Best Grants for Museums in California

The Community Facilities Grant Program in California offers essential funding to develop community facilities in rural areas, aiming to enhance the quality of life. Eligible areas are those with populations under 20,000, and funding can cover construction, equipment purchase, and project expenses. The program prioritizes lower-income communities, providing up to 75% of project costs based on specific criteria. This initiative supports public facilities, healthcare, education, and local food systems, fostering sustainable growth in rural communities.

The Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants in California provide essential funding to organizations aiding low-income families in constructing their own homes. This program allows participants to gain valuable skills while building community through cooperative labor. Eligible applicants include government non-profits, federally-recognized Tribes, and private non-profits. The funds can be utilized for technical assistance, recruitment, and support in loan applications, fostering self-sufficiency and homeownership in rural areas.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

PLTW Engineering - New Program In Partnership With Ardagh Group

Ardagh Group has partnered with PLTW to support education in its local communities where Ardagh employees live and work. This partnership recognizes the critical role education, and access to education, plays in ensuring equal opportunities and in building successful, vibrant communities. It is expected that over the next 10 years, Ardagh sponsored education programs will benefit more than 500,000 PreK-12 students as well as delivering best-in-class teacher training to more than 5,000 teachers across 2,000 schools in Ardagh's U.S. communities.

Ardagh is a global supplier of sustainable packaging solutions with 16,000+ employees worldwide, and proud local employer.

Program Requirements

The purpose of this grant is to assist the grantee's implementation of the PLTW Engineering program. Grantee must offer the PLTW Engineering program for three academic years. Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Engineering course in the 2027-2028 academic year and must offer one additional course in the 2028-2029 academic year (two different courses in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Engineering courses of their choosing. Grantee must complete three years of grant reporting.

The Youth Community Access Grant Program, introduced by the California Natural Resources Agency, aims to enhance outdoor access for youth, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Funded by the Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account, this program supports initiatives like community education and recreational amenities for substance use prevention. With approximately $18.5 million available, grants range from $25,000 to $500,000 to foster a healthier, more inclusive California.

The Rural Business Development Grants in California provide vital support for small rural businesses through technical assistance and training. Aimed at entities in rural areas, the program prioritizes smaller funding requests and offers two types of grants: Opportunity and Enterprise. Eligible applicants include towns, nonprofits, and tribal organizations. The grants can finance a variety of projects, from business training to infrastructure improvements, fostering economic growth and development in underserved communities.

The TourWest Grants, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, aim to support presenters and organizations in the Western region by providing flexible funding for touring artists. This competitive grant encourages community engagement and outreach, fostering collaboration between artists and local communities. It prioritizes accessibility to the performing arts, especially in underserved areas. Applicants must be tax-exempt organizations or local government units and demonstrate a commitment to community needs through their projects.

The Active Transportation Grant Program aims to promote increased use of active transportation modes, such as biking and walking, throughout California. This program consolidates various federal and state transportation efforts and allocates significant funding annually to enhance safety and mobility for non-motorized users. The ATP also focuses on advancing public health and ensuring that disadvantaged communities benefit from transportation improvements, ultimately striving to make California a leader in active transportation initiatives.

The ACT on Health Equity Community Solutions Challenge Grant, backed by the Astrazeneca Foundation, aims to enhance health equity by funding community-based nonprofit programs. Since its inception in 2021, it has allocated over $2.6 million to initiatives addressing nutrition, healthcare access, and lung health for historically marginalized populations. Eligible US-based 501(c) organizations can apply, with a focus on projects serving underserved communities and improving health outcomes through targeted support.

California organizations working on emergency and prehospital care, including museum-based programs, can seek funding to advance equitable, community-centered emergency response. Grants from CARESTAR Foundation help California groups conduct research, build diverse EMS workforce pipelines, support multi-sector collaboratives, and pursue policy initiatives that elevate community voice, especially for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.

The Los Angeles Rams Foundation supports local charitable organizations by providing autographed memorabilia for fundraising events. Each organization can request one donated item per year, with priority given to requests from the Los Angeles area. Although the Rams cannot fulfill requests for autographing merchandise, their contributions help raise significant funds through auctions and raffles, making a positive impact in the community. Please allow at least six weeks for processing.

The Literacy for Life Grants, funded by the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, aim to foster agricultural literacy among K-12 students in California. With grants up to $500, educators can initiate or expand projects integrating agriculture into their curriculum. This initiative not only supports educational growth but also recognizes outstanding educators making a significant impact on their students' learning experiences. Explore various project ideas to inspire innovative agricultural education in classrooms.

The Beneficial State Foundation offers sponsorships to 501(c)(3) organizations in California, Oregon, and Washington, focusing on social justice and environmental work. With a unique business model, Beneficial State Bank reinvests profits back into communities, emphasizing support for existing clients. Organizations must submit requests at least 60 days in advance and cannot use funds for political activities. The foundation prioritizes partnerships, making funding competitive due to high demand.

The Western SARE Local Education and Demonstration Grants aim to promote sustainable agriculture through practical demonstrations and educational activities. This program addresses barriers to adopting sustainable practices by integrating findings from previous research. Projects can last up to three years and receive funding of up to $60,000. Successful proposals involve local demonstrations, trainings, and technical assistance, engaging farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals in the process of sustainable agriculture adoption.

