California Grants

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the Western United States that implement high-impact, sustainable programs benefiting their communities.

The Arts and Cultural Impact Grants, funded by the County of Monterey and administered by the Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC), aim to support public arts and culture projects and programs within Monterey County. These grants, offering up to $5,000 per year, are designed to align with Arts4MC's mission of promoting arts and culture and ensuring equitable distribution of funds across the county. The program specifically targets nonprofit organizations and arts organizations with a fiscal sponsor that have been operating in Monterey County for at least two years. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are the communities within Monterey County, who will experience increased access to public arts and culture projects and programs. The impact goals include fostering a vibrant cultural landscape, enhancing community engagement through artistic endeavors, and supporting the stability of local arts organizations. By providing financial assistance for various projects, the program seeks to strengthen the arts sector and enrich the lives of residents across all five supervisorial districts. The program prioritizes projects that demonstrate quality in their program/event design, feature high-caliber artists and teaching artists, and show significant community impact. Additionally, organizational stability is a key focus, ensuring that supported entities have the capacity to effectively execute their proposals. Applications are also evaluated based on the quality of supporting materials, emphasizing thorough planning and clear communication of project objectives. Expected outcomes include a broader reach of arts and cultural activities throughout Monterey County, increased participation in public arts programs, and a measurable positive impact on local communities. While specific measurable results are tied to the individual project proposals, the selection criteria suggest an emphasis on qualitative and quantitative indicators related to program quality, community engagement, and artistic excellence. The independent panel review process, comprising evaluators from each supervisorial district, further reinforces Arts4MC's strategic priority of equitable fund distribution and a localized approach to cultural development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to educators in Klamath, Lake, Modoc, and Siskiyou counties for environmental and wildlife education programs aimed at children in grades K-6 and other youth under 18.

The City of Palo Alto is currently inviting applications for its Emerging Needs Fund (ENF), designed to support nonprofit organizations aiding Palo Alto residents through unexpected or urgent funding requirements. This initiative focuses on alleviating emergency, critical, or emerging human service needs. Priority is given based on the severity of the need, with a portion of funds reserved specifically for emergency situations. Eligible needs range from unforeseen events disrupting essential services to the development or expansion of programs enhancing the quality of life for vulnerable populations. Funding decisions are made based on the immediate need, and organizations may not receive funds more than once within a two-year timeframe. Application deadlines vary with the type of need addressed.

The CalMoneySmart program, funded by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, is designed to boost financial empowerment among California's unbanked and underbanked populations by providing up to $200K annually for two years to eligible nonprofit organizations. These funds support activities like financial education, empowerment services, and the development of financial products aimed at improving financial literacy and economic security. The program emphasizes adherence to the principles of effective financial education to ensure impactful outcomes.

This new multi-year grant program intends to create local community connections to California’s rich and diverse cultural history and natural areas outside of California’s state park boundaries. Eligible projects will enhance connections to local cultural history, local parks, open space or natural areas through community events, programming or installations that help to build sustainable community connections, health and well-being. The Local Parks Grants Program will be managed and administered by Parks California. This program supports the “Outdoor Access for All” initiative led by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, along with the Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative, and California State Parks’ Reexamining Our Past Initiative.

