Search Through Monterey County Grants for Nonprofits in California

About The Foundation

The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation was founded in 2008 to center the margin, creating and supporting strategies to reach gender and racial equity. The Foundation believes that intersectional feminism is an essential principle in our work and we intentionally prioritize women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals of color throughout our programming.

The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations primarily in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties (the tribal lands of the Amah Mutsun, Ohlone, Chalon, Awaswas, and Esselen nations), occasionally in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, and organizations and programs with statewide impact across California or national impact across the US. Grants are restricted to the United States. We do not accept unsolicited applications.

The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation is a registered 501c3 non-profit.

Funding Priorities

The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations that serve people and communities in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties (the tribal lands of the Amah Mutsun, Ohlone, Chalon, Awaswas, and Esselen nations), occasionally in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, and organizations and programs with statewide impact across California or national impact across the US. The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation believes that intersectional feminism is an essential principle in our grantmaking. We fund solutions to address the impact of racist and patriarchal structures facing women of color and gender-expansive individuals of color. 

Current Grant Opportunities/Funding Priorities

• Feminist / Gender / Women’s Studies
• Reproductive Rights and Justice
• Legal Advocacy for Immigrant Women
• Activist Fund
• Indigenous Women and Girls
• Girls in Engineering
• Women in Public Policy
• Transitional Housing for Survivors of Relationship Abuse
• Legal Services for Survivors of Relationship Abuse
• Women Re-Entering the Workforce
• Media Literacy
• Gender Economic Justice
• Environmental Gender Justice
• Farming: Gender and Racial Justice

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

MPRPD Transportation Grants

Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD) established the Transportation Grant Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County to increase recreational, environmental, and cultural education access to the Park District’s natural areas, open spaces, museums, working landscapes, and cultural sites while supporting the MPRPD mission and values to have accessible open space for education and recreation enjoyment and protection of natural and cultural resources, native habitat and wildlife.

Description

To increase recreational, environmental, and cultural education access to the Park District’s parks and reserves.

The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) embraces a countywide vision of Healthy, Safe and Vibrant communities. The CFMC’s grant programs focus on the people and places of Monterey County, California, highlighting impact and seeking measurable results. CFMC’s Organizational Development (OD) Grants can help organizations make progress in addressing unique, non-recurring management or leadership situations or to significantly strengthen their internal functioning and therefore ability to advance their mission.

Grant Awards

Organizational Development (OD) Grants support focused, strategic projects that strengthen a nonprofit’s ability to be resilient now and in the future.

Through a boost from an Organizational Development (OD) grant, Monterey County nonprofits can make progress on unique, non-recurring management or leadership situations.

Recent Examples of Successful Projects:

An established organization significantly grew volunteer and donor engagement by investing in CRM (Customer Relationship Management) improvements and staff training to implement the new system. Upgrading from manual to automated systems resulted in organizational efficiencies that allowed more time to accomplish its mission.

A growing organization with a history of community impact designed a comprehensive project with a professional consultant to guide its staff and board through a founder’s leadership transition. The consultant mentored incoming leaders and facilitated a program of transition for continuity and institutional knowledge.

An emerging organization received funding for a consultant to facilitate its first-ever strategic planning process. The board identified five priority areas and created work groups around them. As a result, members felt energized and more connected to each other and the mission and vision of the organization.

Characteristics- Proposals meet eligibility requirements and

• Demonstrate a vision for organizational growth.
• Clearly describe what will be different about the organization as a result of the capacity building project and how success will be measured.
• Include realistic budgets that demonstrate comprehensive support for the project’s success.
• Detail a plan that makes sense with the necessary financial and human resources for implementation.
• Leaders take an active role and are guided by assessment, feedback, learning and improvement.

Our Mission

The Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation, Inc. is an independent foundation dedicated to managing and distributing funds through grants that support charitable, religious, scientific, literacy and educational purposes with a primary focus on benefiting the communities in Miami-Dade County, Florida and Monterey County, California.   

The Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation, Inc. is particularly interested in making an impact by supporting projects in the areas of education, youth activities, heath care, cultural, civic and community services.

What We Fund

Our areas of concentration include cultural, educational, health and human services, and youth activities.

The Foundation may make grants to qualified agencies that engage in activities that DDF determines will improve some aspect of the community. DDF may choose the states and communities in which it provides grants. 

Arts & Culture

Music, voice, dance, arts, museums and educational programs.

Education

Supporting excellence in education.

Human & Health Services

Supporting access to quality healthcare, research, and improving wellbeing.

Community

Supporting programs that provide benefit to the community

Funding Priorities

The Dunspaugh Dalton Foundation primarily focuses on supporting programmatic grants, with occasional consideration given to capital grants. We prioritize projects and programs that demonstrate clearly defined and targeted outcomes, as outlined in the nonprofit’s grant proposal.

