California Food and Nutrition Grants

This program provides financial reimbursement to small businesses and agricultural cooperatives in the Western U.S. for international marketing efforts aimed at expanding their global reach and increasing exports of U.S. food and agricultural products.

This program provides matching funds to small businesses along Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica for exterior improvements, prioritizing those owned by minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals, while enhancing safety and community vitality.

This funding opportunity supports California school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education in improving meal quality and kitchen infrastructure for school meal programs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to incorporated cities in Orange County, California, for community projects that improve health and wellness, enhance public spaces, and address health disparities among residents.

This grant provides financial support to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in designated regions, focusing on youth development, military and veterans support, hunger and nutrition, and basic human needs.

This grant provides funding to public libraries across California to create summer meal sites and educational programs that promote access to nutritious food and learning for families.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Santa Barbara County that assist financially-at-risk elderly individuals and promote the welfare of dogs.

This program provides funding to organizations and institutions that aim to improve the competitiveness of California's specialty crop industry through projects focused on market enhancement, education, training, or research.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to public school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education in California to help them recruit and retain qualified food service personnel, ensuring high-quality nutrition services for students.

This grant provides financial support to California Southern Baptist churches for outreach and evangelism projects, including missions, disaster relief, and hunger relief efforts.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Imperial County that are dedicated to improving health and wellness for underserved communities, including children, low-income families, and veterans.

This program provides funding to organizations and entities that enhance the competitiveness of California's specialty crop industry, including fruits, vegetables, and horticulture, through innovative projects that benefit the industry as a whole.

This grant provides financial support to young social innovators in California who are developing creative solutions to community challenges across various fields, including education, health, and technology.

This program provides financial assistance to small, local restaurants in West Hollywood facing economic challenges due to rising costs and reduced sales, helping them sustain operations during a difficult period.

This program provides funding to four designated initiatives to support dairy businesses in developing, marketing, and distributing innovative dairy products while enhancing regional resilience and farmer income.

The Economic Opportunity Holiday Grant is a financial aid initiative aimed at supporting small businesses, microentrepreneurs, food industry enterprises, and nonprofits in Los Angeles County that have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants of $3,000 or $5,000 are available for eligible entities. Applicants must sign a pledge to support local businesses on shoplocal.la before applying. Applications will be accepted from November 30, 2024, at 9 a.m. to December 31, 2024, at 5 p.m. Completed applications can be submitted via email to EOHG@pacela.org or dropped off at the program's office in Los Angeles. Eligible applicants include businesses in good standing with local, state, and federal taxes, and nonprofits providing housing, food, transportation, or other community services. Businesses must demonstrate financial losses due to the pandemic, such as revenue declines, supply chain disruptions, or increased costs for public health compliance. Nonprofits and for-profit entities must meet specific revenue thresholds and operational requirements. Certain entities, such as publicly traded companies, lobbying firms, and businesses violating state or federal laws, are ineligible. Grant funds can be used for various purposes, including purchasing certified equipment or technology, paying employee payroll, renewing local permits, covering business debts incurred due to COVID-19, and managing outstanding expenses like rent. Funds may also address costs resulting from health and safety adaptations or interruptions caused by the pandemic. The application requires detailed information about the business, including ownership, type, revenue, location, and impact of COVID-19. Applicants must certify that their submissions are accurate and that their business was affected by the pandemic. Incomplete or falsified applications may result in disqualification. Entities meeting eligibility criteria will be contacted to submit supporting documentation for verification. The program explicitly prohibits funds from being used by businesses involved in gambling, adult entertainment, or activities contravening state or federal regulations. Applicants are encouraged to review the full guidelines available on the grant's website for additional details.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to California colleges and universities to engage students in paid community service that addresses local needs in education, food security, and climate action while promoting civic leadership.

