California Community Development Grants

The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation offers grants to support arts and culture projects including arts festivals, cultural heritage, museums, music, theater/drama, and visual arts. These grants aim to enrich communities within the Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power service territories, which include Utah, Wyoming, Southeastern Idaho, Oregon, Central/Southeastern Washington, and Northern California. Applicants are encouraged to create an account and submit their proposals through the online grant application portal, focusing on projects that align with the foundation's mission towards education, civic and community betterment, culture and arts, and health, welfare, and social services. Grant renewed every year. Annual deadline: September 15th

The Conservancy may fund activities within or benefitting the Delta and Suisun Marsh as defined in Public Resources Code section 85058 (a map can be found at this link: https://www.deltacouncil.ca.gov/pdf/delta-plan/figure-1-1-delta-boundaries.pdf). The Conservancy may fund an action outside the Delta and Suisun Marsh if the Board makes all the findings described in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009 (CWC, div. 35, §§ 85000 – 85350). The Conservancy will fund planning projects, which include pilot projects. Allowable activities for planning projects include, but are not limited to, project scoping (partnership development, outreach to impacted parties, stakeholder coordination, negotiation of site access or land tenure); planning and design (engineering design, identifying appropriate best management practices); and environmental compliance (permitting, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) activities, Delta Plan consistency). The Conservancy will fund implementation projects, which include acquisition projects. Implementation projects are specific, on-the-ground projects that result in the construction, improvement, or acquisition of a capital asset that will be maintained for a minimum of 15 years. Implementation projects are "shovel-ready" projects. Applicants must submit a concept proposal, as found on the Conservancy’s website, before submitting a full proposal. Partnerships are encouraged but not required. There are no limitations on number of submissions by organizations. Applications are received via email for concept proposals and by uploading files to a designated site for full proposals. Awards are announced at a Board Meeting and applicants are informed with a letter.

The city of Santa Clarita has released the 2024-25 Notice of Funding Availability for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. This grant opportunity is open to nonprofit organizations that serve low- and moderate-income residents. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides the CDBG funding to the city, which is then awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations. Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. Interested applicants must attend one of two scheduled Zoom informational meetings to learn more about the application process and receive a funding application. The meetings are scheduled for November 29th from 10-11 a.m. and November 30th from 2-3 p.m. The CDBG funds will be used to serve low- and moderate-income residents as part of the Annual Action Plan (AAP) during the Program Year of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Proposals must address a Con Plan Priority and comply with federal regulations regarding reporting and record-keeping requirements. Only residents of the city of Santa Clarita may be served by any CDBG funding awarded. For more information about the city of Santa Clarita's CDBG program or the funding application process, interested parties can contact Project Technician Donya Plazo by email at [email protected] or by phone at 661-255-4368. Additional details can be found on the city's website at SantaClarita.gov/Housing. Source: [Santa Clarita NOFA Flyer](https://santaclarita.gov/community-preservation/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/11/24-25-NOFA-Flyer.pdf)

This program provides funding to community organizations and local governments in Santa Cruz County to support projects that improve environmental health, enhance public access to parks, and promote community resilience.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County that were significantly affected by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, helping them recover and rebuild.

The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is launching the Commercial Acquisition Fund (CAF) to provide grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations. This program aims to support the acquisition of vacant or abandoned land and buildings in communities severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The DEO's mission, through the CAF, aligns with revitalizing economically distressed areas and fostering community resilience by empowering local nonprofit entities to drive economic recovery and development. The target beneficiaries of the CAF are communities in Los Angeles County identified as "highest and high need areas" based on the County’s COVID-19 Vulnerability and Recovery Index in the Equity Explorer Tool. The program prioritizes addressing the negative impacts of the pandemic by facilitating the conversion of underutilized commercial properties into assets that can serve community needs. The impact goal is to stimulate economic activity, improve local infrastructure, and create opportunities for growth in these vulnerable regions. The CAF focuses on the acquisition of vacant or abandoned commercial properties. The program is funded by $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, demonstrating a strategic priority to leverage federal resources for local recovery efforts. Grants will be awarded as recoverable funds, ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000, indicating a significant investment in each project to ensure substantial impact. The expected outcomes include the successful acquisition and redevelopment of commercial properties, leading to job creation, increased access to essential services, and enhanced community well-being. Measurable results will be tied to the number of properties acquired, the economic benefits generated in the target areas, and the overall improvement in the COVID-19 Vulnerability and Recovery Index. The DEO’s theory of change posits that by empowering qualified nonprofit organizations to acquire and redevelop commercial properties, it can directly address economic disparities and foster sustainable recovery in the communities most affected by the pandemic.

