Search Through Education Grants in San Francisco, California in the U.S.

The goals of our foundation are:

• To be a model of charitable giving to children in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• To support tuition assistance, technology, and learning in pre-K-12 schools in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• To assist major museums, cultural and non-profit organizations with their educational programs for children and families in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Joseph and Mercedes McMicking Foundation (The Foundation) is a California 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

The Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life, primarily to benefit San Francisco Bay Area residents through contributions, grants and scholarships for the education and welfare of children and their families.

Areas of Interest

The Foundation has an established interest in providing grants and scholarship for the education of children of all ages and all ethnic backgrounds in the areas of:

• Arts
• Technology
• Education
• Science

About the Foundation

"Do the Common Thing Uncommonly Well" The Miranda Lux Foundation is a private foundation that continues the trust established by the will of Miranda W. Lux.Miranda W. Lux was born in Cranston, Rhode Island on December 23, 1865. Following the death of her first husband, she married Charles Lux, a partner in the Miller and Lux Company, one of California's largest landowning and ranching corporations. Throughout her life, Mrs. Lux contributed to, and was involved in, the development of schools and aid societies. She was especially active as a director of the Protestant Orphan Asylum and as a leader in the kindergarten movement. Mrs. Lux was also vitally interested in technical, manual and vocational education; fields that were newly being considered important to the general education of children. Miranda Lux died on September 20, 1894. In her will, she set aside approximately $500,000 to perpetuate her lifelong interest, which she expressed in this way:Eighteen years after the death of Mrs. Lux, her bequest would be used to found the Lux School of Industrial Training, an institution dedicated to the technical education of girls, which operated in San Francisco from 1908 until 1953. When the school was discontinued, the proceeds from the sale of its plant and equipment were added to the funds in the trust, and in 1955, the name of the trust was changed to the Miranda Lux Foundation. Today, the Miranda Lux Foundation supports innovative and promising pre-vocational and vocational education proposals that prepare young people for the world of work. The Foundation awards grants to organizations and programs in the San Francisco Bay Area that serve young people under the age of 18.BackgroundThe Miranda Lux Foundation, established in 1955, is a private foundation incorporated under California law. The Foundation accepts grant proposals from tax-exempt charitable institutions as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code on a continuing basis. Members of the Board of Trustees meet quarterly to review proposals..Grantmaking Priorities

• The Miranda Lux Foundation supports promising proposals for pre-school through junior college programs in the fields of pre-vocational and vocational education.
• The Foundation also supports innovative academic enrichment, techonology training and performing and visual arts programs to help participants develop core job skills.
• The Foundation limits its grantmaking to nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area that serve young people ages 18 and under.

About Amgen

Amgen is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies. Amgen is a values-based company, deeply rooted in science and innovation to transform new ideas and discoveries into medicines for patients with serious illnesses.

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Our belief—and the core of our strategy—is that innovative, highly differentiated medicines that provide large clinical benefits in addressing serious diseases are medicines that will not only help patients, but also will help reduce the social and economic burden of disease in society today.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology innovator since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

Non-Healthcare Donations and Sponsorships

Amgen Charitable Donations and Sponsorships are focused on humanitarian, social, education and community programs.

The mission of the Thelma Doelger Trust for Animals is to support those organizations that effectively and efficiently make better the lives of animals, both wild and domestic, through direct intervention and education.

Applications are considered throughout the year and may be submitted at any time.  Accordingly, organizations that have not previously received a grant from the Trust are encouraged to submit a Letter of Inquiry before devoting the resources necessary to prepare a formal grant application.

Background

The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP) is a statewide program of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). UC SAREP envisions a food and farming system that:

• supports resilience through diversified production, marketing, and distribution systems,
• values all food system workers and supports their physical, economic, and social wellbeing,
• contributes to the health and vitality of urban, rural, and Tribal communities,
• is environmentally regenerative, using resources for production and distribution in a way that protects the environment in trust for future generations, including under changing climate conditions, and
• is culturally responsive and reflects the ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity of California.

Funding Priority Areas 

Priority Area 1:  Support California’s farmers, ranchers, and land stewards of all scales in piloting and transitioning to:

• environmentally regenerative approaches to producing crops and livestock (including but not limited to soil health, organic and agroecological practices, integrated pest management, crop diversification);
• pathways for realizing economic return from ecologically-sound crop management practices and fair labor practices;
• marketing and distribution strategies that support diversified, decentralized, and locally-based supply chains;
• strategies that promote producer-to-producer networking and/or producer-to-supply chain networking.

