California Environment Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that help communities adapt to climate change and improve environmental resilience, specifically targeting areas with low-income populations.

This funding opportunity is designed to support projects that enhance climate resilience, protect wildlife habitats, and improve water management in California's communities.

Private entities must be authorized to conduct business in the State of California, by either being registered with the California Secretary of State as a business located in California, being registered as a foreign (out–of–state or out–of–country) business or processing a business license issued by a California city, county, or city and county. Private, non-profit entities, in addition to being registered with the California Secretary of State, must also be registered with the California Department of Justice, and appear on their Registry of Charitable Trusts. If a non-profit entity is excluded from registering with the Department of Justice, proof must be provided with the application. Eligible applicants include: Collection Programs (CP) that are building workforce development for innovative redemption models. The Collection Program must be certified and in good standing with CalRecycle. Workforce Development innovative recycling redemption models include:• Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) • Bag Drop Projects Available Funds• $ 5,000,000 is available for this grant cycle, fiscal year 2022–23, subject to funding availability. • $ 750,000 is the minimum available for individual grant awards.• $ 2,500,000 is the maximum available for individual grant awards.

This funding opportunity is designed to support projects that enhance climate resilience, protect wildlife habitats, and improve water management in California's rivers and streams.

The Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), announces the availability of up to $1 million in California State General Funds for the Evaluation and Technical Assistance (ETA) for the Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Fund (DOGWF). The DOGWF ETA PY 23-24 awardee will be responsible for providing evaluation and technical assistance for DOGWF PY 23-24 program awardees as they pioneer initiatives that guide displaced oil and gas workers into new jobs and career trajectories by extending beyond singular sectors, committed to securing stable, well-compensated, and gratifying roles for these workers across diverse industries. The DOGWF ETA PY 23-24 grant aims to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of DOGWF projects. The initiative seeks to fund an organization with expertise in assessing program and operational capacity, facilitating Communities of Practice (CoPs), conducting a developmental evaluation for continuous learning and improvement, and addressing the needs of displaced workers impacted by energy sector shifts for future policy and program planning. In addition, the ETA awardee will support program grantees with developing and implementing strategies for partnership development, participant assessment, skills transfer, career navigation, administering training stipends, providing wrap-around support, identifying relevant career pathways and training programs, and guidance on participant tracking and performance outcomes reporting. Applicants for the DOGWF ETA must be organizations with the capacity, relationships, and expertise to deliver ETA to grantees across the state. Proposals from non-profit or for-profit consulting, technical assistance, evaluation, capacity-building organizations, labor organizations, community colleges, adult education providers, workforce boards, and education and training providers will be accepted. Proposals must be received by 3 p.m. PST on July 22, 2024. An informational webinar will be held on June 25, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. PST.  Pre-registration is required for all attendees. Please register through the following link by June 24, 2024 by 9 a.m. PST: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EOwky4VSQ06lWDMieX-9bA The EDD encourages applicants to submit a Notice of Intent to apply by July 1, 2024, at noon to [email protected]. To view this SFP, visit the EDD Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals webpage

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is soliciting proposals to improve existing efforts to reduce mortality of whales from entanglement in fishing gear in Southern California. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: California County: Los Angeles County (CA), Orange County (CA), Santa Barbara County (CA), Ventura County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  07/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The activities will provide compensatory restoration for injury to cetaceans caused by the Refugio Beach Oil Spill (RBOS). Specifically, the aim of the activities is to augment an existing permitted and authorized program off the southern California coast by increasing the capacity of the entanglement response network in areas that need additional support to respond to reports of entangled cetaceans, to document and disentangle these animals, and to broadly support efforts to reduce the number of entanglements that could lead to serious injuries or mortalities. Priorities Project proposals should address as many of these program priorities as possible: Directly Enhance Entanglement Response Enhance entanglement responses that benefit cetaceans in Southern California. Types of direct response activities could include, but are not limited to: Participate in, and/or lead, entanglement responses in Southern California Participate in, and/or lead, entanglement responses beyond Southern California that benefit cetaceans in Southern California Coordinate with federal, state and local resource agencies This project will work closely with federal, state and local resource agencies to enhance coordination of the overall West Coast Marine Mammal Entanglement Response Program (Program), with a primary focus of benefitting cetaceans in Southern California.  Train and develop volunteer response capacity Efforts to train and develop volunteer response capacity throughout the West Coast have been limited. In addition, the relatively low number of high-level trained responders on the West Coast make it difficult to generate effective responses that may include detailed documentation of entanglement events, as well as disentanglement efforts.  Build capacity and infrastructure Proposals should outline how these activities will contribute to the development of the overall capacity and infrastructure of the Program. Funding Information An estimated $250,000 will be available through this solicitation for a Phase 1 project award, which is anticipated to last 1–2 years.  Geographic Focus The priority geographic focus is Southern California, and – in particular for responding to entangled cetaceans – the coastlines off Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange Counties Applicants do not need to be primarily based in the Southern California area if they can provide assurance that they can effectively perform entanglement response and capacity building activities in Southern California. Project proposals may include additional activities outside of the priority geographic focus if they relate to the health and protection of individual cetaceans that may occur in southern California at some point during their life. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, for-profit organizations, Tribal governments and organizations, educational institutions, international organizations. Ineligible applicants include U.S. federal government agencies, and unincorporated individuals. For more information, visit NFWF.

