Best Grants for Museums in California

The Roy and Marian Holleman Foundation Grant supports 501(c)(3) organizations with a focus on the welfare of domesticated animals and library science. Emphasizing education, environmental care, and human services, the foundation provides financial assistance to eligible entities in California. Organizations seeking funding should align with the foundation's mission, prioritizing animal welfare and library science initiatives. This grant aims to enhance community well-being through focused support and resources.

The Emily M. Hewitt Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the Calaveras Big Trees Association, offers a $3,000 monetary award to a promising California upper division or graduate student committed to environmental studies. Created in honor of Emily M. Hewitt, a passionate advocate for nature, this scholarship seeks candidates who demonstrate a dedication to communicating the beauty of nature and understanding the importance of conservation. Eligible students must be enrolled full-time in an accredited California institution.

 Preservation & Accessibility of California’s LGBTQ+ History

The Preservation & Accessibility of California’s LGBTQ+ History grant opportunity provides funding for California organizations to support the preservation and public accessibility of LGBTQ+ archives. Funds are provided by the State of California.

This opportunity is targeted at archives, and organizations with archival collections, for projects that preserve and make publicly accessible collections relevant to the LGBTQ+ movement, culture, experience, and/or history in California. This opportunity aims to preserve and make accessible materials demonstrating the significant role of LGBTQ+ Californians and the LGBTQ+ movement in this state. By preserving and making these resources available to others, funded projects will help provide a more comprehensive and inclusive view of California’s history. 

Funding

Minimum funding request: $5,000. Maximum funding request: $200,000.

The CNPS Student Research Grants Program supports research on California's native flora, aiming to protect these vital plants and their habitats. Founded in 1983, it encourages diverse applicants, including underrepresented groups in science. Grants are awarded based on alignment with CNPS's mission and the significance of the research in areas like conservation and ecology. The program honors several awards, including the Doc Burr and Hardman Native Plant Research Awards, to promote innovative botanical studies.

The Connecting Joy Grant, provided by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, aims to enhance the hospital experience for children battling illness through engaging gaming programs. This initiative supports children's hospitals and nonprofits by funding equipment, staffing, and connectivity, ensuring children can enjoy gaming at their bedside. With grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, the program focuses on offering joy and distraction, helping young patients cope with their hospital stays while facilitating connections with peers.

The Social Impact Theatre Grant Program supports innovative theatrical productions that address pressing social issues, fostering dialogue and community engagement. With a focus on sustainability, the program offers production-specific and change capital grants to eligible nonprofit organizations in select states. Grantees are encouraged to explore new models, deepen community connections, and support emerging leaders in theatre. Applications for the next cycle will open in Spring 2025, following the completion of the current funding round.

The California Lichen Society provides small grants to support research on California lichens. Open to both students and non-students, the program encourages innovative projects without geographical restrictions. Grant funds can be allocated for various research-related expenses, including supplies and living costs. However, grants are exclusively awarded to individuals, not institutions, and high-end capital equipment purchases are not permitted. Members in good standing are eligible to apply for funding.

The Beardsley-Kuper Field Camp Scholarship Fund provides financial support for geology field camp expenses, specifically targeting costs associated with training in environmental and engineering geology. This initiative aims to benefit students preparing for careers in these fields. Funding can cover tuition, meals, and lodging, while exclusions include equipment purchases and travel costs. Grants are not available for publications meant to sway political opinions. This program is managed by the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Foundation.

The Song-Brown Primary Care Residency Grant Program, administered by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), aims to train primary care physicians to work in underserved areas. This program prioritizes residency programs that successfully enroll underrepresented groups and operate in locations with high Medi-Cal patient populations. Funding supports educational initiatives to enhance the healthcare workforce and improve access to care in multicultural and rural communities.

The California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) aims to enhance access to fresh, California-grown fruits and vegetables for CalFresh shoppers. Through this initiative, eligible entities can propose projects to distribute nutrition incentives at direct marketing outlets, targeting low-income communities with high diet-related disease rates. The program will combine selected proposals into a unified application for federal funding, ensuring a two-phase approach to maximize outreach and support for nutrition benefit clients.