Priority Area 2:  Support California’s rural, urban, and Tribal communities in identifying and implementing strategies to:

• expand access to healthy, sustainably produced, culturally appropriate foods;
• ensure worker wellbeing across the food chain;
• minimize the community and environmental costs of food production and distribution;
• strengthen connections between consumers and producers;
• establish and strengthen producer-to-producer connections and producer-to-supply chain connections.

Proposal Categories

Proposals are requested for three types of projects: 

• Planning Grants
  • Planning grants are intended to support processes that bring together diverse stakeholders to plan for larger, more complex research and outreach projects for which larger funds are being sought.
  • Examples of previously funded Planning projects include:
    • the creation of a new food policy council;
    • exploring how green jobs for women farmworkers can improve their working conditions and the well-being of their communities;
    • building a research team and developing plans for conducting a life cycle analysis of California’s beef production system; and
    • community food access planning in East Salinas.
• Education and Outreach Grants
  • Education and outreach grants include educational events, materials and outreach components of research projects.
  • Examples of previously funded Education and Outreach projects include:
    • providing legal guidance to low-income entrepreneurs interested in urban and suburban farming,
    • home-based food businesses and cooperatively owned agricultural companies in the San Francisco Bay Area;
    • helping Southeast Asian and other small farmers in Sacramento connect with processors and buyers;
    • implementing a bilingual educational campaign to communicate the importance of locally and sustainably grown produce from farmers of diverse backgrounds in Napa County; and
    • developing and documenting opportunities and success stories for ecosystem services provided by rangeland stewardship.
• Applied Research Grants
  • These projects are intended to fund original, applied research in the above Program Priority Areas.
  • An example of a previously funded research grant includes funding to study the effects of livestock guardian dogs on wildlife species and the potential for conflict with recreationists.
  • Research projects should include an outreach component.

Funding Availability

Individual grants will be limited to a maximum of $10,000, with one Applied Research Grant awarded up to $20,000.

Background

A family foundation that believes in strategic infusions of funding, we dedicate nearly 100% of our grant dollars to the environment. As citizens of the planet, we are compelled to participate in the protection of natural resources in the communities where we live.

The Campbell Foundation was established in 1998 to improve the conditions of America’s largest and most ecologically diverse and productive estuary systems: the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays. In 2003, Keith expanded the geographic focus of The Campbell Foundation to include Northern California and the San Francisco Bay watershed under the leadership of his daughter and the Foundation’s President, Samantha Campbell.

Chesapeake

The Campbell Foundation’s Chesapeake Initiative seeks to accelerate the pace of nutrient reduction in the Bay through engagement of diverse stakeholders and partnerships between agricultural interests and environmental concerns that forge new paths of working together.

The Campbell Foundation endeavors to identify, broaden and enhance leadership and grassroots advocacy by building capacity for those who chart a sensible course for the future, with 360° view of the needs and tradeoffs.

The grantees we support are thoughtful, inclusive and coordinated, with an enthusiasm for consensus-based solutions.

Our mission in the Chesapeake Bay Region is to improve water quality and ecological balance in the Bay and its rivers, as a healthy Bay fosters a vibrant regional economy and provides exceptional recreational opportunities.

Pacific

The Campbell Foundation’s Pacific Initiative strives to identify opportunities in the field that a) are gaining political momentum, b) present a great opportunity to leverage resources of all kinds, and c) are innovative from a business and social perspective.

We allocate the resources of our California office to projects in these areas:

• Water Quality (California)
• Land-Sea Connection (California)
• Protection of Special Places (California)

Our mission in the Pacific Region is to safeguard the ocean environment of the Pacific Coast and elevate environmental issues in our culture by promoting the implementation and enforcement of adequate policies, leveraging the power of markets to advance sustainable economies and supporting innovative communication.

Cycle 1 & Cycle 2

We offer two unsolicited grant cycles per year. The budget for each of our cycles is $50,000. Individual grants will vary in size, but will be no greater than $25,000. We accept proposals for any type of program in any geography. The maximum amount you can request is $25,000.

