California State Grants

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.

State Treasurer's Office · $1.5M–$550M

This California State Treasurer's Office program provides tax-exempt conduit bond financing (not grants) to businesses for pollution control, waste disposal, recycling, water, and resource recovery facilities. Only businesses may apply, projects must be in California, and at least 95% of bond proceeds must go to the defined project; if the project defaults, the borrower alone is responsible for repaying bondholders. Financing amounts range from about $1.5 million to $550 million, and final eligibility depends on bond and tax counsel opinion.

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.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to California's Wildlife Conservation Board for projects that restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat statewide, including wetlands, coastal and freshwater habitat, in-stream restoration, and removal of fish passage barriers. The program is authorized under Fish and Game Code section 1301. Award amounts are not specified, and projects must improve the quality of native habitat in California.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to California's Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to restore or enhance monarch butterfly and pollinator habitat, including breeding habitat and overwintering sites on private and public lands, plus related technical assistance. Projects must be in California. Specific award amounts and deadlines are not stated in the listing, so confirm those details with the program before applying.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to California's Wildlife Conservation Board for projects that restore wildlife migration corridors or remove barriers to fish passage, such as wildlife over/undercrossings, fish ladders, culverts, and related planning and environmental review. Projects must improve fish or wildlife mobility and further the objectives of Proposition 68. Award amounts are not stated, and the program prioritizes specific project types and sites on California's official priority barrier lists.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments. California's Department of Fish and Wildlife funds projects under Proposition 68 that remove barriers to Southern Steelhead migration and restore habitat, with related infrastructure improvements as the highest priority. Projects must serve California; for-profit businesses and individuals are not eligible, and no award range or deadline is stated here.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments, this Proposition 68 grant program (Prop 68 River track) administered by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy funds drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access projects under California's 2018 bond act. Award amounts and deadline are not specified in this listing. Because the Conservancy administers the program, projects are expected to fall within its California jurisdiction.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through California's Department of Fish and Wildlife under Proposition 1 (the 2014 Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act). The Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program funds projects that improve water quality, restore species and habitat, and support a more resilient water system benefiting the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Individuals and businesses are not eligible, and projects must benefit the Delta; award amounts and deadlines are not stated here.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

California's Department of Fish and Wildlife offers these Proposition 68 grants to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects that improve climate adaptation, protect habitat and wildlife corridors, restore rivers and watersheds, and enhance drought resilience. At least 15 percent of funds are reserved for projects serving severely disadvantaged communities (median household income below 60 percent of the statewide average). Individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible, and projects are limited to California; no specific award range or deadline is stated.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for wildlife and fish corridor connectivity planning and implementation projects in California, consistent with the State Wildlife Action Plan and state connectivity and fish passage efforts. Administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife under a Nature-Based Solutions program. No award amount or deadline is stated, and projects are focused on California connectivity work, so confirm project alignment and current funding availability before applying.

Department of Health Care Services · Amount varies

California's Department of Health Care Services funds nonprofit, DHCS-licensed residential substance use disorder facilities to start or expand medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services for opioid and other substance use disorders, with awards scaled by facility size up to roughly $250,000 to $550,000. Only nonprofits operating qualifying licensed SUD facilities are eligible, and facilities must have or be able to obtain Incidental Medical Services certification within six months. Most funding must go toward infrastructure and staffing for treatment, and projects serve California; this opportunity is currently forecasted.

Department of Health Care Access and Information · Amount varies

Nonprofit and public-agency hospitals that qualify as small, rural, or Critical Access facilities in California can apply to this state program for grant funding and technical assistance to meet seismic safety retrofit requirements. Applicants must demonstrate they meet the small/rural/Critical Access definition and are at risk of closure for financial reasons, and must have current seismic compliance and project delivery plans on file with HCAI before funding is awarded. Eligibility is narrow and California-specific; available funds are allocated across participants based on need.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

This Proposition 68 grant from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments; individuals and businesses are not eligible. It funds drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor-access projects, with this specific track targeting the San Fernando Valley river area and severely disadvantaged communities. Funding amounts are not specified, and projects must serve the designated California geography.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Administered by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy under California's Proposition 4, this grant funds wildfire and forest resilience projects such as fire prevention, forest health, fuel reduction near populated areas, watershed improvement, chaparral or forest restoration, and related workforce development. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments. Projects must meet specific statutory criteria (Section 91520) and qualify under the Wildfire and Forest Resilience chapter, so eligibility is narrow and tied to project type and location.

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.

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.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife funds watershed cleanup, remediation, and enhancement projects, including road treatments, erosion/sediment control, and cleanup of damage from illicit cannabis operations, plus wildlife and habitat improvements. Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply; businesses and individuals are not listed as eligible. Funding amounts and deadlines are not specified here.

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.