California Arts Grants

The City of Ventura offers Special Event Grants to support events and festivals that enhance public spaces and boost visitor spending. The program aims to champion community celebrations that draw in both residents and visitors, reinforce Ventura's cultural identity and economic vitality, and foster an entrepreneurial spirit alongside innovative public-private partnerships. While the document does not explicitly state a "foundation mission alignment," the grant's objectives align with broader municipal goals of community enrichment, economic development, and cultural promotion within the city. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant program are City of Ventura-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status, or those with a City of Ventura-based fiscal agent that holds 501(c)(3) status. The grants are intended to increase the number of free and affordable community events, thereby benefiting residents and visitors by providing accessible cultural and entertainment opportunities. The impact goals include strengthening Ventura’s cultural identity, enhancing economic vitality through increased visitor spending, and promoting collaboration between sectors. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around activating public spaces and celebrating community. Specifically, the annual funding through the Special Event Grant Program aims to support events that attract residents and visitors, strengthening the city's cultural and economic fabric. This year, there is an additional focus, approved by the Ventura City Council in their 2023-24 goals, to award one-time funding to specifically increase free and affordable community events throughout the city. Expected outcomes and measurable results, while not explicitly detailed with specific metrics, can be inferred from the grant's objectives. These would likely include an increase in the number of free and affordable events, a rise in visitor spending attributable to these events, enhanced community engagement and participation in local celebrations, and a strengthened sense of cultural identity within Ventura. The grant also seeks to promote innovative partnerships, suggesting an outcome of increased collaboration between private sector and public agencies. The "theory of change" underpinning this program is that by funding special events, the city can achieve its broader strategic priorities of community development, economic growth, and cultural enrichment.

The District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) invites applications for funding to support community-based organizations in implementing place-based initiatives. The overarching goal is to improve the well-being and stability of families through community-driven efforts. This aligns with a mission to empower local communities by providing resources and services that directly address their specific needs and strengths, fostering self-sufficiency and improved family outcomes. The grant program aims to establish and support Family Success Centers, which will serve as accessible hubs for neighbors to utilize computers, access various resources and services, and participate in classes and trainings. Each center is designed to be unique, reflecting the specific strengths and goals of its community, ensuring that the support provided is relevant and impactful. This model focuses on localized solutions, recognizing that effective family support is best achieved when tailored to the community it serves. Target beneficiaries for these initiatives are families within the District of Columbia, with a particular focus on those who can benefit from enhanced access to resources and services that improve well-being and stability. The impact goals include fostering stronger, more resilient families and communities by addressing multiple aspects of family life. This approach seeks to create a network of support that is easily accessible and responsive to the evolving needs of residents. The program prioritizes non-profit, community-based organizations that can demonstrate their ability to meet identified needs and commit to implementing program measures over the grant period. Eligible organizations include non-profit, private, public, and faith-based entities. Partnerships between organizations are encouraged to facilitate comprehensive service delivery. Expected outcomes include increased access to vital resources, improved family well-being, enhanced community stability, and the development of sustainable, community-led initiatives. Measurable results will likely include metrics related to service utilization, program participation, and indicators of family and community stability and well-being. Funding information indicates that eligible organizations can receive up to $325,000 in the 12-month base year, with the potential for an additional $325,000 per year for up to four option years, for a maximum grant duration of five years. This sustained funding is intended to support the long-term implementation and impact of these place-based family support initiatives. The strategic priority is to invest in local organizations that are deeply embedded within the communities they serve, thereby leveraging existing community strengths and relationships to achieve lasting positive change.

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.

Under the Zip Books program, patrons request books that the library does not own. The library then orders the book from Amazon, and the book is shipped directly to the patron’s home. When the patron is finished with the book, the book is returned to the library and added to the collection.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Alameda County that are developing innovative solutions for prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction related to the opioid crisis, particularly for vulnerable populations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support and resources to help immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency in California start or grow small businesses that address social challenges in their communities.

