California grants for Nonprofits

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is soliciting proposals to reduce whale mortality from fishing gear entanglement in Southern California. This grant directly aligns with NFWF's mission to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats for current and future generations by addressing a critical threat to cetacean populations. The program aims to provide compensatory restoration for injuries to cetaceans caused by the Refugio Beach Oil Spill (RBOS), thereby mitigating past environmental damage and fostering healthier marine ecosystems. The primary beneficiaries of this program are cetaceans in Southern California, particularly those susceptible to entanglement in fishing gear. The impact goals are to increase the capacity of the entanglement response network, improve documentation and disentanglement efforts, and broadly support activities that reduce serious injuries or mortalities from entanglements. This initiative contributes to the foundation's strategic priority of healthy oceans and coasts by safeguarding marine mammals. The program prioritizes several key areas to achieve its goals. These include directly enhancing entanglement response in Southern California, and potentially beyond if it benefits local cetaceans, coordinating with federal, state, and local resource agencies to improve the overall West Coast Marine Mammal Entanglement Response Program, and training and developing volunteer response capacity. Furthermore, proposals should outline how activities will contribute to the development of the overall capacity and infrastructure of the program. Expected outcomes include a more robust and efficient entanglement response network, a reduction in the number of entangled cetaceans, improved survival rates of entangled animals through effective disentanglement, and enhanced coordination among relevant agencies. Measurable results would likely involve metrics such as the number of successful disentanglements, the increase in trained responders, and the documented reduction in entanglement-related mortalities. An estimated $250,000 will be available for a Phase 1 project award, anticipated to last 1-2 years, with a priority geographic focus on the coastlines off Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties.

This funding opportunity supports organizations and initiatives that enhance life opportunities for underserved youth and families in San Diego County, particularly in the City Heights area.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to California-based nonprofit organizations and local governments to promote and preserve folk and traditional arts by directly funding artists and community projects rooted in cultural heritage.

The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is launching its 2024 BUILD (building unity, infrastructure, leadership, and development) Grant Program, a direct reflection of its mission to strengthen charitable organizations within the county. This program specifically targets nonprofit agencies with an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less, aiming to bolster their capacity and infrastructure. The foundation's strategic priority is clearly to empower smaller, local nonprofits, recognizing their vital role in serving San Luis Obispo County residents. The primary beneficiaries of the BUILD Grant Program are these smaller nonprofit organizations, along with the communities they serve. The impact goal is to enhance the operational effectiveness and sustainability of these agencies, thereby improving their ability to deliver programs and services to the residents of San Luis Obispo County. By strengthening these organizations from within, the foundation seeks to create a ripple effect that ultimately benefits the broader community through more robust and impactful charitable work. The program prioritizes both general operating purposes and specific projects in several key areas. These include capacity building, staff or board training and development, communications or donor development efforts, and capital equipment improvement (such as hardware, software, or furniture). The foundation will specifically prioritize one-year grants, offering $5,000 to successful applicants. This focused approach ensures that funding directly addresses critical needs that contribute to an organization's long-term health and efficiency. Expected outcomes include improved organizational infrastructure, enhanced staff and board capabilities, more effective communication strategies, and modernized equipment, all contributing to increased operational efficiency and program delivery. While the description doesn't explicitly detail measurable results, the focus on tangible improvements in capacity, training, and equipment suggests that the foundation expects a clear, positive impact on the grantees' ability to fulfill their missions. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by investing in the foundational strength of smaller nonprofits, it can catalyze greater community benefit and resilience in San Luis Obispo County.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for California-based research organizations to enhance the resilience of desert ecosystems at a military training site by using advanced modeling techniques to study and manage key species and habitats.

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 initiative provides financial support to women-owned small businesses in San Francisco to help them grow through various improvement projects, such as marketing and equipment upgrades.

