California Youth Grants

This grant provides funding to charitable organizations focused on preventing and treating child maltreatment through direct services, education, advocacy, and research in designated communities both in the U.S. and internationally.

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 funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area that provide vocational education, academic enrichment, and arts programs for young people aged 18 and under.

This grant provides funding for K-12 teachers in Humboldt County, California, to cover transportation costs for nature-based field trips that promote environmental education and awareness among students.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area that focus on improving education, welfare, and community enrichment for children and their families.

This grant provides financial support to public agencies in California to create or sustain after-school programs that enhance academic learning and ensure a safe environment for students in kindergarten through ninth grade.

This program provides financial support to educational and nonprofit organizations that serve K–12 students in specific communities across select states, funding innovative projects that enhance learning and youth development.

This grant provides funding for community-focused projects in specific regions of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, prioritizing initiatives that demonstrate long-term impact and sustainability.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide youth programs aimed at improving the quality of life for young residents in Pleasanton through initiatives in arts, culture, and youth services.

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 funding to California school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to enhance service-learning opportunities for high school students, helping them earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement through meaningful community service and academic engagement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies to implement impactful programs or capital projects that benefit rural children and families in Oregon and Siskiyou County, California.

This funding opportunity supports K–12 youth-led projects that promote environmental stewardship, community involvement, and leadership development, particularly for historically underserved communities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that create hands-on STEAM workshops for underserved youth, enhancing technical skills and career exploration opportunities within the Best Buy Teen Tech Centers network.

The Bothin Foundation Grant Program is designed to support direct service organizations in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and San Mateo counties. The foundation's mission, as evidenced by its grant priorities and eligibility criteria, is to enhance the well-being of disadvantaged children and youth, low-income families with children, and people with disabilities. The program focuses on capital projects, aligning with a strategic priority to make durable, long-lasting investments that directly benefit program participants and improve the infrastructure of critical direct service organizations. The grant program targets organizations serving a significant number of residents in the specified counties, with a particular emphasis on those serving at least 50% disadvantaged children and youth, low-income families, and/or people with disabilities. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by funding capital projects—such as building renovations, equipment purchases, technology upgrades, and vehicle acquisitions—it can enhance the capacity of direct service organizations to deliver effective services, thereby achieving a positive and lasting impact on their beneficiaries. Key priorities for funding include building construction and renovation (for contracted labor directly associated with the project), equipment and furnishing (especially items used by or benefiting program participants), technology, and vehicles that transport participants. The foundation explicitly states what it does not fund, such as planning for capital projects, staff time for project management, insurance for vehicles, or general operating expenses, which further refines its strategic focus on tangible capital improvements. Successful applications are those that propose capital projects that can be completed within 12 months, represent durable capital investments, and are submitted by direct service organizations meeting the beneficiary criteria. The grants range from $5,000 to $50,000, with a maximum grant size of $50,000. Expected outcomes include improved facilities, enhanced program delivery through new equipment and technology, and better access to services through reliable transportation, all contributing to the foundation’s overarching goal of supporting vulnerable populations in its target regions. The foundation’s strategic priorities are clearly centered on strengthening the physical and operational assets of organizations directly serving those in need.

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is offering the Charles F. Flinn and Walker B. Tilley Fund for Sustainable Forestry, a grant program designed to support the economic, social, and environmental values of Mendocino County's working forests and rangelands. The foundation's primary mission, as aligned with this grant, is to make grants to nonprofit organizations that assist public and small private (non-industrial) forest owners. This initiative reflects the foundation's strategic priority to foster sustainable practices within the region's vital natural resources. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit organizations working with public and small private forest owners in Mendocino County. The overarching impact goal is to enhance the long-term sustainability and health of these working forests and rangelands, ensuring they provide ongoing economic benefits, social value, and ecological integrity. The foundation's theory of change posits that by supporting these organizations, it can empower forest owners to adopt best management practices and implement projects that directly contribute to these multifaceted goals. The program prioritizes a range of key activities. These include research and demonstration projects, particularly those involving re-measurement of plots, and public and youth education and outreach focused on the economic production of forests, rather than solely conservation. Education on best management practices is also a core focus. Furthermore, the fund supports restoration efforts for forests and watersheds, with a preference for forest restoration projects over stream restoration, as well as the removal of invasive species and mitigation of forest road impacts. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved forest health, increased adoption of sustainable forestry practices, enhanced economic viability for small forest owners, and greater public understanding and engagement with sustainable forest management. Specific activities like fire management, including Tan-Oak management, and fish and wildlife habitat protection and enhancement, are also key areas of focus. The foundation anticipates that these investments will lead to a more resilient and productive forest ecosystem within Mendocino County, demonstrating tangible progress in sustainable land management.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to educators in Klamath, Lake, Modoc, and Siskiyou counties for environmental and wildlife education programs aimed at children in grades K-6 and other youth under 18.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and schools in San Diego County to enhance community access to music education and appreciation through various programs and performances, with a focus on benefiting North County residents.

This grant provides financial support to small and mid-sized arts organizations in San Francisco that are deeply connected to their communities, helping them cover essential operating costs and foster artistic expression.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profit organizations that assist children and youth under eighteen who have been victims of crime, focusing on improving access to advocacy and support services for those who are currently unserved or underserved.