Search Through Grants for 501(c)(3) in Los Angeles, California in the U.S.

Background

The California Community Foundation is seeking letters of interest for grants supporting work in improving healthcare access, disease prevention and community engagement around health issues in South L.A.’s Centinela Valley.

CCF endeavors to be the destination foundation for donors and nonprofits that are passionately committed to creating systemic change in Los Angeles County. We aim to address the root causes of L.A.’s most pressing issues by supporting the nonprofit organizations on the front lines whose innovation and dedication continue to make this a better place for all of us.

Our goal is to make the process simple so that potential grantees can easily explore opportunities, review instructions, monitor deadlines and access tools and other non-grant support – including vital convening support for nonprofits across Los Angeles through the Joan Palevsky Center for the Future of Los Angeles.

Centinela Valley Medical & Community Funds strategy

CCF established the Centinela Medical and Community Fund and the Centinela Medical Care Fund in 1999 to benefit residents in the Centinela Valley.

The funds have since granted approximately $50 million to eligible hospitals and other community-based organizations providing healthcare, medically-related services and health education to economically disadvantaged residents.

Grants are made for core operating, program, project or capacity building support.

Strategies and Outcomes

To promote and improve the health and quality of life of children and adults living in the Centinela Valley, the foundation focuses on grants to organizations that address the following topics:

• Increasing integration of medical, dental, vision, mental health and substance use prevention, care and treatment services
• Facilitating cross-sector and regional systems collaboration among L.A. County public sector partners, nonprofit hospital/health systems, other nonprofits, and community partners to address the root causes of racial/ethnic health disparities including but not limited to immigration status.
• Supporting health policy/advocacy efforts that promote universal access to and utilization of health coverage, services and other public benefits

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

OUR MISSION

The Douglas Foundation partners with organizations committed to providing more equitable access to education, healthcare, and the arts.

Guided by the charitable goals of its founders, Anne and Kirk Douglas, the Foundation is particularly focused on improving the lives of children and women in California.

About

“Joan Marilynn Wismer was born on January 18, 1940, in Oakland, California, the only child of Preston and Hilda Davis. When she was young, the family moved to Los Angeles, where her father was general counsel of United Parcel Service during its formative years.

Joan graduated from Hamilton High School in 1957 and attended the University of Southern California, joining the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta.

Joan learned the value of service and charity from her parents, who believed that generosity is its own reward and a generous person is twice blessed. A forty-year resident of North Hollywood, she was an active member of many charitable organizations, including USC Trojan League Associates of the Valleys, Rotary Club of North Hollywood, Daughters of the Nile (Mokattam Temple No. 12), Order of the Eastern Star (Van Nuys Chapter No. 338), and Las Floristas.

In 2001, Joan established the Joan M. Wismer Foundation. She loved finding worthy programs, making grants, and meeting new friends. During Joan’s lifetime, the Joan M. Wismer Foundation supported education, projects assisting children, medical research, international relief, and the training and placement of ordnance-sniffing dogs for service in war-torn countries.

Joan passed away on March 12, 2015, and the Foundation is proud to honor her legacy.”

Mission Statement

The Joan M. Wismer Foundation is dedicated to improving and enriching the lives of youth and adults in the United States and abroad. The foundation supports programs that focus on education and youth development, safety and humanitarian services, medical and scientific research, culture and the arts.

Junior Board Grants

The Junior Board of the Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation is proud to support nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County that “maximize the potential of youth”. Each year, the Junior Board chooses a grantmaking theme to guide the focus of its giving.

Past themes have been:

• S.T.E.M. Through the Arts
• Life and Leadership Ready
• Mentoring: Support to Success
• Girls, Forward

Funding

The grant amounts vary, but do not exceed $10,000.

LA84 Foundation Grant

Sports can improve young people's lives through positive social-emotional, health, and educational outcomes, and have lifelong impacts. Coaching education greatly improves the sports experience for young people and youth development outcomes. The health and safety of young athletes is a top priority. We are a learning organization and work with grantees to share successes within the SBYD ecosystem.

