Best Grants for Computers for Nonprofits in California

The American Thoracic Society's Student Scholars Program offers an exceptional opportunity for 80-100 students pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, or respiratory therapy. Participants receive free registration to the ATS International Conference, engaging in a tailored curriculum focused on scientific education and career development. The program includes pre-conference webinars, onsite orientation, and opportunities to present research through a three-minute thesis competition, fostering a deeper understanding of pulmonary health.

The RUST grant program supports small business owners in California by providing up to 100% funding for the removal, replacement, or upgrade of underground storage tanks (USTs) to meet safety regulations. Grants range from $3,000 to $70,000, with an additional $140,000 available for remote public fueling stations. Eligible applicants must have fewer than 20 employees and have specific compliance requirements with state health codes.

The California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), Clean Vessel Act Education and Outreach Grant Program provide grants to support programs that educate California boaters and increase public awareness about boat sewage management and proper disposal. The goal of this grant program is to reduce recreational boater sewage from being discharged into California waterways.

Funding Opportunity: Opioid and Stimulant Use Disorder Prevention and Education

The California Department of Health Care Services, in partnership with The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, is announcing a new funding opportunity, Opioid and Stimulant Use Disorder Prevention and Education. This opportunity offers a 12-month contract for up to $200,000.00. Contracts will run from September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027.

Funding is available for organizations to implement programs addressing opioid use, stimulant use, and polysubstance use in California. Activities should support awareness, prevention, outreach and education, work to decrease community stigma, and strengthen referral pathways to treatment and medications for opioid use disorder. Activities must be inclusive to all who seek services. Please note that the opportunity will not fund direct treatment activities or recovery support services.

The LFF: Nature-Based Climate Action Grant aims to support initiatives that leverage natural systems to combat climate change. By funding projects focused on tree planting, prairie restoration, and carbon sequestration, the program seeks to engage communities and enhance understanding of climate challenges. Ideal applicants include rural organizations working to create measurable environmental impacts while fostering collaboration and policy change. This grant represents an opportunity for organizations ready to take significant strides in addressing the climate crisis.

The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) has established a $1 million funding pool for research on consumer affordability challenges and cost drivers using the Healthcare Payments Database (HPD). This initiative aims to support up to five grantees, with awards of up to $500,000 available this and the following spring. Researchers are encouraged to utilize alternative dissemination channels outside of CHCF’s traditional publication routes to share their findings.

The Department of the Interior's Wildland Fire Service Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) invites proposals for the FLAMES award, aimed at master and doctoral students in wildland fire studies. This initiative enhances research relevance by connecting students with fire management practices, providing experiential learning opportunities, and fostering mentorship. Students will gain valuable insights into management and policy, preparing them for impactful careers in fire science. The program emphasizes peer-learning and professional development in the context of wildland fire management.

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) invites proposals for regional fire science exchanges across nine designated regions in the U.S. This initiative aims to promote the sharing of fire science knowledge and practices over a two-year period. Eligible applicants can focus on regions including Alaska, Appalachians, Great Basin, North Atlantic, Northern Rockies, Northwest, Oak Woodlands, Pacific Islands, and Southwest. Proposals must be specific to one region.

The Anderson-Rogers Foundation Grant supports U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations focused on environmental protection, animal welfare, climate change mitigation, and social support. Established in 2001, this family foundation prioritizes innovative projects and general operating support for small organizations facing financial constraints. Note that applicants must first submit a letter of inquiry, as the foundation does not fund scholarships or grants to individuals or religious organizations, nor does it support organizations outside the U.S.

Our Mission

East Bay Community Foundation partners with donors, social movements, and the community to eliminate structural barriers, advance racial equity, and transform political, social, and economic outcomes for all who call the East Bay home.

Our Vision

Achieving an inclusive, fair, and just East Bay will require transforming our region’s power structures to promote equity.

We strive to build a foundation that advances justice grounded in principles that are informed by the community and rooted in practices of anti-oppression.

Women’s Catalytic Fund

The Women’s Catalytic Fund (WCF) is an East Bay-based giving circle with a mission to fund California-based organizations working towards gender equity. The fund prioritizes investing in female-identifying, non-binary, and gender non-conforming leaders in primarily BIPOC communities. One of the main goals of WCF, made up of nine members, is to fund smaller organizations with budgets under a million dollars. They are also interested in catalytic projects that may not have received funding from other foundations.  

As a group of women who are passionate about intersectional feminism, WCF aims to provide funding for work happening at the grassroots level. Each biannual grant cycle, they allocate one-time $15,000 grants that can be put to use immediately, enabling innovative, experimental, and transformative work in California. They believe in supporting the many incredible individuals and organizations that are working to improve gender justice in their communities. 

