Best Hayward Grants for Nonprofits in California

Our Work:

The Citi Foundation commits $20 million to help nonprofit housing developers overcome financial and operational barriers to building and preserving affordable housing in the U.S.

Apply for Funding

Citi Foundation primarily provides funding through open Requests for Proposals (RFP). This model enables us to engage and support a broad range of organizations across the globe to tackle some of the most pressing social issues of our time. Each RFP launched is accompanied by detailed information on goals, selection criteria and relevant application deadlines.

Housing Affordability

Citi's Blueprint for Housing Opportunity

Recognized as the number one affordable housing lender in the U.S. by Affordable Housing Finance magazine, Citi knows increasing supply is essential to addressing housing affordability — one of the defining economic challenges of our time. That’s why we are putting our capital, community impact and expertise toward helping more Americans access housing they can truly afford.

The Listos California Regional Grant (LM) Program aims to enhance disaster preparedness in California's Coastal Region. This initiative supports nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status that serve diverse populations across multiple counties, particularly those at higher risk of disasters. By offering resources and training, the program seeks to empower communities disproportionately affected by emergencies, fostering resilience and recovery efforts. Eligible applicants can independently implement projects or collaborate with local nonprofits to maximize impact.

Southern Exposure's Alternative Exposure (AltEx) Grant supports independent and artist-centered projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Launched in 2007, it has awarded over $1.2 million to 260 projects, fostering a national network of regional regranting programs. AltEx provides up to $5,000 for diverse visual arts initiatives, encouraging collaboration among artists. The current application round is open, inviting eligible artists to present their innovative projects to the public, enhancing local art scenes.

The Bayer Fund Health & Wellness Grant Program aims to support organizations that provide education and resources for patients and caregivers facing cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Grants focus on assisting communities, particularly the African American population, in managing these health issues. Funding covers educational services, disease awareness, and access to care, with all activities to commence post-funding decisions. Eligible organizations must hold a 501(c)(3) status and operate within 55 miles of Bayer sites.

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation's Open Spaces Program funds innovative public art projects that engage communities in Oakland and San Francisco. This initiative supports artist-driven collaborations, emphasizing community involvement, unique partnerships, and artistic excellence. Grants range from $15,000 to $175,000, depending on project stages, with a focus on accessibility and sustainability. The program prioritizes projects that are publicly accessible for at least a month and that demonstrate measurable outcomes and evaluations.

The Impact100 East Bay Grant Program empowers women to engage in philanthropy through substantial grants of at least $100,000. It focuses on transformative initiatives across five key areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Environmental Preservation, Family Support, and Health & Wellness. Eligible organizations must demonstrate financial health and a commitment to sustainability, serving the communities of Alameda and Contra Costa. Ineligible projects include general operating expenses and those that do not align with the program's mission.

The Sharks Foundation, established in 1994, aims to empower Bay Area youth by providing Community Assist Grants that support wellness, education, and hockey initiatives. Each month focuses on a different area, including cancer care, holiday assistance, and environmental education. The foundation envisions equitable access to quality education and essential resources for every young person, promoting inclusivity through hockey. With its nonprofit status, the Sharks Foundation is committed to fostering community engagement and positive social change.

The Boston Scientific Foundation aims to enhance health and educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged individuals, particularly in STEM fields. Their grant program focuses on K-12 students, requiring at least 50% of participants to be at or below 185% of the poverty line. The foundation seeks evidence-based proposals that can measure improvements in STEM learning, and it prioritizes applications serving communities near Boston Scientific locations, ensuring inclusivity and non-discrimination in service.

The Fly Me To The Foon Scholarship, established by the East Bay Community Foundation, honors Neel Thomas Foon, a beloved musician and mentor. This scholarship provides $2,000 awards to four students from the Oakland School for the Arts each year, supporting their purchase of musical instruments or private lessons. It aims to foster musical talent among middle and high school students, enriching their educational experience and skill development in the arts.

The California Watershed Protection Fund Grant supports projects aimed at enhancing water quality and protecting watersheds throughout California. With grants ranging from $10,000 to $40,000, eligible applicants include 501(c)3 organizations and governmental entities. Priority is given to initiatives that engage impacted communities and uphold principles of equity and environmental justice. The fund emphasizes hands-on activities that yield tangible benefits for surface water quality, fostering community-based stewardship in response to fluctuating watershed needs.