EveryCat Health Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1968, advances feline health by supporting groundbreaking research and education. Our vision is to address the health needs of cats throughout their entire lifetime by focusing on all aspects of physical, mental, and social well-being. We embrace the One Health model as a critical tool in achieving our vision. EveryCat awards grants to scientists and professionals in research which concerns the origins of feline illness, diagnosis of feline diseases, development of effective treatments, and the identification of disease prevention strategies.

EveryCat’s work worldwide has funded over $11 million in cat health research at more than 30 partner institutions. Grant funding is made possible through the generosity of dedicated donors, collaborators, and sponsors. 

In 2002, the George Sydney and Phyllis Redmond Miller Trust designated EveryCat Health Foundation as one of its advisor organizations. EveryCat has subsequently been provided an unprecedented opportunity to make recommendations for grant awards to the San Francisco Foundation, trustees of the Miller Trust. The total grant funding varies each year. Based on the requirements of the George and Phyllis Miller Trust, proposals will be accepted only from principal investigators at the following institutions. Partnerships with listed institutions are permitted.

University of California, Davis

Colorado State University

Cornell University

University of Illinois

Iowa State University

University of Minnesota

University of Missouri

The Ohio State University

University of Tennessee

Texas A&M University

Virginia/Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

The maximum grant award is $50,000 for 1- to 2-year projects.

Purpose of the Foundation

Dedicated to the well-being of Bay Area children and youth. We fund organizations with strong and effective leadership that prepare children and youth from economically vulnerable households for fulfilled and productive lives.

Participation in the Arts- (serves ages 5 to 18)

We fund organizations with strong and effective leadership that prepare children and youth from economically vulnerable households for fulfilled and productive lives.

The foundation believes that arts are integral to the development of a well-rounded person, and this is achieved by:

• • Inspiring young people to develop an interest in the arts
• • Providing hands-on experience in the arts
• • Connecting children to their communities and promoting understanding of diverse cultures

Programs must be connected to a school or school district, either by providing classes during the school-day or after-school. Programs must also offer participants a minimum of 15 hours of immersive art experience in any one summer or semester.

Strong applicants will offer opportunities for under-served young people to actively participate in the arts. Programs should align with the California State Board of Education Standards for Visual and Performing Arts.

About Us

The BASIC Fund is the largest non-denominational early learning scholarship granting organization in California.

Our Vision

The BASIC Fund has a clear vision to open the door to as many families in need as possible. It is our purpose as a scholarship-granting organization to ensure long-term academic, economic, and social success for thousands of the Bay Area’s most underserved children, families, and communities.

BASIC Fund Scholarship

Our scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need, determined by household size and income. The awards cover anywhere from 25-75% of a school’s tuition (after financial aid is applied), up to a maximum of $2,750 per student per year. Participating families are required to contribute to their children’s education and are therefore responsible for costs not covered by the scholarship. The family must pay at least $500 for each school year but may be more.

Scholarships are renewable annually through the 8th grade provided that the family maintains their portion of the tuition payments, the family remains financially eligible, and the child remains enrolled in an accredited private school.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

About the Foundation

The Sadie Meyer and Louis Cohn Foundation was established under the Last Will and Testament of Sadie Meyer Cohn. Mrs. Cohn was born August 28, 1883 and passed away on January 9, 1966. She was a resident of San Francisco, California.

The Sadie Meyer and Louis Cohn Foundation provides support to needy persons, charitable organizations and worthy causes, with primary consideration for the education of the needy.

Program areas

• Education  
• Health
• Human services

States served 

• California 

Geographic limitations 

• San Francisco Bay Area only.

The Milton and Sophie Meyer Fund Grant

The Milton and Sophie Meyer Fund was created under the Last Will and Testament of Milton Meyer to support Jewish charities. Mr. Meyer was born on September 7, 1885, and passed away on May 19, 1978. He was a resident of San Francisco, California.

Mission

Our mission is to support Jewish charities, primarily those located in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Program areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities  
• Education
• Environment, animals
• Health
• Human services
• Public/society benefit
• Religion

States served 

California 

Liberated Paths Grantmaking Program

Building a More Just and Sustainable Outdoor and Environmental Movement Together

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led organizations are on the frontlines of the grassroots work being done to build a better planet but our work is chronically overlooked and underfunded. We know that when our voices are left out, our communities suffer, and our planet does too. With the Liberated Paths Program, we envision a way to bridge that gap.