The Judicial Fellowship Program at California State University, Sacramento, offers emerging professionals paid placements in California's superior courts and Judicial Council offices. This program focuses on enhancing court administration and access to justice, providing fellows with hands-on experience, mentorship, and opportunities for professional development. Participants engage in meaningful research and projects that address real challenges in the judiciary, benefiting both their careers and the communities they serve.

The Wildlife Conservation Board Grants, previously the Ecosystem Restoration on Agricultural Lands Program, focus on enhancing habitat on privately owned agricultural lands in California. This program aims to collaborate with landowners to implement projects that benefit wildlife habitat while ensuring economic sustainability. Eligible projects include habitat restoration, management activities, and enhancements that provide long-term ecological benefits. Applications are encouraged from projects that promote connectivity and support for justice communities.

The GFO-23-318 – BRIDGE 2024 initiative aims to accelerate clean energy innovation in California by funding Applied Research and Development (AR&D) and Technology Demonstration and Deployment (TD&D) projects. With over $25 million available, this program supports promising technologies that have received prior funding from the California Energy Commission or eligible federal agencies. It focuses on enhancing entrepreneurship by providing non-dilutive investments to early-stage clean energy companies, fostering market adoption of efficient energy solutions.

About Us

advancing the science of water ®

Who We Ar

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.

5407 - Enhanced Pathogen Log Reduction Value for Underground Retention and Transport

Grant Information

• Evaluate the applicability of WRF project 4957 site-specific pathogen log reduction value(LRV) assessment workflow at one or more managed aquifer recharge (MAR) or groundwater replenishment reuse project (GRRP) sites, including one or more different types of transport mechanisms (e.g., saturated flow, unsaturated vadose zone transport),and identify practical considerations for implementation.
• Quantify site-specific virus attenuation and associated LRVs during underground retention(saturated flow), vadose zone transport (unsaturated), or both, using field data, tracer studies, surrogate indicators, monitoring approaches, and/or modeling tools, and compare the results to current regulatory default credit assumptions.
• Develop practical guidance for utilities and regulators to validate pathogen LRV credits based on site-specific underground retention and transport.

The California Wildlands Grassroots Fund Grant supports grassroots activists working to preserve California's wildlands and natural habitats. With a maximum award of $10,000, the fund prioritizes projects focused on conservation, environmental advocacy, and community engagement. Eligible applicants include nonprofits and fiscally sponsored individuals with annual incomes of $200,000 or less. The grant aims to empower communities, particularly in rural areas, to advocate for wildlands protection and biodiversity conservation.

The CalEPA Environmental Enforcement and Training Grant supports public entities and nonprofit organizations in enhancing environmental law enforcement through training and investigation. Funded by the Environmental Enforcement Training Account, grants target training for prosecutors, peace officers, and local regulators. Eligibility includes public entities and nonprofits, with a preference for organizations that haven't previously received funding. Ineligible projects are those inconsistent with CalEPA's mission, and individuals cannot apply. Overall, the program aims to strengthen environmental law enforcement across California.

About CommonSpirit

A calling that defines and unites

At CommonSpirit Health, we passionately care for the most vulnerable, relentlessly innovate how and where healing can happen and believe in uniting to benefit the common good. Our expansive network spans diverse communities, uniquely positioning us to meet their changing needs, improve population health and help chart the path to health equity.

Our mission, vision and values inform every aspect of our work each day and remind us that we serve our patients, their families, our communities – and each other. Our community health, research and home health programs help us address the primary barriers to healthier communities.

Sponsorship requests

We’re proud to support nonprofits that expand access to care, advance health equity and healthier communities. Learn more about our priorities.

Supporting our communities

CommonSpirit Health and our local facilities support nonprofit organizations that share our mission, vision and values. We give priority to programs that improve access to care and promote health equity and healthier communities.

CommonSpirit is proud to support nonprofit organizations that help improve the health and well-being of our communities. Guided by our mission, vision and values, we prioritize projects that focus on advancing health equity, improving access to care and improving community wellness.