The Amgen Foundation, established in 1990, focuses on enhancing science education and strengthening communities. It supports nonprofit organizations that align with its mission, emphasizing teacher development and hands-on science experiences. Grants are awarded annually, with a commitment of $180 million to impactful programs. Eligible organizations include public schools and libraries, while ineligible requests involve individual support, religious organizations, and political activities. This approach aims to inspire the next generation of innovators through quality educational opportunities.

The Joseph & Vera Long Foundation offers grants targeted at non-profit organizations in Northern California and Hawaii. With larger grants ranging from $60,000 to $150,000 in the Spring and smaller grants from $10,000 to $40,000 in the Fall, the foundation focuses on supporting community-driven initiatives. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) compliant and align with the foundation's priorities, which include environmental conservation, youth development, maternal health, and healthy aging.

The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation offers annual Tier A grants to 501(c)(3) organizations dedicated to serving the LGBTQ community in the Greater Bay Area. Eligible organizations can apply during the designated application period, followed by a review process by the Foundation's board. Two Tier A grants are awarded based on consensus voting after presentations by finalists. The funding amount is determined by annual fundraising success after Tier B and C grants are allocated.

The Murphy Award and Cadogan Scholarships, established in 1986, support Bay Area MFA students by providing significant tuition assistance and opportunities to showcase their work. The Murphy Award grants $40,000 to one exceptional MFA student, while the Cadogan Scholarships offer $6,500 to multiple recipients. Winners are invited to exhibit their art at the SOMArts Cultural Center, fostering artistic growth and exploration in various mediums such as painting, sculpture, and photography.

The Eco-Grants program, managed by the Tri-City Ecology Center, supports local environmental initiatives in Fremont, Newark, and Union City. Established in 1971, TCEC allocates approximately $600 annually for Youth Eco-Grants and Environmental Education/Project Grants. These grants typically range from $200 to $300 per project, encouraging sustainable practices and community involvement. Eligible applicants include residents and organizations within the Tri-City area, focusing on projects that contribute positively to the environment.

The EHD Community Health Grant Program, managed by the Eden Health District, offers financial support to non-profit organizations and government agencies focused on enhancing health services for residents in central Alameda County. With grants up to $35,000, the program prioritizes mental health, housing, food nutrition, and collaborative community efforts. Applications will open on July 18, 2025, providing a vital opportunity for local agencies to address pressing health needs effectively.

The Community Arts Program supports vibrant artistic expression and inclusivity in the Bay Area, awarding approximately $1 million in grants to individuals and organizations each year. Open to 501c3 nonprofits and fiscally sponsored artists, the program prioritizes projects that engage diverse communities and promote underrepresented voices. Grants range from $5,000 to $15,000, providing essential operating support to adapt to unique project needs while fostering cultural diversity and community engagement.

The Will Glickman Award, presented by Theatre Bay Area, honors the best new play premiering in the San Francisco Bay Area each year. Established in 1984, this award celebrates excellence in playwriting, recognizing outstanding original works that enrich the local theatre community. It not only highlights the playwright's achievements but also encourages the development and production of new plays. Submissions are accepted year-round, emphasizing the commitment to fostering diverse and inclusive artistic voices.

The Fleishhacker Foundation's Small Arts Grants program offers vital support to filmmakers in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties. This initiative is dedicated to assisting small and mid-sized arts organizations, providing unrestricted funding for film projects in the post-production phase. Eligible filmmakers must demonstrate prior funding and secure a fiscal sponsor or a nonprofit production company. Projects must have a budget under $750,000, with the next review cycle set for fall 2025.

The Citi Foundation's Global Innovation Challenge invites proposals from community organizations worldwide developing innovative employment solutions for low-income youth aged 15 to 24. This initiative aims to enhance youth employability, addressing global unemployment challenges faced by millions. Eligible organizations can apply for funding to support programs such as vocational training, entrepreneurship, and financial education to empower young people. The deadline for application registration is March 4, 2025, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Fleishhacker Foundation offers Small Arts Grants to support small and mid-sized arts organizations in the Bay Area. These grants are designed for fiscally sponsored organizations, allowing them to access funding without traditional nonprofit status. Eligible applicants must meet specific budgetary requirements and demonstrate alignment with the foundation's mission. The program emphasizes support for historically marginalized artists and communities, ensuring that diverse artistic voices are represented in the cultural landscape.