This funding opportunity supports tribes, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies in California to implement environmental restoration projects that enhance wildlife corridors, improve habitat resilience, and address climate impacts.

This funding opportunity supports Tribes, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies in California to restore wetlands and mountain meadows, promoting climate resilience and enhancing natural habitats.

The Coastal Conservancy funds a wide variety of projects along the California coast, San Francisco Bay, and in coastal watersheds to increase availability of beaches, parks and trails for the public, protect and restore natural lands and wildlife habitat, preserve working lands, and increase community resilience to the impacts of climate change. The Conservancy will fund most stages of a project including: pre-project feasibility studies, property acquisition, project planning including community involvement, design, environmental review, permitting, construction, and project-related monitoring. We do not fund operation and maintenance activities. Most Conservancy grants are awarded through this rolling pre-application solicitation. This includes Climate Ready, Wildfire Resilience, and all regional grant programs.  Explore the Coast, Coastal Stories, and some other grant programs are NOT awarded through this rolling process.

The Rose Foundation is pleased to present this grant opportunity for water quality related projects in the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s jurisdiction. Donor Name: Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment State: California County: Kern County (CA), Monterey County (CA), San Benito County (CA), San Luis Obispo County (CA), San Mateo County (CA), Santa Barbara County (CA), Santa Clara County (CA), Santa Cruz County (CA), Ventura County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/28/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Central Coast Community-Based Water Quality Grants Program supports projects that water quality related projects in the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s jurisdiction, with an emphasis on projects that advance environmental justice and/or provide water quality benefits to underrepresented communities. The Rose Foundation is partnering with the Bay Foundation of Morro Bay in presenting this grant opportunity, and there will be a publicly available ranking and selection criteria utilized in the selection process.  Preferred topic areas include:  The human right to water  Environmental justice and local environmental justice capacity  Water quality impacts of climate change  Drought related water supply resiliency projects  Climate adaptation and mitigation projects  Sustainable drinking water or wastewater treatment solutions  Sustainable groundwater management strategies  Providing benefits to Underrepresented Communities Additional topic areas include, but are not limited to the following:  Projects that provide water quality benefits to marine habitats and associated beneficial uses in San Luis Obispo County. Implementation of activities that will reduce pollutant loading and make measurable progress toward meeting water quality objectives established in the Central Coast Basin Plan.  Water quality improvement or restoration projects that preserve and restore watershed functions and support healthy ecosystems, especially in impaired waterbodies identified on the 303(d) List and associated Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). On-farm Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation projects that demonstrate reductions in salt and nitrate loading, especially projects that assist limited resource farmers.  Projects that prevent or address Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Funding Information Large Grant Track is for funding requests of up to $200,000, and most grants will be in the $100,000-200,000 range. Small Grant Track is for funding requests of up to $50K, and most grant awards will be in the $20-$50K range. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be one of the following: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit organizations Federally recognized Indian tribes or State Indian tribes listed on the Native American Heritage Commission’s Tribal Consultation List Public agencies (e.g., counties, cities, districts), including agencies having jurisdiction over water resources management, drinking water, or treatment and disposal/reuse of municipal wastewater or other wastes Projects must be conducted within the jurisdiction of the Central Coast Water Board, identified as Region 3. (Region 3 includes Southern Santa Clara (Morgan Hill and south), Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties, and small portions of Ventura, Kern, and San Mateo Counties).  For more information, visit Rose Foundation for Communities.