What We Fund:

• Arts
• Civic
• Community Services
• Cultural
• Educational
• Health & Human Services or Healthcare
• Youth Activities

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

About Us

The Community Foundation for Monterey County works with individuals, families and businesses to design customized giving plans to make an impact now and in the future. The Foundation makes grants to create healthy, safe, vibrant communities in Monterey County and beyond.

Mission

To inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Monterey County

Vision

Healthy, safe, vibrant communities

Board Empowerment Program

CFMC’S Center for Nonprofit Excellence will pilot the Board Empowerment Program in 2025 with support from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The purpose is to strengthen the organizational impact of vital Monterey County nonprofits through effective and empowered board leadership. This innovative opportunity combines a $5,000 unrestricted grant with focused consulting, accountability and a cohort of other local nonprofits working on similar board projects.

Description

Support to make meaningful changes in board structure, policy, or practices for a more effective, empowered board of directors. Includes: Unrestricted operating grant to support the organization's participation (team of Executive Director & Board Chair), 9 months of focused guidance and coaching with Dr. Lydia Hughes-Evans of Pure Momentum Consulting, 3 cohort convenings (in person).

What is a Community Foundation?

A community foundation is a nonprofit organization that brings together the financial resources of families, individuals, and organizations who care about a specific place and then invests those resources back into the community and the people who live there.

What does Community Foundation Santa Cruz County do?

We provide:

• Philanthropic Advising
  • Expert and personalized service to donors and their advisors about tax-wise charitable giving tools to achieve their charitable goals.
  • Over 40 years of trusted knowledge of local nonprofits to help donors align their passions to meet our county’s needs.
• Support for Local Nonprofits
  • Through grants, low-interest loans, professional development workshops, offering our building as a community space, and hosting capital campaigns, nonprofit reserve funds, and endowments.
• Community Leadership
  • We convene conversations on urgent community needs to inspire collective action around key local issues and rally resources in moments of crisis and opportunity.
• Creating Lasting Impact
  • Build endowments to provide permanent resources for our community 
  • Invest in the next generation by awarding scholarships and fellowships to local students and artists.
• So we can:
  • Give and rally timely, flexible resources
  • Generate wise and durable solutions to our community’s most pressing problems
  • Respond to crises together
  • Build trust across differences

Environmental Scholarship

One or more awards are available to students who have been accepted and/or are currently enrolled and in good standing as either Undergraduate or Graduate students at four-year colleges and universities in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito, or Monterey Counties. This scholarship is intended to support those who have innovative ideas and intentions to pursue a career in a field that will make a difference in helping the human species to evolve to a more compatible existence with natural ecosystems. 

About Teichert

We are a construction company operating in California since 1887. Over the years, Teichert has grown into a diverse mix of businesses, most notably Teichert Construction and Teichert Materials. With our commitment to our family of employees, high quality of work, strong customer satisfaction, and giving back to the community, Teichert will continue to flourish in the 21st century and beyond.

Teichert Foundation

Teichert Foundation expresses the company’s commitment to build and preserve a healthy and prosperous region.

We make grants to organizations that create beauty, foster culture, nurture children, provide access to food and housing for those in need, preserve nature, increase awareness of our environment, build an educated citizenry and a well-prepared workforce, and strive to provide better health for all.

Teichert Foundation will consider grant requests in the following categories:

• Civic improvement and historical restoration
• Community and social services
• Culture and the arts
• Education and workforce development
• Environmental sustainability
• Rehabilitation and health service
• Youth and elderly

The Foundation directors may also, from time to time, identify areas for special emphasis when emerging needs require extraordinary attention.

While deciding how much to grant to whom, the Foundation will give careful consideration to:

• The number of people that will benefit from the project
• The number of local volunteers supporting the organization and the project
• The extent to which the applicant complements the services of other community organizations
• The extent to which the program addresses underlying causes, rather than just symptoms of specific problems
• The outcomes of monitoring and evaluating the organizations projects
• The commitment and composition of the organization’s Board of Directors or Board of Trustees
• The current budget and the prior year actuals to show the organization’s fiscal responsibility and management qualifications; and
• The ability of the organization to provide ongoing funding after the term of the grant

Grants are generally made for one year only.

Mission

Our goal is to help young people achieve their full potential. We do this by making substantial annual grants to Crivitz Youth, Inc. in Wisconsin, which was the original purpose of our founder; and by supporting organizations whose mission is to provide ongoing education, enrichment and/or health benefits to children and youth located in Monterey County. We may also fund significant youth-oriented projects of other Monterey County organizations.

CFMC’s small Opportunity grants program address a wide spectrum of needs.

Applications are accepted year round for grants to support emerging organizations and ventures, urgent needs and other time-sensitive efforts where a small amount of money will make a difference. Opportunity grants typically range between $1,000 and $5,000. While larger grants (up to $10,000) may be considered, they are the exception.

