applicants must be located within the City Limits of Riverside and possess a physical or residential business address. The program prioritizes businesses that are either categorically eligible (presumed impacted by ARPA) or can demonstrate a financial impact from COVID-19. This includes businesses experiencing decreased revenue, increased costs, challenges covering operating expenses like payroll and rent, or a lower capacity to withstand financial hardship due to depleted savings or lack of working capital. Annual gross revenue must be between $10,000 and $2.5 million, and businesses must have fewer than 50 employees, including owners. Maintaining active and good standing with all City, County, State, and Federal entities is also a key eligibility criterion. The expected outcomes and measurable results include increased financial stability and long-term sustainability for participating businesses, as well as enhanced capacity for success. The program seeks to reduce barriers to success for small businesses, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and promote access to valuable partner resources. In addition to direct financial support, with grant awards up to $25,000, all applicants receive a free one-on-one Strategic Planning Consultation. This consultation is a key component for identifying opportunities for improvement and building customized strategies, directly contributing to the program's goals of fostering resiliency and growth within the local small business ecosystem.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Gilroy that are dedicated to improving the community through various initiatives in sectors such as arts, education, health, and environment.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations for repairing, replacing, and installing electric vehicle charging ports in California to improve the reliability and accessibility of the state's EV charging infrastructure.

The "Level Up LB: Extreme Small Business Makeover and Grant Program," launched by the City of Long Beach, is an initiative designed to enhance the success and sustainability of small businesses. While the description doesn't explicitly detail a "foundation mission alignment," the program itself aligns with the broader civic mission of economic development and community prosperity. By empowering local entrepreneurs, the City of Long Beach aims to strengthen its local economy and foster a vibrant business environment, thereby contributing to the overall well-being of its residents and community. The program targets small businesses located and operating within Long Beach, California, with a storefront accessible to the public. Eligible businesses must have been in operation for a minimum of three years as of April 23, 2024, be independently-owned for-profit entities (including sole proprietorships, LLCs, or Corporations that are not publicly traded), or 501(c)3 nonprofits. They must hold an active or delinquent City of Long Beach business license, be currently open and active, and earn no more than $5 million in annual gross revenue. Corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships must have an "ACTIVE" status with the California Secretary of State. The program excludes businesses without a physical location, permanently closed businesses, government entities, political/lobbying activities, passive businesses, religious organizations, financial lending businesses, landlords/property managers (unless repairing on behalf of a small business), illegal activities, socially undesirable activities (e.g., check cashing), businesses with active code enforcement/COVID-19 Health Order violations, and cannabis-related businesses. The program's priorities and focuses include igniting growth and fostering excellence among Long Beach's small businesses. Through no-cost training sessions, participants will receive comprehensive support in strategic business planning, marketing, branding, social media optimization, access to capital, government procurement, permitting/licensing, merchandising, networking, biz-to-biz mentorship, talent recruitment, and personalized business counseling. A selection committee will determine program participants and grant awards based on representation across all parts of the city (with priority for low-to-moderate income areas), representation across multiple sectors, and business readiness and potential impact of program participation. Expected outcomes and measurable results include participants becoming eligible to apply for $10,000 grants upon completion of the program, which are intended to empower them to expand their business capacity and enhance resilience. The City’s Economic Development Department will select a group of 25 small businesses for this exclusive opportunity. The focus on comprehensive workshops and subsequent grant eligibility directly aims to translate the acquired knowledge and resources into tangible business expansion and increased sustainability. While specific quantitative metrics for growth and resilience are not detailed, the program's structure implies that the successful utilization of the grants and learned strategies will be key indicators of impact.

The City of San Diego's Economic Development Department is offering a grant of $10,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit organizations that can assist small businesses in under-resourced communities, with funds to be used for capacity building expenses such as technical assistance, website creation, and event programming, with priority given to organizations with modest budgets and proposals aligning with the Economic Development Strategy.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to California-based nonprofits and government entities for arts education projects that engage and empower young people, particularly those from underserved communities.

This program provides funding to California municipalities and nonprofit organizations to help reduce pet overpopulation through spay and neuter services.