The Imperial Irrigation District invites cities, counties, special districts, nonprofits and community-based organizations to apply for grant funds for tree-planting projects in the IID service area to help reduce greenhouse gas and beautify local communities through the district’s new Public Green Space Grant Program. Donor Name: Imperial Irrigation District State: California County: Imperial County (CA), Riverside County (CA), San Diego County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This program provides greenhouse gas reduction benefits by supporting nonprofit and community‐based organizations with funding for tree planting projects that meet the critical need of reducing Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). This program is specifically designed to provide resources for community groups that want to green their communities. Program Priorities Additional points will be given to projects that meet two of the following: Provides park or recreational benefits to a critically underserved community or disadvantaged community; Proposed by a critically underserved community or disadvantaged community; Develops partnerships with local community organizations and businesses in order to strengthen outreach to disadvantaged communities, provides access to quality jobs for residents of disadvantaged communities, or provides access to workforce education and training; Uses interagency cooperation and integration; or Uses existing public lands and facilitates the use of public resources and investments, including schools. Matching or “cost sharing” funds allocated to the project. Funding Information Available through IID’s flagship shade tree program, Tree for All, the Public Green Space Grant Program has $350,000 in total available funds and can make awards as high as $35,000. Eligible Costs  Personnel, contractors and consultants, direct and indirect costs related to the planting of trees and related vegetation, maintenance associated with the projects’ plantings during the grant period, community education and engagement costs. Eligibility Criteria  Cities, counties, special districts, nonprofit organizations located inside the Imperial Irrigation District’s energy service area (Imperial Valley and Coachella Valley). For more information, visit Imperial Irrigation District.

The California Fire Foundation supports projects that actively address wildfire preparedness and/or prevention needs, which protect and enhance the public’s safety or the safety of California’s firefighters and other first responders. Donor Name: California Fire Foundation (CFF) State: California County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: California-based fire departments, firefighter associations, federally-recognized tribes, and local nonprofit organizations encouraged to apply! Focus Areas Vegetation Mitigation & Fuels Reduction Efforts. Education, Planning and/or Community Outreach Campaigns. Personal Protective Equipment or Specialized Firefighting Equipment Purchases. In this cycle, funding priority will be given to applicants whose climate-caused wildfire or other disaster prevention or preparedness projects serve under-resourced communities at heightened risk and/or socially vulnerable populations, including low-income/impoverished, minority status, limited English proficiency, disability, and seniors/older adults, to name a few, with particular emphasis given to those serving areas of heightened fire risk. Funding Information Requested amount should not exceed $25,000. Requests outside of this range will be considered on an as-needed basis. Grant Period Projects are typically expected to be completed within 12 months of receiving funds, if awarded. Eligibility Criteria  Applicant must be a California-based fire department, firefighter association or a nonprofit organization. Other groups may apply when doing so in collaboration with one of the three above-referenced entities, including fiscal agents; Fire departments serving and firefighter associations representing the same community, or whose personnel/members serve the same geographic region, are eligible to individually apply for funding; Project must benefit communities in California, with priority given to disinvested communities and historically marginalized populations located in high-threat areas; Requested amount should not exceed $25,000 (requests outside of this range will be considered on an as-needed basis); CFF does not require matching funds; and Funding decisions are generally communicated several weeks after the application window closes. For more information, visit CFF.

CDFW may make grants to, reimburse, or enter into contracts or other agreements, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1571, with public and private entities, including universities, nonprofit organizations, and California Native American tribes, as defined in Section 21073 of the Public Resources Code, for the use of the funds from the Upland Game Bird Account to carry out the purposes of Fish and Game Code §3684, including related habitat conservation projects. Any proposal fitting the criteria in this statue is qualified to be funded. 

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Santa Barbara County that assist low-income and elderly residents or promote the welfare of dogs through care and placement initiatives.