The Virginia H. Glasson Charitable Trust Grant supports Christian charitable organizations and preferred beneficiaries. It funds projects in areas such as education, scientific research, religious activities, and arts and culture. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code, located in states such as California, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, and Washington D.C. However, individuals cannot apply for funding.

The Michelson Spark Grants aim to fund innovative projects that promote digital equity in California, addressing critical issues like digital discrimination, access in Tribal communities, and the intersection of digital equity with health and education. Grants of up to $25,000 will support initiatives that enhance broadband access and foster systemic change. Organizations are encouraged to collaborate and seek additional funding to maximize impact, focusing on meaningful milestones that drive progress in underserved areas.

The Hillblom Foundation Fellowship supports post-doctoral research training in two key areas. Eligible candidates must be committed to their research and demonstrate promising prior performance. The host institution must provide necessary infrastructure and mentorship, ensuring the fellow develops independence. The fellowship requires annual reporting and participation in the Hillblom Scientific Meeting. Renewal is contingent on satisfactory progress. This grant prioritizes applicants who have not previously held a fellowship and have recently completed their doctorate.

The Larry L. Hillblom Foundation offers the Start-Up Grant to support early-career researchers in California focused on diabetes and age-related brain and vision disorders. Grants of up to $120,000 per year for three years are available for projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to medical research. The foundation prioritizes funding for those affiliated with California institutions and encourages applications from those who have not held faculty positions for over a year.

About

The University of California Humanities Research Institute facilitates experimental, interdisciplinary humanities scholarship through partnerships, research initiatives, and competitive grants.

UC Underrepresented Faculty Mentorship Fellowship, 2026-27

The UC Underrepresented Faculty Mentorship Fellowship is an intercampus faculty mentoring program serving the ten campuses of the University of California. Our fellowship program pairs junior and mid-career applicants from the humanities and qualitative social sciences with their desired senior mentors from other UC campuses. The aim is to build spaces of support, to share best practices and challenges, and to respond to unspoken expectations in the academy. In addition to providing mentorship training, the program facilitates monthly one-on-one meetings, provides quarterly professionalization workshops based on the needs and preferences of the group, and brings mentors and mentees together for at least one in-person event at UCHRI. Mentors and mentees each receive $1,500 in research funds as well as travel costs for meetings at UCHRI on the UC Irvine campus.

Open to all faculty at the University of California, this program aims to enhance campus climate, retention, and faculty success by connecting scholars across the system who are attuned to the needs, interests, and experiences of underrepresented and underserved communities and their contributions to the university. Applicants will be selected based on their ability to demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Navigation of one or more barriers, on behalf of themselves or others, such as being a first-generation college student, growing up in an underserved geographic area or community, and overcoming linguistic, cultural, or ableist challenges
• Demonstrated research regarding or service in underserved and systems-impacted communities

About

The University of California Humanities Research Institute facilitates experimental, interdisciplinary humanities scholarship through partnerships, research initiatives, and competitive grants.

Medicine & Humanities: The Andrew Vincent White and Florence Wales White Graduate Student Scholarship, 2026–27

The Andrew Vincent White and Florence Wales White Scholarship will be awarded to two regularly-enrolled, full-time UC graduate students working in appropriate fields. The award is intended to help students complete the writing of their dissertations by providing a monthly stipend over up to nine months from September 1 to May 31 that supports living expenses, and research-related costs.

About Elevate Youth California (EYC)EYC is grounded in social justice youth development (SJYD), which expands the concept of a positive youth development framework and addresses social factors including racism, xenophobia, and other racial inequities youth face as they develop into adulthood. Through a public health and harm reduction lens, EYC supports culturally and linguistically responsive, healing-centered, and trauma-informed strategies that prevent substance use before it begins, particularly in communities disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs. Youth Substance Use Disorder Prevention: Standard Track Cohort 8The required goal of this funding opportunity is to address SUD prevention by investing in youth

leadership and civic engagement for youth of color and 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth ages 12 to 26 living in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. California Department of Health Care Services is seeking applications that: 

• Support youth engagement that focuses on youth civic engagement, specifically in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
• Possess cultural humility and responsiveness with staff and organizational leadership who reflect the racial, ethnic, and cultural community they intend to serve.
• Prioritize public health solutions that focus on positive messages to prevent SUD.
• Develop culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate social justice youth development, peerto-peer support, and mentoring programs that are healing-centered, trauma-informed, and focused on youth ages 12 to 26.
• Utilize an intersectional approach to health equity through policy, systems, and environmental change.
• Implement SUD prevention activities that address the root causes of SUD, reduce risk factors, and increase protective factors. 

Transformative Care Model

Accelerator Partners (Now Open)

The Accelerator Partner Program is proposed as support for hospitals or other organizations in rural regions that demonstrate strong readiness and commitment to implement the CalRHT Transformative Care Model (TCM) through regional care collaboratives and hub-and-spoke relationships which will seek to strengthen primary and maternity care in rural parts of the state.  