Through this program, we are working to create a more just and sustainable outdoor and environmental movement by shifting resources to and building power with Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color. The Liberated Paths Program supports outdoor initiatives and organizations that cultivate and celebrate the contributions of Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color and affirm the many experiences and identities our communities hold, through grantmaking, capacity building, and network building.

Through our Liberated Paths regional grants, we support organizations and initiatives of all sizes located in California, the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington), the Southwest (Arizona and New Mexico), and the Delaware River Watershed that work at the intersection of racial justice, outdoor experiences, and the environment. In 2023, we will also launch grantmaking in North and South Carolina. Our Liberated Paths: Youth Access to Nature Fund supports efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area that increase safe and equitable access to the outdoors for Young People of Color.

We work with leaders and organizations who are rooted within their communities with the lived experiences to understand how to best advance justice and center the needs of the community. We support Leaders of Color to design and lead the types of joyful outdoor experiences and environmental efforts that are most meaningful to them and their communities. 

Liberated Paths support looks like:

• Relationship-driven and trust-based support
• Multi-year grants of $1,000 to $20,000 per year when possible
• Long-term, deep engagement in financial, operational, and fundraising capacity building
• Network building with a cohort of grantees to facilitate shared learning and systems-level changes
• Eligibility that is not hinged on organization size, ability to do impact reporting, or 501(c)(3) status
• Support for organizations and initiatives of all sizes and in all stages of their development
• Prioritized funding for organizations and initiatives led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
• Capacity building trainings and workshops for grantee partners

Capacity Building

Our model offers financial grants, as well as consistent coaching and mentorship. We want to connect our grantee partners with the tools and resources they need to sustain their vital work. To that end, in addition to trainings and workshops for all grantee partners, we work with each partner to identify areas where they want to grow and tailor our support to their needs. These areas could include: board recruitment, financial sustainability, staffing and hiring considerations, executive leadership coaching, budget planning, program design, insurance and liability considerations, safety, guidance on applications for additional grants, and more.

Network Building

Through Liberated Paths, we seek to bring together organizations and leaders working at the intersection of environment and racial justice. We do this through virtual get-togethers and information sessions. We facilitate network building within each cohort of grantees to facilitate shared learning and systems-level changes.

We also bring together funders and partners through a webinar series to connect, share information about the Liberated Paths Grantmaking Program and to also hold critical conversations regarding topics such as the explicit role of race in Liberated Paths, the racial funding gap, and racial bias and its impact in philanthropy.

The Charles N. Felton and Charlotte Ashley Felton Endowment was established under the Last Will and Testament of Kate Felton Neilson. Kate Felton Neilson established the endowment in memory of her father, Charles N. Felton who was U.S. Senator of California (1891-1893), and her mother, Charlotte Ashley Felton. The Felton family was well established in San Francisco, CA and their home was nearby in Menlo Park, CA.

The Charles N. Felton and Charlotte Ashley Felton Endowment provides grants to qualified organizations that advance the musical or educational uplift of the City of San Francisco, CA; or to organizations that benefit, relieve or uplift economically disadvantaged people in the City of San Francisco, CA. Administered by Wells Fargo Bank as trustees, one to three grants are awarded per year through applications that are reviewed at their annual grant meeting.

Pew Biomedical Scholars 

The Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. The program makes grants to selected academic institutions to support the independent research of outstanding individuals who are in their first few years of their appointment at the assistant professor level.

Based on their performance during their education and training, candidates should demonstrate outstanding promise as contributors in science relevant to human health. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic, translational, and applied biomedical research. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles but who bring in concepts and theories from more diverse fields are encouraged to apply.

Ideas with the potential to produce an unusually high impact are encouraged. Selection of the successful candidates will be based on a detailed description of the work that the applicant proposes to undertake, evaluations of the candidate’s performance, and notable past accomplishments, including honors, awards, and publications. In evaluating the candidates, the National Advisory Committee gives considerable weight to both the project proposal and the researcher, including evidence that the candidate is a successful independent investigator and has the skill set needed to carry out their high-impact proposal.

Funding from the NIH, other government sources, and project grants from nonprofit associations do not pose a conflict with the Pew scholars program.

Funding

The current grant level is $300,000.

