Search Through California Grants for Nonprofits in the U.S.

Grants for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working in California

400+

Available grants

$243.3M

Total funding amount

$87.5K

Median grant amount

California grants for nonprofits provide funding to support education, environmental protection, technology innovation, and public health. The following grants empower organizations to tackle challenges, promote equity, and foster sustainability throughout the state of California.


Search Instrumentl's California Grants Database


Find 400+ funding opportunities for nonprofits in California, with $243.3M available. Instrumentl connects local organizations to tailored grants, offering tools for tracking deadlines, customized searches, and insights to support transformative work across California.

Last updated: July 7, 2025. Next update: August 3, 2025.

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Grant Insights : California Grants for Nonprofits

Grant Availability

How common are grants in this category?

Common — grants in this category appear regularly across funding sources.

400+ California grants for nonprofits grants for nonprofits in the United States, from private foundations to corporations seeking to fund grants for nonprofits.

200+ California grants for nonprofits over $25K in average grant size

200+ California grants for nonprofits over $50K in average grant size

51 California grants for nonprofits supporting general operating expenses

300+ California grants for nonprofits supporting programs / projects

2,000+ Grants on Instrumentl focused on Education

2,000+ Grants on Instrumentl focused on Health & Medicine

Grant Deadline Distribution

Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for California grants for Nonprofits?

Most grants are due in the fourth quarter.

Q1
23.7%
Q2
24.7%
Q3
23.5%
Q4
28.1%

Typical Funding Amounts

What's the typical grant amount funded for California Grants for Nonprofits?

Grants are most commonly $87,500.

Min.
Median
Average
Max.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grants are available in California?

Many grants are currently open for applications in California, including over 200+ individual grants with an average award of over $25k. The median grant amount funded within California is $87,500. As for specific grant focus areas, over 2,000+ available grants in California target education and 2,000+ focus on health & medicine. Additionally, over 300+ grants target specific programs or projects, and 51 grants aim to support general operating expenses.

What types of grants are available for nonprofits in California?

Grants in California are funded by a variety of sources, including state, local, and federal government agencies, private foundations, corporate funders, and associations. Here’s a breakdown of where you'll find the largest number of grants:

  • State & Local Government: Currently, 216 grants are available from California state/local government agencies. Focus areas across these grants typically include habitat and ecosystem restoration, land and freshwater conservation, and farming. State/local government agencies make up the largest category of funders.
  • Private Foundations: 125 grants in California are funded by private foundations targeting a wide range of categories, from environmental conservation to education to health and medicine.
  • Corporate Funders: 25 corporate grants are open in California. These grants often focus on environmental education, human and social services, and art and culture.

Given the large number of state and local government grants offered in California, nonprofits should stay up-to-date on funding availability in their areas.

When is the best time to apply for grants in California?

Based on currently available data, the best time to apply for grants in California is in Q4, when 28.1% of all grant applications are due. Q2 has a similar rate at 24.7%. Applying for grants during these quarters will offer the most opportunities to secure funding.

What is the overall funding landscape in California?

The nonprofit funding landscape for grants in California has shown increasing activity over the last few years. Based on IRS funding reports, overall grant funding grew from ~$30.7 billion in 2021 to ~$33.6 billion in 2022 — a 9.61% increase. The largest focus areas for funding included single-organization support, professional societies and associations, and private grantmaking foundations. Los Angeles County, San Francisco County, and Santa Clara County received the most funding during this time.

If you'd like to dive deeper, explore our in-depth California Private Grants Landscape insight report, which explores the top funders and grantees as well as more recent data.

How can Instrumentl help nonprofits find and win more grants in California?

If you want to start finding more grants, Instrumentl simplifies the entire grant process. You can find grants in California while also researching funders, managing deadlines, and keeping on top of everything in our all-in-one platform.

Is your nonprofit struggling to decide how much to request in a grant application? Learn how to calculate the right amount with our grant request sizing guide.