California Private Grants

The California Press Foundation's 2024 Campus Equipment Grants program aims to enhance the quality of campus media programs across California. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to support and develop journalistic endeavors, by directly addressing the technological needs of student news programs. By providing funding for essential hardware and software, the foundation empowers the next generation of journalists with the tools necessary to produce high-quality content and improve their delivery methods. The target beneficiaries of this program are fledgling and established high school and college news programs in California. The primary impact goal is to improve the overall quality and reach of student publications by upgrading their technical capabilities. This directly contributes to a more robust and modern campus media landscape, fostering an environment where students can gain practical experience with industry-standard equipment and practices. The program prioritizes the acquisition of new hardware or software, as well as upgrades that directly contribute to the improvement of content quality and delivery for campus media. Applicants are required to articulate their current equipment's limitations and clearly demonstrate how the requested new or upgraded equipment will enhance their publications. This focus ensures that the grants are strategically utilized to address specific, identified needs within each news program. Expected outcomes include a measurable improvement in the technical infrastructure of participating campus news programs, leading to more professional and engaging content. This could manifest as enhanced visual and audio quality, more efficient content creation workflows, and broader distribution capabilities. Ultimately, the program seeks to equip students with the skills and resources needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving media landscape, contributing to the long-term sustainability and excellence of California's collegiate and high school journalism. The maximum grant amount for this program is $1,500, with applications needing to be overseen by an individual advising the news program.

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 various grant programs are structured to address systemic community challenges, reflecting a core alignment with the foundations’ missions to drive change, promote equity, and foster vibrant communities. The Community Foundation (Des Moines) offers three key competitive grants: Leadership, Capacity Building, and Strategic Alignment, all rooted in community plan alignment and focused on inclusive engagement and impact. Leadership Grants are designed to catalyze systems change by investing in solutions that challenge existing systems and address root causes, not just projects. Similarly, the San Antonio Area Foundation employs trust-based philanthropic principles, offering general operating and multi-year support to help non-profits focus on their missions and achieve stability as a direct means to closing opportunity gaps. The grant-making strategies are defined by specific priorities that target key community issues, often reflecting a multi-sectoral and cross-cutting approach. The Minneapolis Foundation’s grants, for instance, focus on priorities like creating an equitable education system (Reimagine Education) and being nimble in response to emerging community needs (OneMPLS), previously addressing issues like affordable housing and pandemic relief. The San Antonio Area Foundation structures its work around four pillars: Cultural Vibrancy, Livable and Resilient Communities, Aging Adults Success, and Youth Success, with activities like building capacity for under-resourced arts groups or supporting programs to strengthen safety nets for older adults. This demonstrates a comprehensive approach where investments aim to address a diverse range of interconnected human, animal, and environmental health issues. Target beneficiaries and high-level impact goals are diverse yet universally focused on empowering vulnerable populations and transforming systems. Beneficiaries include schools, students, small businesses, older adults, youth, and non-profits across various sectors. For instance, the ACDP in Liberia aims to meet the real needs of the most vulnerable rural populations, reducing poverty while strengthening human capital and resilience. Its specific goal is to significantly improve conditions for residents of targeted rural and urban communities through environmentally sustainable and equitable access to basic services by 2025. Other goals include advancing criminal justice reform through the Fund for Safe Communities, and promoting conservation education for K-12 students via specialty grants like the Explore the Ozarks Fund. A strong emphasis is placed on generating clear, measurable results that align with the strategic theory of change—that focused investments lead to demonstrable community benefits. Outcomes are expected to be specific and measurable, often guided by the SMART mnemonic (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound). These expected outcomes describe the consequences and results of the work, detailing the change in participants or the programmatic/operational level. For example, expected results include achieving greater stability for non-profit partners through multi-year support, or, in the public health sphere, strengthening the institutionalization of a functional One Health approach in Liberia to address Public Health events and develop joint policy guidance on prevention, detection, response, and recovery.