Funding

Small grants are requests for $10,000 and under, typically awarded between February and November. Small grant LOIs are accepted year-round.

Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative Overview

The Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative (NSI) is an LA-based fund that invests in nonprofit resiliency during moments of organizational transformation. The NSI is supported by 20 different foundations, including the California Community Foundation.

Sustained Collaboration Fund

Partnerships bring new vitality to an organization. They create opportunities which can help build capacity to sustain your mission and scale your vision. Nonprofit leaders are often tasked with achieving organizational sustainability, but what if we were to relieve them of that burden and instead focus on mission sustainability? This reframing may be the difference between the status quo and innovation. This is the power of partnership and the power of navigating moments of great organizational change from a position of strength and strategic vision.

The NSI helps nonprofits based in Los Angeles County explore and implement formal partnerships leading to greater organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Known as strategic restructuring (SR), these partnerships typically culminate in agreements to combine some (or all) aspects of the organization, ranging from jointly managed programs and back-office consolidations to shared ventures or full-scale mergers. The goal of the NSI is to normalize strategic restructuring by establishing an environment where service providers, funders, and consultants understand and regularly engage in the activity as a strategy for enhancing impact.

Implementation Grant

Implementation Grants are available for organizations who have reached an agreement following a sustained collaboration exploratory process. Examples of costs that may be eligible for funding include: severance packages for departing CEO’s and other staff, IT integration, lease breaking, developing new marketing and communication materials, legal fees, consolidating capital assets, accountant fees, and board development.

Funding

Implementation grants typically range between $20,000 – $50,000. Costs related to the ongoing operation of the organization(s) will not be considered.

Implementation grants do not typically cover the full cost of implementing an agreement.

LA84 Foundation Grant

Sports can improve young people's lives through positive social-emotional, health, and educational outcomes, and have lifelong impacts. Coaching education greatly improves the sports experience for young people and youth development outcomes. The health and safety of young athletes is a top priority. We are a learning organization and work with grantees to share successes within the SBYD ecosystem.

Funding

Large grants are requests for amounts above $10,000. Large grants have two cycles each year and open in December/July.

Goodwin Family Memorial Trust Grant

The Goodwin Family Memorial Trust was established by Mabel Frankie Goodwin, a resident of Los Angeles, California. Ms. Goodwin died on April 19, 1978. Thanks to her generosity, many deserving boys will benefit for years to come.

Mission

To support the moral, physical, and intellectual development of needy males under the age of 21 years.

Program areas

• Education  
• Health
• Human services

Program Limitations 

• The trust has a practice of supporting charitable organizations operating in California for the care, support, maintenance, benefit, and education of needy males under the age of 21 residing in California. 

States served 

• California 

Geographic limitations 

• There are no geographic limitations; however, the trust has a practice of primarily supporting charitable organizations located in California. 

Population served 

• Males under the age of 21.

Funding

• Average grant size: $10,000 to $35,000
• Average number of grants per year: 35
• Average total giving per year: $500,000 to $600,000

Southern California Program

The Southern California Program has a broad mission to support projects in five areas: Arts and Culture, Civic and Community Services, Early Childhood Care and Education, Health Care, and Precollegiate Education. Within these areas of interest, the Foundation seeks to promote the healthy development of children and youth, strengthen families, and enrich the lives of people in the region.

We prioritize organizations that strengthen the resiliency of under-resourced communities in Los Angeles County. We place a special emphasis on projects that focus on children and youth from low-income families and special needs populations, including the developmentally disabled, foster children, and homeless families.

Arts and Culture: 

Promoting civic and cultural life through support of museums, performing arts organizations, and public media. Providing opportunities for students to explore the visual and performing arts through support of in-school and out-of-school programs.

Civic and Community

Meeting basic needs through support of social service organizations that address food insecurity and homelessness. Helping children at risk of entering or already in the foster care or probation systems through funding for organizations focused on youth development, children’s rights, and family strengthening.