Scope and Characteristics 

• New projects or pilot programs to serve an important community need
• Urgent or time-sensitive projects that need to be addressed before the next budget cycle
• Ongoing program expenses

About

Opportunity grants are part of the Community Foundation Monterey County (CFMC)’s competitive grants program, which allows nonprofits serving Monterey County to receive assistance when an urgent, unexpected situation arises or when a small grant is needed to test an innovative idea or capture a promising opportunity. These grants can be an entry point for emerging organizations and new ventures that have not received CFMC funding in the past. Prospective grant applicants are encouraged to call and speak with a staff person regarding questions and/or proposal ideas.

Funding Interests and Priorities

Opportunity grants address critical issues and community needs that advance the CFMC’s mission and vision for Monterey County. Based on data of local needs, aspirations and assets/CFMC’s fund restrictions, we invite proposals exemplifying the following.

• Effective strategies that focus on opportunity / achievement gaps to increase equity and expand access to services and programs, as requested and informed by local residents.
• Provide access for services to more Monterey County residents by reducing barriers and obstacles.
• Upstream, preventive approaches that address underlying causes.
• Embrace and advance diversity, equity, inclusion through lived experience and informed data.

Opportunity grants will continue to consider time-sensitive needs in addition to ongoing, recurring expenses.

The Foundation will consider grants in the following seven focus areas: Children, Youth, & Families, Senior Citizens, General, Health, Agricultural Education, Animal Welfare and Environment, and Arts & Culture.

The Foundation seeks to support nonprofit organizations that will achieve all or some of the following objectives:

• Improve the well-being of young people
• Strengthen the family
• Develop individual self-reliance and health
• Prevent inappropriate institutionalization of individuals
• Improve the quality of life through cultural activities
• Encourage more humane treatment of animals
• Eliminate duplication and improve coordination of social and community services

The Foundation provides both general support and project support to a broad range of nonprofits working in the Foundation’s focus areas. The Foundation will consider proposals for one-time capital grants, special projects, and operating support.

The Community Foundation for Monterey County’s strategic plan embraces a countywide vision of Healthy, Safe and Vibrant Communities. Community Impact Grants address critical issues and opportunities in five program areas that advance this vision.

Community Impact Grants

These grants typically fund programs larger in scope and scale. Successful applicants will demonstrate a track record of effectiveness and the capacity to articulate and measure impact. The CFMC expects to fund larger Community Impact grants with the average grant award of $25,000. These applications are reviewed by volunteer grant committees composed of CFMC Board members and community volunteers who represent a range of perspective and expertise. 

Children & Youth

We support programs that help children and youth reach their full potential.

Funding Priorities:

• Early childhood education and family literacy projects that optimize the development of children (ages 0-5) so they enter school ready to learn (e.g., family reading programs and early childhood enrichment);
• Integrated academic supports to help youth (grades k-12) graduate from high school prepared for success (e.g., tutoring and homework support, in-school supplemental programs, academic mentors, college preparation); 
• Programs that promote character-building, leadership and life skills development and that empower and support youth to make constructive use of time outside the school environment (e.g., afterschool enrichment programs, youth recreation, leadership skills development, service-learning projects); or 
• Parent education and engagement efforts to promote healthy family environments, nurture positive youth development, and involve parents in their children’s education (e.g., parent/child communication programs, parenting classes, parental involvement with schools).

Health & Human Services

We invest in prevention and early intervention services that improve the physical and mental health of individuals and families, support programs that promote independent living and efforts that ensure that the basic living needs of Monterey County’s most vulnerable and underserved individuals and families are met. The Community Foundation uses the common public health definition of primary prevention as approaches that occur before illness or injury, and early intervention as responses after symptoms or risk of illness or injury occur.

Funding Priorities

• Community health promotion and prevention programs that keep people healthy and delay or eliminate the necessity for treatment (e.g., programs that promote healthy lifestyles, nutrition, exercise, family planning, substance abuse education, family violence prevention); 
• Case management and other programs that teach self-advocacy skills and/or provide guidance in navigating the health and human services system to secure needed resources for people who have limited access to services (e.g., access to public benefit programs, resources and referrals); 
• Independent living resources for older adults, people living with disabilities or chronic illness, foster youth, and other special needs populations (e.g., senior meal and social programs that support aging in place, caregiver and support groups); or 
• Expanded or improved basic needs services to meet growing trends or changing issues. Funding will focus on services that address the basic living needs (food and shelter) of Monterey County’s most vulnerable and underserved individuals and families (e.g., adding services or hours of service or implementing new business practices that contribute to positive client outcomes).

Types of Support

Program - The CFMC considers all expense needs associated with implementing services to produce meaningful results and in carrying out a nonprofit’s mission. Applications requesting program support estimate how grant funds would be used in a program budget. Funding is provided for ongoing and expanded programs that show the promise of efficacy and sustainability. Strong applications include Evaluation Plans with a few measurable goals which will demonstrate progress towards the program’s broader outcomes

Operating Support - The CFMC provides unrestricted operating grants to organizations that have a proven grants record of community benefit in Monterey County. Organizations must be based in Monterey County and have a positive and stable history with CFMC. Approximately 30% of the Community Impact annual grantmaking is budgeted for operating grants.

