Best Marin County Grants for Nonprofits in California

The UNLOCK program by the U.S. Department of Energy aims to revolutionize subsurface resource extraction by enhancing recovery efficiency from low-permeability formations. This initiative seeks to overcome geological challenges that hinder oil, gas, geothermal, and mineral recovery. By developing innovative stimulation techniques and field-validation processes, UNLOCK targets a twofold increase in resource recovery efficiency while minimizing costs and wastewater production, ultimately contributing to national energy resilience and reduced foreign energy dependency.

The Residential Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children program aims to support organizations providing safe, high-quality care for children in federal custody due to immigration status. This initiative requires providers to be licensed and available 24/7, ensuring children's well-being while they await permanent placements. Special emphasis is placed on facilities near the U.S.-Mexico border, highlighting the need for immediate and responsive care options for vulnerable populations.

Parrot Head Emergency Phund Guidelines

Purpose

The purpose of the Emergency Phund is to aid Parrot Heads with financial assistance during difficulties resulting from a natural disaster. The Phund is maintained by the Board of Directors on the Lone Palm Foundation and applications will be reviewed by this board. Assistance approval is based on Board review and availability of funds.

Application Procedure

Please be as detailed as possible when completing your application. This will ensure The Lone Palm Foundation Board has all the information they need to review and make a decision on your application. Once your complete application and verification documents have been submitted, it will be reviewed in the order it was received. If the Lone Palm Foundation Board should need additional information, please be sure to provide this in a timely manner. Failure to provide the information in a timely manner could result in loss of consideration for funding.

Repayment and Donation

There is no requirement for repayment of the financial assistance provided through the Lone Palm Foundation Emergency Phund. We do encourage all Parrot Heads to help The Lone Palm Foundation continue its operations by making a donation once the crisis has passed. This donation will allow us to help many other Parrot Heads who find themselves in the same situation.

Utah Division of Arts & Museums

As the first and oldest state arts agency in the nation, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UA&M) celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2025.

UA&M Mission: Our agency enhances Utah’s quality of life. We champion opportunities to experience culture by investing in arts and museums, offering professional development, facilitating connections, and providing direct services.

Creative West - TourWest Grant

Creative West’s TourWest grant program, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, provides funding to presenters and presenting organizations to bring touring performers and literary artists to communities throughout the Western region.

Regional touring is defined as:

• Programming that brings out-of-state touring artists to your venue, or
• In-state artists traveling at least 50 miles from their home base

TourWest focuses on expanding access to the performing arts, especially in underserved communities. To support this goal:

• Creative West encourages working closely with local individuals and groups to understand and meet community needs.
• Applicants are urged to include community engagement or educational outreach activities in their projects.
• Collaboration with artists, agents, and community partners is highly encouraged, along with strategies like block booking and using presenter networks to reduce costs and maximize impact.

A 1:1 cash match using non-federal funds is required. This match requirement is waived for organizations based in the Pacific Jurisdictions, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

About the Grant: The Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants are bestowed by the Broussard family through the USEA Foundation in memory and honor of Rebecca Chaney Broussard. “Becky” supported numerous international riders through both her generous financial contributions and horse ownership. The Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants are designed to assist and to encourage the education and development of event riders at the highest level of the sport. These grants are awarded to offset some of the travel and training expenses in the pursuit of achieving the qualities of an international rider. These grants are not available to any rider that has already achieved the honor of representing the United States at the Pan American Games, Olympics or World Equestrian Games.The Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Fund is separated into three types:

1. Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant (also known as the “Big Becky”) awards $50,000 for the educational development of an international quality rider based on competition in eventing on the global stage. 

2. Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant (also known as the “Little Becky”) awards $15,000 for the educational development of an international quality rider based on competition in eventing on the national stage. 

3. Rebecca Farm Travel Grants are smaller grants made available to better assist riders to visit The Event at Rebecca Farm in order to interview for the Developing Rider Grants. 

The Fiscal Year 2026 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program offers federal funds aimed at reducing flood risks for buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program. This initiative supports states, U.S. territories, and local governments in implementing various flood mitigation activities, thereby lessening the financial burden on the NFIP. FEMA prioritizes applications that enhance multistate or regional capabilities, contributing to a safer infrastructure and community resilience against flooding.