An award of $75,000 per year for four years will be provided to the sponsoring institution for use by the scholar, subject to annual review of the scholar’s progress. Grant agreements will be issued in August of the award year. The awarded funds may be used at the discretion of the Pew scholar, for personnel, equipment, supplies, or travel directly related to the scholar's research and as to best advance his or her research and career.

• The amount of the award that may be used for the principal investigator’s salary is limited to $12,500 per year (including benefits) or $50,000 over the duration of the grant. There are no limits on student or postdoctoral salaries.
• Not more than 8 percent ($24,000) of the total award value may be allocated for facilities and administration (F&A) charges or indirect costs (IDCs).
• Should the funds not be immediately required, they may be accumulated and carried over through the grant period and, with written approval of the program office, the grant may receive a no-cost extension for one additional year (without additional funds).
• Subawards are allowed.

During the four-year grant term, program participants are required to attend an annual meeting held in March or April. All eligible expenses for attendees’ travel, lodging, and meals are paid by Pew. The meeting provides Pew scholars with an opportunity to present their research and for scientific collaboration and exchange with other scholars and members of the National Advisory Committee.

About the Foundation

The Marino Family Charitable Foundation, Inc. was created in 2012. The Foundation was established to provide funding for public charities, including, but not limited to, those dedicated to assisting individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Mission

The Marino Family Charitable Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals by offering support to non-profit organizations who have demonstrated, through their charitable works and core values, the ability to make a positive difference in and further advance, educate, or enrich their communities.

Program areas

• Health
• Human services

Justice Outside

Justice Outside advances racial justice and equity in the outdoor and environmental movement. We shift resources to, build power with, and center the voices and leadership of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color because the health of current and future generations demands it. We envision a just world where Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color experience safety, health, and abundant joy through meaningful relationships with one another and the outdoors. We are thrilled to invite applications to help us achieve this mission and vision through the Youth Access to Nature Fund.

Established in 2016, the Youth Access to Nature Fund works to ensure youth of color in the San Francisco Bay Area have access to meaningful experiences in nature to support their growth as leaders and students, and to improve their mental and physical health. To that end, the Youth Access the Nature Fund is committed to the young people of the Bay Area, by centering the strength, joy, and leadership of their communities. By offering flexible funds and capacity-building the Liberated Paths Grantmaking Program: Youth Access to Nature Fund seeks to embody grantmaking that is built on trust, relationships, and support. 

Funding

The total grant amount requested for a period of one year should be no more than $25,000

Education Focus

The Foundation intends to award grants for paid internships at nonprofits for

• students enrolled in community college, four year college undergraduate and/or college graduate school or
• "young professionals" defined as a person who graduated from community college, four-year college undergraduate, or college graduate school within the last two years.

Grants distributed in calendar year 2025 may be utilized for calendar year 2026 internships as needed. These internships must provide an above minimum wage stipend. The internship experience should include enrichment opportunities which should include skill building, visibility into nonprofit management, peer networking, professional seminars, capstone project/report, etc.

Priority will be given to internships that recruit using a DEI lens. Average size grants in this area of focus are $8,000-$12,000 per internship. You are welcome to request funding for more than one internship in an application if you have previously received funding from the Foundation.

Please note that grant recipients who received awards from us in this focus area each year for the last 3 consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024) are not eligible for a grant in 2025. You will be eligible to reapply in 2026.​

Health & Human Services Focus (No new applications are being accepted in 2025. You are welcome to introduce yourself )

The Foundation is committed to supporting elders living in our communities by encouraging self-sufficiency and aging in place. We will be awarding two-year $20,000 grants (payouts of 2024: $10,000; 2025: $10,000) to organizations. We fund both projects and general operating support.

Funding is focused on housing specifically around aging in place:

• Home modifications for accessibility and home maintenance;
• Assistance with household tasks;
• Affordable permanent housing;
• Collaborative partnerships that advocate for age-friendly communities.

Annunziata Sanguinetti Foundation Grant

To support the care, treatment, cure, rehabilitation, or education of children with physical handicaps, mental retardation or mental illnesses to children born in, residing in, or whose parents’ homes were maintained in San Francisco, California.

Program areas

• Education
• Health
• Human services

Program limitations 

Organizations must be devoted to the care, treatment, cure, rehabilitation, or education of children with physical or mental handicaps or illnesses. 

States served 

• California 

Population served 

• Children with physical or mental handicaps or illnesses (ages 21 years or under).