The Planning and Development Grants, part of the Local Parks Grant Program managed by Parks California, aim to support the initial stages of community-oriented projects that connect local communities to California’s cultural history and natural areas. These projects include building partnerships, artist selection, and developing project plans. This initiative enhances community well-being and sustainable connections. The grant cycle runs from October 2024 to May 2025.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is offering the Asset Forfeiture for Racial Justice Grant Program, aligning with District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s "Bend the Arc" reforms. The core mission of these reforms is to combat racial discrimination and disproportionality, thereby fostering equity within the criminal justice system. This grant program is a direct extension of this mission, seeking to support initiatives that address and rectify racial inequities in the community. The program aims to leverage asset forfeiture funds to create positive change and promote a more just and equitable society within Santa Clara County. The target beneficiaries of this program are marginalized communities within Santa Clara County, particularly those affected by racial inequities in the criminal justice system. The grant funding is specifically designated to benefit these communities, ensuring that the resources are directed to where they are most needed. The overarching impact goal is to reduce racial disparities and promote equity, ultimately leading to a more fair and inclusive community. This is achieved by supporting programs, events, and causes that directly confront and resolve issues of racial injustice. The program prioritizes initiatives that successfully address racial inequities in the community. Grant requests are considered for programmatic support, events, and various causes that align with this focus. A crucial guideline is that the grant funding cannot be used retroactively; the award must be granted before the project or event commences. This ensures that the funding supports future-oriented efforts to address current and ongoing racial disparities. Expected outcomes include tangible progress in reducing racial discrimination and disproportionality within the criminal justice system and the broader community. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the focus on "successfully addressing racial inequities" implies a commitment to demonstrable positive change. The program's strategic priority is to advance the "Bend the Arc" reforms, utilizing grant funding as a tool to implement a theory of change that centers on community-based solutions to systemic racial injustices. The maximum award per recipient is up to $5,000, and each organization, individual, or group may submit only one application, ensuring a broad distribution of funds to various impactful initiatives.

The California Wildlands Grassroots Fund (Cal Wildlands), administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, aims to preserve California's wildlands by supporting the work of activists and organizations dedicated to their protection. This aligns directly with the Rose Foundation's broader mission for communities and the environment by fostering grassroots efforts that lead to permanent conservation, restoration, and stewardship of natural habitats. The program's core objective is to safeguard California's wilderness and native biological diversity through strategic, community-driven initiatives. The primary beneficiaries of Cal Wildlands are small nonprofit organizations with annual expenses and income of $200,000 or less, as well as individual activists with a proven track record in protecting California's natural landscapes, ecosystems, plants, and wildlife. The fund specifically targets geographic areas and advocacy efforts that have not traditionally received significant financial support, including rural communities. The impact goals are centered on achieving permanent protection for wildlands, which are defined as natural habitats capable of supporting significant native plant and animal life, through legislation or deed restrictions. The fund prioritizes discrete, project-specific support with concrete sites and strategies, particularly those in geographic or issue areas historically underserved by financial and political support. It strongly emphasizes community-based advocacy and organizing, where campaigns are steered by affected community members and largely driven by volunteers. Other key priorities include projects that establish or combat critical precedents, innovative strategies, and efforts to build diverse constituencies for wildlands protection, especially by engaging communities of color and non-traditional stakeholders. Cal Wildlands supports a broad range of strategies and activities to achieve its objectives. These include grassroots organizing, public education, legislative advocacy, media campaigns, lawsuits, scientific research (including citizen science), coalition building, and developing partnerships. Supported activities range from communications campaigns and strategic planning to hiring technical and legal experts, training, and restoration. The expected outcomes involve tangible advancements in wildlands and open space protection, increased community engagement in conservation efforts, and the establishment of critical precedents that can influence future protection initiatives, ultimately contributing to the long-term preservation of California's natural heritage and biodiversity.

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.

