Best Energy Efficiency Grants for Nonprofits in California

Clean energy technology companies in California can apply for California Energy Commission BRIDGE 2024 grants, awarding US $1,000,000 - US $4,000,000 for applied research, development, demonstration, and deployment. Eligible projects must have prior CEC or federal funding and may include energy efficiency and conservation innovations that nonprofits could partner with or benefit from.

Nonprofit and other eligible site owners installing high-powered DC fast chargers in California can receive incentives for equipment purchase and installation through the Fast Charge California Project 1 under CALeVIP 2.0. Grants from the California Energy Commission help advance energy efficiency, electrification, and clean transportation infrastructure statewide by supporting quick, utility-ready charger deployments.

Industrial and food production facilities in California seeking to implement energy efficiency, electrification, and grid-beneficial projects can apply for cost-share support, with awards from US $500,000 - US $5,000,000. The CA Energy Commission’s INDIGO and Food Production Investment Program back projects that cut greenhouse gas emissions and advance the state’s clean energy goals.

Architectural and engineering firms in California can apply for California Energy Commission funding of US $11,500,000 to lead technical support for Energy Code compliance evaluation and field studies. This contract opportunity may benefit organizations with energy efficiency and conservation expertise that support statewide policy, enforcement strategies, and compliance improvement efforts.

With a mission to advance clean transportation, California Energy Commission provides California organizations involved in school transportation electrification with funding to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure for electric school buses. Third-party transportation providers serving local educational agencies may be eligible for this competitive lane, which can support both current and future electric school bus deployments.

With a mission to advance clean transportation, California Energy Commission provides California educational agencies with funding to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure for electric school buses. Local educational agencies planning current or future electric school bus deployments may be eligible for this competitive Funding Lane 2 opportunity supporting energy efficiency and electrification projects.

Nonprofit and public entities planning electric vehicle charging for school buses in California can access funding to install EV charging infrastructure. California Energy Commission supports energy efficiency and cleaner transportation in California by offering first-come, first-served grants under Funding Lane 1 for eligible local educational agencies with previously funded electric school buses.

Nonprofit and research organizations in California seeking to study building energy efficiency and conservation can apply for $2,900,000 - $3,000,000 to evaluate non-energy impacts of integrated retrofit packages. Grants from California Energy Commission support applied research on climate resilience, equity, and greenhouse gas reduction, especially for low-income households benefiting from the Equitable Building Decarbonization Direct Install Program.

Nonprofit and other organizations in California seeking to advance energy efficiency and electrification can apply for California Energy Commission grants of US $500,000 - US $5,000,000. Focused on cleaner transportation, this program funds EV outreach, education, incentive navigation, and residential charging equipment deployment, which may support broader energy efficiency and conservation initiatives.

Nonprofits and other eligible organizations in California working on renewable energy, energy efficiency, or electrification demonstrations can apply for California Energy Commission’s Coordinated Holistic Orchestration of Inverter-based Resources opportunity; awards US $2,000,000 - US $4,000,000 to deploy virtual power plants using inverter-based resources in disadvantaged communities within IOU service territories.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and schools in California working on energy efficiency, clean energy, or sustainable resource use can seek programmatic support through the Environment Pillar Award. With a mission to help communities protect the planet, American Honda Motor provides US $25,000 - US $100,000 for decarbonization, clean energy, and efficient natural resource initiatives.

Research institutions and other eligible organizations in California can seek funding to improve forecasting tools for behind-the-meter energy resources, enhancing grid planning and operations. California Energy Commission provides California energy efficiency and conservation programs with up to US $3,000,000 to advance a more reliable, efficient, cleaner, and cost-effective energy system.

Community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits in California can apply for Energy Upgrade California’s Flex Alert Grant Program to run energy efficiency education and outreach campaigns about Flex Alerts. Funding supports July–October community engagement with residential customers of PG&E, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, especially low-income, multicultural, disabled, rural, and senior residents.

Employers in California seeking to train certified electricians to install electric vehicle charging equipment can apply for workforce training funds, with awards up to Up to US $300,000. Grants from California Employment Training Panel help expand Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) certification, which may benefit organizations advancing energy efficiency and conservation initiatives.