By providing funding opportunities to those who may not have access to traditional philanthropic resources, the members of the Women’s Catalytic Fund strive to give these community-driven projects resources that can help them succeed.

Our intention is to give directly to frontline organizations when and where resources are most needed. To be considered for funding, initiatives, projects, actions or events must:

• Address gender-based inequity, gender-based violence, patriarchy, or transphobia. We define this as responding to the needs, or developing talent and leadership or independence of female-identifying, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming members of targeted communities.
• Be catalytic. We define this as having the potential to serve as a model or to have a ripple effect, accelerate change, be inventive or experimental
• Be intersectional and collaborative. We define this as crossing boundaries between organizations, issues, and identities in order to create change.
• Prioritize low-income women, women of color, or immigrant women, inclusive of all those identifying as female, and led by and representative of the community being served.

The Division of Boating and Waterways' Shoreline Erosion Control Program addresses beach erosion and shoreline stabilization through strategic sand placement and hard structures like seawalls. Offering up to 50% funding for nonfederal project costs, this program aims to assist public agencies in planning and constructing effective coastal solutions. Key activities include coordinating studies and providing local assistance grants to enhance collaboration among various agencies focused on preserving California’s coastal areas.

The Stimulating Hematology Investigation: New Endeavors (SHINE) program aims to enhance nonmalignant hematology research aligned with the goals of the NIDDK, NIA, and NHLBI. It invites R01 grant applications focused on innovative and early translational hematology topics, fostering growth in this critical research area. Key deadlines for applications span from February 2025 to October 2027, allowing for both standard and renewal submissions.

Purpose

The selected EPTA PY 25-26 awardee will provide developmental evaluation and technical assistance to projects providing skills trainings to target populations who face unique challenges to accessing employment opportunities. This grant funding provides a valuable opportunity to leverage the evaluation outputs and implement necessary adaptations to support workforce development projects that benefit the individuals and communities they serve.

Description

This grant aims to provide specialized support to help ETPP PY 25-26 projects work better and help program awardees to achieve successful project outcomes. This grant supports a thorough analysis of PY 25-26 ETP Programs, the evaluation will follow best practices for rigorous, transparent, and reproducible analysis, and provide outputs of the evaluation, such as real time interventions, progress reports, and analysis findings. The selected PY 25-26 EPTA awardee will coordinate communities of practice with other technical assistance (TA) providers and assist ETP Program awardees with elevating best practices,  enhancing awardee knowledge and skills, providing targeted assistance, sharing resources, and promoting effective program and administrative practices.   Proposals must be received by 3 p.m. PST on January 5, 2026. An informational webinar will be held on December 8, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. PST. Pre-registration is required. The EDD encourages applicants to submit a notice of intent to apply by December 15, 2025, noon PST to WSBSFP3@edd.ca.gov. The SFP will be posted on EDD's Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals website.

The Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant Program aims to provide financial assistance up to $500,000 to public entities for cleaning up illegal dumping sites. This initiative addresses the adverse effects of illegal waste disposal on community health, safety, and economic value. With critical deadlines for proposals and required documentation, the program seeks to restore affected areas and promote environmental stewardship, turning challenges into opportunities for local communities.

The Asian Cultural Council's Individual Fellowship provides artists, scholars, and arts professionals from Asia and the United States with opportunities for self-directed cultural exchange and research in unfamiliar regions. This program supports activities such as interviews, workshops, and archival research, fostering cultural immersion and collaboration. With a funding limit of $35,000, the fellowship encourages innovative proposals that enhance creative perspectives and relationships among peers, while also ensuring strong eligibility criteria for applicants.

The Helping Justice-Involved Reenter Employment 2.0 (HIRE 2.0) grant program, funded by the California Workforce Development Board, offers approximately $9.5 million to support employment opportunities for justice-involved individuals. This program focuses on training, reskilling, and supportive services to enhance job mobility. Exclusively available to existing HIRE 1.0 grantees and Network Spokes, it aims to improve workforce programming for the reentry population while fostering collaboration among local agencies and community organizations.

The Mazamas is committed to exploring and preserving mountain environments in the Pacific Northwest through research grants. These grants support nonprofit research that aligns with the Mazamas’ mission, encouraging proposals from graduate and undergraduate students. Successful applicants often conduct field studies that enhance understanding of the region's natural features. Notably, the Mazamas also welcome innovative research ideas that may fall outside traditional grant guidelines, promoting a diverse range of scientific inquiry.

The mission of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is to accelerate world class science to deliver transformative regenerative medicine treatments in an equitable manner to a diverse California and world. In support of this mission, CIRM’s governing board approved a structured, data-driven Strategic Allocation Framework (SAF) in 2024 to prioritize resources and maximize the impact of CIRM’s funding.