The WeHo Artist Grant, offered by the City of West Hollywood, is designed to foster and support the long-term creative development of artists. Its mission aligns with the city's goal to retain existing artists, attract new talent, and enhance the economic and social well-being of the community. By directly funding individual artists, the program aims to provide them with the resources needed to realize their work, improve their creative environment, and manage the dual challenges of art creation and career advancement. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are individual artists residing in the City of West Hollywood. The program specifically targets those who are not currently enrolled as students in the discipline for which they are applying, are registered on the West Hollywood Artists Registry, and have not received the WeHo Artist Grant previously. The impact goals are to increase artists' capacity for creation, improve the conditions under which they create, and help them navigate the professional aspects of an artistic career, ultimately enriching the cultural landscape of West Hollywood. The grant prioritizes projects that take place within West Hollywood or its immediate vicinity (within 5 blocks of the border) and demonstrate clear marketing and outreach strategies targeting West Hollywood residents and constituents. Proposed projects must be cohesive, include a timeline and budget, and may not involve fundraisers, capital campaigns, murals, or religious-based programs/events. This focus ensures that the funded projects directly benefit the local community and align with the city's secular and community-oriented development goals. Expected outcomes include a strengthened local arts community, increased artistic output within the city, and enhanced economic and social vitality through the presence of a thriving artist population. Measurable results could include the number of artists retained or attracted to West Hollywood, the successful completion of funded projects within the calendar year, and the reported impact of these projects on the community. The total available funding for this category is $30,000, with a total award of $6,000 per artist, indicating a strategic allocation of resources to support multiple individual artists and their diverse projects.

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida is offering grant applications to nonprofit organizations with a primary focus on early childhood. These grants are specifically designed to support the growth of creative and efficient services for at-risk children under six years old in Duval County. The foundation's mission, as evidenced by this grant, is to invest in early learning centers and provide support for parents as caregivers, aligning with a broader strategic priority to foster a nurturing environment for the region's youngest and most vulnerable population. The target beneficiaries of this program are at-risk children under six years old in Duval County. The grants aim to create a significant impact by improving the quality of early childhood education and care. This includes strengthening early learning centers and empowering parents with the resources and knowledge needed to effectively care for their children. The expected outcomes include enhanced developmental milestones for young children and increased parental engagement in their children's early learning journey. The grant program prioritizes organizations that can demonstrate innovative and effective approaches to early childhood development. A key focus is on interventions that lead to measurable results, such as improved school readiness, reduced instances of developmental delays, and increased family stability. The foundation seeks to support programs that have a clear theory of change, demonstrating how their activities will lead to the desired positive outcomes for children and families. Eligibility for these grants is restricted to nonprofit organizations with current 501(c)(3) status, a two-year work history, and an annual operating budget of $100,000 or above. Applicants must be located in and serving Duval County. The grant size is up to $15,000, with a grant period from October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. Ineligible applicants include athletic associations, fundraising event sponsorships, school-based organizations (PTAs, boosters, etc.), requests outside Duval County, and programs promoting religious beliefs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for young residents and organizations in the Tri-City area to undertake educational and aesthetic environmental projects.

This funding opportunity supports individuals and organizations in the Tri-City area to develop local environmental projects that are educational or enhance community aesthetics, with a focus on sustainability.

Purpose: The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) is announcing the availability of up to $38 million in competitive grants. Grantees will focus on prevention and early intervention efforts with the end goal of increasing access to mental health services for veterans and their families. This initiative is to be known as the California Veterans Health Initiative (CVHI) Mental Health Support Grant Program (MHSGP). Description: Grantees will be asked to focus on prevention and early intervention efforts with the end goal of increasing access to mental health services for veterans and their families. Proposals funded under CVHI must be inclusive, equitable, and available to all veterans regardless of age, period of service, type of service, discharge status, or disability rating. Applicants must be able to meet the eligibility requirements of California Military and Veterans Code Section 881 to be considered for funding, and proposals must aim to expand the state’s capacity to provide mental health support to veterans and to fill gaps in mental health services. Applicants are required to select the program areas they are proposing and provide a description of the proposed activities and how the proposed activities would increase mental health access for California veterans. This NOFA allows for flexibility in program design to fit the specific needs of veterans and their families across the state, Outreach, Peer Support, Case Management, Outpatient Clinical Treatment, and Innovative Approaches will be eligible for funding and are further defined in the NOFA. The Grantee staff and leadership will be expected to maintain significant engagement with CalVet for monthly check-ins, operations assistance, reporting, and evaluation. Applicants are encouraged to ensure they are budgeting for appropriate levels of staff, time for data collection and reporting, time spent in CVHI meetings and trainings, and appropriate facility requirements (office space, group space, hardware and software equipment, supplies, overhead). Through an Application process responsive to the NOFA, awarded Grantees will provide clear and convincing evidence of adequate personnel, facility, and organizational capacity to effectively carry out their proposed project. The successful Applicant will describe how they meet minimum qualifications, including their breadth of experience working with Veterans, with special emphasis on treating veterans with mental health concerns. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit In addition to the minimum requirements described in NOFA applicants must be able to meet the eligibility requirements of California Military and Veterans Code Section 881 to be considered for funding, and proposals must aim to expand the state’s capacity to provide mental health support to veterans and to fill gaps in mental health services. Eligible Geographies: CalVet intends to ensure access to mental healthcare through the CVHI network by targeting 8 regions in California: North Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, Central Coast, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Orange, and San Diego. Multi-regional and statewide proposals will also be considered. A regional map can be found in the NOFA. Matching Funding Requirement: Grantees will receive full funding for the first year of the grant, 75% of year one funding in the second year, and 50% of year one funding in the third year of the grant term. To compensate for the decrease in funding, grantees are required to provide a 25% match in the second year and a 50% match in the third year of the grant term to account for the reduction in funding.