The City of Sacramento Office of Innovation and Economic Development is offering Incubator and Accelerator Grants to fund organizations that support start-up businesses and entrepreneurs in the Sacramento region. The program's mission aligns with stimulating economic development and fostering innovation by nurturing early-stage businesses. The grant size ranges from $10,000 to $100,000, with a total allocation of approximately $500,000, and a grant duration of one year. The deadline for applications is September 9, 2024. The target beneficiaries are early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs within the Sacramento region, particularly those with high growth potential and innovative solutions. The primary impact goal is for participants of the funded incubator and accelerator programs to successfully start or grow their businesses, thereby spurring innovation and stimulating economic development locally. Non-profits and companies are invited to apply for funding to run these programs. The grant prioritizes programs that offer a comprehensive suite of services, including mentorship and coaching from experienced professionals, educational workshops on business planning and financial management, product development support, and legal and administrative assistance. Furthermore, programs should focus on marketing and branding support, strategic partnerships, and facilitating access to funding through pitch training and investor introductions. Access to shared office space is also a valuable component. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the number of new businesses started and existing businesses grown within the Sacramento region. The program aims to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, leading to job creation and economic prosperity. The City's strategic priority is to invest in initiatives that directly contribute to innovation and economic growth, with the theory of change being that by supporting early-stage businesses through comprehensive programs, they will be better equipped to succeed and contribute to the local economy. Eligible activities for grant expenditures are broad, covering program development and delivery, staff salaries, stipends for volunteers and participants, training supplies, office space, marketing, and even food for participants (up to 5% of the grant total). Scholarships for program participants, software subscription fees, and professional services are also permissible. Applicants must operate from a fixed place of business within Sacramento city limits, or provide grant-supported programming within the city, and be in compliance with current and past City grants.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to California-based non-profit organizations to deliver essential reentry services and housing assistance for individuals transitioning back into the community after incarceration.

Funding and Duration: The CA Dept. of Food and Agriculture anticipates that up to $180,000 will be awarded to projects to support agricultural education and training. Grant amounts range from $2,500-153,000. The maximum grant duration is one (1) year, six (6) months and grant funds cannot be expended before January 1, 2025, or after June 30, 2026. CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount less than the amount requested. * NOTE: Non-profit programs administered or managed by a university, such as the 4-H Youth Development Program are exempt from this limitation. Two funding opportunities available: Tier 1 – California Adopted Agricultural Education Programs Up to 85 percent ($153,000) of total available grant award funding is reserved for the California FFA Association; the non-profit organization that represents state-adopted Agricultural Education Programs (Education Code Sections 52450-52454). These programs have proven to be effective on a statewide basis in meeting the priorities and intent of the CalAgPlate program. Tier 1 grant awards range from $10,000 to $153,000 per project. Tier 2 – Local/Community/State Agricultural Education Programs Up to 15 percent ($27,000) of available funding will be awarded to eligible Local/Community/State Agricultural Education Programs. This Tier is open to non-profit organizations, as well as state, local, and Indian tribal government agencies within California which promote and administer agricultural education and leadership programs targeting K-12, post-secondary, and adult education. Individual schools and school districts are encouraged to partner with eligible non-profit organizations. Institutes of higher learning are ineligible to directly apply*, however, they can partner with eligible organizations on a proposed CalAgPlate project. Tier 2 grant awards range from $2,500 to $10,000 per project. Funding Category I: Agricultural Education In this funding category, CDFA will consider projects that enhance and benefit agricultural education opportunities for students and educators. Examples:• Agricultural curriculum development and implementation• School/community garden enrichment programs• Interactive agriculture learning experiences, outdoor agricultural education programs (e.g., farms/ranches)• Agriculture demonstrations/activities (e.g., exhibits). Funding Category II: Agricultural Career Awareness, Development and Training In this funding category, CDFA will consider projects that advance, promote and support agricultural career development and training for high school and college students. Examples:• Interactive training experiences and mentorship programs• Practical career preparation and career advancement opportunities• Outreach programs and career expos• Informational workshops for next-generation/beginning farmers. Funding Category III: Agricultural Leadership Development In this funding category, CDFA will consider projects that provide leadership experiences and skills for participants that encourage agricultural leadership development. Examples:• Agricultural leadership conferences• Agricultural leadership training programs• Education tours focusing on agricultural policy issues/areas.