Sustainable Pest Management Grants Program

The Sustainable Pest Management Grants Program is administered by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, a state agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment through the regulation of pesticide sales and use. The program reflects California’s broader policy direction toward reducing reliance on harmful pesticides and promoting safer, more sustainable pest management systems. Beginning in 2026, the program consolidated prior Research and Alliance grant programs into a single funding stream focused on integrated pest management and sustainability outcomes. The primary purpose of the program is to fund projects that advance sustainable pest management practices through research, outreach, training, and implementation. Eligible projects must demonstrate the ability to reduce risks associated with pesticide use, particularly those identified for mitigation or evaluation by the department. Projects may take place in agricultural, urban, or wildland settings and should emphasize approaches that can be broadly adopted across California. Priority areas include alternatives to weed, rodent, and fumigant pest control methods, the use of emerging technologies, and strategies addressing emerging pests. Funding is provided for projects ranging from 100000 to 1000000 dollars, with a total program allocation of up to 4900000 dollars, subject to budget approval. Projects may span up to three years, with the earliest start date of July 1, 2027 and a latest end date of June 30, 2030. Applicants must ensure that the project is fully supported by grant funds, as matching funding is not allowed, though in-kind contributions are permitted. Budgets must be justified and aligned with project activities, and indirect costs are capped at 25 percent. Eligibility is broad and includes government agencies, tribal organizations, universities, colleges, nonprofit organizations, consultants, and private sector entities such as pest control businesses and commodity groups. All applicants and associated personnel must meet eligibility requirements, including compliance with state and federal laws and the absence of outstanding regulatory penalties. Projects must primarily benefit the people of California and must not rely on external funding sources for completion. Applications must be submitted via email as a complete package including a proposal form, budget worksheets, project timeline, supporting documents, and required declarations. The submission deadline is September 1, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time. The review process includes an initial eligibility screening, followed by scoring by department staff and ranking by the Pest Management Advisory Committee. Final funding decisions are made by the department director, with notifications expected in Spring 2027. Evaluation criteria include organizational capacity, alignment with priority topics, benefits to Californians, economic feasibility, budget justification, and clarity of scope and timeline. Successful applicants must adhere to extensive reporting and administrative requirements, including quarterly and annual reports, project meetings, and a final report. For questions or assistance, applicants may contact the program via email at SPMGrants@cdpr.ca.gov and may schedule office hours with program staff for guidance on application procedures.

Ensure strong alignment with priority topic areas and demonstrate clear potential for pesticide reduction. Provide detailed scope of work with measurable outcomes and realistic timeline. Justify budget thoroughly and ensure all components are complete and within page limits.