California Capacity Building Grants

The Tourist Development Council Arts, Culture & Heritage (ACH) funding program, administered by the St. Johns Cultural Council, aims to bolster the economic impact of local tourism. Its core mission is to encourage exceptional arts, culture, and heritage programming while enhancing advertising and promotion for these tourism opportunities. This aligns with a broader strategy to position St. Johns County as a culturally rich and vibrant destination, utilizing a portion of the Tourist Development Tax to support relevant operations and promotions that specifically attract visitors. The program targets organizations and events within St. Johns County that are dedicated to arts, culture, or heritage and primarily seek to draw tourists. Beneficiaries include for-profit businesses, private institutions of higher education, and municipalities that are qualified to operate in Florida. The ultimate impact goal is to increase the positive economic contributions of tourism through cultural engagement. The ACH Grant Program prioritizes activities that attract visitors, evidenced by promotion to tourists. It offers two main funding options: "Out-of-Area Marketing Support" for existing, unchanged events or programs, and "Program and Marketing Support" for new or significantly improved programs/events. A significant focus is on marketing efforts that reach audiences outside St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam, Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties, with reimbursement based on the percentage of documented out-of-area reach. Expected outcomes include enhanced advertising and promotion of St. Johns County's cultural offerings, leading to a greater influx of tourists. Measurable results will likely be tied to the documented out-of-area reach of marketing campaigns and the overall increase in tourism-related economic activity within the county. The program's strategic priority is to leverage arts, culture, and heritage as key drivers for tourism, thereby contributing to the county's economic vitality.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is offering a grant to evaluate the feasibility of using existing underground gas storage facilities to store clean renewable hydrogen in California. This project aligns with the CEC's mission to advance California's clean energy goals by exploring innovative solutions for energy storage. The overarching goal is to assess the technical and economic viability of converting these facilities for hydrogen storage, contributing to the state's renewable energy infrastructure. The grant specifically targets projects that will benefit California Gas Investor Owned Utility (IOU) ratepayers. The project focuses on developing comprehensive technical and economic assessments of storing and retrieving hydrogen blends and/or pure hydrogen. Key priorities include engaging with local communities and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) around selected sites to assess awareness and support for underground hydrogen storage, and leveraging this feedback to inform experimental design. The project also emphasizes studying the characteristics of at least two existing underground gas storage facilities, conducting experiments to assess the impacts of hydrogen introduction on well integrity and reservoir dynamics, and proposing necessary mitigation measures for safety and reliability. Expected outcomes include quantitative risk assessments and techno-economic analyses for converting selected facilities, comparing costs and risks of various use cases, and estimating levelized costs of hydrogen storage, capital costs, and operations and maintenance costs. The project will also develop recommendations for Gas IOUs, CBOs, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders to guide decision-making on the future role of underground hydrogen storage in California. Optional but desired elements include comparing the levelized cost of hydrogen storage and life-cycle emissions with alternative storage options and examining the potential of storing hydrogen in saline aquifers. The CEC's strategic priority in offering this grant is to support the integration of clean renewable hydrogen into California's energy mix. The theory of change is that by thoroughly assessing the feasibility, risks, and economic implications of underground hydrogen storage, the state can make informed decisions about deploying this technology, thereby accelerating the transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system. The grant, with a funding range of $2.5 million to $3 million and a duration of three years (November 1, 2024 – September 30, 2027), aims to produce actionable insights that can directly influence future policy and infrastructure development in California's hydrogen economy.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government agencies in California to create and expand service opportunities specifically for young men and boys, promoting their engagement in community service and personal development.

The Multipurpose Drainage Management grant program, offered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), aims to provide financial assistance for projects and practices that control water volume and rates. This program aligns with the broader mission of protecting infrastructure, improving water quality, and delivering related public benefits, while also mitigating climate change impacts. It serves as a competitive grant opportunity, with $900,000 available in FY24, to support multipurpose drainage management activities. The program's core objective is to reduce critical pollution in source areas, thereby decreasing erosion and sedimentation, lessening peak flows and flooding, and enhancing water quality. Simultaneously, it seeks to preserve drainage system efficiency and lower maintenance requirements for priority Chapter 103E drainage systems. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are Chapter 103E drainage authorities, including County, Joint County Boards, or Watershed Districts, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). The program strongly encourages partnerships between these entities to apply for and utilize the grant funds effectively. Local governments, such as counties, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, and SWCDs, are also eligible if they are operating under current State-approved and locally adopted water management plans. Municipalities can qualify if they have an approved water plan or adopted a comprehensive watershed management plan. Counties in the seven-county metropolitan area are eligible if they have adopted a county groundwater plan or a county comprehensive plan approved by the Metropolitan Council. The impact goals are centered on comprehensive water resource management, aiming for widespread environmental and infrastructural improvements across Minnesota. The grant program prioritizes a range of activities, including structural and non-structural practices and projects, project support, and grant management and reporting. Technical and engineering assistance is considered an essential component of eligible activities, to be factored into the total project or practice cost. The focus is explicitly on multipurpose drainage management practices that target specific pollution sources. By doing so, the program aims to address multiple environmental challenges simultaneously, such as reducing the physical degradation of land through erosion, preventing widespread water damage from flooding, and improving the overall ecological health of water bodies. This integrated approach ensures that interventions are holistic and yield compounded benefits. Expected outcomes from the funded projects include a measurable reduction in erosion and sedimentation, which will contribute to clearer waterways and healthier aquatic ecosystems. A decrease in peak flows and flooding is anticipated, leading to enhanced protection for infrastructure and agricultural lands, thereby reducing economic losses associated with water damage. Critically, the program expects a tangible improvement in water quality, which has direct public health and environmental benefits. Furthermore, by improving drainage system efficiency and reducing maintenance needs for Chapter 103E drainage systems, the program aims to create more sustainable and cost-effective water management solutions for the long term. These measurable results collectively support the strategic priorities of BWSR in fostering responsible water stewardship and resilience against climate change impacts.

