California Business and Commerce Grants

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the Grubhub Community Fund have come together once again to provide vital assistance for LGBTQ+-owned and allied restaurants, cafes, bars serving food, and other eating establishments. Donor Name: National LGBT Chamber of Commerce State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/25/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The NGLCC Community Impact Grant Program, supported by the Grubhub Community Fund, provides a financial lifeline to these businesses with grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the Community Impact Grant, applicants must: Be an LGBTQ+-owned or LGBTQ+ ally-owned restaurant, bar or café that serves food. Provide proof that you are an LGBTQ+-owned or allied establishment. Establishment has not received 2+ NGLCC Community Impact Grants in previous years. For more information, visit NGLCC.

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

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in California for projects that assist very low to moderate-income residents of Palm Desert, including seniors, the disabled, domestic violence victims, and the homeless.

AgWest Farm Credit's New Producer Grant Program supports new agricultural producers who have two years or less of operational experience or plan to start their operation within two years of applying. The grant aims to alleviate the challenge of lacking start-up funds, celebrating the ingenuity and passion of new producers. Successful applicants will receive a one-time $15,000 grant to support their operation's growth. The grant focuses on applicants within AgWest Farm Credit’s territory who are not current lending customers and are U.S. citizens or lawful residents.

The City of Alhambra in California is offering a Small Business Assistance Grant Program to support local small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible businesses must either serve a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defined low- and moderate-income area within Alhambra or be owned by low- and moderate-income individuals.Groups of neighbors must find a host organization to sponsor the project and act as the project fiduciary. Applications are accepted year-round until funds are exhausted.

The Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Support grant program provides direct funding to arts and cultural organizations in support of ongoing operations. Donor Name: California Arts Council State: California County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  06/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: This grant supports the well-being of California’s cultural vitality by helping sustain a robust and diverse arts workforce and infrastructure. Funds may be used to support any eligible expenses associated with the general operations of an arts or cultural organization, including but not limited to rent, utilities, and staff salaries. Applying for this grant does not restrict an organization from applying for other CAC project-based grants. General Operating grants are intended to support the applicant organization in carrying out its mission. Funding is not intended to support a specific project. Funding Information Organizations with total revenue below $250,000 or over $1.5 million are not eligible for this funding cycle. Applicant organizations can request up to $30,000 for this one-year funding cycle. Grant Activity Period: October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  501(c)(3) organization- Organizations must demonstrate proof of nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or section 23701d of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. Applying with a 501(c)(3) Fiscal sponsor- An applicant organization without nonprofit status must use a California-based fiscal sponsor with a federal 501(c)(3) designation to apply for funding. OR Municipal, County or Tribal Governmental Entity- Units of municipal, county, or tribal governments are eligible to apply. Certificate of good standing – Nonprofit organizations and fiscal sponsors (if applicable) must have “active status” with the California Secretary of State (SOS) showing evidence of “good standing” at the time of application. You can verify your organization’s status by conducting a search using the SOS online Business Search tool. An indication of “active” (versus “suspended,” “dissolved,” “cancelled,” etc.) confirms that your nonprofit corporation exists, is authorized to conduct business in the State of California, has met all licensing and corporation requirements, and has not received a suspension from the Franchise Tax Board. For more information, visit California Arts Council.

This program provides matching funds to small businesses in Santa Monica for exterior improvements, prioritizing those owned by minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as businesses serving low- and moderate-income areas.

This program provides financial assistance to small business owners in Richmond who have been adversely affected by COVID-19, helping them stabilize and grow their operations.