Criteria

Organizations must be devoted to any one or more of the following purposes: 

• The care or rehabilitation of physically handicapped children, 
• The care or rehabilitation or mentally retarded or mentally ill children,
• The care, treatment or cure of mentally or physically ill children, physically handicapped children or retarded children,
• The care, treatment, cure, education or rehabilitation of deaf, dumb or blind children, or physically handicapped or mentally retarded children,
• Furnishing medical, dental, nursing, hospitalization or psychiatric care or treatment for physically or mentally handicapped children,
• To any other charity recognized as aforesaid furnishing aid, care, education or assistance to children.

Mission

The Nicholson Family Foundation's mission is to champion organizations that create opportunities for local under-served youth in arts, education and social services.

Vision

Founded in 1996, The Nicholson Family Foundation supports non-profit organizations — from San Francisco to Santa Cruz in Northern California — where our small grants can create meaningful impact. Our multi-generational board champions local under-served youth in arts, education and social services. Our family commitment is to strengthen philanthropic involvement within our communities.  

Our Guiding Principles

• We strive to learn about and work with new organizations.
• Our grants are proportional to budget size; creating an opportunity for larger impact.
• We believe in operational support for non-profit organizations.
• Our invitational multi-year grant program stands to build upon and strengthen our community relationships with an annual rotating concentration in one of our three focus areas.

Purpose

Provide education and awareness about the proper disposal of boat sewage

Description

In 1992, Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act to help reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges into U.S. waters. The Grant Program established by the Act will help fund the construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout and dump stations to service recreational vessels. The Clean Vessel Program also provides boater education programs to promote public awareness about boat sewage and its proper disposal.

As part of its commitment to provide clean, safe, and enjoyable recreational boating in California, the California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is serving as the State Grant coordinator. DBW uses federal Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund grants to support programs that educate California boaters and increases public awareness about boat waste management and its proper disposal.

Targeted Regions

The Grant Program focuses on two targeted geographic regions of California:

• 13-county San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary (San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties).
• 6 Southern California Coastal Counties (Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and San Luis Obispo Counties).

Proposals that cover a portion of the above regions will be considered if, over time, the agency can expand program(s) to the entire region.

Two grants will be awarded one for each of the California targeted regions. Each grant proposal must include plans for education, outreach, and monitoring. Applications that do not address each component will be disqualified.

Goals & Priorities

The Stocker Foundation adopted a broader 21st century definition of literacy to help students keep pace in today’s rapidly changing world.

The Stocker Foundation remains committed to closing the education equity gap and making good educational practices great by supporting kindergarten readiness and ensuring students can read at or above grade-level by third grade. However, we can achieve more by combining these priorities to include STEAM-focused grantmaking. Remember, literacy is a part of every content area, always!

What is STEAM? STEAM is an educational approach that creates access points for guided student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking through the infusion of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.  

The Stocker Foundation will partner with new and existing 501(c)(3) charitable organizations that can effectively and realistically address the following areas of interest:

• Development of foundational reading and writing skills.
• Implementation of cross-disciplinary and project-based learning through STEAM.
• Safety-net services that ensure students are healthy, engaged, supported, and challenged, removing barriers to learning and academic achievement. A small percentage of available funding per community will be considered.

Background

The California Watershed Protection Fund supports projects designed to improve water quality and protect watersheds across California.

The fund originated with a $50,000 mitigation payment from a Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement case brought by San Francisco Baykeeper, and out of this humble beginning, the SF Bay Citizens Action Fund was created. Within a few years, the fund expanded to cover watersheds throughout the State as several other groups including the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and Los Angeles Waterkeeper among others, directed their mitigation payments to Rose. The fund continues to be enabled by settlements in CWA citizen suits and supports projects which benefit the surface water quality where enforcement actions have been brought.

Due to funding fluctuations, the specific watersheds eligible for grants may vary – please check the list of currently eligible watersheds. The maximum grant amount is $40,000 with most grants expected to range between $10,000 and $30,000. All applicants must be able to demonstrate a strong track record of community-based water quality stewardship.