Early Childhood

Increasing access to quality early care and education programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Providing timely intervention to address developmental delays and other risks through support of multiservice agencies and schools.

Health Care

Expanding access to holistic, integrated health care by supporting federally qualified health centers. Addressing the social determinants of health and adverse childhood experiences.

Precollegiate Education

Increasing access to quality K-12 education through support of effective programs that meet the needs of the whole child. Helping first-generation and low-income students navigate the college admissions process and graduate through support of college access and success programs. Improving STEM instruction through teacher pipeline and training programs. Providing opportunities for students to explore concepts and careers in STEM fields by supporting in-school and out-of-school programs.

Program Overview

The Foundation supports capital projects, expansion of programs that are promising or part of a larger effort, piloting new models, and systems change initiatives. We award grants for projects that strategically address compelling issues and have the potential for significant impact on the target population, region, or field. Please see our grant abstracts for examples of recently funded projects.

The Southern California Program’s process consists of an optional concept review, an application, and an invitation-only site visit.

Marisla was established in 1986 as a private, non-operating charitable institution. 

Human Services Program

The Human Services Program addresses the needs of women in crisis, primarily focusing on their physical, emotional and mental health, and financial wellbeing. Grants support activities and integrated approaches to stable housing, treating addiction, empowering adult and child domestic violence survivors, and vocational training. The geographic limitation is Orange County and Los Angeles, California.

S. Mark Taper Foundation

The S. Mark Taper Foundation, founded in 1989, is a private family foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of people's lives by supporting nonprofit organizations and their work in our communities.

Funding Areas

The S. Mark Taper Foundation is a responsive grantmaker that typically provides funding in the following areas:

• Arts
• Civic Affairs
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Social Services

Types of Grant Funding Provided

• General Operating Support (GOS): unrestricted, core operating support that bolsters an organization's overall mission and can be allocated as the organization sees fit.
• Program: funding is allocated to a specific program or project within the organization.
• Capital: funding is allocated to a physical project, such as the purchase of a building and/or land, renovating an existing building, constructing a new building, or purchasing equipment.
  • Capital funding is currently restricted to Los Angeles County-based nonprofit organizations and for capital projects based in and serving Los Angeles County only.

Grant Sizes

The S. Mark Taper Foundation has three size categories as follows:

These categories are meant to serve as a guide to assist organizations in determining an appropriate request amount. We encourage each organization to request an amount that is proportionate to the size of its past grants from other foundations and the size of its overall fundraising and budget.Due to the scope of the capital grant application process, the minimum request amount for a capital grant is  $100,000. If the planned request amount is under  $100,000, we recommend applying for General Operating or Program support. Category Grant Size Small Up to $50,000 Medium $50,001-$100,000 Large $100,001 and above

Program Overview

The W. M. Keck Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by supporting Medical Research and Science & Engineering projects that are distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field.

Past grants have been awarded to major universities, independent research institutions, and medical schools to support pioneering biological and physical science research and engineering, including the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation or methodologies. Please see our grant abstracts for examples of funded projects. 

The Robert J. Keown Trust was established under the Last Will and Testament of Robert J. Keown in 1934 with the misson to give financial aid and assistance to needy Christians through grants to charitable, benevolent, and religious organizations. Mr. Keown was a resident of Pasadena, California.

Today, the Robert J. Keown Trust, with Wells Fargo Bank N.A. as trustees awards grants to charitable, benevolent, and religious organizations, other than organized churches, that are deserving and in need of support. The trust has a practice of primarily supporting organizations that operate in and benefit residents of Los Angeles County, California. The average number of grants awarded per year is 4.

The Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation, established in 1963, is a private foundation incorporated under California law.

The mission of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life within the communities associated with the career and legacy of California pioneer Henry Mayo Newhall. These communities include San Francisco, the Santa Clarita Valley of Los Angeles County and the Santa Maria Valley in central California.