The NIJ FY 2026 opportunity invites research proposals focused on violent crime linked to gangs and organized criminal groups, both domestically and internationally. This initiative aims to evaluate strategies that assist law enforcement in combatting these threats, including rigorous assessments of intervention methods. Projects may utilize various evaluation designs to analyze the impact of crime reduction strategies, specifically targeting violent crimes such as murder and robbery, while encouraging collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

The NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Drones as First Responders program aims to fund rigorous evaluations of drone technology in law enforcement. The initiative seeks proposals that assess the effectiveness of drones in combating violent crime and immigration enforcement. By fostering collaboration between police agencies and researchers, the program intends to enhance the operational understanding of drones as first responders, evaluating both existing capabilities and new pilot programs.

The NIJ FY 2026 Research aims to enhance understanding of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation through scientific research. Proposals are sought in four key areas: the role of technology in fraud detection, forensic research for elder abuse investigation, evaluation of preventive programs, and the development of educational interventions against financial fraud targeting older adults. This initiative targets critical issues to improve safety and support for elderly individuals.

The Allen Foundation, named in honor of William Webster Allen, operates under the laws of the State of Michigan with offices in Midland. Grants are limited under the terms of the foundation's charter to projects that primarily benefit programs for human nutrition in the areas of health, education, training, and research.

Policies and Priorities

• To make grants to fund relevant nutritional research.
• To support programs for the education and training of mothers during pregnancy and after the birth of their children, so that good nutritional habits can be formed at an early age.
• To assist in the training of persons to work as educators and demonstrators of good nutritional practices. 
• To encourage the dissemination of information regarding healthful nutritional practices and habits. 
• In limited situations to make grants to help solve immediate emergency hunger and malnutrition problems.

The connections between diet and health remain a basic and primary priority, and consideration has always been given to projects that benefit nutritional programs in the areas of education, training, and research.

Low priority has traditionally been given to proposals that help solve immediate or emergency hunger and malnutrition problems. The foundation welcomes proposals that develop and advance:

• the inclusion of mandatory courses in nutrition in medical schools;
• bringing the promise of nutrigenomics or nutritional genomics to realization; and
• the promotion of environmentally sound, economically viable, socially responsive, and sustainable food and agricultural systems.

We also support environmental initiatives that strengthen sustainable food systems and address the root causes of hunger and inequity through sustainable agriculture, academic research, and promoting long-term community health and resilience.

The Allen Foundation, named in honor of William Webster Allen, operates under the laws of the State of Michigan with offices in Midland. Grants are limited under the terms of the foundation's charter to projects that primarily benefit programs for human nutrition in the areas of health, education, training, and research.

Policies and Priorities

• To make grants to fund relevant nutritional research.
• To support programs for the education and training of mothers during pregnancy and after the birth of their children, so that good nutritional habits can be formed at an early age.
• To assist in the training of persons to work as educators and demonstrators of good nutritional practices. 
• To encourage the dissemination of information regarding healthful nutritional practices and habits. 
• In limited situations to make grants to help solve immediate emergency hunger and malnutrition problems.

The connections between diet and health remain a basic and primary priority, and consideration has always been given to projects that benefit nutritional programs in the areas of education, training, and research.

Low priority has traditionally been given to proposals that help solve immediate or emergency hunger and malnutrition problems. The foundation welcomes proposals that develop and advance:

• the inclusion of mandatory courses in nutrition in medical schools;
• bringing the promise of nutrigenomics or nutritional genomics to realization; and
• the promotion of environmentally sound, economically viable, socially responsive, and sustainable food and agricultural systems.

We also support environmental initiatives that strengthen sustainable food systems and address the root causes of hunger and inequity through sustainable agriculture, academic research, and promoting long-term community health and resilience.

About Patrick "Packy" McGaughan A popular instructor in Area II, Packy operated Banbury Cross Farm in Clarksburg, Maryland. The farm was developed into a premier training, breeding and boarding facility, specializing in eventing, dressage, hunters, and equitation. Packy produced numerous horses and riders to the highest level of the sport. He was a top instructor in Area II for both juniors, amateurs, and professionals alike and could often be found at events up and down the East Coast coaching riders of all ages and levels.

