California State Grants

Department of Toxic Substances Control · $1–$100K

California's DTSC Investigating Site Contamination Program provides loans of up to $100,000 to conduct preliminary endangerment assessments of underutilized urban properties; up to 75% of the loan can be waived if redevelopment proves economically infeasible. The listed eligibility is public agencies, so private property owners and businesses should confirm whether they qualify before applying. Projects are limited to California sites.

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy · $50K–$2M

This California program from the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy funds wildfire and forest resilience, habitat restoration, open space, and park projects, with awards ranging from roughly $50,000 to $2 million. Only nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply, and projects must benefit the conservancy's jurisdiction in the San Gabriel and Los Angeles River watershed areas, so the geographic limit excludes applicants and projects outside that region. Businesses and individuals are not eligible.

Department of Water Resources · Amount varies

This forecasted California Department of Water Resources program will provide grant funding to repair, retrofit, and rehabilitate state-jurisdictional dams with safety deficiencies, helping reduce downstream risk and recover lost water storage. The listed eligibility is broad, including businesses, individuals, nonprofits, other legal entities, public agencies, and tribal governments, but applicants realistically need to be dam owners or operators of affected California dams. Award amounts and the deadline have not yet been published.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

California's Wildlife Conservation Board offers this Inland Wetland Conservation Program for nonprofit organizations, local and state public agencies, federal agencies, and tribal governments to acquire, restore, and enhance wetlands and wildlife-friendly habitat. Projects must be in California's Central Valley region (roughly Red Bluff to Bakersfield, across nine specified basins). Funding is geographically restricted to that area, and award amounts and deadlines are not specified in this listing.

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy · $50K–$2M

The San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy offers this grant for nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments to fund multi-benefit projects along the Lower Los Angeles River (a defined 19-mile corridor from Vernon to Long Beach) that improve the environment, water resiliency, and community health. Awards range from roughly $50,000 to $2 million, and a cost-share is considered in the review. Applications run in two phases (a concept proposal, then a full application), and projects are geographically limited to the specified river area.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

California's Department of Fish and Wildlife offers this Proposition 1 Watershed Restoration Grant Program for nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments to fund water quality, river, and watershed protection and restoration projects of statewide importance located outside the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Projects must align with the California Water Action Plan goals. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified in this listing.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

California's Department of Fish and Wildlife offers this Proposition 68 grant for nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments to fund river and stream restoration in the Klamath-Trinity Watershed, including floodplain reconnection, riparian habitat restoration, and upper-watershed forest and meadow protection. Funding is limited to projects in that specific Northern California watershed. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified in this listing.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

California's Wildlife Conservation Board funds land acquisitions for conservation, open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments. Acquisitions are made on a willing-seller basis at appraised fair market value in coordination with CDFW, and the evaluation process typically takes 6 to 12 months. Individuals and businesses are not eligible, and the focus is on California conservation lands; no fixed award amount or deadline is given.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

California's Wildlife Conservation Board offers Public Access grants to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for planning and construction of projects that support wildlife-oriented recreation and nature-based education, such as trails, hunting and fishing access, birdwatching, and environmental education facilities. Projects must be located in California and be compatible with the Board's habitat protection mandate. Individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible, and award amounts and deadlines are not specified here.

Department of Housing and Community Development · Amount varies

California's Department of Housing and Community Development Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) NOFA provides low-interest construction and permanent financing loans for affordable rental housing, emergency shelters, transitional and permanent supportive housing, homebuyer projects, and accessory dwelling units. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments; individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. Projects must serve California residents, with minimum percentages of funds reserved for Extremely Low-Income households, and matching funds are part of the program structure.

Strategic Growth Council · $100K–$500K

California's Strategic Growth Council Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Round 2 Planning Grant funds planning activities that prepare communities to build or retrofit resilience centers, with awards roughly between $100,000 and $500,000. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments, and each application must include at least one partner plus letters of commitment; individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. Projects emphasize robust community engagement and serve California, especially disadvantaged communities; this opportunity is currently forecasted.

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery · $75K–$275K

Open to individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects that expand convenient beverage container recycling across California, such as collection at multi-family housing, schools, parks, and community events, water refill stations, and US-Mexico border litter cleanup. Awards range roughly from $75,000 to $275,000, and funding must tie directly to California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers. Note that education materials are capped at 25 percent of the award and out-of-state containers cannot be funded, so this is geographically limited to California programs.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects that protect, preserve, and restore riparian (streamside) habitats throughout California, including replanting native vegetation, restoring floodplain connectivity, invasive plant removal, fencing to manage livestock, and reconfiguring degraded streams. Award amounts and deadlines are not listed. This program is geographically limited to California and is not open to individuals or for-profit businesses.

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · $5M–$20M

Open to individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, tribal governments, and other legal entities for large, regional wildfire and landscape resilience projects in California, funded by CAL FIRE. Eligible work includes fuels reduction, prescribed and cultural fire, reforestation, biomass utilization, and related planning, with awards ranging from $5 million to $20 million. This is a competitive, multi-partner program that favors applicants with strong administrative and technical capacity, and concept proposals are due 3 p.m. PDT on June 30, 2026.

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · Amount varies

Open to businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and other legal entities that own 20 to 5,000 acres of California forest land, this program provides cost-share assistance for forest improvement such as a Registered Professional Forester management plan, reforestation, thinning, pruning, and wildlife habitat work. Because it is cost-share, applicants must contribute a portion of project costs; controlled/cultural burning is not eligible. Eligibility is tied to owning qualifying California forest acreage.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Administered by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy under California's Proposition 68, this program funds river-related projects that benefit severely disadvantaged communities. Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments; individuals and businesses do not qualify. Specific award amounts and deadlines are not stated, and projects must meet the program's geographic and severely-disadvantaged-community requirements.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Under California's Proposition 68, the Department of Fish and Wildlife funds rivers and streams projects that help communities adapt to climate change and restore habitat, such as floodplain reconnection and watershed restoration. Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments; individuals and businesses are not eligible. Specific award amounts and deadlines are not stated in the listing.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for regional wildfire projects, this Proposition 4 program funds work to improve local fire prevention capacity, forest health and resilience, and reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas. Funds are available for encumbrance or expenditure through June 30, 2028. Award amounts are not specified, and the program is administered by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, so projects are expected to relate to its California jurisdiction.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments, this California Department of Fish and Wildlife program funds research and innovation projects that evaluate and mitigate the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation, covering water use, land management, native species, community engagement, and technological innovation. Award amounts and deadline are not specified. Projects must address impacts in California, and applicants such as researchers and universities working through eligible entity types are encouraged.

Department of Housing and Community Development · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply for California HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds to support affordable housing for low- and very-low-income households. Funds (as loans/grants) cover program activities such as first-time homebuyer assistance, owner-occupied rehabilitation, and tenant-based rental assistance. This reopened NOFA distributes unclaimed 2024 funds over-the-counter on a first-come, first-served basis until exhausted, so timing matters; awards are limited to California and to projects serving households at or below 80% of Area Median Income.