Funding Priorities 

The Foundation accepts proposals for the following program priorities:     

• Academic and cultural enrichment programs for children and youth (e.g., math and science; fine and visual arts; performing arts; computer literacy; tutoring and mentoring).    
• Agriculture, animal welfare and conservation programs.    
• College scholarship programs.    
• Historical preservation programs.    
• Outreach programs for the disadvantaged (e.g., homeless shelters, food banks, health centers, domestic violence shelters, care for the elderly).

Grants are typically awarded for one year in the range of $5,000 to $20,000 and may be renewed based on grantee performance and program effectiveness. The Foundation does not assume any obligation to provide continuing support to grantees beyond the initial grant.

The Foundation will consider requests for multi-year funding to facilitate effective program planning by supported institutions.

Is your nonprofit working to create positive change in your local community? 

Presented by the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation in partnership with NBC and Telemundo stations in 11 markets, NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants Program is strengthening our communities by providing funding to local nonprofit organizations that are solving everyday problems. This year, our station will award $225,000 to exceptional nonprofit programs focused on local impact.

Grant Categories

Youth Education and Empowerment - In-school and out-of-school programs that equip youth with the tools they need to succeed, including STEM/ STEAM education and youth entrepreneurship.

Next Generation Storytellers - Programs that promote access and develop pathways for emerging talent, diverse voices, and underrepresented youth to explore careers in arts, news, sports and entertainment.

Community Engagement - Programs that enable individuals to engage and volunteer in their communities.

Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, NBCUniversal Local and Telemundo stations are committed to supporting a culture of inclusion whereby organizations encourage equitable access, opportunities, and resources for traditionally underrepresented communities.

About the Foundation

The foundation was created by James Stewart who grew up in Arizona and had strong ties to his community even after moving to Los Angeles, CA. He was passionate about helping those who wanted to succeed in life, but weren’t given the same opportunities as others. He also had a deep love and appreciation of the arts. He gave generously to many charities and set up his foundation to continue to support the causes that made him so happy during his lifetime.

Grant Guidelines

The foundation supports a variety of charitable causes to organizations primarily located in Tucson, Arizona and Southern California.

Average Giving

• Average grant size: $10,000 
• Average number of grants per year: 5 
• Average total giving per year: $50,000

Program Areas

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

The In-N-Out Burger Foundation’s mission is to assist children and youth who have been victims of child abuse and neglect, and to prevent others from suffering a similar fate. The Foundation will only consider requests from organizations that closely align with our mission and that serve communities where In-N-Out Burger does business.

The In-N-Out Burger Foundation is happy to consider the following types of grants:

Traditional Grants: Grant awards range from $5,000 - $25,000.

Program: Restricted funding to support the development, expansion, or enhancement of programs within an existing organization.

General Operating Support: Unrestricted funding to support the overall operations and sustainability of your nonprofit. Applicants must present a strong case on how this funding will help sustain the organization’s mission and provide benefits to the children in their care. *Please note that all of your organization’s programs must align with our mission to be considered for this type of support.

Capital Grants: Grant awards range from $5,000 - $50,000.

Capital Campaign: Restricted funding for the construction of new facilities, renovations or upgrades to existing buildings, and other special projects that will enhance the organization’s mission.

Capital Purchase: Restricted funding to purchase equipment, furnishings, or any other major material purchases that will enhance the organization’s mission.

Capital grants are awarded on a very limited basis each year. The Foundation will only consider requests from organizations that meet all other funding criteria and who already have an established long-term funding relationship with the Foundation (minimum of 2 years).

Please carefully review the Capital Grant Guidelines above to ensure that your organization meets the requirements to apply. Capital Grants are invitation-only. Please contact us to set a 30-minute meeting to discuss your project and be prepared to send a draft summary of the project for review beforehand. 

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

Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation Grant

The Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, and scientific purposes. In accordance with the wishes of the donor, the Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation supports only charitable organizations located in or serving citizens of Los Angeles County, California, and South Dakota.

