Grants for State, Local & Tribal Governments

Centers for Disease Control-GHC · Amount varies

This is a forecasted Centers for Disease Control (Global Health Center) cooperative agreement to improve regional capacity to respond to HIV, tuberculosis, and other global health priorities in Central America. Such awards typically go to organizations with regional public health implementation experience, such as nonprofits, NGOs, universities, and regional or foreign health entities, and are geographically focused on Central America. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines have not yet been published for this cycle.

State Water Resources Control Board · $2M–$10M

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments operating eligible community water systems may apply to California's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund construction program, which finances drinking-water infrastructure (treatment, sources, storage, distribution). Eligible community water systems may receive principal forgiveness/grant from about $2 million up to 100% of project cost depending on project type and community need, with the remainder as low-interest loans repaid over 30–40 years. Applications are accepted continuously; this is restricted to public water system projects in California.

State Treasurer's Office · $0–$1M

California's PANACEA program provides short-term interim financing (up to $1 million) to charter schools that have a reservation of funds through the Charter School Facilities Program or are awaiting long-term bond financing. Eligibility is limited to nonprofits and public agencies operating qualifying charter schools, so this is narrow and tied to participation in the related state facilities or bond programs. Standard applicants outside the charter school facilities pipeline will not qualify.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits and public agencies financing charter school facilities. This California State Treasurer program funds debt-service reserves to help charter schools borrow for acquiring, renovating, building, or refinancing their facilities — it backs the financing rather than paying project costs directly. Award amounts and deadlines aren't specified; the program enhances credit for charter school facility debt.

State Treasurer's Office · $100K–$250K

Charter schools that are nonprofits or public agencies can apply to California's Charter School Revolving Loan Fund for low-cost loans of up to $250,000, with priority for schools opening in the current fiscal year. Note this is a loan (which must be repaid), not a grant. The application period opens and closes on dates announced via the program's listserv, and applicants undergo a credit evaluation.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits and public agencies, this California program provides annual grants that offset ongoing facility (rent/lease) costs for charter schools serving a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, or located in comparable school attendance areas. Award amounts and deadlines vary and are announced annually on the CSFA website. Eligibility is narrow: it is limited to qualifying California charter schools rather than general applicants.

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · Up to $0

California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) offers Tribal Wildfire Resilience grants for projects serving California Native American tribes, supporting Traditional Ecological Knowledge, cultural and prescribed burns, forest health and fuels reduction, watershed restoration, and related workforce training. Eligibility is limited to nonprofits and tribal governments; individuals, businesses, and other government agencies are not eligible. This is a forecasted 2026 solicitation, so the deadline and award amounts are not yet finalized.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

California's Wildlife Conservation Board Desert Conservation Program is open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments. It funds land acquisition, habitat restoration, invasive plant removal, seed collection, and scientific studies that protect and restore the Mojave and Colorado Desert regions of California, with pre-applications accepted on a continuous (rolling) basis. No specific award amount or deadline is stated. Projects must be located in the California desert region, so this is geographically limited.

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

This Proposition 68 Regionwide Grant from the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy is open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments. It funds projects that create or improve public open space, water quality and supply, habitat restoration, trails, and flood protection within the conservancy's Southern California region. Applications proceed in two phases (a Concept Proposal followed by a Full Application), and projects must include long-term maintenance commitments of at least 20 years. No award amount or deadline is stated, and the program is geographically limited to the conservancy's service area.

Strategic Growth Council · $1M–$10M

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California can apply to the Strategic Growth Council's Community Resilience Centers Round 2 Implementation Grant for $1 million to $10 million to build or upgrade community resilience facilities and run programs that strengthen community resilience to climate and other disasters. Each application must include at least two partners, with at least one being a community-based organization if the lead applicant is not one. This is a large award (up to $10 million); the program prioritizes tribal applicants for application technical assistance.

Department of Transportation · Amount varies

California's Local Airport Loan Program (administered through the Department of Transportation/Caltrans) is open only to public agencies, and provides loans (not grants) of up to a 17-year term for airport projects such as hangars, general aviation terminals, utilities, fueling facilities, and local match for federal Airport Improvement Program grants. Loan amounts are set case-by-case based on project feasibility and the sponsor's finances. There is no deadline listed. Because eligibility is limited to public agencies and the funds are loans that must be repaid, most applicant types do not qualify.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

California's Charter School Facilities Program (State Treasurer's Office) is open to nonprofits and public agencies and provides low-cost financing for charter school facilities, structured as 50% grant and 50% loan. Funds support construction of new permanent school facilities or rehabilitation of existing district facilities for charter schools statewide. No specific per-applicant amount or deadline is listed. Eligibility is limited to charter-school-related nonprofits and public agencies, and half of the funding must be repaid as a loan.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

California schools (including businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies operating schools) can apply for this equipment grant from the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife to launch a National Archery in the Schools Program. Each year 12-20 new schools receive a starter kit (12 compound bows, targets, arrows, a net, racks, and a maintenance kit) for use in PE classes. Schools already affiliated with NASP are not eligible, and a proposed archery instructor must complete free NASP national training. Applications and a Grant Criterion letter are due July 30 each year, with awards announced by September 15.

CA Department of Food and Agriculture · $1–$190K

Businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to the CA Department of Food and Agriculture's Beet Curly Top Virus Control Program, which funds projects developing new methods to manage the beet leafhopper (the virus's main vector) or to enhance other program areas. Awards range up to about $190,000. Funded approaches must use either no-pesticide alternatives or pesticides approved by CA's Department of Pesticide Regulation for the relevant use. Proposals must be submitted 30 days before posted Control Board meetings, so timing depends on the published meeting schedule.

Food and Drug Administration · Amount varies

This is a forecasted FDA cooperative agreement supporting collaboration among retail food safety regulatory associations. It has not yet opened, and eligibility, funding amount, and deadline are not yet published. Such FDA programs typically target government regulatory bodies, associations, and nonprofits in the food-safety field, so check the full notice for specific eligibility before applying.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to this Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy program funded by California's Proposition 68 for drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor-access projects in the San Fernando Valley river area. Funding amounts and deadline are not specified in the listing. Projects must be located in the eligible California geographic area, so this is geographically restricted to that region.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to California's Wildlife Conservation Board Regional Conservation Investment Strategies (RCIS) grant program, which funds development of voluntary regional conservation strategy documents. Note that only public agencies may formally propose an RCIS, and proposals with matching funds (including in-kind) are prioritized, so a cost share is favored. Funding amounts and deadline are not specified in the listing.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Upland Game Bird Account grant, which funds projects—including habitat conservation—carrying out the purposes of Fish and Game Code §3684. Any proposal meeting the statutory criteria can qualify, and projects must serve California upland-game-bird purposes. Funding amounts and deadline are not specified in the listing.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Only public agencies and tribal governments (Native American tribal governments, counties, cities, and special districts) may apply to California Fish and Wildlife's Local Oil Spill Response Equipment Grant, which funds pre-positioning of oil-spill response equipment near state waters. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis with total available funding of $400,000. Projects must protect resources within or adjacent to California waters of the state, so this is geographically and entity restricted.

Administration for Community Living · Amount varies

This is a forecasted Administration for Community Living opportunity to fund National Resource Centers serving older American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. It is not yet open, and eligibility, award amount, and deadline have not been posted. These ACL awards typically target tribal organizations, nonprofits, and institutions with relevant expertise serving Native elders, so review the full notice for specific eligibility.