About Patrick “Packy” McGaughan Prize

Following his passing, an award in Packy McGaughan’s honor was established through the USEA Foundation. That award includes a beautiful bronze trophy and award recipients will be recognized at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, and a $5,000 award given annually to a USEA member who demonstrates a love of the sport similar to Packy. 

About Henry Luce FoundationThe Henry Luce Foundation was formed in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the founder of Fortune, Life, and Sports Illustrated magazines co-founder of Time magazine. Our mission then and now is to empower and transform people, communities, and institutions by boosting access to knowledge and forward-thinking ideas. We envision a world in which diverse people and communities thrive— determining their own best futures and working together in pursuit of knowledge and shared understanding.American Art Program : Loan Exhibition GrantsOnce a year, the American Art Program invites institutions to seek funding for special exhibitions. These are scholarly projects that involve significant loans from multiple institutional and private collections and make new contributions to the field through research, interpretation, and publication.We’re Looking For

• Innovation and Rigor: in ideas, approach, research, and content
• Engagement/Collaboration/Partnerships: among colleagues, communities, institutions, and audiences 
• Impact: for the field of American art, for audiences, for communities

About AOTF

For over 60 years, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation has been the premier catalyst for occupational therapy research, transforming how people with disabilities and health challenges participate in meaningful daily activities.

Established in 1965, AOTF is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization. We serve as the premier resource for occupational therapy research and scholarship, working alongside researchers, educators, practitioners, community partners, and students to build evidence-based practice that improves lives.

As the only foundation dedicated exclusively to advancing occupational therapy science, we bridge the critical gap between innovative research and real-world practice. Our work ensures that occupational therapy interventions are grounded in rigorous scientific evidence, ultimately improving outcomes for millions of people worldwide.

Mary J. Bridle First Research Award

The Mary J. Bridle First Research Award fosters scholarship and encourages first research efforts within the occupational therapy community. This Pi Theta Epsilon member-exclusive award supports students, young practitioners, and recent graduates conducting their initial formal research projects, helping to build the foundation for lifelong scholarly contributions to the field.

Award Purpose

The Mary J. Bridle Award provides an opportunity for Pi Theta Epsilon members to:

• Have their research manuscript reviewed by experts in the field
• Be considered for publication in OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research
• Receive recognition and financial support for their first research effort
• Build confidence and experience as emerging OT researchers
• This award supports Pi Theta Epsilon’s mission to promote research and scholarly activities within the field of occupational therapy.

The U.S. Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity for research aimed at enhancing decision support for natural resource managers in western rangelands and alpine ecosystems. This initiative focuses on co-produced science to develop analytical frameworks and spatial tools that assist in addressing conservation challenges. By integrating ecological data and management objectives, the project aims to create adaptable decision support products for land managers facing dynamic environmental changes.

The OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program aims to enhance the capacity of state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies by funding qualified prosecutors who will investigate and prosecute fraud and crimes committed by aliens in the U.S. This initiative also supports hiring criminal investigators and other staff to improve investigative efforts. By fostering intergovernmental coordination, the program seeks to strengthen law enforcement's ability to combat criminal activities, including drug and human trafficking.

The USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program for FY 2027 aims to assist various governments in mitigating landslide risks through comprehensive hazard mapping, risk assessments, and public education. This initiative addresses the urgent need for proactive measures against landslides, which cause significant damages annually. By enhancing community preparedness and fostering collaboration among agencies, the program seeks to protect lives and infrastructure while advancing federal priorities related to hazard mitigation and scientific integrity.

The FY27 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants aim to support eligible entities in assessing and planning the cleanup of brownfield sites. This funding opportunity is targeted at government organizations, federally recognized tribes, and nonprofit organizations, allowing for a collaborative approach through Assessment Coalition Grants. The lead entity can request up to $1,000,000 to assess sites, with individual site costs capped at $200,000, promoting effective resource allocation and community engagement.

The FY27 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants offer funding for eligible entities, including government organizations and nonprofits, to prevent, inventory, assess, and plan the cleanup of brownfield sites. This grant supports community involvement, site assessments, and the development of reuse plans, ensuring that communities can effectively address their brownfield challenges. It is essential for applicants to note that funds cannot be allocated for cleanup activities, focusing instead on assessment and planning.