The City of Pasadena is accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Festival and Parade Grant Program. Donor Name: City of Pasadena State: California City: Pasadena Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: For the purpose of this grant program, a “festival” or “parade” is a publicly oriented thematic event with a defined cultural or artistic focus, comprised of multiple arts genres/cultural activities – or – multiple offerings focusing on one artistic genre or cultural activity, that include elements of community involvement. For example, music festivals, dance festivals, fairs, parades and cultural celebrations would all be eligible. It is produced by a non-profit or consortium of non-profit organizations. It takes place within the boundaries of Pasadena at one site or in one geographic area for one or more consecutive days, and features but is not limited to music, theatre, visual art, dance or film. Specific art /cultural “elements” of a larger event are also eligible. Simple outdoor or housed “exhibitions” without community involvement would not qualify. A non-profit arts and culture organization or non-profit social service organization (including but not limited to a chamber of commerce, social service agency, homeowners association or business district) in partnership with an arts and culture organization is eligible to apply for the production of an arts/cultural festival, fair or parade. Festival and Parade Program grants will generally support marketing costs and artists fees in order to foster accessibility, cultural diversity, and geographic equity. This grant is available only to events which take place within the Pasadena city limits. Funding Information Maximum grant request is $10,000. Project Period Project or program must take place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Eligible Projects  The Annual Grants Program provides support for the following types of Festivals and Parades: A public event or element of an event with a defined cultural or artistic purpose An arts/culture festival or parade held in publicly accessible space and free, or of reasonable cost. A collaboration between one or more Pasadena non-profit art/culture organizations and any other non-profit organization (including, but not limited to, a chamber of commerce, social service agency, homeowners association or business district). In this case either partner may take the lead on the application as long as a nonprofit partnership exists. A Pasadena social service organization may apply but only in partnership with a Pasadena arts/culture organization. An arts/culture event as stated above produced in Pasadena by a non-profit arts/culture organization not based in Pasadena but providing an event otherwise not produced by a local producer. For more information, visit City of Pasadena.

Grant Opportunity: California Local Government Housing Assistance Program Funding Organization: California Department of Housing and Community Development Contact Information: For more information, please refer to the 2023 PLHA Program Entitlement and Non-Entitlement Local Government Formula Component Notice of Funding Availability. Award Details: The program aims to provide funding to eligible Local Governments in California for housing-related projects and programs that address the unmet housing needs of their communities. Eligible activities include the predevelopment, development, acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable rental housing for extremely low-, very low-, low-, or moderate-income households. It also covers the development of affordable rental and ownership housing, including Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), for the growing workforce earning up to 120 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) or 150 percent of AMI in High-cost areas. The program also supports matching funds for Local or Regional Housing Trust Funds and the Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Asset Fund. Additionally, it provides funding for services connected to the creation of new Permanent supportive housing, assistance for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, accessibility modifications in lower-income owner-occupied housing, efforts to acquire and rehabilitate foreclosed or vacant homes and apartments, homeownership opportunities, and fiscal incentives for Affordable housing projects. Eligibility: Eligible applicants include Entitlement Local Governments, Non-Entitlement Local Governments, and Local or Regional Housing Trust Funds delegated by the Local Government. Please refer to Appendix A in the 2023 PLHA Program Entitlement and Non-Entitlement Local Government Formula Component Notice of Funding Availability for a list of eligible applicants. Matching Funding Requirement: Not applicable.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to projects that expand electric vehicle charging access for residents of multi-family housing, particularly in disadvantaged or low-income communities, promoting EV adoption and reliable charging solutions.

