Best San Bernardino County Grants for Nonprofits in California

The BNSF Railway Foundation provides grants to enhance community quality of life across 28 states, focusing on educational, cultural, and social service initiatives. With over $150 million contributed since 2000, the foundation emphasizes projects with strong local engagement and BNSF employee involvement. Eligible organizations include public charities, local governments, and tribal governments, while ineligible entities encompass religious organizations and those with discriminatory practices. Priority is given to environmental, health, and cultural projects.

The Desert Tortoise Recovery Partnership aims to restore and protect the Mojave desert tortoise populations in California's western Mojave Desert. Formed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and various military and environmental agencies, this initiative seeks to address urgent conservation needs and enhance habitat through a funding opportunity of up to $1 million. The partnership exemplifies a collaborative effort to balance species recovery with military operations, ensuring both ecological and operational sustainability.

The Inland Empire Youth Grantmakers program empowers high school students to address critical issues in their communities, focusing on mental health and education equity. With a hands-on, six-month experience, participants engage in grantmaking, community service, and advocacy. In 2025, the program shifted to prioritize mental health and educational resources, ensuring all youth have access to opportunities for success. By supporting nonprofits that provide essential services, the initiative aims to create lasting social change in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Coachella Valley.

Catholic Extension provides essential funding to support the construction, expansion, or renovation of churches and community facilities. This initiative aims to meet the facility needs of under-resourced Catholic dioceses across the U.S. By focusing on active projects, Catholic Extension ensures that communities can enhance their worship spaces and support local ministries, ultimately fostering a stronger church community. Funding is available for both minor and major requests, with an emphasis on urgent needs and robust funding strategies.

The Building Foundation Grants by Catholic Extension aim to support essential pastoral and administrative functions in under-resourced communities. These grants provide salary subsidies and operational funding to ordained, religious, and lay ministers, ensuring access to Catholic services. Prioritizing areas with significant financial need, this initiative seeks to sustain the church's presence where it is most critical, enabling continued ministry and outreach for those who may otherwise be underserved.

The Preserve Route 66 Legacy Business Grant Fund offers financial support to enhance historic sites and stimulate economic growth along the iconic Route 66. Targeting projects that reflect the diverse narratives of historically underrepresented communities, this grant emphasizes mural and painting initiatives in preparation for the 2026 centennial celebration. Grants range from $5,000 to $10,000, with no matching funds required, fostering inclusivity and preservation of cultural heritage along the corridor.

The NRA Foundation in California offers grants aimed at promoting charitable purposes related to firearms and hunting safety. Eligible organizations include IRS-recognized entities and government bodies. Grant requests must align with the Foundation's mission to educate the public about firearms and support research on safety. Ineligible organizations include labor unions and private businesses. The funding decisions are made solely by the Foundation based on its criteria.

Taylor Farms Scholarship

This year’s program continues the expanded format, offering three distinct scholarship divisions designed to support both Taylor Farms Employees and their children

Taylor Farms Scholarship : Employee Scholarship

Award: Five (5) applicants will be awarded a $2,500 renewable scholarship. Once awarded, applicants may renew their scholarship for up to three (3) additional years if the below requirements are met.

The TechAmerica Scholarship, offered by The San Diego Foundation, supports high-achieving public high school seniors in San Diego County pursuing non-medical STEM degrees. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.75 and standardized test scores of at least 1200 SAT or 29 ACT. This scholarship aims to empower students to enroll full-time in accredited four-year universities in Southern California, thereby fostering educational advancement in critical STEM fields.

The Stantec Community Engagement Grant is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in communities where Stantec operates. Focused on arts, education, environment, and health and wellness, the grant supports initiatives that foster sustainable development and responsible practices. Organizations seeking funding must align with Stantec's values, emphasizing ethical practices and community impact. Preference is given to projects located near Stantec offices, ensuring a more significant local impact through their contributions.

The Desert Tortoise Council offers a Regular Grants Program to support projects aimed at the conservation and management of desert tortoise populations and their habitats. Grant requests are accepted year-round, with priority given to emergency responses, impactful projects, and those that leverage additional funding. Grants are awarded based on availability and a majority vote by the Board, ensuring that significant conservation issues are addressed effectively.