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is offering the 2023-2024 Public-Space Activation Fund (PAF), a grant program aimed at supporting activities that revitalize public spaces within the City of Los Angeles, California. This initiative aligns with the DCA's mission to enrich the cultural life of the city by fostering community engagement and providing accessible cultural experiences. The grant seeks to fund projects that transform public areas into vibrant hubs of activity, reflecting a commitment to broad public benefit and cultural accessibility. The primary beneficiaries of the PAF are the residents and visitors of Los Angeles, particularly those who participate in or attend the various public events and activities supported by the fund. The impact goals include enhancing community cohesion, celebrating cultural diversity, and providing opportunities for cross-cultural learning. By supporting a range of accessible events, the fund aims to improve the quality of public life and create inclusive environments for artistic and cultural expression. The PAF prioritizes projects falling under four main categories, with specific emphasis on International Festivals & Intercultural Foods (IFIF). IFIF grants, typically ranging from $7,500 to $10,000, are designed for pop-up or festival-style events such as community picnics, outdoor festivals, block parties, and food/food-truck festivals. Additionally, creative enhancements to farmers' markets that incorporate live performing arts and cultural activities are highly encouraged. These projects are expected to embrace multicultural themes and feature entertainment suitable for family-friendly, street-adjacent spaces like public parks, schoolyards, and parking lots. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in public attendance at cultural events, greater community participation in organized activities, and a visible enhancement of public spaces. The success of IFIF projects, for instance, will be measured by their ability to promote opportunities for cross-cultural learning and engage diverse audiences through multicultural entertainment. The DCA's strategic priority is to activate public spaces, and this grant program serves as a direct implementation of that theory of change, believing that by funding accessible cultural events, they can foster a more connected and culturally rich urban environment.

The Community Foundation for Monterey County offers grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to support initiatives that increase awareness, promote acceptance, and improve the quality of life for the LGBTQ+ community in Monterey County, CA, with a focus on arts and culture, education, civil rights, health, mental health, organizational capacity building, and programs for youth and seniors.

This program provides funding to local nonprofit organizations that support the social, family, and economic well-being of residents in Claremont, including students of the Claremont Unified School District.

The City of West Hollywood's Cultural History Grant Program offers funding to individual artists, artist collectives, and nonprofit arts organizations. This initiative aligns with a broader mission to support and enrich the local arts scene by fostering the production, performance, or presentation of art projects within the city or those that specifically serve the West Hollywood community. The program aims to ensure a vibrant cultural landscape, reflecting a strategic priority to integrate arts and culture into the city's identity and community life. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are individual artists, artist collectives, and nonprofit arts organizations. The impact goal is to empower these entities to create and present art projects that resonate with or are situated within West Hollywood. By supporting these groups, the program seeks to enhance the accessibility and diversity of artistic expressions available to residents and visitors, contributing to a more culturally engaged and cohesive community. The program prioritizes and focuses on projects that take place in the City of West Hollywood or directly serve its community. There is a strong emphasis on inviting and encouraging applications from artists and organizations representing diverse populations and artistic disciplines, ensuring broad representation and equitable access to funding opportunities. This focus underscores a strategic commitment to inclusivity and the celebration of a wide array of artistic forms and cultural backgrounds. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number and variety of art projects produced, performed, or presented within West Hollywood, leading to a richer cultural environment. Measurable results would involve tracking the number of grants awarded, the types of art projects funded, the number of artists and organizations supported, and the estimated audience reach of these projects. The program's theory of change posits that by providing financial support to artists and arts organizations, the city can stimulate artistic creation and community engagement, thereby strengthening its cultural heritage and promoting a lively arts ecosystem. The maximum award per grantee is $10,000, with a total of $40,000 available funding for the program. This financial framework allows for a targeted approach, supporting multiple smaller-scale projects that can collectively make a significant impact on the local arts scene. The grant duration is not explicitly mentioned, suggesting a project-based funding model that allows flexibility for various artistic endeavors.

Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health (SPRCPH) is offering grants to support activities, programs, and initiatives that address public health issues within the community. The core mission of this grant program is to improve community health, aligning with SPRCPH's broader commitment to public well-being. This initiative directly supports building capacity, planning, developing, implementing, or evaluating work that addresses the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) priorities. The target beneficiaries are organizations registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State or those working with a fiscal agent, who are actively engaged in addressing public health concerns in Minnesota counties. The impact goals are to significantly improve health outcomes by focusing on critical CHIP priority areas. These include Racial and Health Equity; Healthy Eating, Active Living, and Tobacco-Free Living; Access to Health Care Services; Mental Health and Well-being; and Violence Prevention. The grant program prioritizes activities within four key categories: Capacity Building, Planning and Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. Capacity Building examples include start-up costs, resources and supplies, and client or community relationship development. Planning and Development encompasses community outreach, program design, service launch, and training. Implementation focuses on programs, services, and activities related to identified CHIP priorities, while Evaluation involves designing evaluations, satisfaction surveys, and process and outcome evaluations. SPRCPH anticipates awarding up to eight grants, with each grant being up to $30,000, for a total of approximately $240,000. These grants are intended to support 12 months of activities. The expected outcomes include strengthening public health infrastructure, developing innovative programs, and directly addressing the identified CHIP priorities to create healthier communities. Measurable results will be determined through evaluation activities, assessing both the process ("How much did we do?") and the ultimate impact ("Is anyone better off?"). The strategic priorities and theory of change are centered on investing in community-led initiatives that directly tackle the root causes of health disparities and promote holistic well-being across Ramsey County.