The City of Pittsburg Façade Improvement Grant Program aims to spur that investment opportunity by offering up to $10,000 for facade improvements to qualified businesses all across the community. Donor Name: City of Pitsburg State: California City: Pitsburg Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement Deadline: 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The City of Pittsburg recognizes the importance of investing in its local businesses to help them thrive. These businesses are the heart and soul of the Pittsburg community and are incubators of opportunity and creativity. Businesses with storefronts greatly benefit from investment on those parts of the building that are most visible to the public and face publicly accessible areas such as streets and sidewalks. Investments in these façades provide a number of benefits that include more inviting storefronts, improvements to neighborhood characteristics, reinvestment into older buildings, and more potential foot traffic. The City of Pitsburg is providing small businesses with the opportunity to apply for grants up to $10,000 for façade improvements. The City will be awarding grants each worth up to $10,000 to reimburse expenditures per applicant, from a budget of $30,000. Any additional work above the $10,000 threshold is the responsibility of the applicant. The purpose of these funds is specifically for the enhancement and beautification of public-facing building façades that will improve the image and characteristics of the building, the business, and the City and will create an inviting experience that will mutually benefit the business, its customers, and the Pitsburg community. These funds can be used for the following: Signage Awnings Exterior paint (including an -graffiti exterior paint and coatings) Architectural treatments Stucco, cladding, and/or siding repair Windows Front Entrance Doors Exterior lighting which provides or highlights architectural features Planter boxes Bicycle Racks Other enhancements determined by the City in its sole discretion to enhance the aesthetic value of the building. Eligibility Criteria  The City is seeking to help those businesses with storefronts that would provide the maximum return on investment for the City, while realizing the greatest amount of long-lasting benefits to the business. Businesses must meet the following qualifications. Business must be operating within Pittsburg city limits. Business must have an active City of Pittsburg Business License. Business, and the property where business is located, must have no outstanding, active Code Enforcement cases or building violation cases. Business must be a brick-and-mortar operation with a public-facing storefront. Home-based businesses are ineligible. Shopping Centers with 5 or less tenants are eligible. A property-owner-led application is highly encouraged to create a uniform project, but individual tenants can apply also. Business applying for or located within the structure and/or center to be improved through grant funds may not sell tobacco, alcohol, and/or cannabis products or adult materials. For more information, visit City of Pittsburg.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is offering a competitive grant of over $1 million for California dairy and livestock operations to implement non-digester manure management practices and technologies that reduce long-term methane emissions and maximize environmental benefits, with applications due by October 18, 2024.