The CalMoneySmart program aims to enhance financial empowerment among unbanked and underbanked Californians by funding nonprofit organizations. Through financial education and empowerment services, it seeks to reduce disparities, improve financial literacy, and foster wealth-building opportunities. The program awards grantees up to $200K per year for two consecutive fiscal years to promote financial stability and security statewide. ; Grant funds may only be used for the following financial education and empowerment services for the targeted at-risk unbanked and underbanked populations: 1) Designing, developing, or offering, free of charge to consumers, classroom or web-based financial education and empowerment content intended to help unbanked and underbanked consumers achieve, identify, and access lower cost financial products and services, establish or improve their credit, increase their savings, or lower their debt. 2) Providing individualized, free financial coaching to unbanked and underbanked consumers. 3) Designing, developing, or offering, free of charge to consumers, a financial product or service intended to help unbanked and underbanked consumers identify and access responsible financial products and financial services, establish or improve their credit, increase their savings, or lower their debt. Every project funded with a grant from the Financial Empowerment Fund shall meet the following criteria: 1) Promote and enhance the economic security of consumers. 2) Adhere to the five principles of effective financial education described in the June 2017 report issued by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled “Effective financial education: Five principles and how to use them.” Grant awards will be announced for a two-year period covering two consecutive fiscal years. Funds for each fiscal year are disbursed separately and any unexpended funds must be returned to the DFPI. Disbursement of funding for the second fiscal year is contingent on submission of a satisfactory annual report. A mandatory in-person training for grantees will be held during the grant cycle. Final details will be included in the grant agreement.   Grantees may use no more than 15 percent of the grant to cover administrative (indirect) costs. Failure to comply shall render the Applicant ineligible for a grant during the subsequent fiscal year and until the noncompliance is corrected.  A grantee may subcontract services that it has agreed to provide under the grant agreement, so long as those services are conducted on behalf of the grantee. Subcontract arrangements must be clearly described in the scope of work and budget. Accepting grant funds with the intent of distributing those funds to other nonprofit organizations (for example, sub-grants or fiscal sponsorship) is not allowed. Grant funding may not be used for financial incentives for individuals. Prohibited incentives include, but are not limited to, match funding for savings accounts, participant stipends, or gift cards with a cash value. Grantees are required to submit preliminary and final annual reports, in a form and by a date specified by the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation, documenting: 1) The specific uses to which grant funds were allocated, 2) The number of individuals aided through use of the funds, 3) Quantitative results regarding the impact of grant funding, and 4) Any other information requested by the Commissioner. Failure to submit satisfactory reports shall render the Applicant ineligible for any DFPI grant during the subsequent fiscal year and until the required report is submitted. 