Organizational Development - Proposals are welcome for major organizational development efforts (non-recurring activities intended to develop the internal capacity and infrastructure of organizations). Organizations proposing a capacitybuilding grant should address how the project strengthens the organization and how it will enhance its mission and benefit the community served.

Capital Support - The CFMC supports capital costs (buildings and facilities) when those capital improvements have the potential to advance greater social benefit. Capital support will be considered for predevelopment expenses and/or construction costs. Preference will be given to requests that have raised at least half of the total project costs.

The Community Foundation for Monterey County’s strategic plan embraces a countywide vision of Healthy, Safe and Vibrant Communities. Community Impact Grants address critical issues and opportunities in five program areas that advance this vision.

Community Impact Grants

These grants typically fund programs larger in scope and scale. Successful applicants will demonstrate a track record of effectiveness and the capacity to articulate and measure impact. The CFMC expects to fund larger Community Impact grants with the average grant award of $25,000. These applications are reviewed by volunteer grant committees composed of CFMC Board members and community volunteers who represent a range of perspective and expertise. The grant committees review requests and recommend grants to the CFMC Board of Directors, which has final authority in all grantmaking decisions.

Community Development

We support community-building activities that engage individuals and communities to lead efforts that create opportunities for local problem solving. We support strategies to enhance community environments so that all residents have safe, welcoming and accessible places and spaces to live, work and play; and we invest in activities that increase opportunities for the economic security and advancement of young adults and low-income residents.

Funding Priorities:

• Community organizing and leadership development that engages people in addressing issues of mutual concern and leading positive change in their community (e.g., organize residents to address neighborhood concerns, training for emerging leaders)
• Community revitalization to make public spaces accessible, family-friendly and safe (e.g., community gardens, development of bike/walking trails, community emergency preparedness, collaboration and joint use agreements with schools and other public buildings/spaces, etc.)
• Immigrant and basic adult literacy services to help people access information they need to fully participate in their communities, workplace and 21st-century commerce (e.g., citizenship classes, language acquisition, family financial management, digital literacy, etc.)
• Employment readiness, skills training and other employment resources that increase access to living-wage jobs (e.g., summer jobs for youth, career counseling, job search and interviewing skills)

Arts & Culture

We foster activities and programs that broaden, diversify and deepen participation in quality artistic experiences, especially among youth, multicultural and other new audiences.

Funding Priorities:

• Access to art education and cultural experiences that nurture development for youth (e.g., art appreciation programs, youth mentorship, artistic training and performance opportunities
• Efforts to reach new and underserved audiences with relevant, high-quality, artistic experiences (e.g., targeted marketing and outreach efforts, strategic initiatives for audience development, programming to attract new audiences, development of bilingual and bicultural programs)
• Community-building programs that use the arts to promote cultural expression, build community pride and bridge cultural divides (e.g., community art projects, multicultural programming)

Historic Preservation

We fund activities that preserve and celebrate Monterey County’s rich and diverse history.

Funding Priorities:

• Efforts to preserve, restore and interpret historic places, structures and artifacts that are significant to Monterey County’s history (e.g., interpretation plans, structural assessments, archival enhancements)
• Educational programs that cultivate interest, understanding and pride in the history and cultures of our region (e.g., historic curriculum enhancements, school field trip destinations)

Environment & Animal Welfare

We support programs that educate and involve local residents in protecting and preserving our natural resources and sustaining healthy ecosystems; and we invest in animal welfare programs that promote the responsible and humane treatment of companion animals.

Funding Priorities: 

• Environmental education and hands-on experiences for youth that inspire responsible stewardship of our natural resources (e.g., food systems, watershed, energy use, biodiversity and inter-dependence, climate change, etc.);
• Activities that help sustain healthy ecosystems and other efforts to ensure a healthy Monterey County for current and future generations (e.g., habitat restoration, efficient energy use, recycling, park/beach clean-ups, etc.); 
• Prevention programs that address pet overpopulation, abuse, neglect and homelessness;
• Programs that support vulnerable people (e.g., seniors, disabled) in keeping their companion animals at home.

Types of Support

Program - The CFMC considers all expense needs associated with implementing services to produce meaningful results and in carrying out a nonprofit’s mission. Applications requesting program support estimate how grant funds would be used in a program budget. Funding is provided for ongoing and expanded programs that show the promise of efficacy and sustainability. Strong applications include Evaluation Plans with a few measurable goals which will demonstrate progress towards the program’s broader outcomes

Operating Support - The CFMC provides unrestricted operating grants to organizations that have a proven grants record of community benefit in Monterey County. Organizations must be based in Monterey County and have a positive and stable history with CFMC. Approximately 30% of the Community Impact annual grantmaking is budgeted for operating grants.