The Boulder County Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant Program (SFMG) provides cost-share funding through competitive grants to support large landscape and community-wide forest and grassland management projects. Funded by the county’s voter-approved wildfire mitigation sales and use tax, which went into effect in 2023, the program aims to leverage other federal, state, and local funding sources. The program's mission is aligned with the county's strategic priorities to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, protect water supplies, and promote resilient ecosystems, directly addressing the environmental and safety concerns of its residents. The target beneficiaries include local government entities, private utilities, ditch companies, water providers, state agencies, Homeowners Associations, and non-profit organizations in Boulder County. The program's impact goals are to mitigate wildfire risks across private, local government, and federal lands, safeguarding communities and natural resources. This includes protecting critical water supplies and fostering ecosystems that can better withstand and recover from wildfires. The program prioritizes fuels reduction by various methods, including mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, mowing, and grazing. Specific focuses include the creation or maintenance of fuel breaks, removal of woody materials with utilization plans, and disposal of slash and non-merchantable materials. Cross-boundary projects involving multiple land types are also emphasized, as are updates or development of new Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). For planning grants, a cap of $250,000 is set for the total, with up to five proposals funded annually at a maximum of $50,000 each. Expected outcomes include a significant reduction in potential fire intensity and a decrease in the risk of catastrophic wildfires, directly benefiting public safety and property. Measurable results will be seen through the implementation of fuel breaks, successful fuels reduction projects in forests and grasslands, and the development or update of CWPPs. The long-term impact aims to foster more resilient ecosystems and secure water supplies for the community, aligning with a theory of change that proactive, collaborative mitigation efforts lead to enhanced environmental health and community safety.

Impact Projects grants support arts organizations for collaborations between local artist(s) and community members to develop and express their own creative and artistic goals and address a community-defined need. Collaborative projects will utilize various creative practices to impact social issues affecting their communities, including but not limited to systemic marginalization, incarceration/justice systems, arts learning, poverty/economic disparity, health disparities, accessibility for people with disabilities, housing insecurity, violence, food insecurity, cultural/social justice, intergenerational/multigenerational learning, veterans’ issues, and environmental sustainability

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation is offering grants specifically for children and youth mental health, aligning with its mission to improve behavioral health service delivery. The foundation recognizes that a significant number of children and adolescents with mental health and substance use disorders do not receive adequate treatment, with 1 in 5 children aged 13 to 18 experiencing serious mental illness, half by age 14 and 75% by age 24. This grant program aims to address this critical gap by supporting the implementation of Children's Mental Health Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs). The primary beneficiaries of these grants are children and young people (21 years old and younger) in southeast Michigan, particularly in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, or Washtenaw counties. The foundation may also consider programs benefiting a major portion of the State of Michigan. The impact goals are centered around improving access to and quality of behavioral health services for this vulnerable population, ultimately leading to better mental health outcomes and earlier intervention. The grants are open to local or state governmental agencies and non-profit organizations that provide mental health care and services. The foundation prioritizes proposals that focus on several key areas. These include implementing infant mental health models for at-risk parents (zero to three), integrating developmental screening and treatment in early childhood settings (four to six), and establishing pediatric screening and treatment models in primary care and school-based clinics. Additionally, the foundation supports various therapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, family psychoeducation, trauma-informed care, and applied behavior therapy. Crucially, it also emphasizes diversion programs to steer children and youth with mental health disorders away from the juvenile justice system and into appropriate treatment, as well as best practice peer support models. While the foundation does not endorse a specific list of evidence-based practices, its strategic priorities and theory of change are evident in its focus on these areas. By supporting a range of evidence-based practices and models, the foundation expects to see measurable results in improved behavioral health service delivery. This includes increased access to mental health care, earlier detection and intervention for mental health disorders, and effective therapeutic outcomes. The allocation of approximately $500,000 for 2024, with two-year grant requests ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 per year, underscores a commitment to sustained impact over the grant period of January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to county governments in Kern and Los Angeles Counties for training programs that prepare workers to safely cap abandoned oil wells, ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

This new multi-year grant program intends to create local community connections to California’s rich and diverse cultural history and natural areas outside of California’s state park boundaries. Eligible projects will enhance connections to local cultural history, local parks, open space or natural areas through community events, programming or installations that help to build sustainable community connections, health and well-being. The Local Parks Grants Program will be managed and administered by Parks California. This program supports the “Outdoor Access for All” initiative led by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, along with the Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative, and California State Parks’ Reexamining Our Past Initiative.