Mission

To support charitable causes in the areas of education, religion, health, human services, and the arts to organizations located in or serving citizens of Los Angeles County, California, and South Dakota. 

Program areas 

• Arts, culture, and humanities  
• Education
• Health
• Human services
• Religion

Grantmaking priorities:

Social service organizations and programs serving the needs of women, particularly victims of domestic violence and women who are mentally ill.

Special consideration will be given to organizations that:

• Were supported by the donor during her lifetime
• Provide emergency and/or transitional housing
• Promote self-sufficiency through education, training, or employment
• Assist women in improving their parenting skills
• Serve the poor and needy
• Support music and performing arts with special consideration given to programs serving high school and college-age students of theatre, vocal, or orchestral music.

Levitt Music Series Grants - AMP

Levitt AMP is a multi-year matching grant opportunity bringing the joy of free, live music to small to mid-sized towns and cities.

Geared to towns and cities with populations under 250,000, Levitt AMP grantees reflect the three goals of the Levitt AMP program: Amplify community pride and a city’s unique character; enrich lives through the power of free, live Music; and illustrate the importance of inclusive and vibrant public Places. From rural Alaska to Appalachian Main Streets and Midwestern locales, the Levitt AMP Music Series is a catalytic opportunity engaging a wide range of towns and cities across America to realize a shared mission—building community through music to create a healthy and thriving future for all.

In addition to financial support, the Levitt Foundation provides grant recipients with valuable resources including best practices, program frameworks, toolkits, and trainings to deepen impact in their communities.

Launched in 2015, the Levitt Foundation has provided funding to more than 50 communities coast to coast through the Levitt AMP program, activating underused public spaces, ensuring access to the arts and strengthening the social fabric of communities through creative placemaking, bringing people together of all ages and backgrounds through free, outdoor concert series.

Special Music Series Grant - Tennessee-Based Nonprofits

The Levitt Foundation is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission to award up to six communities based in Tennessee with multi-year Levitt AMP matching grants, with support from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. This project marks the Levitt Foundation’s first joint partnership with a specific state.

Through this partnership, the State and the Foundation together will be awarding matching grants of up to $40K per year to small to mid-sized cities throughout Tennessee in through the next 3 years. The funding will go toward presenting free outdoor concerts featuring high-caliber entertainment in a broad array of music genres, amplifying stages across the state with up to 180 free concerts for Tennesseans of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy.

This partnership applies to the Levitt AMP grant opportunity only. There is no separate application process to be considered and interested Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits should proceed with completing their online application on the Levitt Foundation website. Levitt AMP grant applicants from Tennessee that advance to the public voting phase will be in the running with other Tennessee-based Levitt AMP grant applicants only. Nonprofits based in Tennessee that are interested in applying for the Levitt VIBE or Levitt BLOC grant opportunity may still submit an online application, though if advanced to the public voting phase will be in the running with applicants from across the country.

Funding

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible to receive a three-year matching grant of up to $40K/year (up to $120K total) to bring 7-10 free concerts to your community each year!

Levitt Music Series Grants - BLOC

Levitt BLOC is a multi-year matching grant opportunity that activates underused public spaces across multiple neighborhoods within a town or city through the joy of free, live music.

Geared to communities of any size, Levitt BLOC (Building Layers Of Community) activates different neighborhoods in a town or city by “layering” concerts across multiple public spaces, broadening the overall reach of the music series. Levitt BLOC fosters social cohesion and amplifies community pride by featuring a diverse lineup ranging from acclaimed, emerging talent to seasoned, award-winning artists on the local, regional, and national circuits, ensuring access to high-caliber performances throughout a community. Levitt BLOC launched as a two-year pilot program this past year with the Chattanooga-based nonprofit, RISE.

In addition to financial support, the Levitt Foundation provides grant recipients with valuable resources including best practices, program frameworks, toolkits, and trainings to deepen impact in their communities.

Funding

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible to receive a three-year matching grant of up to $40K/year (up to $120K total) to bring 7-10 free concerts to your community each year!