Allowable Projects and Activity Focus

• Projects must benefit the surface water quality of the watershed in question.
  • Eligible activities include water stewardship, conservation, outreach and education, restoration, and watershed protection.
• Projects focusing exclusively on groundwater quality are only eligible if there is known interconnectivity to surface waters.
• We especially encourage projects that involve impacted communities, benefit vulnerable populations, and are centered around principles of equity and environmental justice.
• Please note: Any projects with an education component must have a palpable water quality benefit. 
  • Applicants should consider the inclusion of hands-on activities such as planting, restoration, or trash cleanups as part of their projects or other activities that will have a more immediate impact and should be a substantive part of the project proposal.
• The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project, including experience in successfully conducting similar or otherwise related work in the past.

Most grants are for a one-year period; however, you do not have to ask for a one-year grant. It is permitted to request a shorter or longer grant period if that is what you need. Project proposals must protect or benefit the surface water quality of an eligible watershed.

Investing in Our Communities

At Bank of Marin:

• We believe that doing our part to build a stronger community for all is essential to our collective success
• We strive to support nonprofits that foster community and economic vitality, equitable access to educational resources and an enriched quality of life.
• We commit to working with local organization in a collaborative manner through focused leadership, volunteerism, giving and financial education.

Since opening our doors in 1990, we—along with our employees—have donated millions of dollars, served on hundreds of nonprofit boards/committees and volunteered thousands of hours to local philanthropic endeavors.

Bank of Marin has consistently been ranked one of the “Top Corporate Philanthropists” by San Francisco Business Times since 2003, was inducted into NorthBay Biz’s “Best of” Hall of Fame in 2024, and ranked top 10 in Sacramento Business Journal’s Corporate Direct Giving List for philanthropic efforts in 2023.

Grant Funding Priorities

Social & Economic Vitality:

Foster a thriving economy and community by supporting efforts to meet basic needs.

Organization and programs related to:

• Basic needs and social safety net programs,
• economic development,
• affordable housing, and
• small business support, especially BIPOC and women-owned business.

Education

Enable youth and adults to gain the skills to thrive personally and professionally.

Organization and programs related to:

• youth financial literacy
• youth and professional development programs,
• access gaps in education (especially S.T.E.A.M. education) and professional development, and
• youth mentorship, college preparedness and academic success.

Enrichment & Wellness

Enhance quality of life and provide access to health and wellness programs.

Organization and programs related to:

• access to arts and cultural experiences,
• animal rescue and animal-human therapy,
• programs and services for people with diverse abilities.
• environment and sustainability.

Background

The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society provides scholarships to students doing research on native plant or plant community conservation, plant ecology, plant community restoration, plant systematics, rare plants or other related botanical studies of native plants that grow in habitats in Central and Northern California.

Research scholarships of up to $3,000 are available. The amount granted will depend on the project's requirements and available funding. Evaluation of applications will focus on the stated purpose of the research, experimental design, relationship to native plant and native habitat conservation, and overall impression of the research project.

Available Scholarships

There are several scholarships available. In addition to the two named scholarships that are awarded for research that focuses on specific, however not exclusive, topics, additional scholarships are available.

The Sally Casey Shooting Stars Research Scholarship

The Sally Casey Shooting Stars Research Scholarship is for a student focused on research involving native wildflowers, native grasses and grasslands, soil carbon, and soil interactions. Sally Casey (1921 - 2019) was a Founding Member of our Chapter and a CNPS Fellow. The education of future botanists was important to Sally, and for many years she helped to fund scholarships with the sale of shooting stars that she grew in her backyard nursery.

The Don Mayall Conservation Research Scholarship

The Don Mayall Conservation Research Scholarship is for a student focused on research on rare plants and serpentine ecosystems. Don Mayall (1932 - 2017) joined our CNPS Chapter in the mid-1980s. He was a CNPS Fellow and was active with in the successful protection efforts for Edgewood County Park (San Mateo County, CA) & Preserve and Coyote Ridge (Santa Clara County, CA).