California organizations planning energy efficiency and cleaner transportation projects can access funding to install public, high-powered DC fast-charging stations along major travel corridors. California Energy Commission’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program – Solicitation 3 offers up to US $15,800,000 per project to expand EV charging infrastructure that supports light-duty vehicle travel in the state.

California organizations that train residential energy contractors can apply for California Energy Commission funding, with awards from US $640,000 - US $5,000,000 to support statewide contractor training in building electrification and efficiency. Programs that reduce training costs and offer testing and certifications may be especially competitive for energy efficiency workforce initiatives.

Nonprofit charities managing humanitarian, educational, environmental, or arts projects in California and worldwide can seek philanthropic support for community-focused programs. La Roche supports accredited charities whose high-quality projects promote sustainable development, engage employees, and may involve contemporary arts, youth services, primary health care, STEM education, disaster relief, or environmental conservation.

California nonprofits and community-based organizations in Los Angeles County that provide outreach and education on clean energy and electrification can access funding through the California Public Utilities Commission, with awards up to US $200,000. Projects must be in LA County and may support energy efficiency, building decarbonization, and healthy homes education activities.

Organizations and stakeholders working on energy infrastructure and grid capacity in California can use this federal Request for Information to share needs and solutions related to large electricity demand growth. Grants from National Energy Technology Laboratory help inform future investments that may benefit energy efficiency and conservation efforts serving data centers and other large energy users.

California 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on energy efficiency, environmental stewardship, or workforce development can access funding through Port of Oakland for projects in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Grants up to US $5,000 support programs in energy efficiency and conservation, air quality, clean water, STEM and vocational education, and small business and workforce development in port-related industries.

About Us

Our team is working tirelessly to heal the planet and ensure that a just and livable future prevails.

With three decades of clean energy industry experience, our leadership team draws upon a long track record of environmental stewardship and meaningful throughput to confidently navigate today's unprecedented challenges.

We are teaming up with local philanthropists, nonprofit organizations, advocates and elected officials to implement effective solutions towards stopping the climate crisis.

Solar Moonshot Program Grant

The Solar Moonshot Program is helping nonprofit organizations across the United States afford the switch to clean energy.

Grants up to $25,000 are typically awarded, with grant amounts dependent on various factors, including the organization’s need for funding. 

In addition to grants given through the program, we also offer short-term, low-interest recoverable grants to help cover the project costs offset by the Investment Tax Credit.

Grants for 2026 are made possible by the BQuest Foundation and two anonymous donors, and the program is managed by Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation. Learn more about the program's status and participants below! 

About BlackRock

We’re a global asset manager and technology provider dedicated to helping more and more people experience financial well-being. We help millions of people invest to build savings that serve them throughout their lives. The BlackRock Foundation which funds and partners with organizations that strengthen financial security for more people,

BlackRock Future Builders

BlackRock Future Builders is a $100 million philanthropic initiative funded by The BlackRock Foundation to expand economic opportunity and power the next generation of America’s skilled trades workers. Through this Request for Proposals (RFP) process, The Foundation seeks to support U.S. nonprofit organizations (i.e., registered 501(c)3 organizations) delivering or supporting high‑quality skilled trades training.

This competitive grant opportunity operates in parallel to other BlackRock Future Builders partnerships and is intended to surface additional, regionally grounded solutions across the skilled trades ecosystem. Organizations may propose direct worker training programs or capacity‑building efforts that enable systems to function more effectively and at greater scale. This first round RFP will be administered by Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit that transforms U.S. education and workforce systems.

Focus Areas and Solutions

Applicants may propose worker training or capacity‑building solutions aligned to skilled trades workforce development.

• Worker training interventions may include direct service proposals such as pre-apprenticeship or career navigation programs, workforce training programs, apprenticeship programs, or wraparound participant supports that are supportive of training persistence and completion.
• Capacity-building interventions are organizational and system-focused, rather than in direct service of participants, and may include, but are not limited to, proposals such as ecosystem-building, demonstration projects, technology or tool adoptions, or research, among others.

