California Environment Grants

Conservancy priority for the funding is for projects that advance the evaluation of sea otter reintroduction as a potential recovery strategy for southern sea otters in California. This may include activities such as conducting biological and socioeconomic studies, stakeholder engagement, risk and impact analyses, baseline assessments, and other research and planning.   Other projects that plan, implement, or conducted research related to other critical recovery actions of the Federal Southern Sea Otter Recovery Plan will be considered as a second priority.  

The Conservation, Environment and Public Trails Grant Program, administered by the Santa Barbara Foundation, is dedicated to fostering environmental sustainability, land conservation, habitat restoration, public trails, and overall ecosystem health within Santa Barbara County. This program directly aligns with the foundation's mission by investing in projects that preserve and enhance the region's natural resources, ensuring a healthy and accessible environment for all residents. The grants support both new and existing initiatives that demonstrate a clear need and aim to create lasting positive change in the community. The primary beneficiaries of this program are the communities and natural landscapes of Santa Barbara County. The impact goals include improving equitable access to natural resources and trail systems, restoring degraded habitats, protecting ecologically significant lands, and promoting sustainable environmental practices. The program seeks to empower well-managed, financially viable organizations to implement effective projects that address identified environmental needs, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and environmentally conscious Santa Barbara County. Key priorities for funding include projects focused on preserving and ensuring equitable access to natural resources and trail systems, community-based restoration in various natural areas (wetlands, streams, coastal areas, grasslands, woodlands), early-stage investigations for land conservation efforts, and piloting or expanding projects that exemplify best practices in conservation. The strongest projects are those that foster partnerships and collaborations, incorporate community involvement and education, and align with broader regional plans such as Santa Barbara County’s Conservation Blueprint or the Food Action Plan. Expected outcomes include the establishment of new trails and restoration of existing ones, the permanent protection of ecologically and agriculturally valuable lands, the restoration of critical habitats, and the implementation of innovative solutions for sustainable land, forestry, and water management. Measurable results could include increased acres of conserved land, miles of accessible trails, improved biodiversity in restored areas, and enhanced community awareness and engagement in conservation efforts. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in its emphasis on collaborative approaches, community engagement, and alignment with existing regional conservation strategies, reflecting a theory of change that prioritizes collective action and long-term planning for environmental resilience.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Sacramento-based nonprofit cultural organizations and for-profit creative businesses to develop workforce training and internship programs for underserved youth and young adults aged 16-24.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, public agencies, school districts, and California Native American tribes in creating educational and stewardship projects that connect communities to the coast and ocean, particularly those with limited access to coastal resources.

This grant provides financial assistance to public agencies in California for projects that combat shoreline erosion and restore public beaches.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for various organizations to implement prevention and control measures against the invasive golden mussel in Western U.S. waters, focusing on ecological protection and public awareness.

This grant provides funding for research on the genetic analysis of Agassiz's Desert Tortoise populations to support conservation efforts and military operations in California.

This funding opportunity supports scientific research projects that evaluate the effectiveness of California's forest management regulations, targeting a wide range of applicants including government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations focused on sustainable land management.

EBIP is intended to encourage adoption for low-income individuals of electric bicycles as a replacement for motor vehicle trips. Consistent with the goals of SB 375, EBIP would increase access to clean transportation options while offsetting vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by way of incentivizing electric bicycles (e-bikes). A portion of project funds would support the development and administration of a virtual bike safety class, so that consumers understand bicycle road safety. EBIP will provide incentives for eligible e-bikes to income-qualified consumers at the time of purchase, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Furthermore, EBIP will pilot an approach that aims to 1) help people replace car trips with e-bike trips, 2) increase access to electric bicycles, and 3) reduce GHG emissions. EBIP will be administered and implemented through a partnership between CARB and a Grantee, selected via this completive solicitation. Eligible applicants wishing to apply for the role of project administrator must submit an application via mail or in person to CARB no later than 5:00 p.m. (PDT) May 11, 2022. More information regarding the application process can be found in Section IX, Application Instructions of this solicitation.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control's (DTSC) Site Mitigation and Restoration Program Office of Brownfield manages the Equitable Community Revitalization Grant, which provides approximately $185 million in grants through a competitive process for investigations and cleanup of brownfields, in disadvantaged, vulnerable communities, to protect public health and provide opportunities for community revitalization.

The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, in partnership with the Bay Foundation of Morro Bay, is offering a grant opportunity through the Central Coast Community-Based Water Quality Grants Program. This initiative focuses on supporting water quality-related projects within the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s jurisdiction. The program's core mission aligns with the Rose Foundation's broader goals of fostering environmental health and community well-being, specifically by addressing critical water issues in California's Central Coast. The program primarily targets projects that advance environmental justice and provide water quality benefits to underrepresented communities. This focus aims to address historical inequities and ensure that all communities have access to clean and safe water. The expected outcomes include tangible improvements in water quality, enhanced environmental justice outcomes, and increased resiliency for communities facing water-related challenges. Measurable results will likely involve reductions in pollutant loading, progress toward water quality objectives, and the preservation and restoration of watershed functions. Key priorities and preferred topic areas for this grant include the human right to water, environmental justice capacity building, and understanding the water quality impacts of climate change. The program also emphasizes drought-related water supply resiliency, climate adaptation and mitigation, sustainable drinking water and wastewater treatment, and sustainable groundwater management strategies. Additionally, projects that benefit marine habitats in San Luis Obispo County, reduce pollutant loading to meet Central Coast Basin Plan objectives, restore impaired waterbodies, implement on-farm Best Management Practices to reduce salt and nitrate, and prevent or address Harmful Algal Blooms are highly encouraged. The grant offers two funding tracks: a Large Grant Track for requests up to $200,000 (with most awards between $100,000-$200,000) and a Small Grant Track for requests up to $50,000 (with most awards between $20,000-$50,000). Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, federally recognized and State Indian tribes, and public agencies with jurisdiction over water resources management. All projects must be conducted within the Central Coast Water Board's Region 3 jurisdiction, encompassing Southern Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and portions of Ventura, Kern, and San Mateo Counties. The foundation's strategic approach underscores a commitment to community-driven solutions and measurable environmental impact through collaborative partnerships.