Designed in response to this framework, CIRM’s new Discovery Programs include complementary funding opportunities that support research at different scales and levels of maturity, emphasizing multidisciplinary innovation, knowledge sharing and leveraging synergies across CIRM-funded programs. These new funding opportunities support comprehensive, discovery research across a diverse range of diseases and bottlenecks to accelerate the development of potential therapeutics and biomarkers in regenerative medicine.

DISC4 Awards

Supporting Multidisciplinary, Collaborative Research

DISC4 supports expansive, cross-disciplinary and integrated studies led by collaborative teams applying a range of technologies and approaches to accelerate foundational insights in disease biology. 

Expected Outcomes

Funded projects are expected to achieve one or more of the following outcomes:

• Discovering novel mechanistic insights or advance our understanding of human diseases;
• Extending understanding of disease mechanisms to all affected human populations;
• Identification and validation of novel therapeutic strategies, targets, and/or biomarker(s).

Focus Area (Fiscal Year 2026/2027): Immune-Tissue Interplay in Disease, Homeostasis, and Repair

CIRM is seeking multidisciplinary proposals focused on elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which the human immune system interacts with and influences tissues, particularly in the context of pathology, injury or regeneration. See PA for illustrative examples. While priority will be given to proposals aligned with this focus area, proposals outside this area may be considered if they represent a compelling opportunity to advance DISC4 program goals.

Each year, California’s Credit Unions and Nevada’s Credit Unions honor distinguished industry leaders and volunteers during the Leagues’ REACH Conference. 

Shapiro: Kim Bannan Eternal Flame Awards

These awards recognize efforts that contribute to the success and future of Shapiro Group credit unions, and are named after the League’s late vice president of credit union development and research and information.

Each year, California’s Credit Unions and Nevada’s Credit Unions honor distinguished industry leaders and volunteers during the Leagues’ REACH Conference.

Tomorrow’s Star Award

The Tomorrow’s Star Award recognizes the achievements by young credit union professionals age 35 and under.

The Asian Cultural Council's New York Fellowship offers a transformative six-month program for artists, scholars, and arts professionals from Asia. Participants engage deeply with New York City's vibrant cultural landscape, attending performances, exhibitions, and workshops while building networks with local communities. This unique opportunity fosters peer-learning and individual artistic development, encouraging fellows to incorporate their experiences into their practices and contribute to their home cultures. The fellowship emphasizes exploration, exchange, and support, culminating in a rich cultural immersion.

The Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions aims to promote economic justice for those impacted by cannabis criminalization by providing support to local governments. With $15 million available for fiscal year 2025-2026, the program helps reduce barriers to entry in the regulated cannabis industry for equity applicants and licensees. By offering technical assistance and funding, it seeks to create fair opportunities and address systemic inequalities, thus supporting the transition to a legal cannabis market.

The Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program aims to promote innovative, plant-based farming systems that minimize chemical pesticide usage in California. This initiative emphasizes environmentally friendly practices and supports growers in transitioning to safer pest management techniques. Key project priorities include exploring alternatives to high-risk pesticides and enhancing agricultural sustainability. With a funding pool of $1 million, the program seeks projects that demonstrate effective pest management strategies while safeguarding human health and the environment.

The Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program, initiated by the California Department of Transportation, aims to enhance the state's multi-modal transportation system while addressing climate change. Funded by Senate Bill 1, it allocates approximately $25 million annually to support local and regional planning initiatives. The program emphasizes partnerships with Metropolitan Planning Organizations and offers grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, fostering strategic projects that improve transportation infrastructure and promote sustainable communities.

The Strategic Alliance Matching Grant - Division II offers financial support to enhance ethnic minority and gender representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration roles across NCAA Division II institutions. With an annual budget of $860,000, the grant aims to fund up to 20 schools and conferences each year. Eligible applicants must be active Division II members and are encouraged to collaborate with their human resources departments during the proposal process, ensuring compliance with grant requirements.

The Coaching Enhancement Grant - Division II aims to enhance diversity in NCAA coaching by providing financial support for new assistant coaching positions. This grant specifically targets increased representation of ethnic minorities and women in athletics. Selected schools receive funding for three years to cover salaries and benefits, totaling $370,000 annually for up to 21 institutions. Eligible schools must be active NCAA Division II members committed to these diversity efforts.

The Strategic Partnerships Grants, provided by the California Department of Transportation, support multimodal transportation planning activities through a competitive application process. Grants range from $75,000 to $500,000 and focus on addressing transportation deficiencies on the State highway system. Various planning activities are encouraged, including climate adaptation and sustainable community initiatives, aiming to meet California's greenhouse gas reduction targets by 2030 and 2050.