The McMillen Family Foundation Grant aims to support non-profit organizations in Southern California focused on treatment, prevention, and education regarding alcohol and drug dependency. Prioritizing nonprofits with proven track records, the Foundation provides funding for activities beyond government support, with grants up to $50,000 for new applicants. The Foundation also offers technical assistance and collaboration opportunities to enhance the impact of its grantees in the community.

Burns and McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned firm, partners with Project Lead The Way (PLTW) to enhance access to STEM education. By expanding PLTW Computer Science programs in local schools, they aim to engage students in real-world challenges and equip them with essential skills. Eligible schools must be located in specific counties and serve a majority of students from low-income backgrounds. This initiative supports the growth of STEM education, fostering a brighter future for communities through enhanced learning opportunities.

The PLTW Computer Science program, supported by Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education in various communities by funding schools to implement PLTW courses. This partnership promotes student engagement with real-world challenges, preparing them for future careers in technology. With a total grant of $20,000, schools must offer multiple PLTW courses over two years, ensuring access to quality education for underserved populations.

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation focuses on supporting organizations that empower communities through basic needs, income creation, and stable housing. By investing in health and job opportunities, they aim to enhance economic mobility for low- and moderate-income families. Their partnerships target vulnerable populations, ensuring equitable access to resources that foster community vitality and resilience. This initiative emphasizes the importance of stable housing as a foundation for personal and communal growth.

The Read Conmigo School Impact Grants, offered by The Kemper Foundation, provide $10,000 grants annually to Title I elementary schools in select locations. Aimed at supporting dual-language initiatives, eligible schools must have an established Spanish-English program and be located in California, Florida, or Texas. Funds can be used for resources, technology, professional development, and community engagement. Applications must be submitted by the school principal by the deadline.

The Begole Archaeological Research Grant supports scientific research in Colorado Desert District parks and related areas in California and Baja California. Annually, two grants of up to $5,000 each are available for archaeological projects, with no topic restrictions. Eligibility includes students, faculty, agency staff, and independent scholars. Priority may be given to research focusing on early prehistory. Proof of permitting is required before funds are awarded, and no charges for salaries or overhead are allowed.

The PLTW Engineering program, in partnership with Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by providing grants to public and charter schools in specific counties. This initiative empowers students to engage with real-world challenges through hands-on learning experiences. Eligible schools must offer PLTW Engineering courses, ensuring access to quality education for students from diverse backgrounds. With a total grant of $40,000 over two years, this program seeks to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators.

Spectrum Digital Education Grants support nonprofit organizations in educating communities about broadband benefits and usage. These grants aim to bridge the digital divide, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Applicants must demonstrate community partnership, address specific needs, and provide measurable impact metrics. With a focus on financial feasibility and meaningful outcomes, this initiative ensures that underrepresented urban and rural communities gain access to essential digital resources, fostering long-term improvement in their lives.

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

The Building Leaders Grants by Catholic Extension aim to enhance the recruitment, education, and ongoing formation of church leaders. This initiative provides critical funding for the professional development of both ordained and lay leaders in mission dioceses. By fostering partnerships with various organizations, it addresses the need for trained ministers and supports various funding areas, including seminarian sponsorship and diaconate formation, ensuring a robust future for church leadership.

Working together with IE Nonprofits to Advance Vibrant Health

We support organizations that serve families with children across the Inland Empire. We invest in strengthening nonprofit infrastructure, increasing access to basic needs, and building healthier community environments. Our goal is simple: help trusted local leaders do their work better, reach more people and create lasting change where it’s needed most.

Responsive Grants

As part of our responsive grantmaking strategy, IEHPF offers two types of responsive grants – and. Both grant opportunities allow organizations to submit funding requests for projects and activities that advance Vibrant Health for Inland Empire community members and align with IEHPF’s mission, vision, and priorities.

Healthy Organizations Grant Summary

The Healthy Organizations grants provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations addressing the social drivers of health (SDOH) for Inland Empire community residents who are experiencing the poorest health outcomes in low-income communities, rural or remote areas and/or communities with a Healthy Places Index (HPI) score lower than 25. These investments focus on supporting projects and activities that improve the nonprofit’s internal capacity to work effectively and develop strong programs, finances, leadership and infrastructure that will be sustained beyond the one-year lifecycle of the grant.

