Best Grants for Community Centers in California

The 1890 Scholarships Program, overseen by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), aims to enhance the recruitment and retention of undergraduate and graduate students at 1890 Land-grant institutions. It supports students pursuing degrees in food and agricultural sciences, fostering a skilled workforce in this critical sector. By providing scholarships, the program encourages academic excellence and commitment to the agricultural field, ultimately contributing to the development of future leaders in food systems.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a student who intends to pursue nursing or a related field of study at a college or university, and who demonstrates academic achievement, good citizenship, service to others, leadership, and financial need.

The Jane Bruckel Early Career Investigator Award in Axial Spondyloarthritis, offered by the Spondylitis Association of America, aims to support MDs and PhDs at the Instructor or Assistant Professor level in the US and Canada. This annual $30,000 research grant promotes innovative research in ankylosing spondylitis and enhances patient care by encouraging emerging researchers to contribute to this important field.

The Desert Tortoise Recovery Partnership aims to restore and protect the Mojave desert tortoise populations in California's western Mojave Desert. Formed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and various military and environmental agencies, this initiative seeks to address urgent conservation needs and enhance habitat through a funding opportunity of up to $1 million. The partnership exemplifies a collaborative effort to balance species recovery with military operations, ensuring both ecological and operational sustainability.

This grant opportunity from the US Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, aims to examine the effectiveness of family navigation models that divert non-urgent mental health concerns from emergency departments. The initiative seeks to enhance mental health service engagement, provide necessary resources, and support families in overcoming barriers to help-seeking. Key deadlines for applications range from February 2025 to October 2027.

The Richard Beatty Mellon Environmental Stewardship Award, established in 1954, honors individuals or organizations for significant contributions to pollution abatement. Eligible candidates demonstrate dedicated efforts in promoting air pollution control and waste management. This prestigious award reflects the legacy of Richard Beatty Mellon, who pioneered research in air quality and environmental protection. The award is open to both members and nonmembers of the Air & Waste Management Association.

Cupertino Electric, established in 1954, is dedicated to supporting communities through donations and volunteerism. Our giving program focuses on addressing hunger, homelessness, and early education (K-8). With substantial annual contributions and a commitment to service, we aim to make a meaningful impact in the areas where our employees live and work. By fostering a culture of giving back, we believe that enhancing community well-being is as vital as our business operations.

The Cynthia and Alan Baran Fine Arts and Music Scholarship Fund, established by passionate artists Cynthia and Alan Baran, aims to support young individuals pursuing their dreams in visual arts and music. This fund, administered by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, offers scholarships to rising college students majoring in Fine Arts or Music, emphasizing the importance of creativity and academic achievement. With a commitment to fostering talent, this initiative empowers future generations to thrive in the arts.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is inviting applications for the Clinical Trial Cooperative Agreement Program. This funding opportunity supports investigator-initiated, interventional clinical trials at various phases. Initial funding will facilitate the preparation needed to start trials, with successful milestones leading to further support. NIAMS emphasizes hypothesis-driven trials that promise significant clinical impact within its research mission.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) will announce the Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research on December 2, 2025. This funding aims to support high-quality, patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research projects. The initiative encourages applicants to engage with patients and stakeholders to address critical healthcare dilemmas and improve decision-making. Projects should compare established clinical alternatives with evidence of efficacy, targeting vital health issues across diverse populations.

The Mentored Career Development Award (K01) from the NIH aims to diversify the biomedical research workforce by supporting candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. It provides mentoring and training in research independence, focusing on cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic diseases, and sleep disorders. Eligible institutions can guide faculty members in special studies, but applicants should not lead their own clinical trials. This initiative promotes diversity and enhances research capability in health disparities populations.

The Elevance Health Foundation's Food as Medicine Grant aims to enhance access to nutritious foods and improve health outcomes for individuals facing diet-related conditions. This initiative invites qualified nonprofits to submit proposals focused on scalable solutions that address food insecurity and promote health equity. The foundation prioritizes programs that demonstrate measurable outcomes and support whole-person health, particularly for populations at high social risk. Grants will be awarded for a term of 1-3 years, with funding based on program needs.

This NOFO aims to enhance research on the effectiveness and implementation of family navigation models that divert non-urgent mental health concerns from emergency departments. It will focus on tools for triaging mental health acuity, engaging families with necessary services, and addressing barriers to help-seeking. Important deadlines for grant applications range from February 2025 to October 2027, with optional Letters of Intent encouraged thirty days prior to each due date.

The Juliette P. Doster Scholarship Fund honors the legacy of Mrs. Doster, who dedicated forty years to improving healthcare in Calhoun County. This renewable scholarship supports students pursuing associate's or bachelor's degrees, as well as approved workforce training programs. Awarded yearly for up to four years, recipients must maintain academic standards. Funding varies based on the Community Foundation's annual income, and the award covers tuition, housing, supplies, and other educational expenses.

The ORACLE 3C initiative focuses on advancing research into chronic conditions, coinfections, and comorbidities related to HIV. It aims to support early-career investigators through innovative approaches that diverge from existing methodologies. Emphasizing pediatric and maternal health, this funding opportunity encourages interdisciplinary research to better understand HIV-specific pathways and develop effective preventive and therapeutic strategies, addressing a significant public health concern.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is launching a funding opportunity for Exploratory Clinical Trials Grants. This program aims to support innovative clinical trials that enhance the understanding and treatment of arthritis and other musculoskeletal and skin conditions. Research proposals should focus on early-stage trials, including first-in-human studies, dose-finding, and biomarker evaluation. The initiative encourages the translation of promising laboratory findings into effective clinical practices, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) invites proposals for Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50) to enhance interdisciplinary research on alcohol misuse and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). These centers aim to foster collaboration among researchers, focusing on innovative topics related to alcohol's effects on health across the lifespan. The program supports the development of research methodologies and mentorship for young investigators, addressing the complex challenges posed by alcohol misuse in society.