WCSP provides scholarships to students in associate or bachelor’s degree programs that qualify them for WellnessCoach Certification through the education pathway in exchange for a 12-month service obligation providing CWC services in California. Eligible applicants may receive up to $35,000. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of CWCs providing direct services in California. The Wellness Coach profession is a new, certified position to increase our state’s overall capacity to support the growing behavioral health needs of our youth. It is designed to help build a larger and more diverse and representative behavioral health workforce in California that hasthe training and supervision needed to engage directly with young people where they live, study and work. Wellness Coaches will offer non-clinical services that support children and youth behavioral health and well-being. Services include wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. The model will supplement and support existing behavioral health roles, fill gaps in the current behavioral health workforce, and create a larger and more diverse workforce with whom youth can connect.

The MORE program was established to replace the state's underutilized Mobilehome Park Rehabilitation and Resident Ownership Program (MPPROP). Under the new MORE Program, the types of eligible applicants were expanded to include local public entities, qualified nonprofit housing sponsors and in some cases private MobilehomePark owners. The changes to this section of the HSC also allow for Mobilehome Parks that do not have a permit to operate or whose permit has been suspended to utilize MORE program funds. Key policy goals of the MORE program captured in the guidelines include:-Rehabilitation of Mobilehome Parks that have the most severe health and safety concerns;-Providing funding for the rehabilitation and/or replacement of individualMobilehomes;-The creation of Affordability Restrictions for assisted Mobilehome Parks.

This funding initiative provides $5,000 to support independent animation worker cooperatives in California that focus on creating inclusive stories and promoting equity in the creative industry.

This funding opportunity supports projects that promote sustainable pest management practices to protect human health and the environment, particularly in underserved communities and agricultural areas near schools.

The County of San Luis Obispo in California is offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for projects that support countywide goals and address homelessness, with eligible activities including emergency shelters, street outreach, and tenant-based rental assistance, open to nonprofits, for-profit entities, and governmental agencies.

The Zoo Labs: FUND, administered in partnership with the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), is a funding and investment initiative designed to support Bay Area entrepreneurs who are launching or growing businesses centered around music. With a strong emphasis on culturally-rooted artist teams, the program offers unrestricted funding to music ventures that align with values of cultural preservation, innovation, economic empowerment, and community enrichment. In 2025, the FUND will distribute a total of $230,000 in grants, prioritizing artist teams that face barriers to accessing capital and are committed to contributing to the Bay Area's creative ecosystem. Zoo Labs: FUND provides grants in four tiers: $5,000, $15,000, $25,000, and $50,000, with award size contingent upon the team’s business development stage. Eligibility requires applicant teams of at least two individuals, including one culturally-rooted artist, who all reside full-time in specified Bay Area counties. Teams may include various roles such as content creators, producers, engineers, and advisors, and must be operating a music-centered business, whether as a nonprofit, sole proprietorship, or for-profit organization. Prior grantees may reapply if they meet reporting and mentorship obligations from previous awards. Applicants must complete an online submission through CCI’s Submittable platform between May 19 and July 7, 2025. Required materials include a team pitch video, business matrix, one work sample, and a budget with notes. Applications are assessed based on the strength of the team, artistry and craft, entrepreneurship, and internal and external community impact. An independent panel reflecting diverse backgrounds will review the materials and recommend grantees. The notification of awards is scheduled for September 8, 2025. In addition to receiving financial support, awardees gain access to mentorship opportunities through Zoo Labs: LEARN. These include on-demand courses, virtual networking sessions, and for higher-tier recipients, a strategy session with Zoo Labs Co-Founder Vinitha Watson. All grantees must attend a virtual orientation on October 15, 2025, and participate in at least one one-on-one business mentorship session. Recipients of $25,000 or $50,000 grants are also invited to serve as voluntary mentors to future applicants. The grant supports activities from September 2025 through September 2026. For assistance, applicants can contact CCI via email at [email protected] or phone at 415.288.0530. Additional technical support is available through Submittable. Information sessions and office hours are scheduled throughout June and early July to assist prospective applicants in preparing strong submissions. All applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines, FAQs, and application preview before seeking support. The Zoo Labs: FUND is made possible with support from Vinitha and David Watson and individual donors. Contributions are welcomed to expand the program’s reach. The FUND continues to invest in artistic legacies that reflect the diversity, resilience, and creativity of Bay Area communities.