The City of Culver City offers grants to support dance, music, and theatre performances. Donor Name: City of Culver City State: California County: Los Angeles County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  09/12/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This program brings performing arts to the community and helps make them accessible to everyone. The goal of the city is to support a variety of cultural experiences for Culver City, including its residents, businesses, artists, and visitors. Culver City wants everyone to have a chance to experience and enjoy the arts and our grants helps make this happen. We support a wide variety of artists and organizations, especially those who haven’t had many opportunities in the past. This includes people of different races, ethnicities, ages, abilities, orientations, genders, and backgrounds. The goal is to support a variety of cultural experiences for Culver City, including its residents, businesses, artists, and visitors. Eligibility Criteria Any dance, music, or theatre organization can apply, regardless of size. Your public mission must focus on dance, music, and/or theatre. You must be a non-profit organization – 501(c)(3) or partnered with a fiscal sponsor. Your organization must be based in Los Angeles County. (Fiscal sponsors must also be based in Los Angeles County.) You need to complete a Project Budget and SMU DataArts Funder Report. You need an outreach plan to attract people in Culver City to your show. Your performance cannot be part of a fundraiser or class. Each organization can only apply for one project and cannot apply for the Special Events Grant for the same project. Your performance must happen between January 1 and December 31, 2025. The performance venue must be accessible and ADA-compliant. For more information, visit City of Culver City.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is seeking proposals for the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund to advance pollinator conservation. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The goal of the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators.  The most competitive projects will demonstrate clear benefits to both monarch butterfly and additional at-risk native insect pollinator species (i.e., federally listed, candidate, or proposed native insect pollinator species). Special consideration will be given to projects benefiting rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. Categories Grants will be awarded in two categories:  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands Funding in this category will support implementation of technical assistance to increase the number of private landowners voluntarily engaged in monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation practices on private working lands. Up to $2 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $150,000 to $500,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to three years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. This category aims to support conservation planning and practice design with private landowners to advance voluntary conservation efforts on working lands that align with NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife frameworks or initiatives, and especially increase Working Lands for Wildlife participation among farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. The 2024 Pollinator Fund RFP will support projects that: Direct staff resources to help agricultural producers design and implement conservation practices. Increase Farm Bill program participation and conservation practice implementation among agricultural producers, especially farmers and ranchers in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Hiring additional staff or contractors, based on demonstrated need, including staff to assist private landowners and NRCS with developing pollinator habitat management plans and implementation of new and existing NRCS financial assistance contracts. Targeting outreach to landowners and other partners to prioritize, plan, and deliver financial assistance available through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and other Farm Bill programs to improve pollinator habitat and support at-risk pollinator species. Habitat Improvement Funding in this category will support on-the-ground work to increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. Up to $3.1 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to two years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. Applicants in this category should define a step-by-step restoration plan including site preparation, equipment used, planting techniques, size of the project area, description of target native plant community, and maintenance plan (e.g., prescribed burning, mowing, grazing schedules). Projects proposed to benefit other at-risk native insect pollinators should specify habitat needs for those species and how the proposed work will support their breeding, nectaring, nesting, or other habitat needs. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Restore and enhance pollinator habitat, with an emphasis on regionally appropriate milkweed and a diversity of native nectar plants. Increase native seed and seedling supply, with an emphasis on improving the sustainability and affordability of regionally appropriate, local ecotypes. Program Priorities  All proposals must specifically address how the proposed project will directly and measurably contribute to the accomplishment of the Pollinator Fund’s goals as outlined in NFWF’s Monarch Butterfly Business Plan. As such, all proposals must provide the number of acres restored or enhanced as a result of the project. Proposals must include plans to restore or enhance a minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states. Acres may be counted from multiple sites; the sites do not need to be contiguous. Since 2015, successful proposals have included a median of 960 acres and an average of 2,120 acres restored or enhanced.  Funding Information The Pollinator Fund will award up to $5.1 million in grants in 2024: up to $2 million for Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands and up to $3.1 million for Habitat Improvement. Funding is provided by Bayer Crop Science, Danone North America, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).  Geographical Areas  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands  Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. Projects are restricted to private working lands. Habitat Improvement Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. West of the Rocky Mountains, priority will be given to projects on or adjacent to the following: monarch butterfly overwintering sites, BLM lands, and USFS lands. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible and Ineligible Entities: Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c) organizations, U.S. federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions. Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations. For more information, visit NFWF.

The City of West Hollywood is pleased to offer the Transgender, Gender Diverse, Intersex (TGI+) Arts Grant, a category initiated by the City Council in 2013 intended to support and enhance the presentation of artworks in West Hollywood by artists, artist collectives or groups, and non-profit organizations that have demonstrated a significant commitment to and involvement with the transgender, non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming community. Donor Name: City of West Hollywood State: California County: Los Angeles County (CA) City: West Hollywood Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Individual artists, artist collectives or groups, and non-profit organizations with a history of supporting transgender, gender diverse, and/or intersex artists are all welcome to apply. Proposed projects may take place in June but will not be included as part of the WeHo Pride Festival and should be considered as separate from both the WeHo Pride Weekend as well as the WeHo Pride Arts Festival. The City of West Hollywood and Grantees in the Arts Project Grant category can expect to: Engage residents and visitors with the arts; expand arts audiences. Recognize and champion local cultural resources; discover and explore new places for artmaking. Provide a variety of quality arts programming that is financially and geographically accessible for the residents of West Hollywood; increase access to arts experiences. Increase revenues for local businesses; support arts-business partnerships. Encourage transgender artists and organizations to create innovative programming and artwork. Support transgender artists with specific professional and business development activities that will aid in building capacity and maintaining sustainability. Amplify transgender voices, express trans and gender non-conforming experiences, and explore identity and culture through the artistic process. Funding Information $30,000: Total amount of available funding in this category. $6,500: Maximum award per artist/organization. Eligibility Requirements  To be eligible for consideration, organizations must satisfy all the following requirements: Applicants must plan to hold an art exhibit, performance or screening somewhere within the City of West Hollywood or immediately adjacent (within 5 blocks of the border of West Hollywood) within the calendar year 2025 and demonstrate marketing and outreach strategies targeting West Hollywood residents and constituents. The proposed project should be 1 (one) presentation, as opposed to a series of projects over an extended period. Applicants must be able to demonstrate significant commitment to and involvement with the transgender, non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming community. Applicants must be based in LA County and must submit an on-line application by the application deadline. Applicants who are organizations must be a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and active nonprofit or provide evidence that they are under a fiscal sponsorship agreement with another nonprofit organization. Applicants may only receive funding from one grant category each calendar year. If the applicant is already receiving funding from another City Division or Department, or is cosponsored by a City Council office, they are not eligible for an Arts Grant for that same project or program. City of West Hollywood elected and appointed officials, its employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply. For more information, visit City of West Hollywood.

The Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program provides direct grant awards to African-American owned/operated businesses and attractions along Route 66, and funding to support research and programs designed to tell the stories of Black experiences related to Route 66. The program, celebrating the Route 66 Centennial, aims to help Black-owned businesses and attractions stay in operation, reopen, and expand, while also supporting research and storytelling efforts related to Black experiences on Route 66. Eligible applicants include Black-owned/operated businesses located along Route 66 with fewer than 20 employees. The 2024 grant round offers a total of $50,000 in awards, with applications due by July 14, 2024, and awards announced the week of August 5, 2024.

Grant opportunity: Job Creation and Business Incentive Program in California offers forgivable loans to prospective and existing business owners for job creation. Eligible businesses include new ventures or existing ones looking to expand their floor area by 50% or more. The grants can be used for interior/exterior improvements, purchase of business equipment, furniture, fixtures, and working capital.

The City of West Hollywood is pleased to offer the Arts Project Grant to eligible, nonprofit arts organizations for the production, performance or presentation of art projects that take place in the City of West Hollywood and that serve the West Hollywood community. Donor Name: City of West Hollywood State: California County: Los Angeles County (CA) City: West Hollywood Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The City of West Hollywood and Grantees in the Arts Project Grant category can expect to: Engage residents and visitors with the arts; expand arts audiences. Recognize and champion local cultural resources; discover and explore new places for artmaking. Provide a variety of quality arts programming that is financially and geographically accessible for the residents of West Hollywood; increase access to arts experiences. Increase revenues for local businesses; support arts-business partnerships. Funding Information $42,200: Total amount of available funding in this category in 2025 $10,000: Maximum award per organization per calendar year Organizations may apply for two years of grant funding with one application. The organization will be required to apply for two projects, one for each project year (year one: January 1, 2025 –December 31, 2025 and year two: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026). Eligibility Requirements  To be eligible for consideration, organizations must satisfy all the following requirements: The primary mission of the organization must be the production and/or public presentation of one or more disciplines of the arts. Applicants must plan to present for the general public within the City of West Hollywood or immediately adjacent (within 5 blocks of the border of West Hollywood) within the funded calendar year. The proposed project should be 1 (one) presentation per year, as opposed to a series of projects over an extended period. Organizations must be able to demonstrate artistic experience in their field, and an understanding of the unique aspects and cultural diversity of the West Hollywood community. Organizations must provide a CA Data Arts Report for the previous 2 years (2022, 2023). Organizations may not pass through the grant funding. Applicants must be the presenting party. Applicants must be a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit based in Los Angeles County. Applicants may only receive funding from one grant category each calendar year. If the applicant is already receiving funding from another City Division or Department, or is cosponsored by a City Council office, they are not eligible for an Arts Grant for that same project or program. City of West Hollywood elected and appointed officials, its employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply. Proposed projects may not include fundraisers, capital campaigns, murals, or religious-based programs/events. Organizations with budgets of $1 Million Dollars or more are required to provide a cultural equity statement. Applicants must submit an application online by the deadline. For more information, visit City of West Hollywood.