The U.S. Geological Survey's Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center is providing a funding opportunity for research into seabed mineral formation through a cooperative agreement with the California Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. This initiative aims to enhance understanding of ocean processes and inform resource management strategies. It fosters collaboration and expertise sharing among CESU partners, ensuring timely and relevant scientific contributions to address submarine geohazards and mineral enrichment.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) invites applications for its Endowments for Advancing the Humanities program. This initiative aims to enhance the financial stability of organizations dedicated to humanities education and research. It supports projects exploring Western civilization, significant literary works, civic education, and cultural literacy. Grants combine NEH matching funds with private donations, fostering long-term investment in the humanities across educational institutions. Detailed application guidelines are provided in the accompanying Notice of Funding Opportunity.

The USGS invites CESU partners to explore carbon cycling in seabed mineral environments, focusing on manganese nodule fields in the abyssal Pacific Ocean. These minerals are crucial for technology and national security, yet their environmental impacts remain poorly understood. Research is needed to assess how marine mining affects carbon cycles and the role of organic carbon in mineral formation. This initiative addresses critical knowledge gaps and supports sustainable resource management in offshore ecosystems.

The FY27 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants invite eligible entities, including states, tribes, and Alaska Native corporations, to apply for funding aimed at assessing and planning the cleanup of brownfield sites. The grants support activities such as site assessments, community involvement, and developing reuse plans. However, state and tribal universities are not eligible for these specific grants. This initiative by the EPA is crucial for promoting environmental health and revitalizing impacted communities.

The FY27 Guidelines for Brownfield Cleanup Grants provide essential funding for eligible entities, including government organizations and nonprofits, to conduct cleanup activities at brownfield sites. The program aims to revitalize these properties, addressing environmental contamination and health disparities while fostering community engagement and economic development. Applicants are limited to one grant application per competition cycle, ensuring focused and effective use of resources to enhance local environments and economies.

About Us

We endeavor to help individuals reach their full potential, families to thrive and communities to flourish through grants to a range of charitable organizations. To these ends, our grantmaking is framed by two potentially contrasting convictions: that tradition is an important resource and that fundamental rethinking often is necessary to respond effectively to new challenges and circumstances. These convictions arise from the encouragement J.K. Lilly, Sr. gave to his sons to be conservatively progressive. That philosophy was evident in their leadership of their company and the establishment and administration of the Endowment.

LE Serving Neighbors Through Congregational Collaborations Initiative

Lilly Endowment is pleased to announce its Serving Neighbors Through Congregational Collaborations Initiative (Serving Neighbors). This initiative has two complementary aims: 1) to enhance the quality of life of individuals and families by encouraging stronger collaborations in local communities between Christian congregations and charitable organizations (e.g., human and social service agencies, youth-serving organizations, arts and cultural organizations, neighborhood associations, and parks and outdoor recreational organizations, among others) that utilize their respective strengths to jointly undertake efforts that address community needs and priorities and 2) to deepen the faith of individuals and enhance the vitality of congregations by providing opportunities for Christians to practice their faith through acts of love and care for their neighbors.

Through Serving Neighbors, the Endowment anticipates awarding grants of up to $5 million each to approximately 60 charitable organizations to develop and implement programs that advance the aims stated above and the following four objectives:

Helping Christian congregations identify and explore compelling human and social needs and priorities in their neighborhoods and local communities (e.g., hunger relief, after-school and educational enrichments programs, violence reduction, homelessness, outdoor recreational opportunities, community building festivals).

Assisting these congregations in building relationships with community organizations and, when appropriate, other faith-based organizations focused on those needs and priorities.

Guiding leaders from these congregations and charitable organizations in their local communities through a planning process to help them develop new and/or strengthen current collaborative joint endeavors that address the identified community needs or priorities.

Providing support and resources to help these congregations and charitable organizations in their local communities launch and, if successful, sustain these collaborations into the future.

Funding Opportunities 

Lilly Endowment will conduct Serving Neighbors through a two-stage process.

Concept Papers: In the first stage, interested charitable organizations may submit concept papers that explain their interest in the initiative and provide initial descriptions of potential Serving Neighbors programs that would advance the initiative’s aims and objectives.

The Endowment will review the concept papers and anticipates providing planning grants of up to $50,000 each to approximately 60 organizations that submit the most promising descriptions of potential collaborative programs. Selected organizations may use their planning grants to develop their concepts and prepare proposals for implementation grants.