Nissan Neighbors is a community-focused initiative that provides charitable contributions and in-kind donations to nonprofit organizations working in the areas of education, the environment, and humanitarian aid. The program aims to improve communities by valuing cultural diversity and has been awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars annually since its establishment in 1992. Nissan Foundation Criteria To be considered for funding by Nissan Foundation, organizations must meet the following requirements: Have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status Have been in existence for more than three years Reflect the mission of Nissan Foundation to build community by valuing cultural diversity Demonstrate intentional design of programming grounded in the importance and benefits of cultural diversity Specify community need(s) addressed and intended outcomes of programming Demonstrate experience with populations served Serve communities where Nissan has a significant operational presence, namely: Southern California Middle Tennessee Central Mississippi Dallas/Ft. Worth Detroit New York City and North Central New Jersey Atlanta

This grant provides financial support for projects that improve the well-being of senior citizens in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria, focusing on initiatives that directly benefit this community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofits and government agencies for projects that help prevent homelessness and ensure housing stability for seniors in North County San Diego.

The C. J. Stafford and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust supports charitable organizations that serve residents of San Diego County, California. The trust invests in local initiatives that strengthen community well being and address needs across several fields of interest. Priority program areas include arts and culture, education, health, and human services. Average grants range from 5,000 to 7,500 dollars, with total annual giving of about 50,000 dollars. Funds may be used for projects or programs that benefit San Diego County residents and are consistent with the trust mission. Eligible applicants must be public charities qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications are accepted only through the online grant application form or accessible alternative; no other formats are accepted. Grants are geographically limited to San Diego County, California. Applications are due May 1, 2024. Grant duration is not specified. Additional information is available through the trustee portal referenced by Wells Fargo.

This funding opportunity provides $50,000 to support diverse-led businesses in Southern California, helping them create new premium wage jobs while offering business development resources.

The Latino Restaurant Association's Helping Latino Restaurant Owners Thrive Grant Program aims to support Latino-owned restaurants. This initiative aligns with the association's broader mission to provide resources, advocacy, and networking opportunities for Latino-owned restaurants to succeed and grow. The program specifically targets business growth and sustainability within the Latino restaurant community, reflecting the association's commitment to fostering economic development and cultural preservation through culinary entrepreneurship. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are restaurant owners of Latino heritage who have made significant contributions to the Latino community. The program intends to assist 35 restaurants located in South Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties in California. The impact goals include providing financial relief and development opportunities, with a specific focus on supporting smaller businesses, as eligibility criteria limit applicants to those owning three or fewer restaurants, each making less than $1 million per year, and having been in business for more than three years. The program prioritizes businesses that are current customers of SoCalGas and located within the specified counties. The grant size ranges from $1,000 to $10,000, with an immediate offer of a $2,500 grant for eligible applicants. This financial support is designed to address immediate operational needs and facilitate long-term stability. The grant documentation requires a W9 form, official photo ID, annual reports or taxes for the last three years, and a current SoCal Gas Commercial Bill, ensuring accountability and verification of eligibility. Expected outcomes include enhanced business operations through the use of funds for kitchen equipment, technology upgrades, and employee training and bonuses. Applicants are required to detail how the funding would impact their business and community, and how they plan to sustain the received funds, encouraging thoughtful and strategic utilization. While the "Grant Duration" is not explicitly mentioned, the focus is on immediate impact and fostering long-term sustainability, demonstrating the association's strategic priority to empower Latino restaurant owners and contribute to the economic vitality of their communities.

This fund provides financial assistance to artists and arts workers in Los Angeles County who have been impacted by recent wildfires, prioritizing those with significant economic hardship and losses not covered by insurance.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit theater organizations in select Western U.S. states for professional productions that address contemporary social issues and engage diverse audiences.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide career development programs for Black youth aged 14-24 in designated NBA markets.

This grant provides funding to organizations working to improve environmental justice and community resilience in underserved areas of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Hawaii by addressing issues like air quality, water contamination, and public health disparities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofits serving San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to promote equity and community engagement across various focus areas, including arts, health, and environmental initiatives.

This grant provides funding to individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations in Eastern Los Angeles County to support innovative arts projects that meet community cultural needs.

This grant provides financial support for grassroots community development projects worldwide, prioritizing initiatives led by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and current volunteers with ties to Northern California.

This program provides a year-long paid fellowship for graduate students and recent graduates in California to gain hands-on experience in marine and coastal policy with various agencies and organizations.

This funding opportunity supports initiatives that promote economic mobility and wealth creation for communities of color and low-income individuals in California, focusing on workforce development for formerly incarcerated individuals and strengthening small businesses through culturally-effective support.

This grant provides financial support and career development opportunities for contemporary visual artists in Los Angeles, promoting diverse and innovative artistic practices.

This funding opportunity supports California-based nonprofit organizations engaged in medical research that advances scientific knowledge and practices.