The California Investment and Innovation Fund (Cal IIP) Program aims to strengthen community development financial institutions (CDFIs) by providing grants to enhance their capacity to assist economically-disadvantaged communities. Funding is tiered based on the number of loans closed, with grants up to $200,000 available for eligible applicants. This initiative supports various community needs, including affordable housing and small business development, ultimately promoting economic stability and growth in California.

The Shlemon Quaternary Engineering Geology Scholarship Fund supports graduate students in applied geology. Recipients must be enrolled in accredited institutions, focusing on field studies in Quaternary Engineering Geology. To qualify, students need a minimum GPA of 3.0, AEG membership, and sponsorship from an AEG member or faculty. The fund does not cover equipment purchases or political activities, ensuring that grants are used solely for educational purposes.

Womens Foundation Of California

Since our founding in 1979, our work at Women’s Foundation California has evolved and expanded. Over the decades, we have celebrated our milestones and reflected on our journey as we continue to push towards what’s next. The Women’s Foundation California is a statewide, publicly supported foundation dedicated to achieving racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice by centering the experience and expertise of communities most impacted by systemic injustice. Our vision is to build a feminist future for California.

We amplify, mobilize, and redistribute power and resources to community leaders advancing racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice. This is achieved through grants to community-led organizations, grassroots leadership training through the Solís Policy Institute, and convenings to unite advocates, donors, policymakers, grantmakers, academics, and others, sharing knowledge to strengthen California’s social justice movement.

Bea Solís Power Fund

Our Bea Solís Power Fund invests in the leadership of our Solís Policy Institute alum as they continue to build racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice beyond our training.

This year, our Bea Solís Power Fund solidified our commitment to empowering transformation by disbursing $18,000 in small grants for essential resources to support alums to continue with their advocacy work.

Together, we can ensure that the creative doers and thinkers, movers, and shakers across our SPI alum network have the resources they need to build our shared feminist future. 

The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) aims to protect California's agricultural lands from conversion to GHG-intensive uses while supporting climate goals. Through strategic investments, SALC enhances food security and promotes resilient agricultural systems. This program is part of California Climate Investments, which funds initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and benefit disadvantaged communities. Grants are available for agricultural conservation acquisitions, planning, and capacity funding to ensure the preservation of vital agricultural resources.

The Martin L. Stout Scholarship Fund Grant supports students pursuing environmental and engineering geology at undergraduate and graduate levels. This scholarship, awarded by the AEG Foundation, recognizes outstanding students based on their academic abilities, character, and involvement in professional societies. Recipients are designated as "Martin L. Stout Scholars" and are expected to use the funds for direct tuition costs, fostering the next generation of geology professionals.

About U

advancing the science of water ®

Who We Are

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.

5408 - IPR Aquifer Geochemistry Forum

Grant Information

Facilitate information exchange to address key knowledge gaps in aquifer storage and recovery by synthesizing practical insights on groundwater geochemistry impacts, mitigation measures, and field-scale challenges.

The Rubberized Pavement Grant Program in California, administered by CalRecycle, aims to divert waste tires from landfills and promote recycled-content products. This initiative encourages the use of rubberized pavement through two project types: Rubberized Asphalt Concrete Hot-Mix and Rubberized Chip Seal. Grants of up to $375,000 are available for individual applicants, with a maximum of $525,000 for regional applications, and $750,000 for tribal grants, fostering sustainable practices in construction.

The California Environmental Grassroots Fund Grant empowers small, local organizations in California to advance climate resilience and environmental justice. Prioritizing historically marginalized communities, this grant supports initiatives addressing issues like pollution, sustainable agriculture, and urban sprawl. With a focus on community engagement and strategic vision, grantees work to create sustainable solutions that benefit both local ecosystems and impacted populations, fostering an inclusive environmental movement for a healthier future.

The Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF) empowers tribal communities across the U.S. by promoting renewable energy projects and workforce development. Launched by GRID Alternatives, TSAF provides critical funding for solar initiatives, enhancing energy sovereignty and resilience. Since its inception, TSAF has integrated community participation into its projects, ensuring that tribes can access sustainable energy solutions. By prioritizing education and equity, TSAF supports a transition to a clean energy economy, aiming for a sustainable future for generations to come.