Please visit the Cooperative Efforts webpage on the CAL FIRE website for more information about this grant and how to apply. https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fire-protection/cooperative-efforts

The California Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy) leads California's efforts to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The principal goal of the Conservancy's Science and Lake Improvement Account program (SB 630, 2013) is to support near-shore environmental improvement program activities and projects, particularly projects that manage aquatic invasive species or improve public access to sovereign land in Lake Tahoe.More specifically, such projects manage aquatic invasive species, or improve public access to sovereign land in Lake Tahoe, including planning and site improvement or reconstruction projects on public land, and land acquisitions from willing sellers. SB 630 (2013) allocates the Conservancy approximately $350,000 annually. Please contact staff at robert.larsen@resources.ca.gov and 916.402.7508 for more information.

Applications may be considered under one or both of the following project priorities. Project Type - Transition from Provisional License to Annual License: To transition to an annual license, provisional licensees must meet all regulatory requirements in Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations, sections 8102, 8105, and 8106. Eligible activities under this project type include, but are not limited to: cleanup, remediation, and restoration, professional services, consulting, and infrastructure related to cleanup, remediation, and restoration. Eligible costs include but are not limited to: compliance costs (except the ineligible costs described above); meeting the avoidance, minimization, or mitigation requirements approved in the project’s CEQA document; or county permitting requirements. If the applicant is representing a provisional license cultivator, actions outlined must lead to the issuance of an annual license or lead to on-the-ground implementation that will result in the issuance of an annual license from the licensing authority. Project Type - Sustainable Cannabis Cultivation Practices: Sustainable cannabis cultivation practices should alleviate direct and indirect environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation and enhance environmental stewardship. Activities that may be eligible include but are not limited to: sustainable water consumption, sustainable waste management, integrated pest and disease management, erosion control, and/or riparian protection. Qualified Cultivator - The following qualified cultivator may be represented by an eligible applicant. The qualified cultivator being represented by the eligible applicant must at a minimum have a valid and active provisional license or annual license issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA; now the Department of Cannabis Control). Bus. & Prof. Code, § 26050.2 et seq.). Priority will be given to qualified cultivators with ownership and/or financial interest in no more than 10,000 square feet of total canopy. However, cultivators with ownership and/or financial interest accumulating between 10,000-20,000 square feet of total canopy may still qualify. All proposed projects must benefit qualified cultivators as defined below. Qualified cultivation license types are: Specialty cottage:-“Specialty Cottage Outdoor” is an outdoor cultivation site with up to 25 mature plants.-“Specialty Cottage Mixed-Light Tier 1” only, is a mixed-light cultivation site with 2,500 square feet or less of total canopy Specialty:-“Specialty Outdoor” is an outdoor cultivation site with less than or equal to 5,000 square feet of total canopy, or up to 50 mature plants.-“Specialty Mixed-Light Tier 1” only, is a mixed-light cultivation site between 2,501 and 5,000 square feet of total canopy. Small:- “Small Outdoor” is an outdoor cultivation site between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet of total canopy.- “Small Mixed-Light Tier 1” only, is a mixed-light cultivation site between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet of total canopy. “Mixed-light Tier 1” is without the use of artificial light or the use of artificial light at a rate above zero, but no more than six watts per square foot.

Restricted to California nonprofit organizations that are described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of such code. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not require certain organizations such as churches, mosques, and synagogues to apply for and receive recognition of exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRC. Such organizations are automatically exempt if they meet the requirements of Section 501(c)(3).

This funding program provides financial support to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for initiatives that assist children and youth aged 0-24 affected by poverty, violence, and trauma in Sacramento.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and certain public agencies to improve transportation options for seniors and individuals with disabilities in California.