Organizational Development - Proposals are welcome for major organizational development efforts (non-recurring activities intended to develop the internal capacity and infrastructure of organizations). Organizations proposing a capacitybuilding grant should address how the project strengthens the organization and how it will enhance its mission and benefit the community served.

Capital Support - The CFMC supports capital costs (buildings and facilities) when those capital improvements have the potential to advance greater social benefit. Capital support will be considered for predevelopment expenses and/or construction costs. Preference will be given to requests that have raised at least half of the total project costs.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

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. 

Calling to Serve

Since its inception in 2016, the Robinson Foundation has sought to demonstrate God’s love through sharing the gifts we have received. We understand the often unspoken hardships and struggles that people in and outside of our community face everyday. As such, our contributions are focused on relieving these hardships for the betterment of our world.

As a family-operated foundation, we pray that our small efforts will not only create immediate change in the lives of our neighbors, but will help set those lives on a course for success in the future. We are thankful for each and every day we have on this earth to use what God has granted us to make a difference.

Areas of Interest

• Animal Welfare
• Children & Families
• Disaster Relief
• Education
• Medical Assistance
• Nature & Wildlife Conservation
• Poverty Relief
• Religious & Spiritual Endeavors
• Veterans' Issues

Grant Considerations

We take many different aspects of applications into account when making grant issuing decisions, however these are some of the high-level questions we ask ourselves during the process:

• How does the organization serve their key audience goals?
• Is the organization fiscally responsible?
• Will a grant have a tangible, meaningful impact?
• Will we see direct results from this grant?
• Does the organization have other financial contributors?

Our Approach

Monterey Peninsula Foundation operates a place-based, responsive grantmaking strategy that spans a broad range of ages and community needs. The community focus is our primary strategy to strengthen the web of services, programs, and supports that contribute to healthy vibrant communities. We fund organizations over the longer-term, however, we work to minimize dependence on annual support grants whenever appropriate and prudent. Our policies requiring board giving and external financial oversight are designed to help organizations capitalize on best practices in the field.

We view funding as a partnership. We acknowledge that each community served has different strengths and challenges, and we work to tailor our support accordingly. We aim to be flexible. We realize that there are gaps that exist and we care about filling the need in all the communities we serve.

What We Support

Since its inception, Monterey Peninsula Foundation has given millions of dollars to support local nonprofits and schools in the tri-county area we serve. In 2022, the Foundation reached the charitable milestone of $200 million in lifetime giving.

Focus Areas

Monterey Peninsula Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations that benefit the community in the focus areas of arts & culture, community & environment, education, health & human services, and youth.

Monterey Peninsula Foundation places a higher priority on applications that offer creative responses to the community’s most pressing, unmet needs and show promise of building ongoing local support for needed services.

Organizations seeking funding should have a broad base of funding support, management capacity to effectively execute the project, a clear plan for project evaluation, outcome measurement, and collaboration among other service providers. Organizations seeking funding for a specific program should showcase a significant funding gap or critical opportunity, a long-term impact, preventive intervention and education, and produce measurable results.

Arts & Culture

Grants in the Arts & Culture focus area foster the creative environment and inspire curiosity, imagination, and appreciation of the arts.

Community & Environment

In the Community & Environment focus area, grants leverage collaboration and partnership for increased impact. We look for opportunities to increase equity and to build healthy, thriving communities appropriate to the needs of the counties we serve. We seek to protect, conserve, and nurture our environmental, natural, and agricultural resources.

Education

In the Education focus area, grants build skills and knowledge for students that carry the capacity to change lives. We support efforts to ensure equitable access to quality education for all, from early childhood to career and beyond.

Health & Human Services

Grants in the Health & Human Services focus area seek to improve health and wellness for body, mind, and spirit. We look for opportunities that ensure individuals, families, and children have what they need to be safe, healthy, and to thrive.

Youth

In the Youth focus area, we look to support organizations that help young people grow into their individual potentials, building resiliency along the way.

Types of Support

Operating Support

Across our focus areas, we offer trusted partners the opportunity to receive operating support, providing the greatest degree of flexibility for delivering quality services and programs. Unrestricted funds are an important tool in community funding strategies aimed at building a resilient sector and consistent service. We see operating support as a key way to strengthen the web of organizations supporting the spectrum of needs in communities we serve.

Program Support

Program support provides specific funding to achieve a small set of goals. For this restricted support, we require a specific budget that outlines the program or project. Reports provided give Monterey Peninsula Foundation the ability to compare projected costs with actual expenditures. Strategically, program support ensures that communities have access to important services and experiences that enrich lives.

Capital Support

We support a wide range of capital efforts each year. We look for opportunities to contribute toward important community resources in each of our focus areas, supporting infrastructure for whole communities. Grant applications should show strong and realistic financial planning that includes a variety of income streams. The Foundation may make matching or challenge grants to help organizations attract wider support.

We understand that multiple phases are sometimes necessary to accomplish a big vision, and we’ll work to right-size our support in light of context and need.