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.

The non-Entitlement competitive grant program component prioritizes assistance to persons experiencing or At risk of homelessness and investments that increase the supply of housing to households with incomes of 60 percent or less of area median income. A. Eligible Applicants. An Applicant must be a Non-Entitlement Local Government. A Non-Entitlement Local Government means a Local Government in an area which is not a metropolitan city or part of an urban county, a Local Government that, as of September 1, 2017, was an incorporated city with a population of less than 50,000 or a county with an unincorporated area population of less than 200,000 persons, which had not entered into a three-year Urban County Cooperation Agreement, or a Local Government that was not otherwise entitled to receive CDBG funds directly from HUD. See Appendix A for a list of eligible Applicants for Non-Entitlement Local Government for fiscal year 2019-20. For applications that include the development of a Rental Housing project, the Sponsor must be a co-Applicant with the Non-Entitlement Local Government, pursuant to Guidelines Section 400. Sponsor includes the general partner(s); if there are two general partners, both must submit all the required co-Applicant documents. B. Eligible Activities. Pursuant to Guidelines Section 401, eligible activities under this PLHA competitive NOFA are limited to the following and must take place within the jurisdiction of the Applicant Local Government: 1. Development of new multifamily rental housing that is Affordable to households at or below 60 percent of AMI or substantial rehabilitation of multifamily rental housing that will be Affordable to households at or below 60 percent of AMI, but which is not currently restricted as Affordable housing. In order to be eligible as “substantial rehabilitation”, a project must complete a minimum of $40,000 per unit in hard construction costs; or 2. Assistance to persons who are experiencing or At risk of homelessness, including, but not limited to, through rapid rehousing, or rental assistance, supportive services and case management services that allow people to obtain and retain housing, operating and capital costs for navigation centers, or new construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of permanent or transitional rental housing C. Funding Limits The maximum application amount, including administrative costs, for the development of new multifamily rental housing or substantial rehabilitation of a multifamily rental housing project, or development of a navigation center is $3 million. The minimum application amount shall be $500,000.  

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and community groups in Los Angeles County to provide culturally affirming services and activities that promote healing and resilience for individuals and communities affected by the 2025 wildfires.

This funding opportunity supports California-based organizations in implementing community-led initiatives that prevent domestic violence through education and social norm change, rather than providing direct services to victims.

This grant provides funding for projects that improve air quality and public health in East Oakland, particularly benefiting disadvantaged communities affected by pollution from a former foundry.