The Birding For Everyone Fellowship, offered by the Golden Gate Bird Alliance, aims to empower BIPOC conservation leaders and promote diversity in the birding community. This fellowship provides free access to courses, networking opportunities, and field trips to reduce barriers for underrepresented groups. By nurturing diverse leadership, the program enhances community engagement and environmental stewardship in the Bay Area. With over 200 bird walks annually and a century of conservation efforts, the fellowship continues the legacy of inclusivity and education.

The Peaceful World Foundation Grants support nonprofit organizations focused on community peace building through arts and mindful education. Established in 2006, the foundation funds programs that promote global peace, diversity, and ecological sustainability, with grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. Organizations in the Bay Area are preferred, and funding is limited to two grants within a five-year period. The foundation aims to encourage innovative approaches to peace-making and well-being across diverse communities.

Tim Griffith Foundation 

Misson: The Tim Griffith Foundation helps to strengthen our communities by providing support to those often overlooked in our society. Specifically, we strive to help those affected by addiction, loss, or without access to educational opportunities.

Grants

We provide a limited number of grants to nonprofits serving the San Francisco Bay Area in our focus areas of addiction recovery, violence prevention and grief support. 

• Grants are for one year; no multi-year commitments.
• Organizations that receive funding must provide a final report prior to applying for additional funding for a subsequent year.
• We require a follow-up report from the organization within 60 days from the end of the funded program to help us gauge the impact of our grant funding. 

Public agencies and partners planning freight transportation infrastructure projects in Hayward, California can access funding through the California Transportation Commission’s Trade Corridor Enhancement Program. This competitive program supports improvements on key freight corridors, emphasizing safety, congestion relief, community impact mitigation, and economic growth, with projects required in adopted regional transportation plans and providing at least 30% matching funds.

Female high school, college, and graduate students in engineering or computer science with ties to Hayward, California or nearby counties can receive scholarship support for accredited BS or MS programs. Focused on STEM education, the Society of Women Engineers Santa Clara Valley Section offers approximately US $15,000 annually, which may benefit students connected to local nonprofit programs.

About

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

Grants

As a grantmaking organization, UCHRI primarily funds UC faculty and graduate students who participate in innovative research and projects that engage a variety of disciplines and stakeholders.

Supplemental Multicampus Faculty Working Group Graduate Student Fund

The UCHRI Supplemental Multicampus Faculty Working Group Graduate Student Funding provides financial resources to create or augment support of research-driven, graduate student engagement in Multicampus Faculty Working Groups. Prospective PIs as well as successful applicants from last year who are applying for a renewal grant are eligible to apply for supplemental funding for a graduate student stipend that will allow the substantive inclusion of one or two graduate students in the project. Please note that for administrative reasons, the graduate student(s) must be from the PI’s campus.

Supplemental funding is intended to allow graduate students to participate significantly in large-scale research projects, to receive sustained mentorship from the professors involved in the project and build on their own research, and to help them gain research and project management skills. Full integration means that PIs and project members share the full scope of the project with graduate students, including how it was conceived, what its future will be, and how its budget operates. Graduate students should be both collaborators and mentees and their participation in the project should be carefully considered and diligently managed.

UCHRI has funded integrated graduate student participation in many research-based projects in the past. Graduate students have helped to set the research agenda, used data from research projects to write scholarly articles, engaged with community members around research issues, and shared pedagogical and methodological resources through studio-built websites and workshops.

Integrated graduate student collaboration can take many forms, but grantees are especially encouraged to consider:

• Co-authorship of published materials based on the project
• Management or leadership of a smaller subset of the larger project (serving a particular community or dealing with a particular issue)
• Creation and maintenance of a website/blog/podcast or other multi-modal, public-facing tool to bring attention to the project and share methods and findings
• Participation in planning large seminars, workshops, and conferences and moderating or presenting on panels
• Assisting in grant and budget preparation if the participants decide to extend the project and seek additional funding from other sources