Browse grants

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

Businesses and nonprofits located in California can apply for this CalRecycle program, which funds rail-transportation projects that move empty glass beverage containers to certified California glass processing facilities. Grants range from $500,000 to $4,000,000 and can cover equipment, materials, transportation costs, rail line construction, and related personnel. Eligibility is geographically restricted: both the applicant and the transportation activity must be based in California, making this unsuitable for out-of-state organizations.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to small businesses (fewer than 20 employees) in California that own or operate underground storage tanks (USTs) needing to comply with state upgrade, removal, or replacement requirements. Grants range from $3,000 to $70,000 (up to $210,000 for certain remote fueling stations), covering up to 100% of qualifying project costs. Eligibility is narrow: applicants must meet specific gasoline sales thresholds and compliance history requirements.

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

This California Proposition 68 program, administered by the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, funds projects that expand open space, improve water supply and quality, restore habitat and species, build trail networks, and improve flood protection through natural systems; nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply. Applications are submitted in two phases (a Concept Proposal followed by a Full Application), and funding is limited to the RMC's California service region; no specific award amount or deadline is listed in this posting.

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

This California Orphan Site Cleanup Fund grant is limited to current property owners of eligible sites with unauthorized petroleum underground storage tank (UST) releases, covering assessment, investigation, and cleanup costs up to $1,000,000 per site. It is not open to nonprofits or the general public — only businesses and individuals who currently own the affected property qualify.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Desert Conservation Program, but limited to projects in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts region of California. Funds land acquisition, restoration, and management to protect biodiversity, air/water quality, and climate resilience; applications are accepted on a continuous basis. No award amount or deadline is specified.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Regional Conservation Investment Strategies program, though public agencies typically lead these voluntary regional conservation planning efforts. Priority goes to areas lacking an existing conservation plan and to proposals that include matching funds (cash or in-kind) and demonstrate readiness. No specific award amount or deadline is listed.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in the San Fernando Valley area can apply for this Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy grant funded under California's Proposition 68 (2018), a $4 billion bond supporting drought, water, parks, climate, and coastal protection projects. No award amount or deadline is listed here; applicants should review the Conservancy's Proposition 68 Grant Program Guidelines for full details.

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

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments operating public water systems in California, for construction of drinking water infrastructure like treatment facilities, storage, and distribution systems. Eligible community water systems may receive principal forgiveness (effectively grant funding) from $2 million up to 100% of project cost depending on the community served and local water rates; other financing carries 0% to roughly half the state bond rate. Applications are accepted continuously but undergo a detailed technical, legal, and financial review.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open broadly to individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and California Native American tribes, this program funds habitat conservation projects tied to upland game birds through California's Upland Game Bird Account. Any proposal that meets the criteria in Fish & Game Code §3684 can qualify — eligibility isn't limited to established organizations. No specific award amount or deadline is listed, so applicants should confirm current cycle details with CDFW.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open only to public agencies and tribal governments (counties, cities, special districts, and Native American tribal governments) in California to pre-position oil spill response equipment near state waters. Total program funding is $400,000 available on a continuous application basis. Not open to nonprofits, businesses, or individuals, and limited to California coastal/waterway jurisdictions.

Ocean Protection Council · $250K–$750K

This Ocean Protection Council program funds only California Native American tribes and nonprofits for pre-planning and planning work to assess sea level rise impacts on tribal cultural resources, ancestral lands, and lifeways, with typical awards between $250,000 and $750,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling, quarterly, first-come first-served basis (non-competitive), making eligibility notably narrow and tribal-specific compared to general nonprofit grants.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California for projects that improve climate resilience, protect coastal/rural economies and wildlife habitat, or expand outdoor recreation, with top priority given to projects removing barriers to steelhead trout migration. Funded under Proposition 68; no specific award amount or deadline is listed in this posting.

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

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for wildfire prevention planning, fuel load reduction, invasive species management, and forest health projects in the San Gabriel Mountains, Foothills, and nearby urban wildland areas of California. Awards range from $50,000 to $2,000,000, with a two-phase Concept Proposal then Full Application process. Limited to projects within the Conservancy's designated Southern California service area.

San Diego River Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to this San Diego River Conservancy program (Proposition 4) for hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education. No specific award amounts or deadlines are provided, so applicants should confirm current funding availability directly with the Conservancy.

Baldwin Hills & Urban Watersheds Conservancy · Amount varies

This $48 million California Proposition 4 climate resilience program, administered by the Baldwin Hills & Urban Watersheds Conservancy, funds projects that reduce climate risks to communities, fish, wildlife, and natural resources, with priority for disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities, tribes, and vulnerable populations; nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply. Projects are evaluated against the Conservancy's Community and Climate Resilience framework and must demonstrate measurable benefits and community engagement; funding is limited to the Conservancy's California service area. No specific per-award amount or deadline is listed in this posting.

Department of Toxic Substances Control · Up to $2.5M

Open only to public agencies in California; this DTSC loan program (up to $2.5 million) funds investigation, cleanup, and redevelopment of abandoned or underutilized urban properties contaminated with hazardous materials. Applicants with felony convictions related to hazardous materials regulation, moral turpitude crimes, or violations of prior environmental remediation orders are disqualified. This is a loan requiring repayment (up to 7 years), not a grant, and is limited to public agency applicants.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California pursuing oak woodland conservation, particularly projects that bring ranchers and conservationists together for sustainable farming and habitat protection. No specific award amount or deadline is published for this ongoing program. Limited to California oak woodland projects, so it is not a fit for out-of-state or unrelated environmental work.

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

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for Lower Los Angeles River watershed projects in California that must meet at least four of thirteen statutory objectives, such as fish passage restoration, climate adaptation, or reducing water pollution, under Proposition 1. Awards range from $50,000 to $2,000,000. Eligibility is limited to projects addressing the Proposition 1 objectives within the Lower LA River watershed.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments serving severely disadvantaged communities in the San Fernando Valley can apply for this Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy grant funded under Proposition 68 (2018), part of a $4 billion bond for drought, water, parks, and climate resilience projects. No specific award amount or deadline is listed here; the severely-disadvantaged-community designation narrows eligibility to projects serving that specific population.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

A low-interest loan program (not a grant) for California small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) that own or operate underground storage tanks needing upgrades, removal, or replacement to meet state and federal standards. Loans range from $10,000 to $750,000 over 10- or 20-year terms, secured by business assets or real estate, with a 2% loan fee due at closing. Applicants must demonstrate ability to repay and provide adequate collateral.