California Community Development Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Santa Barbara County that are dedicated to improving youth mental health by addressing staffing challenges and enhancing the well-being of mental health providers.

The Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program is a federally funded grant program that allows California to provide local and rural fire departments with minor firefighting, training, communications and safety equipment for their volunteer firefighters. The VFC Program is not intended for major equipment (fire engines, vehicles, etc.) or Capital repairs. The VFC Program has a 50/50 match requirement which means that the applying department must be able to meet the intended grant award, dollar for dollar. Awards for departments are set at a minimum of $500 with a maximum of $20,000. Amounts may be adjusted based on the grant funding available. For additional information please contact Megan Esfandiary at Megan.Esfandiary@fire.ca.gov or Bryan Giambrone at Bryan.Giambrone@fire.ca.gov.

The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is offering grants to Santa Clara County municipalities, jurisdictions, arts, cultural, education, nonprofit, and community organizations to advance its vision of equitable Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC). This program aims to foster innovative and robust partnerships between VTA and local public agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, and diverse stakeholders. The overarching mission alignment is to support the implementation of equitable Transit-Oriented Communities within Santa Clara County, focusing on creating sustainable, inclusive, and transit-friendly environments. The grant program targets communities and organizations located within a half-mile radius of existing and planned VTA light rail stations, VTA transit centers, BART stations, and commuter rail stations served by Caltrain, ACE, and/or Capitol Corridor. The primary beneficiaries are residents and businesses within these transit-rich areas, particularly those with limited incomes, and community organizations striving to make these areas more equitable. Impact goals include empowering and strengthening communities, increasing transit ridership, reducing reliance on car trips, and supporting intensive mixed-use, mixed-income development around transit hubs. The program prioritizes projects that support collaboration and fall under four key areas: Planning and Policy Implementation, Community Resilience, Education & Engagement, and Placemaking, Arts, and Activation. Planning and Policy Implementation focuses on advancing policies and regulations for equitable TOCs, including station area planning and equitable development plans. Community Resilience emphasizes anti-displacement efforts, affordable housing preservation, small business support, and promoting transit use among low-income individuals. Education & Engagement aims to increase community leadership and participation in TOC implementation through advocacy, capacity building, and culturally relevant engagement practices. Placemaking, Arts, and Activation seeks to improve the transit rider and community experience through public arts, cultural projects, and beautification initiatives that enhance safety and accessibility. Expected outcomes include a significant increase in the adoption and implementation of equitable TOC policies and plans, tangible progress in anti-displacement efforts and affordable housing, enhanced community capacity and participation in transit-oriented development, and improved public spaces around transit stations. Measurable results will include the number of selected projects (14-20 projects are anticipated), the amount of funding distributed (up to $15,000 to $175,000 per project), and the commencement of projects between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The VTA's strategic priorities are clearly centered on fostering equitable development, encouraging transit ridership, and building strong community partnerships as a core theory of change to achieve sustainable and inclusive transit-oriented growth in Santa Clara County.

The City of West Hollywood's Arts Project Grant offers funding to eligible nonprofit arts organizations for projects taking place within the city and serving its community. This program aligns with the city's broader mission to enrich the lives of its residents and visitors through cultural engagement. The grant aims to foster a vibrant arts scene, recognize and champion local cultural resources, and discover new places for artmaking, directly supporting the city's commitment to cultural development and community well-being. The primary target beneficiaries are the residents and visitors of West Hollywood, with a focus on increasing their access to quality arts programming. The program seeks to engage diverse audiences and expand participation in the arts, particularly making experiences financially and geographically accessible. Beyond cultural enrichment, the grant also intends to support local businesses by increasing revenues and fostering arts-business partnerships, contributing to the economic vitality of the West Hollywood community. Key priorities for this grant include presenting one artistic presentation per year, as opposed to a series of projects, ensuring focused and impactful events. The program prioritizes organizations that can demonstrate artistic experience, an understanding of West Hollywood's unique cultural diversity, and a commitment to serving the general public within the city or immediately adjacent areas. Projects that do not include fundraisers, capital campaigns, murals, or religious-based programs are eligible, maintaining a clear focus on public arts presentations. Expected outcomes and measurable results are centered on increasing engagement with the arts, expanding arts audiences, and enhancing the accessibility of arts experiences for West Hollywood residents. The program also aims to strengthen local cultural resources and generate economic benefits for local businesses through arts-related activities. While specific quantitative metrics are not detailed in the provided text, the emphasis on "increasing access," "expanding audiences," and "increasing revenues for local businesses" indicates the desire for demonstrable positive impacts in these areas. The City of West Hollywood's strategic priorities for this grant reflect a theory of change that postulates that by investing in local arts organizations and projects, the city can foster a more engaged, culturally rich, and economically robust community. The grant's focus on accessibility, local relevance, and partnership building suggests a belief that widespread participation in the arts can lead to a stronger sense of community, increased quality of life for residents, and tangible economic benefits for local enterprises. This aligns with a broader strategy of leveraging cultural assets for comprehensive community development.

This funding provides financial support to build free broadband networks for low-income communities, including public housing and mobile home parks, ensuring residents have access to high-quality internet service.

This funding opportunity supports food recovery organizations, nonprofits, public agencies, and businesses in Monterey County to divert edible food from landfills and distribute it to those in need, in line with California's sustainability goals.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to federally recognized California tribes to address issues related to missing and murdered Indigenous people through various prevention and intervention initiatives.

Program: Community Grant Program (CGP) Funder: City of Encinitas Award Details: The CGP provides funding in two categories - Civic (social, recreation, education, health, and environment) and Arts (visual art, performing arts, arts education, literary arts, etc.). The program is funded through an annual General Fund allocation from the City of Encinitas and outside donations. The CGP operates on a reimbursement basis, where funds are reimbursed upon submission of paid invoices, receipts, and other supporting documentation. Reimbursement requests for awarded grants must be submitted by 4:30 pm on Friday, June 14, 2024. Eligibility: To be eligible for funding through the CGP, organizations must have nonprofit or tax-exempt status and be legally based in Encinitas. Projects must take place between July 1, 2023, and June 14, 2024. Other Information: The City of Encinitas expresses gratitude to the Ecke Family for their generous financial support of the CGP. For more information about the program and application process, applicants are encouraged to review all information provided on the official website as well as the FY23/24 CGP Recipient Workshop Presentation. Questions can be directed to City staff via email at CGP@EncinitasCA.gov or by phone at (760) 633-2740.

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

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and public agencies in San Diego County for projects that enhance green spaces and promote climate resilience in communities facing environmental challenges.

The purpose of the Program is to fund CASA Programs in California to provide more children in foster care with a CASA volunteer who will advocate for the services and support needed by children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

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 Community Sports Grant, funded by the City of Thousand Oaks in California, offers $2,000 to $7,500 to non-profit community and school groups for upgrading sports facilities or purchasing equipment, requiring 100% matching funds and excluding uniforms, with applications due by October 3, 2024.

This grant provides $1 million to a qualified nonprofit or educational institution in California to develop a project aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing disparities for low-income and marginalized communities in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

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. 

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Turlock to support services that assist low- to moderate-income individuals, such as food assistance, homeless services, and youth programs.

This program provides financial support to nonprofit organizations for marketing and advertising efforts related to community events that enhance the cultural and social vibrancy of San Luis Obispo.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in South Santa Clara County for projects that positively impact areas such as education, technology, and the arts.

This funding opportunity provides over $800 million to support the construction and rehabilitation of facilities that expand mental health services for vulnerable populations in California, including unhoused individuals, veterans, and children.

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.