The WeHo Community Arts Grant, offered by the City of West Hollywood, aims to support nonprofit arts organizations, individual artists, or artist collectives that have a history of supporting LGBQ, BIPOC, and/or female artists and audiences. This grant aligns with the City's mission to enhance the community through art-centered presentations and participatory programs, fostering cultural equity and providing access to specific communities. The overall strategic priority is to use the arts as a tool for community engagement, cultural recognition, and economic development within West Hollywood. The target beneficiaries of this grant are LA County-based artists, collectives, or non-profit arts organizations that meet specific criteria, including a history of supporting underrepresented groups in the arts. The grant specifically focuses on engaging West Hollywood residents and visitors, expanding arts audiences, and recognizing local cultural resources. The impact goals are to increase access to quality arts programming that is financially and geographically accessible, boost revenues for local businesses through arts-business partnerships, and generally increase participation in the arts through education. The grant prioritizes art-centered presentations and workshops that support community goals through cultural equity. Eligible projects must take place within West Hollywood or immediately adjacent areas and applicants must demonstrate a marketing and outreach strategy targeting West Hollywood residents. The City's theory of change appears to be that by investing in accessible and inclusive arts programming, they can create a more vibrant, engaged, and culturally equitable community, leading to broader social and economic benefits. Expected outcomes include increased engagement of residents and visitors with the arts, expanded arts audiences, and the discovery of new places for artmaking. Measurable results could include an increase in attendance at arts events, a rise in local business revenues attributed to arts programming, and a greater number of individuals participating in arts education. The total available funding for this category is $30,000, with a maximum award of $6,000 per organization, demonstrating a commitment to funding multiple impactful projects within the community.

This grant provides financial support and resources to nonprofit organizations in Del Mar for projects that enhance community pride, preserve open spaces, and improve local cultural programs and events.

The Boulder County Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant Program (SFMG) provides cost-share funding through competitive grants to support large landscape and community-wide forest and grassland management projects. Funded by the county’s voter-approved wildfire mitigation sales and use tax, which went into effect in 2023, the program aims to leverage other federal, state, and local funding sources. The program's mission is aligned with the county's strategic priorities to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, protect water supplies, and promote resilient ecosystems, directly addressing the environmental and safety concerns of its residents. The target beneficiaries include local government entities, private utilities, ditch companies, water providers, state agencies, Homeowners Associations, and non-profit organizations in Boulder County. The program's impact goals are to mitigate wildfire risks across private, local government, and federal lands, safeguarding communities and natural resources. This includes protecting critical water supplies and fostering ecosystems that can better withstand and recover from wildfires. The program prioritizes fuels reduction by various methods, including mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, mowing, and grazing. Specific focuses include the creation or maintenance of fuel breaks, removal of woody materials with utilization plans, and disposal of slash and non-merchantable materials. Cross-boundary projects involving multiple land types are also emphasized, as are updates or development of new Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). For planning grants, a cap of $250,000 is set for the total, with up to five proposals funded annually at a maximum of $50,000 each. Expected outcomes include a significant reduction in potential fire intensity and a decrease in the risk of catastrophic wildfires, directly benefiting public safety and property. Measurable results will be seen through the implementation of fuel breaks, successful fuels reduction projects in forests and grasslands, and the development or update of CWPPs. The long-term impact aims to foster more resilient ecosystems and secure water supplies for the community, aligning with a theory of change that proactive, collaborative mitigation efforts lead to enhanced environmental health and community safety.

The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC), serving as an advisory body to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, aims to fund scientific research that tests the effectiveness of the California Forest Practice Rules and associated regulations. This includes addressing natural resource issues such as watershed science, wildlife concerns, and wildfire hazard. Proposals are sought that focus on one or more of EMC's Research Themes and Critical Monitoring Questions, particularly those that contribute to understanding and enhancing wildfire resilience and response to climate change across California's forestlands. Projects must directly relate to management activities on private timberlands in the state, although those on public lands may qualify if they demonstrate relevance to non-federal timberland activities.