Levitt Music Series Grants - VIBE

Levitt VIBE is a multi-year matching grant opportunity that brings the joy of free, live music to public spaces in city neighborhoods where access to arts experiences may be limited.

Geared to large cities with a population over 250,000, Levitt VIBE (Vibrant Inclusive Beats for Everyone) brings the free outdoor concerts to neighborhoods where there is limited access to arts programming and live music. Each Levitt VIBE concert series features a diverse lineup of acclaimed, emerging talent to seasoned, award-winning artists on the local, regional, and national circuits, ensuring access to high-caliber performances for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Levitt VIBE Music Series create a community destination, connecting people to each other and inspiring neighborhood pride of place. Levitt VIBE was launched as a two-year pilot program this past year with three city neighborhoods: the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago; the Near Southside neighborhood of Indianapolis; and the East Oakland neighborhood of Oakland, California. 

In addition to financial support, the Levitt Foundation provides grant recipients with valuable resources including best practices, program frameworks, toolkits, and trainings to deepen impact in their communities.

Funding

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible to receive a three-year matching grant of up to $40K/year (up to $120K total) to bring 7-10 free concerts to your community each year!

Mission

To provide grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations supporting education, animal welfare, medical research, and human services.

Foundation Information

The John and Maria Laffin Trust was created under the Will of Valentina Laffin in honor of her parents. The Trust provides support for education at the college and university level, animal welfare, medical research, and human services. Ms. Laffin died on March 19, 1985. She was a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, California.

Guidelines

The John and Maria Laffin Trust awards grants to organizations supporting education, animal welfare, medical research, and human services, as follows:

• 20% Education Funds shall be granted to educational institutions at the college and university level in the Los Angeles City and County areas that are dedicated to maintaining and raising the standards of scholastic excellence.
• 30% Animal Related Funds shall be granted to animal welfare organizations or foundations within Los Angeles City and County that are demonstrably dedicated to the preservation and humane placement of abandoned and/or homeless small domesticated animals.
• 25% Medical Research Funds shall be granted to medical research organizations that do not exclude from consideration any alternative or seemingly radical and/or controversial treatment that the American Medical Association may currently oppose.
• 25% Human Services Funds shall be granted to humanitarian organizations to alleviate human misery, suffering, and starvation in any part of the world.

Our Mission

Stater Bros. Charities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports the critical needs in the communities where Stater Bros. teammates live and work. We help strengthen our local communities by investing in local organizations and causes with a focus on hunger relief, children’s well-being, education, health, veterans and active service members, and pet well-being.

Stater Bros. Charities is committed to ensuring that the funds raised through in-store campaigns and events stay right here in the communities served by Stater Bros. Markets. Funds are raised throughout the year from generous Stater Bros. customers, teammates, and vendor community.

Together, we've donated over $38 million to improve the quality of life in our Southern California communities.

Stater Bros Charities Grant

Stater Bros. Charities funds nonprofit organizations that help strengthen the communities Stater Bros. Markets is privileged to serve.

Causes We Support

• Hunger Relief
• Education
• Children's Well-being
• Veterans & Active Duty
• Pet Well-being
• Health

Funding

Grants typically range from $500 to $2,500.

Who we  are

Trial Lawyers for the People

LATLC was founded in 2006 by a group of seven plaintiff personal injury attorneys practicing within the greater Los Angeles Area. LATLC has grown from the original seven founders to an organization of more than 3,000 supporters. Our managing Board of Directors includes 42 attorneys who have dedicated themselves to giving back to the Los Angeles community and who volunteer their time to help our organization. LATLC’s members are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those in need throughout Southern California. 

LATLC Grants

Our Mission Statement

The primary purpose of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities (LATLC) is to make a positive difference in the quality of life for people within the greater Los Angeles area, focusing on issues related to education, children, survivors of abuse, persons with disabilities, and homelessness, by providing financial grants and volunteer service to those in need within the greater Los Angeles area. LATLC is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and organized exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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.

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.