Helen Frankenthaler Foundation

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports the artist’s legacy through a variety of initiatives, including exhibitions, loans of artworks, research and publications, conservation, grants, educational programs for the public and the scholarly community, and the publishing of a catalogue raisonné. It is dedicated to promoting greater public interest in and understanding of the visual arts.

Established and endowed by the artist during her lifetime (1928-2011), the Foundation became active in 2013, on the closing of Frankenthaler’s estate. As the principal beneficiary of Frankenthaler’s estate, the Foundation maintains an extensive collection of her work in a variety of mediums, as well as her collection of works by other artists and original papers and materials pertaining to her life and work.

Frankenthaler Climate Initiative

The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative (FCI) is a pioneering grantmaking program established by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. Since its inception in 2021, FCI has distinguished itself as the foremost private national initiative in the United States dedicated to combating climate change specifically within the visual arts sector.

FCI provides visual arts institutions with up to $100,000 to undertake ambitious sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives that directly address carbon reduction and energy efficiency. The scope of its support is broad, encompassing everything from modest, rapid-response projects to comprehensive efficiency audits and feasibility studies, and extending to financial contributions for significant infrastructural renovations and strategic planning for new buildings and major initiatives.

Building on the core values of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, the initiative aligns a commitment to environmental stewardship with a belief in the vital importance of the visual arts and arts education. Through strategic funding and partnerships focused on tangible infrastructure, FCI aims to catalyze a sector-wide shift toward zero carbon operations, promoting a future where the visual arts thrive—while contributing to a more sustainable and ecologically conscious world.

Who We Fund

FCI funds nonprofit institutions in the United States and its territories whose primary focus rests in the visual arts. The visual arts includes but is not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and installations in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber, paper, film, and mixed media.

Most of our grantees are art museums, nonprofit galleries, archives, noncollecting institutions, art schools, university museums, and artist-endowed foundations.

What We Fund

FCI funds energy efficiency and clean energy generation projects.

FCI meets arts institutions at every stage of the work, through four kinds of grants:

• Catalyst — first actions and stand-alone projects with a quick turnaround
• Scoping — energy audits and assessments that establish a baseline
• Technical Assistance — detailed planning for technically demanding projects
• Implementation — comprehensive capital work addressing a building's environmental impact at multiple levels

Technical Assistance Grants

Technical Assistance grants support projects that have finished initial assessments, and need procurement and financing support for an identified efficiency project. This may include providing designs, specifications, or fees for working with energy services companies (ESCOs) for project support. These grants also support more complex studies or analysis required for pursuing major implementation projects. At the conclusion of a Technical Assistance grant, the applicant should be sufficiently informed to implement a project.

The MathWorks Community Grant supports nonprofit organizations that align with its social mission, focusing on education, community support, green initiatives, and global relief. Grants, ranging from $200 to $5,000, are awarded quarterly to eligible organizations serving local communities. Applicants must demonstrate their programs' alignment with MathWorks goals and provide a summary report post-funding. The program excludes support for religious, political, or fundraising activities, ensuring a focus on charitable endeavors.

The Enbridge Community Grant aims to enhance the quality of life in North American communities through strategic donations and sponsorships. With funding ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, the grant supports organizations focused on safety, education, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous culture. Enbridge encourages early applications, with decisions typically made within eight weeks. The grant seeks to empower local initiatives that foster community strength, vibrancy, and sustainability.

The Industrial Energy Storage Systems Prize, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, offers $4.8 million to promote innovative thermal energy storage solutions for the industrial sector. With three phases from 2025 to 2026, participants can win cash prizes by developing cost-effective concepts to enhance energy efficiency. This initiative encourages the adoption of sustainable technologies to address energy demands while reducing the strain on the electric grid, supporting the overall decarbonization goals of the industry.

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) by the U.S. Department of Energy provides essential services to improve energy efficiency in homes, particularly for low-income households. Eligible participants include those below 200% of the poverty level, renters, and homeowners. The application process involves determining eligibility, identifying local providers, and submitting necessary documentation. By helping families save on energy costs and enhancing comfort, WAP plays a crucial role in supporting vulnerable communities.