The T. Rowe Price Foundation, established in 1981, primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Baltimore, Colorado Springs, San Francisco, and New York. While most grants are by invitation, unsolicited proposals are also considered. The foundation emphasizes community engagement, collaboration, and unrestricted funding to enhance the operational capacity of nonprofits, enabling them to address critical social issues effectively. With over $194 million in grants awarded, it focuses on fostering strong leaders and equitable solutions in the communities it serves.

The Betty Scalice Foundation Grant supports music programs in San Diego County, particularly in North County. It encourages applications from nonprofit and school-based initiatives that offer music education, community concerts, and affordable musical instruments. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 charities or fiscally sponsored entities. The foundation prioritizes projects that promote music appreciation while excluding those that focus on chamber music, training musicians, and other specific activities. This grant aims to enhance community engagement through music.

Binational Resilience Initiative

The Binational Resilience Initiative (BRI) builds resilience in the Cali-Baja region by supporting binational projects that strengthen the capacity of our communities to adapt to the impacts of our changing climate. A partnership of San Diego Foundation (SDF), International Community Foundation (ICF), Resilient Cities Catalyst (RCC), and the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative (SDRCC), we are leading an innovative, community-driven process that recognizes the interdependent environmental, economic, and cultural assets in San Diego and northern Baja California and strengthens resilience by addressing climate vulnerabilities through binational collaboration and localized solutions.

Water Grants

In San Diego and Tijuana, water treatment facilities have not been expanded at a pace that matches urban expansion. The BRI Water Grants further advances a water resilience strategy that supports the health of our communities and helps sustain water resources for the future.

Building Water Resilience

The Cali-Baja region’s continuous population growth, coupled with more frequent and extreme weather events, has placed considerable strain on the region’s natural areas and the capacity of municipal agencies to provide waste and recycling services in underserved communities. In San Diego and Tijuana, water treatment facilities have not been expanded at a pace that matches urban expansion. As a result, raw urban discharges are flowing into the river floodplain with sediment, solid waste, and polluted urban effluent being discharged to the Tijuana River, its estuary, and the ocean.

The worsening conditions of the Tijuana River are an emerging environmental threat impacting the health of local communities on both sides of the border. The quality of river flows impacts the quality of life and the health of people living near the impaired river stream, the estuary, and the surrounding coastal areas.

The Funding Opportunity

Through BRI, we are building a coordinated pooled-funding model to invest in watershed-wide binational projects that complement infrastructure investments made by federal governments in the United States and Mexico. BRI can advance water resilience projects through these priority focus areas:

• Tijuana River Restoration (transboundary river)
• Pollution Reduction (binational approach)
• Water Conservation Measures in the Tijuana River region to protect our Colorado River water supply 

The NIAID SBIR Phase II Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U44) invites small businesses to submit applications for investigator-initiated clinical trials. This program particularly supports high-risk, hypothesis-driven studies that may involve non-routine interventions or unlicensed products. Letters of Intent are encouraged and due 30 days prior to the full proposal deadline. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.

The MRFBC Young Investigator Team Award supports innovative research in immuno-oncology for melanoma, offering up to $150,000 annually for two years. This funding targets U.S.-based researchers aiming to enhance clinical outcomes for melanoma patients or deepen the scientific understanding of immuno-oncology. The MRF collaborates with key institutions to address challenges in melanoma research, fostering partnerships that maximize research potential and impact.

The Bob Skiera Memorial Fund Building Bridges Initiative Grant Program supports urban forestry research and collaboration. With a maximum award of $30,000, it aims to enhance communication between arborists, urban foresters, and various professionals. The program welcomes proposals that explore the benefits of urban forests, policy implementation, and ecosystem services. This initiative honors Bob Skiera's legacy, fostering trust and cooperation within the urban planning community for sustainable urban forestry practices.

Stanislaus Community Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students in order to help them achieve their educational and career goals. We believe that by investing in our students, we are investing in a brighter future for Stanislaus. 

Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship Fund

Applicants must be students currently enrolled in a teaching credential program, current student teachers, current teacher interns, students enrolled in a speech therapy program, or students enrolled in a school psychology program. Colleges considered: CSU Stanislaus, U.C. Merced, U.O.P., UMass Global, Teachers College of San Joaquin, Sacramento State University and CSU East Bay.

Award Amount:

• $3,000

The Antone E. & Marie F. Raymus Foundation is dedicated to enhancing education, healthcare, and cultural enrichment in the Central Valley. With a focus on serving children and young adults, especially those at risk, the foundation provides essential funding for schools, healthcare programs, and community initiatives. Their commitment to improving access and quality of life through tangible support reflects their deep-rooted belief in empowering local communities. Through strategic partnerships and precise funding allocation, they aim to foster a brighter future for all.

The ASSP Foundation Academic Scholarships provide vital financial support to students in environmental health and safety programs. With over $6 million awarded since 1990, the foundation aims to enhance career prospects through education and leadership development. In the 2024-2025 academic year, $215,000 was allocated to 117 recipients, fostering a sustainable talent pipeline in EHS. This initiative not only promotes the profession but also ensures a safer future for workers by encouraging new talent to enter the field.

The USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council (USADPLC) invites research proposals for pulse crops, focusing on breeding, nutrition, crop management, and product development for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Projects should adopt a transdisciplinary approach to tackle complex challenges, with average awards around $30,000. Researchers are encouraged to leverage industry funding for matching grants. Note that equipment purchases over $10,000 are not eligible. Compliance with specific proposal guidelines is essential.