The Employment Development Department (EDD) announces the availability of up to  $100,000. Wagner-Peyser 10 percent Governor's Discretionary funds for Campesino de California Outreach Grant-Radio Media (CCOG-RM) Program Year 2024-25 (PY 24-25) available through this Solicitation for Proposals (SFP). The EDD anticipates funding one organization for the CCOG-RM PY 24-25 grant opportunity.  The purpose of the program is to create and broadcast 24 semi-monthly, 30-minute hosted radio talk show programs in Spanish and recorded in video format media. Additionally, the awardee must create complementing media posts to publish on its website and use social media outlets to publicize the radio talk show videos and communicate additional information as necessary. Eligible applicants for the CCOG-RM PY 24-25 SFP include public and private non-profit organizations, education institutions, community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations. Individuals are not eligible apply. Proposals must be received by 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, May 22, 2024. An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. PT.  Pre-registration is recommended for all attendees. Please refer to the EDD’s Workforce Development Solicitation for Proposals website link below for the pre-registration instructions. https://edd.ca.gov/en/jobs_and_training/WDSFP_Workforce_Development_Solicitations_for_Proposals The EDD encourages applicants to submit a Notice of Intent to apply by May 21, 2024 by noon to [email protected]. To view this SFP, visit the EDD Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals webpage.

The City of San Diego's Economic Development Department is offering a grant of $10,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit organizations that can assist small businesses in under-resourced communities, with funds to be used for capacity building expenses such as technical assistance, website creation, and event programming, with priority given to organizations with modest budgets and proposals aligning with the Economic Development Strategy.

The CalMoneySmart program aims to enhance financial empowerment among unbanked and underbanked Californians by funding nonprofit organizations. Through financial education and empowerment services, it seeks to reduce disparities, improve financial literacy, and foster wealth-building opportunities. The program awards grantees up to $200K per year for two consecutive fiscal years to promote financial stability and security statewide. ; Grant funds may only be used for the following financial education and empowerment services for the targeted at-risk unbanked and underbanked populations: 1) Designing, developing, or offering, free of charge to consumers, classroom or web-based financial education and empowerment content intended to help unbanked and underbanked consumers achieve, identify, and access lower cost financial products and services, establish or improve their credit, increase their savings, or lower their debt. 2) Providing individualized, free financial coaching to unbanked and underbanked consumers. 3) Designing, developing, or offering, free of charge to consumers, a financial product or service intended to help unbanked and underbanked consumers identify and access responsible financial products and financial services, establish or improve their credit, increase their savings, or lower their debt. Every project funded with a grant from the Financial Empowerment Fund shall meet the following criteria: 1) Promote and enhance the economic security of consumers. 2) Adhere to the five principles of effective financial education described in the June 2017 report issued by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled “Effective financial education: Five principles and how to use them.” Grant awards will be announced for a two-year period covering two consecutive fiscal years. Funds for each fiscal year are disbursed separately and any unexpended funds must be returned to the DFPI. Disbursement of funding for the second fiscal year is contingent on submission of a satisfactory annual report. A mandatory in-person training for grantees will be held during the grant cycle. Final details will be included in the grant agreement.   Grantees may use no more than 15 percent of the grant to cover administrative (indirect) costs. Failure to comply shall render the Applicant ineligible for a grant during the subsequent fiscal year and until the noncompliance is corrected.  A grantee may subcontract services that it has agreed to provide under the grant agreement, so long as those services are conducted on behalf of the grantee. Subcontract arrangements must be clearly described in the scope of work and budget. Accepting grant funds with the intent of distributing those funds to other nonprofit organizations (for example, sub-grants or fiscal sponsorship) is not allowed. Grant funding may not be used for financial incentives for individuals. Prohibited incentives include, but are not limited to, match funding for savings accounts, participant stipends, or gift cards with a cash value. Grantees are required to submit preliminary and final annual reports, in a form and by a date specified by the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation, documenting: 1) The specific uses to which grant funds were allocated, 2) The number of individuals aided through use of the funds, 3) Quantitative results regarding the impact of grant funding, and 4) Any other information requested by the Commissioner. Failure to submit satisfactory reports shall render the Applicant ineligible for any DFPI grant during the subsequent fiscal year and until the required report is submitted.