Concept papers must be submitted through the Serving Neighbors Concept Paper Submission Form on the Endowment’s website. Concept papers are due by January 19, 2027. The Endowment anticipates notifying organizations of planning grant awards by the end of March 2027.

Implementation Grant Proposals: In the second stage, selected charitable organizations that receive planning grants may submit proposals for implementation grants of up to $5 million each that may be used for up to a four-year period to execute their plans.

Implementation grant proposals must be submitted through the Serving Neighbors Implementation Grant Proposal Submission Form on the Endowment’s website. Implementation grant proposals are due by July 19, 2027. The Endowment anticipates announcing implementation grant awards by the end of November 2027. Guidelines for preparing an implementation grant proposal will be provided with notice of approval of a planning grant.

About Us

We endeavor to help individuals reach their full potential, families to thrive and communities to flourish through grants to a range of charitable organizations. To these ends, our grantmaking is framed by two potentially contrasting convictions: that tradition is an important resource and that fundamental rethinking often is necessary to respond effectively to new challenges and circumstances. These convictions arise from the encouragement J.K. Lilly, Sr. gave to his sons to be conservatively progressive. That philosophy was evident in their leadership of their company and the establishment and administration of the Endowment.

LE National Initiative to Strengthen Christian Campus Ministries at Colleges and Universities

Lilly Endowment is pleased to announce its National Initiative to Strengthen Christian Campus Ministries at Colleges and Universities (Campus Ministry Initiative). The aim of the initiative is to strengthen throughout the United States the capacities of Christian campus ministries at or near colleges and universities to nurture the religious lives of college students both today and into the future.

In this competitive initiative, the Endowment intends to award grants of up to $7.5 million each to approximately 20 national and regional charitable organizations that support Christian campus ministries at or near multiple college and university campuses (e.g., national and/or regional denominational agencies, campus ministry parachurch organizations, collegiate ministry associations, church networks, independent religious agencies) to support programs that advance the aim stated above and the following five objectives:

Assisting local campus ministry leaders in listening to and understanding more deeply the emerging spiritual interests and questions of students and in assessing how effectively their existing ministry strategies and programs are reaching and nurturing the religious lives of young people.

Creating new or enhancing existing programs of local campus ministries to help students explore spiritual questions, build community with other students, discover and test how they can draw more fully on their faith in making decisions about their futures and engage in Christian practices and rituals to deepen their faith.

Fostering more opportunities at local campus ministries for students to serve as Christian leaders and explore calls to Christian ministry.

Engaging in fundraising and related activities to strengthen the financial and organizational capacities of local campus ministries (including creating or increasing pools of financial resources to support local campus ministries).

Strengthening the charitable organization’s own capacities and programs to provide resources and support to local campus ministries and those who lead these student ministries.

Funding Opportunities

Interested charitable organizations may apply for Campus Ministry Initiative grants through a two-stage, competitive process.

Stage 1 Concept Papers: In the first stage, interested charitable organizations that support Christian campus ministries at or near universities and colleges may submit concept papers that explain their interest in the initiative and provide initial descriptions of their potential programs for which they would like to request an implementation grant. Concept papers must be submitted through the Campus Ministry Initiative Concept Paper Submission Form, which may be found on the initiative’s webpage.

Concept papers are due by January 25, 2027.

The Endowment will review the concept papers and intends to award planning grants of up to $50,000 each to approximately 20 organizations that submit concepts that show the most promise to advance the Campus Ministry Initiative’s aim and objectives. The planning grants are intended to assist organizations in developing their concepts and preparing proposals for implementation grants. The Endowment anticipates notifying organizations of planning grant awards in March 2027.

Stage 2 Implementation Grant Proposals: In the second stage, selected organizations that receive planning grants may submit proposals for grants up to $7.5 million each that may be used for up to a five-year period to implement their plans. Selected organizations may request to use up to $5 million in these funds to support the programmatic and related expenses of their proposed programs. Organizations may request up to an additional $2.5 million, which would be subject to $1(Endowment)-for-$1(grantee) matching conditions and be paid on a matching basis, to create or increase a pool of funds to support local campus ministries.

Implementation grant proposals are due by June 7, 2027. The Endowment anticipates announcing implementation grant awards in October 2027.