CFSLOCO Community Grant Program

The One Community Fund: Fueling a Vibrant Immigrant Future is a grant opportunity offered by The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, a private philanthropic organization supporting equitable and community-driven initiatives throughout San Luis Obispo County, California. This fund specifically addresses the growing disparities and shrinking resources available to immigrant-serving organizations within the county. Recognizing the compounded pressure of high need and diminishing financial support, this grant program provides general operating support intended to strengthen resilience and sustainability among nonprofits that serve immigrant communities. The grant is designed to support 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or those with a fiscal sponsor that are actively working within San Luis Obispo County. These organizations must demonstrate a strong alignment with the foundation’s values and a commitment to engaging and supporting immigrant populations. Eligible applicants must be immigrant-serving entities that are embedded within the local community and responsive to its evolving needs. The grant awards range from a minimum of $10,000 up to $100,000 in flexible general operating funds, allowing grantees to allocate funds in ways that best meet their organizational priorities and community impact goals. Applicants will be evaluated on a series of comprehensive grantmaking criteria. These include the degree to which the organization centers the voices and perspectives of the communities it serves, such as employing staff or board members with lived experience. Another major consideration is community access and impact—how the organization identifies and addresses barriers to service access, either through its own direct engagement with communities or in partnership with other trusted organizations. Additional criteria include the applicant’s ability to collaborate with other nonprofits, adaptability in the face of adversity (including innovative solutions to financial or operational challenges), and the use of substantiated data to inform and evaluate programming. Applicants are expected to describe the data sources they use, such as community feedback or quantitative datasets, and how this information is integrated into their strategies and decisions. The application process for the 2026 grant cycle opens on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 9:00 AM and closes on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The Foundation encourages applicants to attend optional office hours with Program Manager Chelsea Ruiz, available between March 6 and March 20 and again from March 30 through April 1. The application portal is linked directly on the Community Foundation's website, and applicants must create a new account on the updated platform to submit their materials. A grant orientation video is also available to help guide prospective applicants. Award notifications and grant payments are scheduled for early June 2026. The fund does not indicate recurring cycles, but based on current formatting and the presence of a defined annual application period, applicants should monitor for future opportunities during the same seasonal timeframe. All inquiries related to the One Community Fund should be directed to Chelsea Ruiz via email at [email protected]. Additional application and eligibility guidance may be obtained during the designated office hour windows or through the Foundation's website.

Emphasize engagement with community voices, barrier elimination, and data-informed decision-making in your application.