This funding opportunity is designed to support projects that improve water and habitat conditions affected by climate change, targeting wildlife conservation efforts and emergency restoration activities.

This grant provides funding for public agencies, tribes, and non-profit organizations in California to acquire land essential for conservation efforts under Natural Community Conservation Plans and Habitat Conservation Plans.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is soliciting applications for its 2024-2025 Natural Community Conservation Planning Local Assistance Grant. Donor Name: California Department of Fish and Wildlife State: California County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/23/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Natural Community Conservation Planning Local Assistance Grant (NCCP LAG) Program was created to assist local public and non-profit entities in the implementation of Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs) throughout California, as authorized under Fish and Game Code section 2800 et seq. Legal authority for the NCCP LAG Program is provided by Fish and Game Code section 1501.5(b), which allows the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to grant funds for fish and wildlife habitat preservation, restoration, and enhancement. CDFW offers NCCP LAGs to eligible applicants on an annual basis for the highest priority tasks needed to implement NCCPs. Highest priority tasks are identified by NCCP implementing partners along with CDFW, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) staff (i.e., “Wildlife Agencies”) throughout the preceding year. Funding Information Up to $576,000 will be available through the NCCP LAG program this grant cycle, dependent on the availability of State funds and approval of the Budget Act. Eligible Projects  Management Activities Immediate management actions on newly acquired NCCP reserve lands Restoration/Enhancement Restoration or enhancement of habitats or species populations on NCCP reserve lands Monitoring Design and implementation of biological monitoring programs identified in an NCCP, including the establishment of sampling methods, monitoring plots, data collection, management, and analysis Reserve Management Plans Development and implementation of individual reserve management plans Mapping New or updated mapping in support of NCCP management or monitoring activities, such as vegetation community mapping Targeted Studies for Adaptive Management Studies to evaluate management actions for covered habitats or species, and whether such actions are meeting stated goals or require adjustments through adaptive management Other Other non-land acquisition priority tasks, identified by the applicant and implementing partners, which are needed to ensure effective implementation of the NCCP Eligibility Criteria  Eligible applicants include public agencies, tribes, and non-profit organizations that have an interest in assisting with the execution of Eligible Projects. Projects submitted by Implementing Entities, or entities that will be responsible for implementing the plan(s), once permitted, will score additional points during proposal evaluation.  Entities outside California are eligible for applying. For more information, visit CDFW.

The Strengthening the Sector grants program provides initiative-based support to organizations catalyzing systemic change at the policy level. Donor Name: The Music Man Foundation State: California County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/13/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The grants will support activities such as: advocacy training and tools that build the capacity of individuals to understand and proactively influence issues impacting arts and community vitality, and/or research collection and action plan designed at a scale which have the capacity to impact policy and field-wide practices. Eligibility Criteria To be considered for funding, an organization must: Reflect music within the organization’s efforts, Operate as a non-profit organization, Have been conducting mission-aligned programming since March 2022 or before, Have had at least one paid employee since March 1, 2023 or before, Not have a structural deficit, and Have a service jurisdiction that includes either Los Angeles County, California (statewide), or the United States of America (nationwide). Programs focused on a state that is not California will not be eligible. For organizations that have previously received a grant from The Music Man Foundation, the organization must be in good standing with the Foundation before applying for the Award. Selection Criteria Demonstrated accomplishments in systems change and the capacity for the organization’s programming to create sustainable impacts. Demonstrated understanding of the system the organization seeks to impact and insight as to why the organization is well-positioned to take on this system change. Clear connection between the organization’s initiative(s) and how these lead to system change. Clear description of the organization’s initiative(s) with the initiative’s (intended) participants and timeline. Organization has a clear vision of its future intentions. Organization has capacity to identify and track progress towards key milestones for the organization and the system the organization is impacting. Music is a primary component of the initiative’s efforts. Strategic collaborations and/or partnerships exist and reflect an intentional collaboration that showcase intentional efforts to influence system dynamics. For more information, visit TMMF.

This grant provides funding for transportation costs to help Humboldt County K-12 teachers take students on educational field trips to local natural areas, promoting environmental education and appreciation for nature.

This funding opportunity is designed to assist local governments and organizations in California with urgent tasks related to the conservation and management of natural habitats for wildlife and plant species.