Healthy Organizations grants are awarded twice a year and have a one-year grant lifecycle. Awards will range from $5,000 - $20,000, although exceptions may apply. Organizations may only apply once per calendar year and must address at least one of the IEHPF’s priority Vital Conditions.

To apply, organizations will complete a brief Eligibility Quiz to determine eligibility and submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) with a brief description of the project or activity they hope to fund with the Healthy Organizations grant. IEHPF staff members will then will review the LOI and determine if the organization will be invited to the full application on a rolling basis, but by the invitation deadline below.

Please note that organizations are encouraged to submit their LOIs early to allow for greater time to complete an application, if invited. However, as long as an organization submits an LOI by the deadline, their project will be considered for funding.

Working together with IE Nonprofits to Advance Vibrant Health

We support organizations that serve families with children across the Inland Empire. We invest in strengthening nonprofit infrastructure, increasing access to basic needs, and building healthier community environments. Our goal is simple: help trusted local leaders do their work better, reach more people and create lasting change where it’s needed most.

Responsive Grants

As part of our responsive grantmaking strategy, IEHPF offers two types of responsive grants – and . Both grant opportunities allow organizations to submit funding requests for projects and activities that advance Vibrant Health for Inland Empire community members and align with IEHPF’s mission, vision, and priorities.

Healthy Communities Grant Summary

Healthy Communities grants provide funding and support to nonprofit organizations, collaboratives or networks addressing regional health needs, social drivers of health (SDPH) and systems change efforts for Inland Empire community residents who are experiencing the poorest health outcomes in low income communities, rural or remote areas and/or communities with a Healthy Places Index (HPI) score lower than 25. The grant focuses on supporting projects and activities that improve the organization or network’s capacity to effectively advocate for better health policies, strengthen regional workforce development efforts (especially in health, social services and for the purposes of Medi-Cal retention) and focus on improving population health outcomes that can be sustained beyond the one-year lifecycle of the grant.

Healthy Communities grants are awarded twice a year and have a one-year grant lifecycle. Awards will range from $20,000 - $75,000, although exceptions may apply. Organizations may only apply once per calendar year and must address at least one of the IEHPF’s priority Vital Conditions.

The BHHS Legacy Foundation Grant supports initiatives that improve health and quality of life for vulnerable Arizona residents. Since 2001, the Foundation has focused on four key areas: enhancing healthcare access, improving community health, developing the healthcare workforce, and strengthening community ties. Organizations seeking funding must demonstrate a clear health-related need and comply with eligibility criteria, including nonprofit status. This grant is vital for programs aiming to create sustainable health solutions in Arizona.

The CIELO Fund at the Inland Empire Community Foundation aims to uplift and invest in Latino-led initiatives in the Inland Empire. Launched in 2022, it reflects the region's growing Latino majority and addresses disparities in areas such as education, health, and economic mobility. The fund emphasizes equitable growth and community collaboration to foster a vibrant future for all residents. With a focus on leadership development and environmental equity, it champions the aspirations of the Latino community while tackling pressing local challenges.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program - California

The Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program provides supplies, equipment, and financial support to a variety of qualified groups and programs at the local level; geared towards youth, women, law enforcement, veterans, the disabled, and the general public, including:

• General shooting programs
• Competitive shooting
• Education, training and safety
• Hunting and conservation
• Community outreach
• Historical education

Grant funding must be used to further a charitable purpose as defined by the Internal Revenue Code under section 501(c)(3) and accompanying rules, regulations, and other IRS law and materials.

Vibrant Health Fundraising Training Program

The Vibrant Health Fundraising Training Program (2026 Spring) is designed to equip nonprofit fundraising leaders and staff who have experience in donor development with the tools and knowledge to improve their donor cultivation and stewardship skills and processes necessary for increasing financial resources available for advancing Vibrant Health.

The goals and objectives of the program include the following:

Training Participants

Organizations will be able to select (1) staff member to participate in a 7-session enhanced fund development training program and one 2-hour individual coaching session.

In total, 20 organizations will be selected for this training opportunity. This is not a grant with direct funds but is a no-cost training program valued at $2,500 per person.