The 2024 Dairy Plus Program is a $58 million grant initiative aimed at supporting advanced manure management practices in dairy farming, offering up to $1,250,000 per project that proposes innovative methods for reducing methane emissions and nitrogen and salt surplus, with the funding being provided on a reimbursement basis after project completion.

This grant provides funding to agricultural landowners to implement projects that enhance wildlife habitats while supporting sustainable farming practices.

Grants are provide to acquire mountainous or natural community conservation lands in the Coachella Valley and its surrounding mountains, or in limited cases, to provide capital improvements on existing conservation lands.  Priority acquisitions are those that support the implementation of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan.   Matching funds are preferred, but not required.

This program provides funding to community groups and local organizations in Santa Rosa for projects that improve neighborhoods and foster community engagement, such as clean-ups, public art, and gardens.

The Tourist Development Council Arts, Culture & Heritage (ACH) funding program, administered by the St. Johns Cultural Council, aims to bolster the economic impact of local tourism. Its core mission is to encourage exceptional arts, culture, and heritage programming while enhancing advertising and promotion for these tourism opportunities. This aligns with a broader strategy to position St. Johns County as a culturally rich and vibrant destination, utilizing a portion of the Tourist Development Tax to support relevant operations and promotions that specifically attract visitors. The program targets organizations and events within St. Johns County that are dedicated to arts, culture, or heritage and primarily seek to draw tourists. Beneficiaries include for-profit businesses, private institutions of higher education, and municipalities that are qualified to operate in Florida. The ultimate impact goal is to increase the positive economic contributions of tourism through cultural engagement. The ACH Grant Program prioritizes activities that attract visitors, evidenced by promotion to tourists. It offers two main funding options: "Out-of-Area Marketing Support" for existing, unchanged events or programs, and "Program and Marketing Support" for new or significantly improved programs/events. A significant focus is on marketing efforts that reach audiences outside St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam, Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties, with reimbursement based on the percentage of documented out-of-area reach. Expected outcomes include enhanced advertising and promotion of St. Johns County's cultural offerings, leading to a greater influx of tourists. Measurable results will likely be tied to the documented out-of-area reach of marketing campaigns and the overall increase in tourism-related economic activity within the county. The program's strategic priority is to leverage arts, culture, and heritage as key drivers for tourism, thereby contributing to the county's economic vitality.

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.

This grant provides financial assistance to local agencies and organizations in California for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities that help recreational boaters properly dispose of sewage waste, promoting cleaner waterways and safer boating experiences.

The Innovation Fund by Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors in California offers grants over $1 million to stimulate innovative public service projects and programs in areas like equitable access to services, economic vitality, and environment, available to IRS tax-exempt organizations operating in Contra Costa County, with application deadline on 10/07/2024.

The Clean Power Alliance (CPA) offers Community Benefits Grants (CBG) to support organizations that are advancing clean energy, fostering green jobs, promoting environmental education and stewardship, and championing energy equity and diversity within the communities served by CPA. This grant program directly aligns with CPA's mission to drive sustainability and resiliency through various pathways, reflecting their strategic priority to invest in community-level initiatives that complement their core energy services. The CBG program targets several key beneficiaries, particularly focusing on environmental and social justice communities. These include areas predominantly inhabited by communities of color or low-income populations, those underrepresented in policy and decision-making processes, and communities disproportionately affected by environmental hazards. Specifically, targeted communities include disadvantaged communities (based on CalEnviroScreen scores), all Tribal lands, and low-income households or census tracts. The impact goals are to alleviate environmental burdens, promote equitable access to clean energy benefits, and empower these communities through education and workforce development. The program prioritizes projects and organizations that advance clean energy, sustainability, and resiliency through specific focus areas: Research, Environmental and Social Justice Communities, Workforce Development, and Education. These priorities are designed to address systemic inequalities and foster a just transition to a clean energy economy. The expected outcomes include increased community engagement in clean energy initiatives, the development of a skilled green workforce, improved environmental literacy, and a reduction in environmental disparities in historically underserved areas. Awards for this grant range from $15,000 to $30,000, with a grant duration of one year. Eligible applicants must be IRS-designated 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations operating within the CPA service territory, which encompasses numerous cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. While previous grant recipients can apply for the 2024-2025 cycle, they are ineligible to receive funds for more than two consecutive years. This structure aims to ensure a broad reach of funding and sustainable impact across the service areas.