Grant Size

Monterey Peninsula Foundation receives approximately 225 grant applications a year for local support, and the Grant Committee awards about 175 grants annually that range widely from $1,000 to $500,000. The amount requested from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation should be proportional to the budget, and should include income from other sources. While there are no restrictions for the maximum grant amount applicants may request (other than for public K-12 schools), Monterey Peninsula Foundation will take into consideration the applicant’s track record in implementing projects of a similar size and scope.

Background

Virginia Stanton left a bequest to establish this fund in her name and her husband’s. The fund was established in 1994 as the Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment. Mrs. Stanton named some favorite agencies or types of projects for annual consideration in order of priority (see below). Others may also be funded at the discretion of the CFMC Board and the Stanton Committee. 

Stanton Endowment Priorities

This fund gives priority to the agencies and programs of special interest to Virginia and Robert Stanton. These include:

• The Stanton Center (formerly known as the Allen Knight Maritime Museum)
• The repair, maintenance and capital improvements of public buildings designed by Robert Stanton, especially the King City High School Auditorium and the Monterey County Court House in Salinas
• The Monterey History and Art Association
• The Monterey County Symphony Association
• The Monterey Museum of Art
• The American Red Cross of the Central Coast (formerly known as the Carmel Chapter of the American Red Cross)
• The Salvation Army – Monterey Peninsula Corps

The Stanton Endowment Grant Committee generally gives priority to one-time special or capital projects, rather than funding ongoing operating support. The CFMC supports capital costs (buildings and facilities) when those capital improvements have the potential to advance greater social benefit.

Capital support will be considered for predevelopment expenses and/or for construction costs after the agency has raised at least half of the goal. Applicants are eligible for two capital-related grants:

• one for predevelopment expenses and
• one for construction costs.

The Stanton Endowment Grant Committee will consider the public benefits likely to occur as a result of the proposed activities, as well as other details of the proposals such as cost effectiveness, past record of achievement, and fit with the general guidelines and purposes of the Community Foundation and the Stanton Endowment.

The Community Fund for Carmel Valley (CFCV) was created to serve residents, businesses and organizations, all having an opportunity to contribute to the greater good of others. The fund is governed by a local advisory board consisting of longstanding volunteer community members. Its role is to provide oversight, raise funds, define grantmaking priorities and award grants. It is an affiliate of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, which provides administrative, investment and grantmaking expertise. CFCV seeks to improve the lives of our fellow community members, both now and in the future.

The CFCV provides grants to nonprofit organizations that benefit the following communities: Carmel Valley from Highway 1 to Cahoon Grade, Cachagua and Jamesburg.

The CFCV seeks to support nonprofit organizations that have the leadership and capacity to provide important community resources and services in the Carmel Valley area. Funding will be considered for the following types of requests within these three key priorities:

• Community Development: Build community, improve infrastructure and meet local needs
• Youth & Seniors: Expand youth and/or senior programming and services
• Resident Programs: Support education, cultural and historical programs

Founded in 2020, the Weston Call Fund for Big Sur is a special purpose fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County.

Each year, the Weston Call Fund Advisory Board determines where its available grant dollars can be placed for greatest impact on their communities’ highest priority needs. The Advisory Board, made up of community volunteers, will carefully review applications and award grants based on the published criteria.

The Weston Call Fund seeks to support nonprofit organizations that have the leadership and capacity to provide important community resources and services in Big Sur.

Its priorities are Health, Safety, Education, Arts, Culture and Community Stewardship, and to:

• Create additional funding for health, fire and safety needs through Big Sur nonprofits
• Support educational, cultural and historical programs
• Aid sustainable tourism and destination stewardship efforts
• Create and enhance community partnerships
• Support nonprofits providing services in Big Sur

Funding will be considered for the following types of requests:

• Program Support: for the expansion or refinement of existing programs, as well as new programs that show the promise of impact and sustainability
• Operating Support: unrestricted grants to organizations that have a proven track record of community support in Big Sur
• Capital Support: for cost associated with buildings and/or facilities located in Big Sur
• Organizational Development: to strengthen or enhance the internal capacity and infrastructure of organizations that have a proven track record of community benefit in Big Sur

Northern Monterey County Foundation Grants

Founded in 2016, the Northern Monterey County Foundation (NMCF) is an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County.

Each year, the NMCF determines where its available grant dollars can be placed for greatest impact on our communities’ highest priority needs. Using these grantmaking guidelines, the NMCF Advisory Board, made up of community volunteers, will carefully review grant applications and recommend a slate of grants once a year to the CFMC board, which has final authority in grant decisions

Guidelines

The NMCF seeks to support nonprofit organizations that have the leadership and capacity to provide important community resources and services in Northern Monterey County communities. Funding will be considered for the following types of requests: 

• Program Support: for the expansion or refinement of existing programs, as well as new programs that show the promise of impact and sustainability
• Operating Support: unrestricted grants to organizations
• Capital Support: for cost associated with buildings and/or facilities

The Siembra Latinos Fund (SLF) was created by a group of local Latino leaders to inspire giving by and for Latinos and build on a culture of philanthropy. “Siembra” means “to sow” and the fund seeks to grow opportunity and improve the quality of life for the Latino Community in Monterey County.