The City of Lubbock’s Cultural Arts Grant Program, administered by Civic Lubbock, Inc., offers financial support to local cultural organizations. This program aims to fund projects that actively promote tourism and enhance the arts and humanities within Lubbock. Funding is sourced from the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT), collected from local hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns. The program’s mission is directly aligned with the legal stipulations governing the use of HOT revenues, which mandate that funds be utilized for expenditures that promote tourism and the arts. To be eligible for funding, projects must demonstrate a direct promotion of tourism and the convention and hotel industry, specifically aiming to attract tourists and hotel guests to Lubbock. Additionally, projects must involve the encouragement, promotion, improvement, and application of various art forms, including instrumental and vocal music, dance, drama, folk art, creative writing, and visual arts, among others. The target beneficiaries are 501(c)3 tax-exempt cultural organizations or government equivalents that have been actively pursuing their goals for at least one year. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly outlined: enhancing the arts, boosting tourism, and supporting organizations in good standing with both the City of Lubbock and Civic Lubbock, Inc. The expected outcomes include an increase in tourism, a richer cultural landscape in Lubbock, and the successful execution of diverse art-related projects. Measurable results would likely include increased hotel occupancy rates, visitor numbers, and the number and quality of cultural events offered to the public. The City of Lubbock's strategic priority, as reflected in this grant program, is to leverage its Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue to foster economic growth through tourism and cultural development. The underlying theory of change is that by investing in cultural arts, the city can create a more attractive destination for visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and improving the quality of life for its residents. The 2024 Grant Cycle will support projects taking place between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025. Certain restrictions apply, prohibiting the use of grant funds for accumulated debt, general operational expenses, fundraising, or capital improvements.

This program provides financial support to property owners and businesses in downtown Bishop to improve building aesthetics, restore historic features, and stimulate economic growth through private investments.

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.

The LA County Department of Arts and Culture is offering a two-year Organizational Grant Program for Los Angeles County nonprofit arts organizations to fund projects that increase accessibility, sustainability, and capacity in arts programming, with eligibility criteria including tax-exempt status, a primary mission in arts programming, and a minimum of two years of programming history in the county.

The Legacy Business Recovery Grant Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation to the City of Los Angeles, offers grants of up to $20,000 to eligible Legacy Businesses. This initiative is designed to provide crucial financial assistance to aid these businesses in their recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program's core mission aligns with broader efforts to support local economies and preserve established community businesses, recognizing their historical and cultural value. It underscores a commitment to helping businesses adapt, reopen, and sustain operations in a challenging economic landscape. The primary beneficiaries of this program are Legacy Businesses listed on the Legacy Business Registry, operating within Los Angeles city limits, and functioning from commercial, industrial, or manufacturing locations with a valid commercial lease. Home-based businesses are not eligible, and annual revenue cannot exceed $3 million. The impact goal is to facilitate the recovery and continued operation of these vital businesses, ensuring their survival and contribution to the local economy and community fabric. Businesses must demonstrate how the funds will be used for COVID-19 recovery expenses, with a focus on necessary expenditures. Funding priorities emphasize equitable distribution across finalists, with a particular focus on City of Los Angeles geographic diversity and low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. Grant application submissions from businesses located in or owned by individuals in low- and moderate-income communities (50% and 80% of Area Median Income as defined by HUD) are more heavily weighted, as are businesses facing an imminent threat of displacement. This weighted selection process reflects a strategic priority to support businesses in areas with greater need and vulnerability, aligning with a theory of change that targeted investment can produce more equitable and impactful recovery outcomes. Expected outcomes include the sustained operation of Legacy Businesses, job retention, and economic stabilization within affected communities. Measurable results will be tied to how grant funds are utilized, with eligible uses encompassing employee payroll, rent, utilities, insurance, working capital for reopening or continued operations, adapting to new technologies, payment of outstanding business expenses incurred after March 3, 2021, adaptive business practices, and legal fees for lease negotiations. Grant amounts are tiered based on employee count: $10,000 for businesses with one to five employees and $20,000 for those with six or more. This structure ensures that assistance is tailored to the operational scale of the businesses, contributing to their effective recovery and resilience.

This grant provides funding to community groups in San José for projects that enhance neighborhood beauty, improve quality of life, and foster community engagement.

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.

Arts Integration Training projects should be designed to pave a pathway for increased equitable student learning in, through, and about the arts. This may be realized in a specific classroom, in all classrooms across a school site, or as a central strategy for a district or countywide arts plan. The project must be planned and implemented with collaboration between a nonprofit arts organization, teaching artists, and the educational entity, with fullcommitment from all participants.