This grant provides funding to community groups in San José for projects that enhance neighborhood beauty, improve quality of life, and foster community engagement.

The Ohio Animal Foundation is currently accepting applications for its grant program, which aims to support animal welfare initiatives across the state. While the foundation's overarching mission isn't explicitly detailed, the focus of this grant program on rescue and shelter services, as well as wildlife protection, education, and rehabilitation, strongly indicates an alignment with improving the lives of animals and protecting wildlife within Ohio. The target beneficiaries for this grant program are Ohio-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that are in good standing, specifically those involved in animal rescue, shelter services, or wildlife programs. The program intends to support services for domestic, companion, and farm animals, as well as feral and community cats. It also extends its reach to wildlife protection, education, and rehabilitation efforts. The impact goals are to provide essential funding to these organizations, enabling them to continue their vital work in animal care and protection. The priorities and focuses of the grant program are clearly defined. A significant emphasis is placed on "Rescue and Shelter Services," which includes a broad spectrum of animal care, from domestic animals to feral cat programs. Additionally, "Wildlife Protection, Education and Rehabilitation Programs" are a key area of interest, highlighting the foundation's commitment to both domesticated and wild animal populations. The typical grant range of $250-$500 suggests a strategy of providing smaller, impactful grants to a wider array of organizations. While specific expected outcomes and measurable results are not explicitly stated, it can be inferred that the foundation aims to see improvements in animal welfare metrics such as increased adoptions, successful rescue operations, effective rehabilitation of injured wildlife, and enhanced public education on animal care and protection. The modest grant size suggests a focus on supporting operational costs or specific, smaller-scale projects that can demonstrate tangible benefits within these fields. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change appear to center on empowering local Ohio-based nonprofits to directly address animal welfare needs. By providing financial assistance to established 501(c)3 organizations, the Ohio Animal Foundation likely believes that it can most effectively leverage existing infrastructure and expertise to achieve its goals. The exclusion of funding for individuals further supports this approach, focusing resources on organizations with a proven capacity for impact.

This program provides funding to established arts organizations in California to mentor and develop new local arts agencies in four underserved counties, enhancing community access to arts and cultural activities.

This program provides technical assistance and funding to support affordable housing development efforts for federally recognized tribes and Native-led organizations in California.

This grant provides financial support to independently owned legacy businesses along the historic Route 66 corridor, focusing on preservation projects that enhance visibility and sustainability, particularly for underrepresented communities.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre for significant capital projects or essential equipment purchases that have a lasting impact.

This program provides financial support to community development financial institutions that serve low-income communities in California, focusing on affordable housing, healthcare, small business growth, and economic revitalization.

This fund provides financial support to grassroots activists and community organizations in California focused on preserving natural ecosystems and promoting environmental conservation, particularly in underserved areas.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small creative businesses and sole proprietorships in San José to enhance their cultural and economic contributions through various projects and initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for innovative health initiatives that promote equity and improve healthcare delivery for underserved communities in San Francisco.

This funding opportunity supports food recovery organizations, nonprofits, public agencies, and businesses in Monterey County to divert edible food from landfills and distribute it to those in need, in line with California's sustainability goals.

This program provides $10,000 grants and support to help 20 small businesses in Long Beach grow and become sustainable through workshops and personalized assistance.

This grant provides financial support to small, community-based organizations in California that are working to address environmental issues and promote climate resilience, particularly in historically marginalized communities.

This funding opportunity supports individual artists and arts organizations in Santa Cruz County to enhance their artistic skills and professional capacity through training, mentorship, and skill-building activities.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations led by people of color in advancing racial equity through leadership development, capacity building, and collaborative efforts for systemic change.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations serving El Dorado County, California, to enhance their capacity or support specific projects that benefit the local community.