Grants for State, Local & Tribal Governments

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.

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.

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.

Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank · Amount varies

California's Infrastructure State Revolving Fund (ISRF) Program, run by IBank, provides low-interest financing (loans, not grants) from $1 million to $65 million with terms up to 30 years for public infrastructure and economic development projects such as streets, water and wastewater systems, transit, parks, and public facilities. Only public agencies (city and local governments) are eligible, and applications are accepted year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Note this is loan financing rather than grant funding, and projects must be in California.

Department of Toxic Substances Control · Up to $2.5M

This is a loan program (not a grant) from California's Department of Toxic Substances Control, listed here as eligible to public agencies. It provides loans up to $2,500,000 to investigate, clean up, and redevelop abandoned or underutilized urban properties contaminated with hazardous materials. Applicants must have no disqualifying felony/misdemeanor convictions related to hazardous materials, fraud, or similar offenses, and no violations of environmental orders; funds are reimbursed against documented eligible costs and must be repaid over up to seven years.

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.

State Treasurer's Office · $1–$5B

This California Health Facilities Financing Authority program offers tax-exempt bond financing (loans, not grants) to nonprofit 501(c)(3) health facilities and public health facilities such as district hospitals. Applicants must qualify as a health facility under the Authority's Act, have provided the same services for at least three years, and demonstrate fiscal soundness and ability to repay; new organizations are generally not eligible. There is no loan maximum and maturities can run up to about 40 years, with funds usable for construction, acquisition, equipment, refunding prior debt, and related costs, subject to issuance and annual fees.

Coastal Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments, this Coastal Conservancy program funds the planning, design, permitting, and construction of lower-cost overnight coastal accommodations so more Californians, especially low- and middle-income households and underserved communities, can stay at the coast. Award amounts and deadlines are not listed. The program is geographically limited to the California coast and is not open to individuals or for-profit businesses.

State Treasurer's Office · $1–$50M

This California Health Facilities Financing Authority program (CHFFA) provides tax-exempt equipment financing (a loan, not a grant) to eligible health facilities that are nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporations or public health facilities such as district hospitals. Applicants must have operated the same services for at least three years and demonstrate fiscal soundness; loans start at a $500,000 minimum with no maximum and carry market-rate fixed interest plus application and administrative fees. Three years of audited financial statements are required, and loan maturity is tied to the useful life of the financed equipment.

Department of Commerce · $1–$1.5M

The Department of Commerce / Economic Development Administration Research and National Technical Assistance (RNTA) program funds research and technical assistance projects that support economic development in economically distressed areas of the U.S. Eligibility is broad, including district organizations, tribes, states, local governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits acting with local officials, private individuals, and for-profit organizations. Awards range up to about $1.5 million, and applications use a two-step process (concept proposal first, then invited full application) submitted through EDA's EDGE platform. No deadline is stated.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to public agencies (cities, towns, districts, state agencies), Native American tribal governments or organizations with jurisdiction over waste disposal, approved Section 208 management agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and National Estuary Programs. The California fund provides low-interest financing (and, for small disadvantaged communities, grants or principal forgiveness of up to 50-100%) for publicly owned wastewater, sewer, stormwater, water reclamation, and nonpoint-source pollution projects, with no maximum funding limit and repayment over up to 30 years. Most awards are loans rather than grants, and grant/forgiveness eligibility depends on meeting disadvantaged-community affordability criteria; projects must be in California.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

California's State Water Resources Control Board uses the Cleanup and Abatement Account (CAA) to fund projects that clean up or abate water pollution where no viable responsible party exists, and to address urgent drinking water needs caused by drought, contamination, or other emergencies. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments; individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. Projects must address waters of the State of California, and award amounts and deadlines are not specified here.

State Water Resources Control Board · $250K–$500K

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to California's State Water Board Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning costs of drinking water projects, such as feasibility studies, design documents, environmental review, and rate studies. Small water systems serving disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged communities may receive up to $500,000 in principal forgiveness/grant funds, while other systems may receive subsidized loans. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis and undergo technical, environmental, legal, and financial review; the most favorable terms are limited to qualifying small disadvantaged-community systems.