Browse grants

Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation · $750K–$4.5M

Nonprofits, public agencies, tribal governments, community-based organizations, and public higher education institutions in California can apply, but only as part of a coalition — every application needs a Lead Applicant plus at least one Co-Applicant. It funds heat-related infrastructure planning and demonstration projects ($750,000–$1.2 million) or implementation of already-planned heat infrastructure ($3 million–$4.5 million). At least 40% of funding is reserved for projects benefiting Disadvantaged Communities, with 10% of that share going to Severely Disadvantaged Communities. Applicants must first submit a Pre-Application Interest Form via Submittable (window closes July 21 or August 11, 2026) before the Full Application is due October 13, 2026.

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery · $1–$375K

This California program funds Tire-Derived Aggregate (TDA) infrastructure projects — retaining walls, stormwater/low-impact-development work, slope stabilization, landfill leachate and gas collection, and similar applications — with awards ranging from $1 to $375,000. Eligible applicants include California local governments, special districts, public school districts, state agencies, UC/CSU/community colleges, qualifying tribal entities, 501(c)(3)/(c)(4)/(c)(6)/(c)(10) nonprofits, and for-profit businesses that are California-based or have a California operational presence. Private elementary and secondary schools are excluded even if organized as nonprofits, and applicants without a California connection are not eligible. The deadline is October 16, 2026.

Department of Parks and Recreation · $200K–$8.5M

Open to California cities, counties, districts, joint powers authorities, and nonprofit organizations, funding acquisition, design, and construction of new or renovated parks in underserved, climate-vulnerable communities. Grants range from $200,000 to $8,500,000, can cover 100% of project costs, and require no matching funds. Applications are due online by December 17, 2026.

Department of Parks and Recreation · Amount varies

California's Pumpout Facility Grant Program funds new construction of boat pumpout and dump stations on the state's waterways. Eligibility is broad — businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can all apply. No award amount is specified.

Department of Parks and Recreation · Amount varies

California's Pumpout Facility Grant Program funds ongoing operation and maintenance of boat pumpout, dump stations, and floating restrooms on the state's waterways. Eligibility is broad — businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can all apply. No award amount is specified.

State Water Resources Control Board · $1–$15M

This program is open to California local public agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public utilities, state-recognized Native American tribes, and mutual water companies. The State Water Resources Control Board funds construction (and, for large-scale projects, planning and design) of recycled water treatment, storage, distribution, groundwater recharge, and related water-reuse infrastructure, with awards ranging from $1 up to $15 million. Operation and maintenance costs are not eligible, but all community types, including non-disadvantaged and disadvantaged, may apply. The application deadline is July 1, 2027.

Air Resources Board · Up to $10M

Open to nonprofits and public agencies in California to serve as the administering partner for a statewide e-bike incentive program targeting low-income consumers; it funds one selected grantee organization rather than individual e-bike purchasers directly. Maximum award is up to $10 million. Note the listed application deadline (May 2022) has passed, so applicants should confirm whether this solicitation has reopened before applying.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments partnering with the California Wildlife Conservation Board on land acquisition for conservation. Funds "willing seller" land purchases evaluated jointly with the Department of Fish and Wildlife; the process typically takes 6-12 months. No award amount or deadline is listed, and this is a specialized real-estate acquisition program rather than a general grant.

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for park facility improvements, expanded access to conservation land, or climate-impact-reducing projects in California's Coachella Valley, funded under Proposition 68. Applications are accepted continuously via a pre-application consultation process, with priority given to projects serving economically disadvantaged communities. No specific award amount is listed, and eligibility is geographically limited to the Coachella Valley area.

Tahoe Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments working in the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin can apply for this Tahoe Conservancy program, funded by Proposition 4, covering land acquisition, planning, implementation, and monitoring for watershed, forest health, wildfire, and climate-resilience projects (with $25.5 million and $29 million allocated to specific purposes). Funding is typically awarded on a rolling basis without fixed deadlines, starting with a required pre-application letter of intent; no specific award amount per project is listed here.

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

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects along the Lower Los Angeles River in California that support severely disadvantaged communities through drought response and long-term water resilience, funded under Proposition 68. Applications go through a two-phase process: a Concept Proposal reviewed by Conservancy staff before an invited Full Application. No specific award amount or deadline is listed, and eligibility is limited to projects in the Lower LA River program area serving disadvantaged communities.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California; this state Cleanup and Abatement Account funds emergency responses to pollution or urgent drinking water needs when no responsible party is available to pay for cleanup. Funding priorities and availability depend on legislative appropriations, penalty/settlement funds, and loan repayments, so amounts vary and are not fixed. No specific award amount or deadline is listed.

San Diego River Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects that support the San Diego River Conservancy's mission under its enabling legislation and strategic plan. No specific award amount or deadline is currently published. Limited to projects within the Conservancy's San Diego River service area in California.

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · Amount varies

Open to businesses, individuals, nonprofits, other legal entities, and public agencies owning 20 to 5,000 acres of forest land in California; this program provides cost-share assistance (not full grants) for forest management planning, reforestation, and related improvement activities performed under a Registered Professional Forester. Broadcast, controlled, or cultural burning is not an eligible cost. No specific award amount or deadline is listed, and applicants should expect to cover part of the cost themselves.

Coastal Conservancy · Amount varies

The California Coastal Conservancy's Explore the Coast Overnight Program funds nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments to plan, design, permit, or build lower-cost overnight coastal accommodations, prioritizing access for low- and middle-income Californians and underserved communities. No specific funding amount or deadline is listed, and the program is limited to California coastal projects.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Riparian Habitat Conservation Program. Funds restoration of riparian vegetation, floodplain reconnection, invasive species control, and stream/fencing projects statewide in California. No specific award amount or deadline is provided.

Coastal Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects along the California coast, San Francisco Bay, and coastal watersheds. Funds feasibility studies, land acquisition, planning, design, permitting, and construction for beaches, parks, trails, habitat restoration, and climate resilience projects, but does not cover ongoing operations or maintenance. Most funding is awarded through a rolling pre-application process; geographically limited to coastal California, and no set award amount or deadline is listed.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments serving severely disadvantaged communities can apply for this Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy grant funded under Proposition 68 (2018), a $4 billion bond for drought, water, parks, climate, and coastal protection projects. No specific award amount or deadline is listed here; eligibility is narrowed to projects benefiting severely disadvantaged communities specifically.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California for river and stream restoration projects, including floodplain reconnection and riparian habitat work, funded through Proposition 68. No specific award amount or deadline is currently published. Geographic scope is limited to California rivers and streams.

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

Individuals, nonprofits, other legal entities, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply for this CAL FIRE program funding large-scale wildfire and landscape resilience projects, including hazardous fuels reduction, prescribed fire, reforestation, biomass utilization, and workforce training, with awards ranging from $5 million to $20 million. The program favors applicants who can demonstrate strong administrative and technical capacity to manage large, multi-partner projects, and concept proposals are due by 3 p.m. PDT on June 30, 2026, so smaller organizations without prior large-grant management experience may be at a disadvantage.