Community Progress Makers Fund

Community Progress Makers is a Citi Foundation initiative aimed at supporting local community organizations connecting low-income communities to greater social and economic opportunity. The Foundation first launched the Community Progress Makers initiative in 2015 with a vision of empowering local community organizations to grow their transformative impact through unrestricted, trust-based funding. The Foundation is committing an additional $50 million to support a fourth cohort of Community Progress Makers. Through an open request for proposals (RFP) process, the Foundation will select 50 community organizations to receive the following over three years: 

• $1 million in unrestricted grant support
• Access to technical assistance from national experts and leading researchers
• Opportunities to connect and share learnings through webinars and local and national gatherings

Selection Priorities

For this funding opportunity, the Citi Foundation will prioritize organizations that demonstrate:

• Deep connections to the communities served
• Track record of partnering with other community organizations and stakeholders to achieve positive change
• Utilization of data to inform planning and the capacity to collect, analyze, and share data, results, and learnings
• Track record and innovative vision in one of the following areas of work: 
  • Affordable Housing and Access, such as efforts to promote housing affordability; home ownership; and resident support services to help people more easily access employment, education, health, and childcare.
  • Economic Development, including the provision of technical assistance to small businesses; commercial corridor revitalization efforts; and green economy strategies that promote job creation.
  • Financial Health, such as efforts in delivering financial coaching; integrated financial capability services; and savings and asset building strategies.
  • Workforce Readiness, including organizations preparing young people and/or adults for careers and entrepreneurship.

Background

Applications are evaluated on the basis of their ability to advance the California Native Plant Society’s mission of protecting California’s native plants and their natural habitats, now and into the future, through science, education, stewardship, gardening, and advocacy. Successfully funded projects will relate to topics that intersect with California native plants and expand on information gaps within the natural and social sciences, including but not limited to conservation, botany, ecology, land management, horticulture, communications, economics, history, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, or other cultural connections to native plants.

CNPS is committed to increasing ways for people of all backgrounds to deepen their relationships with California native plants. Individuals from groups underrepresented in the natural and social sciences are strongly encouraged to apply (including, but not limited to, people who identify as female, non-binary, transgender, queer, gay, lesbian, gender non-conforming, Black, Indigenous, person of color, disabled, first-generation college student, or low socioeconomic status).

CNPS student grants

The CNPS Student Research Grants Program was created in 1983 to award funds to students and researchers studying California’s native flora. The funds have been made possible through the generosity of several major donors, some of whom are anonymous, in honor of some of our Society’s most dedicated members and leaders. The Student Research Grants Committee determines which type of grant is appropriate for each proposal funded.

The Doc Burr Grants

The Doc Burr Graduate Research Fund was established in 1983 to honor Horace K. “Doc” Burr, a founder and CNPS fellow and director at large for many years. Doc Burr grants are awarded to graduate students conducting research that promotes conservation of California’s flora and vegetation.

The Hardman Native Plant Research Award

Established in 1994, in honor of Gertrude R. Hardman, who was for years involved with the Botany Club of the Academy of Science in San Francisco, this grant was initiated by Doris Hoover. We offer the Hardman Native Plant Research Award for promising academic and applied botanical research involving California’s native plants, especially rare plants. For this grant, we also welcome research leading to elimination of invasive exotic plants from the state’s flora.

Natalie Hopkins Award

Established in 2007, this grant honors Natalie Hopkins, lifelong supporter and mentor of women in plant sciences and 2nd president of the Santa Clara Chapter of CNPS. Natalie Hopkins Awards are given to women students and researchers pursuing native plant studies.

The Helen Sharsmith Grants

Established in 1983 by Carl Sharsmith, this award pays memorial tribute to his wife, Helen, the author of The Flora of the Mount Hamilton Range. We award Helen Sharsmith grants to students or non-students involved in research on California’s native flora.

The G. Ledyard Stebbins Award

CNPS established the Stebbins Award in 1986 to honor Dr. Stebbins for his many years of dedication to the Society and to students of genetics and evolutionary botany. Each year one Stebbins Award may be given to a graduate student for an outstanding proposal for research in evolutionary botany.

The Light Awards

We honor and inspire great teachers—like you—by funding a professional learning project of your own design.

Driven By Teachers

You and your team — a group of teachers — are invited to apply for LIGHT Awards funds. Our grants (of up to $30,000 over 2 years) can be used to support your growth as teachers, your effectiveness as educators, and your ability to inspire and mentor students.

What we fund:

• Train with experts
• Create a learning community
• Build new tools
• Imagine your own innovation

Project Requirements

The LIGHT Awards Program supports teacher participation in experiences that fulfill some or all of the following criteria:

• Renew educators’ passion for and commitment to teaching.
• Demonstrate relevance for teachers.
• Have the potential to have school-wide, district-wide, and/or system-wide impact.
• Enhance teacher leadership skills.
• Cultivate a community of practice.