California Recreation Grants

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Santa Clara County to create arts programs that increase access to meaningful artistic experiences for historically marginalized communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profit organizations and public agencies in California to deliver essential services aimed at improving the health, safety, and educational outcomes of children, youth, and young adults in Richmond and unincorporated North Richmond.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in San Francisco for youth arts programming, community arts services, and culturally specific initiatives that engage and uplift historically marginalized communities.

The Richmond Fund for Children and Youth is offering a three-year grant ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 to non-profit organizations and public agencies that provide services in areas such as mental and physical health, learning needs, and community safety to children, youth, and young adults in Richmond and unincorporated North Richmond, California, with a focus on those most impacted by harm, inequity, and lack of access to support and services.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos to help residents save money on energy bills, improve local air quality, and promote environmental sustainability through outreach and education initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to young social innovators in California who are developing creative solutions to community challenges across various fields, including education, health, and technology.

This grant provides funding to faith-based organizations in select Bay Area counties to support programs that promote racial and economic equity, civic engagement, and community services for low-income residents and communities of color.

This grant provides funding to 4-H and FFA programs in El Dorado County, California, to support hands-on agricultural education for local youth through equipment, supplies, curriculum, and facility improvements.

The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is offering Special Project Grants of $100,000 to $500,000 for a 3-year period to arts nonprofit organizations for youth arts programs, arts service organizations, and Asian and Pacific Islander arts and culture programming, with the application deadline set for October 9, 2024.

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.

This funding opportunity supports small and mid-sized organizations and individual artists in San Francisco who are connected to historically marginalized communities, helping them sustain their work and remain in the city.

The Community Sports Grant, funded by the City of Thousand Oaks in California, offers $2,000 to $7,500 to non-profit community and school groups for upgrading sports facilities or purchasing equipment, requiring 100% matching funds and excluding uniforms, with applications due by October 3, 2024.

The Community Grant program focuses on the unique needs of the community and supports non-profit organizations that improve the quality of life for all those who live, work, learn or play in San Carlos. Donor Name: Community Foundation of San Carlos State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/13/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The 2024 grant round will focus on funding organizations that address the physical, mental, social, and other basic needs of community members and uplift the lives of all who live, work, learn or play in San Carlos.   Grant Size The grants range from $2,000-$15,000. Grant Duration This is currently one-year grant. Eligibility Criteria 501©(3) Nonprofits Serve community members who live, work, learn or play in San Carlos Most recent fiscal year operating expenses of less than $1.5m Focused on addressing physical, mental, social and other basic needs of community members Total Funds for this round: $100k. Ineligibility The Foundation will not fund the following in this grant round: Organizations with an annual operating budget over $1.5 million. Organizations whose main activity is fundraising. Foundations Fundraising events Political or religious activities Deficit funding or cash reserves Basic research For more information, visit CFSC.

This grant provides financial assistance to nonprofits in Mendocino County facing urgent needs or emergencies that hinder their ability to fulfill their mission.

This grant provides funding for public events or educational opportunities that benefit the residents of Mendocino County, promoting community engagement and addressing local needs.

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.

Hunter Industries and KidsGardening are working together to offer the Water Wise Garden Grant to support public and charter schools in San Diego County planning to teach about water conservation, water stewardship, and responsible water management through gardening. Donor Name: KidsGardening State: California County: San Diego County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/13/2024 Size of the Grant: Less than $1000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funding Priorities The selection of winners is based on demonstrated need and program impact. KidsGardening considers a variety of factors when determining needs, including: Socioeconomic & Sociodemographic Factors How does the program exist within or engage a community that has been systematically denied resources, whether physical assets and money or representative leadership and community services? Organizations affected by multiple socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors are given priority. Program Funding and Support Does an organization have access to consistent, substantial monetary support or prior grant funding? Or are pre-existing resources (financial or otherwise) limited? Organizations experiencing the latter are given priority. Impact Will grant funding dramatically expand learning opportunities for program participants? Does the intended impact reflect the needs of the community? Organizations working with greater than 50 youth will be given priority. Funding Information In 2025, five elementary schools in San Diego County will be awarded $1,000 in funding and an irrigation supply kit valued at $500. Eligibility Criteria Any public or charter elementary school located in San Diego County serving at least 15 youth is eligible to apply. Applicants must be planning to use the funds to install new or improve an existing youth garden. Organizations: Support, work with, or serve communities with a majority of individuals that are under-resourced (systematically denied resources and opportunities based on race, gender, ethnicity, income level, abilities, geographic location, etc., or currently experiencing hardship such as a natural disaster, etc.) Have fifteen or more youth participate in the garden program. For more information, visit KidsGardening.

This funding opportunity supports educational and stewardship projects that connect diverse California communities to the coast and ocean, particularly those historically underserved in marine education.

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is seeking applications for its 2024 Field-of-Interest Grant Program to inspire and steward generosity to foster vibrant, inclusive, and healthy communities throughout Mendocino County. Donor Name: Community Foundation of Mendocino County State: California County: Mendocino County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The goal of the program is to provide grants to Mendocino County nonprofit organizations around specified areas of interest (e.g., the environment or human services), or specified geographical areas, or both. The 2024 Field-of-Interest Grant Program offers grant opportunities for local nonprofits with proposed projects or initiatives in the fields of arts and culture, children and youth, disaster relief, recovery, and resilience, economic development the environment, and healthy and inclusive communities. Arts and Culture Fund Children and Youth Disaster Relief, Recovery, and Resilience Economic Development Environment Healthy and Inclusive Communities Funding Information Grant range between $1,000-$6,500. Eligibility Criteria If you received a Field-of-Interest Fund Grant in the prior year, your organization is not eligible to apply for this round of funding, unless it is a school or community services district. Eligible organizations may apply for more than one category of funding, provided that the projects differ in scope and intent. Contact the Program Team with any questions about your eligibility. City and county entities will be considered on a request-by-request basis. All other applicant organizations must: Serve residents of Mendocino County or applicants not headquartered in Mendocino County must ensure that all grant dollars requested are spent within the County. Be legally chartered in California and in possession of a determination letter from the IRS declaring the organization a public charity that is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3); or be a school district, tribe, or special district (e.g., community services, recreation, fire protection); or have an aligned mission with a fiscal sponsor. Have one year of operational history after receiving charitable status. Conduct business without discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, or religious affiliation. Eligible project expenses may include indirect or administration costs. Ineligibility  Applicants may not use grants for: Political contributions or to support political campaigns or lobbying. Influencing the outcome of or participation in any public election or to carry on, directly or indirectly, any voter registration drive. Purposes other than those which are religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational within the meaning of Section 170 (c)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. Purposes other than those stated in the grant award. For more information, visit CFMC.

The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, a regional government agency, allocates funds for restoring and enhancing wetland and wildlife habitats along the San Francisco Bay shoreline. Grants exceeding $1 million are available for projects lasting up to five years, with a deadline of September 20, 2024. Eligible projects must be located within the nine Bay Area counties—Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma—and align with priorities outlined in Measure AA. These priorities include maximizing positive environmental impacts, ensuring geographic distribution, leveraging additional resources, and benefiting economically disadvantaged communities. The Authority funds various project phases, including planning, construction, and scientific studies, provided they support habitat restoration, flood management, or public access initiatives. Projects must meet specific criteria related to improving water quality, enhancing wildlife habitats, providing flood protection, and improving public access. Eligible applicants include federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, nonprofits, and shoreline parcel owners in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, visit the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority website.