Accelerator Partners will strengthen TCM performance metrics in their service areas while serving as testing sites for innovative care models and evidence-based approaches. Accelerator Partners will demonstrate how integrated service delivery can strengthen access, quality, and sustainability in rural communities.

Lessons learned from these Accelerator Partners will inform statewide scaling and continuous improvement of the regional care collaboratives and hub-and-spoke framework in future years.

The Marion Nine Trust Grant, established through the Last Will and Testament of Marion Nine, supports medical research solely for educational and scientific purposes. Based in Fresno, California, it awards an average of $5,000 annually, providing one grant per year to 501(c)(3) exempt organizations focused on medical advancements. The foundation is dedicated to fostering impactful research that aligns with its mission to enhance public health and knowledge.

The Eva L. McKenzie Memorial Fund Grant supports California organizations focusing on the unique needs of blind individuals, and those affected by cerebral palsy or cancer. Established in 1961, the fund aims to provide charitable, scientific, and educational assistance. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt, operate within California, and directly address the challenges faced by these populations. Program areas include education, health, and human services.

The Goodwin Family Memorial Trust Grant supports the moral, physical, and intellectual development of needy males under 21 in California. Established by Mabel Frankie Goodwin, the trust focuses on education, health, and human services. Grants range from $10,000 to $35,000, with 35 grants awarded annually, totaling up to $600,000 in yearly giving. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities and wait one year after four consecutive grants before reapplying.

University of California Humanities Research Institute (UCHRI)

The University of California Humanities Research Institute facilitates experimental, interdisciplinary humanities scholarship through partnerships, research initiatives, and competitive grants.

UCHRI was founded by UC President David Gardner in 1987 as a centerpiece of the University of California’s system-wide investment in humanities research. Over the past three decades UCHRI has promoted innovation and leadership in the practice and sharing of collaborative humanistic research across all 10 UC campuses, nationally, and globally.

Graduate Student Dissertation Support

The Graduate Student Dissertation Support grant offers funds to support dissertation work for UC PhD candidates in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. Support may include travel expenses for dissertation research, supplies such as books or copies directly related to the dissertation topic, and fees for summer institutes likely to advance the dissertation (such as language or theory programs). Funds may not be requested for rent or other regular living expenses. Please note that grant funds may only be used for projects taking place between July 1, 2026 and December 31, 2027. Plan your research travel accordingly.

University of California Humanities Research Institute (UCHRI)

The University of California Humanities Research Institute facilitates experimental, interdisciplinary humanities scholarship through partnerships, research initiatives, and competitive grants.

UCHRI was founded by UC President David Gardner in 1987 as a centerpiece of the University of California’s system-wide investment in humanities research. Over the past three decades UCHRI has promoted innovation and leadership in the practice and sharing of collaborative humanistic research across all 10 UC campuses, nationally, and globally.

UCHRI Manuscript Workshop and Research Development Program

The UCHRI Manuscript Workshop and Research Development Program supports the publication goals of early- and mid-career faculty members in the humanities and qualitative social sciences while helping them build strong networks of support in their fields and across the University of California. Each participant convenes an online workshop with five experts in their field, including at least three UC faculty, who read and comment on their book manuscript. Based upon successful national models, this workshop provides faculty with quality feedback from experts in the field on a full draft of a pre-promotion book manuscript in preparation for submission to a publisher for a contract or for publication. To accommodate participants’ availability, the workshop can be divided into one or more separate online sessions, but respondents should not be expected to attend more than one session. We encourage applicants to submit full manuscripts for respondents’ review.

The program also provides quarterly research development sessions and culminates in a writing retreat with a press editor. In addition to supporting the publication goals of individual faculty, these workshops build new communities of concern around particular research topics, including areas that may not be fully supported by traditional departmental structures.

This opportunity is open to all UC faculty at the assistant and associate levels in the humanities and qualitative social sciences. Faculty who have contributed substantively to building a culture of inclusive excellence on their campus, have encountered unexpected obstacles in completing their research, and/or are working in emergent or underserved research areas are especially encouraged to apply.

This program is funded by and supports the goals of the Advancing Faculty Diversity Program run by the Office of the Vice Provost of Academic Personnel and Programs at the UC Office of the President.

California Energy Commission

As the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency, the California Energy Commission (CEC) plays a critical role in creating the energy system of the future—one that is clean, modern, and ensures the fifth largest economy in the world continues to thrive. Combating climate change is fundamental to maintaining California’s future. The agency’s research, programs and policies remain crucial today as the state plans for 100% clean energy and carbon neutrality by mid-century. CEC is helping create the energy system of California’s future through activities such as Planning and Policy Development, Renewable Energy Growth; Energy Efficiency; Energy Innovation; Cleaner Transportation; and Responsible Electricity Infrastructure.

GFO-26-601 - Charger Service Skills Accelerator

Purpose

This is a competitive grant solicitation. The California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Clean Transportation Program announces the availability of up to $6,000,000 in grant funds for projects that will increase the qualified workforce needed to service electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment. 

Funding will support training that leads to portable, industry-recognized credentials and may be used to expand existing training programs to include EV charging equipment service.