Funding Priorities -2025

The Siembra Latinos Fund is focused on making an impact on Economic Mobility. For this reason, the fund seeks proposals in the areas of:

• Leadership Development: Foster Latino leadership, community engagement that encourages participation in decision making, and create opportunities for Latinos.
• Work Experience: Gain an internship, grow professional networks, and increase core skills (problem solving, critical thinking, operation systems, data analysis and more).
• Education: English/Language Arts and Math on-grade proficiencies, especially at the 4th, 5th and 6th grade levels.

Types of Requests

Funding will be considered for the following types of requests:

Program support: for the expansion or refinement of existing programs, new programs that show the promise of impact and sustainability, and support for emergency or special circumstances. (e.g., wages, equipment)

Operating support: unrestricted grants to organizations that have a proven track record of community benefit.

Southern Monterey County Foundation Grants

Founded in 2014, the Southern Monterey County Foundation (SMCF) is an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Our mission is to inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Southern Monterey County.

The SMCF provides grants to organizations that benefit the communities of Southern Monterey County, which in this case is defined as King City and all points south, excluding the coastal region.

The SMCF seeks to support nonprofit organizations that have the leadership and capacity to provide important community resources and services in Southern Monterey County communities. In 2020, priority is given to the following types of requests:

• Specific projects or one-time costs that will result in measurable impact on an identified community need
• To establish or expand community programs that address a high-priority community issue or need

What Grant Funds May Support

• Pre-development or construction costs for facility construction or renovation
• Matching grants to leverage other funding
• Developmental costs for new programs
• Personnel expenses that relate to specific program goals
• Equipment, materials and/or facilities expenses that directly benefit participants or are an identifiable part of project

About the Fund for Homeless Women

The Fund for Homeless Women is a field of interest fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) established to support programs and services for homeless women on the Monterey Peninsula.

The Fund for Homeless Women supports programs and services for homeless women on the Monterey Peninsula. In its initial years, the Fund supported both emergency assistance (e.g., temporary motel lodging, transportation expenses, laundry, etc.) and innovative ideas that expanded temporary and permanent housing options and case management services.

Homeless Women on the Monterey Peninsula

In 2016 the CFMC commissioned the Assessment of Homeless Women on the Monterey Peninsula on behalf of the Fund for Homeless Women to document the primary causes of homelessness for local women, their needs and challenges and existing services. Researchers found there are an estimated 400 homeless women on the Monterey Peninsula, whose challenges are complex and diverse. Read the Full Report or Key Findings to learn more.

What grant funds will support

• Planning and start-up costs for new programs or expansion of existing programs to fill a gap or support a new approach. Consideration will be given to operating costs for existing programs where a small amount of funding can make a difference.
• Personnel expenses that relate to specific program goals; equipment, materials or facilities costs that directly benefit participants or are an identifiable part of the proposed project.
• For emergency assistance small grants to nonprofits, funding will support only direct assistance to homeless women, such as hotel vouchers or personal care expenses.

Grantmaking Priorities

The Fund’s grantmaking focuses on reducing the number of women on the Monterey Peninsula who are in danger of harm each night by increasing their access to shelter and safety.

The Fund for Homeless Women seeks proposals that address one or more of the following grantmaking priorities. Innovative strategies and inter-agency collaborations are strongly encouraged. Applicants may apply for grants in both categories within the same proposal.

Small grants for emergency assistance

The Fund for Homeless Women will consider awarding grants up to $5,000 per year to support emergency shelter (e.g., hotel/motel vouchers), transportation (e.g., bus passes, car repair) and personal care (e.g., laundry, showers, healthcare) for homeless women. Distribution sites could include: faith- and other community-based homeless service providers on the Monterey Peninsula. Funded organizations must have or put in place a process/mechanism to offer this assistance and monitor its use.

Support for innovative ideas that expand emergency/temporary shelter, permanent housing options and/or case management services.

The Fund for Homeless Women will consider awarding grants in the range of $10,000 to $50,000 per year for initiatives designed to provide emergency/temporary shelter, permanent housing, day program or case management services for homeless women. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Increased access to shelter (e.g., temporary, transitional and/or permanent) with client-focused services (e.g., access to case manager or system navigator who provides guidance in completing forms and alert them to services; build on women’s existing skills through peer education and leadership);
• Accessible services in Monterey or Seaside with knowledgeable, approachable staff as requested by clients in need, (e.g., shower, laundry, storage, safety, etc.);
• Collection, management and dissemination of data regarding homeless women on the Monterey Peninsula, for planning and advocacy purposes;
• Other related services that increase shelter options and support services, such as medical care, illness prevention, mental health services, legal services, financial education, job training and transportation support.

