Grants for Nonprofits

Food and Drug Administration · Amount varies

This is a forecasted (not yet open) FDA R13 grant to support conferences and scientific meetings related to FDA's mission; clinical trials are not allowed. Such awards typically go to nonprofit and academic organizations that host relevant scientific gatherings and are usually modest in size. Eligibility details, funding amounts, and deadlines have not yet been posted, so interested applicants should watch for the full announcement.

Air Resources Board · Up to $10M

California Air Resources Board's Electric Bicycle Incentives Project (EBIP) seeks a single grantee (administrator) to run a program providing e-bike purchase incentives to income-qualified, low-income consumers. Eligible applicants are nonprofits and public agencies only; individuals and businesses cannot apply to administer it, and the maximum award is up to $10,000,000. Note the application instructions reference a past deadline (May 11, 2022), so confirm the current status before applying.

San Diego River Conservancy · Amount varies

The San Diego River Conservancy Direct Grant Program funds projects that advance the Conservancy's mission for the San Diego River watershed, including environment and water, parks and recreation, and benefits to disadvantaged communities. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments; individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. Projects must align with the Conservancy's enabling legislation and strategic plan and serve the San Diego River area; award amounts and deadlines are not specified here.

Administration for Children and Families - ORR · Amount varies

This is a forecasted (not yet open) Office of Refugee Resettlement (Administration for Children and Families) opportunity, the Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program, which supports refugee employment and self-sufficiency services. It typically suits nonprofits, states, and tribal or community organizations serving refugee populations. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines have not yet been posted, so interested applicants should watch for the full announcement.

CA Energy Commission · Amount varies

The California Energy Commission provides cost-share funding to help applicants match awards they receive (or follow-on funding) from eligible federal clean energy funding opportunities such as DOE grants. It is broadly open to businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments, but you must first apply for or have an active eligible federal award — retroactive cost share for already-completed federal awards is not eligible. The list of qualifying federal opportunities is updated continuously; no award range or deadline is listed.

Department of Toxic Substances Control · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, tribal entities, and local governments that are not potentially liable under CERCLA, this program provides Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund grants to assess or clean up contaminated brownfield sites the applicant owns. Important: the listing states that in 2023 there was insufficient funding and the Department of Toxic Substances Control was not accepting applications, so confirm current availability before applying. Award amounts are not specified.

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to this Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy program funding climate-adaptation and nature-based projects within the Coachella Valley and surrounding mountains, such as land acquisition, habitat and watershed restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and expanded park and trail access. The geographic limit to the Coachella Valley area is a key restriction, and projects benefiting disadvantaged or vulnerable communities receive priority. Applications start with a Letter of Intent (Pre-Application Consultation Form); matching funds are not required but are viewed favorably. Funding amounts and deadlines are not stated.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy's Proposition 4 Nature-Based program, which funds projects that protect biodiversity, restore landscape health, or advance California's climate goals. To qualify, projects must also reduce climate change risks to communities, fish and wildlife, or natural resources, or increase public access to nature, and must satisfy specific Proposition 4 statutory sections. Funding amounts and deadlines are not stated, and projects are tied to the Conservancy's California service area.

State Treasurer's Office · $1–$135M

Eligibility is restricted to 13 specific children's hospitals named in California's Proposition 4 (eight private nonprofit hospitals and five University of California hospitals); no other organizations qualify. The program funds capital improvement projects, with grant awards capped at $135 million per private nonprofit hospital and $54 million per UC hospital, less issuance and administrative costs. Applications are accepted on a rolling monthly basis through June 30, 2033.

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery · $500K–$4M

Businesses and nonprofits in California may apply to CalRecycle's Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program, which funds projects that move empty glass beverage containers by rail to CalRecycle-certified glass processing facilities. Eligible costs include rail transportation equipment, supplies, transport costs, new or upgraded rail lines, and directly related personnel. Awards range from roughly $500,000 to $4,000,000, but all projects and transportation must be located in and originate from California, a significant geographic restriction. No deadline is stated.

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy funds park, recreation, and conservation-land-access projects under California Proposition 68, open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis and require a pre-application form plus a staff consultation before the full application. Projects serving severely disadvantaged communities (median income under 60% of the statewide median) receive priority, and the program is geographically limited to the Coachella Valley area; no fixed award amount is stated.

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy funds the acquisition of mountainous or natural conservation lands in California's Coachella Valley and surrounding mountains, and in limited cases capital improvements on existing conservation lands. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments; the program is geographically restricted to the Coachella Valley area. Matching funds are preferred but not required, and priority goes to acquisitions supporting the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. No award amounts or deadline are listed.

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery · Amount varies

California's CalRecycle Recycling Market Development Zone Revolving Loan Program offers financing (a loan, not a grant) to recycling-related businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies that prevent, reduce, or recycle waste through value-added processing or manufacturing. Applicants must be California-based and located within a designated Recycling Market Development Zone, which limits eligibility geographically. Award amounts are not specified.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This U.S. National Science Foundation program (Chemical Evolution of the Solid Earth and Volcanology) funds fundamental research on the origin and evolution of Earth's core, mantle, and crust, including volcanology, igneous and metamorphic processes, ore deposits, and geochronology. Only U.S.-based institutions of higher education and non-profit, non-academic research organizations (such as museums, observatories, and research laboratories) may submit proposals, so for-profit firms and individuals are not eligible to apply directly. Funding amounts and deadlines are not stated.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This is a forecasted National Institutes of Health research opportunity focused on advancing screening, diagnosis, and referral for late-talking children. Such awards typically fund researchers at universities, hospitals, and research institutions rather than individuals or service providers. Detailed eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines have not yet been published for this cycle.

Department of Public Health · Amount varies

California Department of Public Health's Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment Grant funds projects that improve the lives of skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents, such as person-centered care, infection-control training, and arts/engagement programs. Eligibility is broad, including businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments. Note that research-only projects, capital improvements, staff salaries, and high-cost technology are not fundable; projects run up to 36 months and applicants must use the CDPH template.

Tahoe Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to the California Tahoe Conservancy's Science and Lake Improvement Account program, which funds near-shore environmental work in the Lake Tahoe Basin, particularly managing aquatic invasive species or improving public access to sovereign land. Projects can include planning, site improvement or reconstruction on public land, and land acquisition from willing sellers. The program is funded at roughly $350,000 per year and is geographically limited to the Lake Tahoe Basin. No formal deadline is listed; contact grants@tahoe.ca.gov for details.

Administration for Community Living · Amount varies

This is a forecasted Administration for Community Living program to scale evidence-based falls prevention programs, which typically support organizations that deliver proven community programs reducing fall risk among older adults. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines have not yet been published, so applicants should watch for the official notice. ACL grants of this type usually go to nonprofits, state and tribal agencies, universities, and aging-services networks rather than individuals.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

California's Charter Access to Bank Loan Enhancement (Charter ABLE) Program, run by the State Treasurer's Office with federal funds, provides credit enhancement to lower the cost of financing permanent charter school facilities. Nonprofits and public agencies are eligible, but this is a facilities-financing credit enhancement tied to charter schools rather than a general-purpose grant, so it is narrowly targeted. Funding amounts and deadlines are not stated.

Coastal Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects along the California coast, San Francisco Bay, and coastal watersheds that increase public access to beaches and trails, restore habitat, preserve working lands, and build climate resilience. The Conservancy funds most project stages from feasibility studies through construction and monitoring, but does not fund ongoing operations and maintenance. Awards are made through a rolling pre-application process; amounts and deadlines are not specified, and the program is geographically limited to California.