The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is offering its Senior Dance Grants Program, aligning with its mission to support community building and social interaction. This program is specifically designed to fund 501(c)(3) organizations that offer music and dancing programs aimed at seniors. The grant duration is up to one year, with individual awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, and a maximum grant award of $10,000 per concentration. This initiative underscores the Foundation's strategic priority to foster programs that directly benefit specific demographics within San Luis Obispo County, thereby contributing to its broader theory of change which emphasizes community well-being through engagement and support for local non-profits. The target beneficiaries of this program are seniors within San Luis Obispo County, with a primary goal of encouraging social interaction and community building. The Foundation's focus is on programs that use music and dancing as a medium to achieve these objectives. The expected outcomes include increased social engagement among seniors, improved community connections, and enhanced quality of life through participation in structured, enjoyable activities. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the funding amounts and grant duration, the emphasis on "social interaction and community building" suggests that successful applicants would demonstrate how their programs contribute to these areas, potentially through participation rates, feedback, or observed improvements in social connectivity. Eligibility for the Senior Dance Grants Program requires applicants to possess current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or a memorandum of understanding for fiscal sponsorship. The Foundation has a clear set of exclusions, indicating its priorities and what it deems outside the scope of its funding. These exclusions include grants to individuals, organizations that discriminate, fraternal organizations (unless for community-wide programs), governmental organizations, and those with indirect administrative costs exceeding 15% of the awarded funds. The Foundation also excludes funding for fundraising events, religiously affiliated organizations (unless open to all), political campaigns, organizations outside San Luis Obispo County (unless for specific local benefit), debt repayment, endowment funds, and scholarships or research. These exclusions highlight the Foundation's strategic priorities: to support programs that are inclusive, directly benefit the community, operate efficiently with reasonable administrative costs, and focus on direct program delivery rather than fundraising or political activities. By carefully defining what it will not fund, the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County ensures that its resources are directed towards programs that most effectively align with its mission of enhancing community life, particularly for seniors, through direct and impactful interventions in San Luis Obispo County.

The City and County of San Francisco offers "Grants for the Arts: Arts Services," a program designed to provide capacity building for San Francisco-based arts and culture organizations and/or artists. This grant aims to strengthen the arts community within San Francisco by offering support in various critical areas. While the specific foundation mission or theory of change is not explicitly stated in the provided text, the grant's focus on "capacity building" and supporting local arts organizations aligns with a broader goal of fostering a vibrant and sustainable cultural sector within the city. The target beneficiaries of this grant are San Francisco-based nonprofit organizations classified as 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6), as well as individual artists through fiscally sponsored organizations. The program prioritizes a wide range of areas for support, including audience development, cultural competency and racial equity action plans, fiscal sponsorship, financial management and literacy, fundraising, grant writing, legal compliance, marketing, mentorship, nonprofit governance, professional development, regranting programs, space/capital planning, strategic and business planning, and technical assistance. The impact goals are to enhance the operational and strategic capabilities of these organizations and artists, ultimately contributing to a more robust and equitable arts ecosystem in San Francisco. Expected outcomes include improved organizational sustainability, increased professionalization of artists and arts organizations, enhanced audience engagement, greater financial stability, and more effective program delivery. Measurable results from the FY24 cycle indicate grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $140,000, although these do not reflect future cycles. The grant duration is two years, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, allowing for sustained capacity-building efforts and the potential for long-term impact on the beneficiaries. The grant's strategic priorities are clearly focused on empowering local arts and culture entities by addressing their diverse needs across operational and developmental aspects. The theory of change implicit in this grant is that by providing comprehensive capacity-building support in areas such as financial management, strategic planning, and racial equity, organizations will become more resilient, effective, and capable of serving their communities. This, in turn, is expected to lead to a more thriving and inclusive arts and culture landscape in San Francisco. Eligibility criteria, such as requiring a San Francisco corporate address and 501(c) status, underscore the commitment to local investment and accountability within the city's artistic community.

This funding opportunity supports community programs that teach and engage diverse families in fishing, boating, and aquatic conservation efforts throughout California.

The Neighborhood Grants Program (NGP) is offered by the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) to support community groups in addressing local issues and improving quality of life. NGP provides financial and technical assistance to resident- and community-led projects that bring people together to identify and solve community challenges throughout Monterey County. The Neighborhood Grants Program (NGP) is a grant program of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC). NGP considers applications from various community groups throughout Monterey County that actively bring residents together to identify community issues and implement solutions to address them. The NGP is committed to providing financial and technical support to resident- and community-led groups for projects in their neighborhood or community that help improve the quality of life for its residents.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profit organizations for projects that improve public facilities and services for low and moderate-income residents in Glendale.

This grant supports collaborative partnerships among cultural nonprofits, local businesses, and government entities in California to establish and promote new cultural districts that celebrate and preserve local cultural assets.

The City of Eastvale in California is seeking applications for its Community Development Block Grants, a federally funded program aimed at providing housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons, with eligible activities including public services, public improvements, and housing services.