Helping Build Better Futures

Our mission is to deliver great value to our customers every day. For over four decades, our deep commitment to the principles of providing value and caring for others has helped define our culture. It extends beyond the walls of our stores, distribution centers, and offices, and into our local communities around the world. The intersection of these principles defines our global community mission:

Deliver great value to our communities by helping vulnerable families and children access the resources and opportunities they need to build a better future.

Our Social Impact Areas

We bring our community relations mission to life around the world by focusing our giving on four social impact areas where we believe we can have the most impact and are critical to helping families and children succeed and thrive.

Basic Needs

We are passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations that help fill critical basic needs such as a warm meal, clean clothing, and a safe place to sleep for vulnerable families.

Education & Training

Our efforts have focused on quality enrichment and extracurricular programs that provide skills, resources, and opportunities to support school and career success for children, teens, and young adults.

Patient Care & Research

We support organizations that deliver services to families and children facing health challenges and life-threatening illnesses.

Empowering Women

We support programs that provide services ranging from help for those fleeing domestic violence, to others that offer education, training, and job placement resources.

Our Approach

Monterey Peninsula Foundation operates a place-based, responsive grantmaking strategy that spans a broad range of ages and community needs. The community focus is our primary strategy to strengthen the web of services, programs, and supports that contribute to healthy vibrant communities. We fund organizations over the longer-term, however, we work to minimize dependence on annual support grants whenever appropriate and prudent. Our policies requiring board giving and external financial oversight are designed to help organizations capitalize on best practices in the field.

We view funding as a partnership. We acknowledge that each community served has different strengths and challenges, and we work to tailor our support accordingly. We aim to be flexible. We realize that there are gaps that exist and we care about filling the need in all the communities we serve.

What We Support

Since its inception, Monterey Peninsula Foundation has given millions of dollars to support local nonprofits and schools in the tri-county area we serve. In 2022, the Foundation reached the charitable milestone of $200 million in lifetime giving.

Focus Areas

Monterey Peninsula Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations that benefit the community in the focus areas of arts & culture, community & environment, education, health & human services, and youth.

Monterey Peninsula Foundation places a higher priority on applications that offer creative responses to the community’s most pressing, unmet needs and show promise of building ongoing local support for needed services.

Organizations seeking funding should have a broad base of funding support, management capacity to effectively execute the project, a clear plan for project evaluation, outcome measurement, and collaboration among other service providers. Organizations seeking funding for a specific program should showcase a significant funding gap or critical opportunity, a long-term impact, preventive intervention and education, and produce measurable results.

Arts & Culture

Grants in the Arts & Culture focus area foster the creative environment and inspire curiosity, imagination, and appreciation of the arts.

Community & Environment

In the Community & Environment focus area, grants leverage collaboration and partnership for increased impact. We look for opportunities to increase equity and to build healthy, thriving communities appropriate to the needs of the counties we serve. We seek to protect, conserve, and nurture our environmental, natural, and agricultural resources.

Education

In the Education focus area, grants build skills and knowledge for students that carry the capacity to change lives. We support efforts to ensure equitable access to quality education for all, from early childhood to career and beyond.

Health & Human Services

Grants in the Health & Human Services focus area seek to improve health and wellness for body, mind, and spirit. We look for opportunities that ensure individuals, families, and children have what they need to be safe, healthy, and to thrive.

Youth

In the Youth focus area, we look to support organizations that help young people grow into their individual potentials, building resiliency along the way.

Types of Support

Operating Support

Across our focus areas, we offer trusted partners the opportunity to receive operating support, providing the greatest degree of flexibility for delivering quality services and programs. Unrestricted funds are an important tool in community funding strategies aimed at building a resilient sector and consistent service. We see operating support as a key way to strengthen the web of organizations supporting the spectrum of needs in communities we serve.

Program Support

Program support provides specific funding to achieve a small set of goals. For this restricted support, we require a specific budget that outlines the program or project. Reports provided give Monterey Peninsula Foundation the ability to compare projected costs with actual expenditures. Strategically, program support ensures that communities have access to important services and experiences that enrich lives.

Capital Support

We support a wide range of capital efforts each year. We look for opportunities to contribute toward important community resources in each of our focus areas, supporting infrastructure for whole communities. Grant applications should show strong and realistic financial planning that includes a variety of income streams. The Foundation may make matching or challenge grants to help organizations attract wider support.

We understand that multiple phases are sometimes necessary to accomplish a big vision, and we’ll work to right-size our support in light of context and need.

Grant Size

Monterey Peninsula Foundation receives approximately 225 grant applications a year for local support, and the Grant Committee awards about 175 grants annually that range widely from $1,000 to $500,000. The amount requested from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation should be proportional to the budget, and should include income from other sources. While there are no restrictions for the maximum grant amount applicants may request (other than for public K-12 schools), Monterey Peninsula Foundation will take into consideration the applicant’s track record in implementing projects of a similar size and scope.