California State Grants

Strategic Growth Council · Amount varies

California's Transformative Climate Communities Implementation Grants fund neighborhood-scale, multi-project efforts that cut greenhouse gas emissions and deliver community benefits, such as affordable housing, transit access, solar and energy efficiency, water efficiency, and community resilience centers, in disadvantaged and tribal communities. At least two co-applicants are required alongside the lead applicant, forming a shared Collaborative Governance Structure with local residents. The deadline is October 1, 2026.

Strategic Growth Council · $1–$5M

California's Transformative Climate Communities Project Development Grants fund pre-development and basic infrastructure work (up to $5 million) that prepares disadvantaged, tribal, and previously-funded communities for future climate resilience implementation funding. Disadvantaged unincorporated communities and past TCC Planning or Implementation Grant participants get priority. The deadline is October 1, 2026.

Strategic Growth Council · Up to $300K

California's Transformative Climate Communities program funds planning activities (capacity building, code and policy updates, community engagement, climate action planning) to prepare low-income, disadvantaged, and tribal communities for future TCC implementation funding, with awards up to $300,000. Businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply. The deadline is October 1, 2026.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

This grant is restricted to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) — not businesses or nonprofits generally. Funds can be used for technical assistance and capacity-building, expanding access to capital in economically disadvantaged California communities, or to supplement the CDFI's own net assets and funding capacity. Award amounts are not specified in the listing; applications are due October 1, 2026. If your organization is not a certified CDFI, you do not qualify.

CA Department of Education · Up to $500K

Open only to California local educational agencies — school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools — not to nonprofits or individuals. Funds support service-learning programs that help high school seniors earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement, covering teacher planning time, professional development, instructional materials, and program coordination, with awards up to $500,000. A Notice of Intent to Apply is due September 8, 2026, ahead of the October 5, 2026 application deadline.

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery · Amount varies

California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) offers this grant to public agencies and tribal governments to clean up illegal solid waste dumping on farm and ranch property in California, covering costs like disposal, equipment, personnel, and public education for site remediation projects lasting about two years. Only public agencies and tribal governments may apply directly; private landowners are not eligible applicants even though the sites may be privately owned. The application deadline is October 7, 2026.

Department of Transportation · $50K–$700K

This Caltrans grant funds transportation planning projects for public agencies and tribal governments in California — not nonprofits, businesses, or individuals — with awards ranging from $50,000 to $700,000. Eligible projects must have a clear transportation nexus and generally support regional sustainability, greenhouse-gas reduction, and multimodal planning goals tied to SB 1 funding. Applications are due October 9, 2026.

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.

Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development · $50K–$500K

The Quantum FAST Challenge, run by California's Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, funds two kinds of projects: education/workforce development to build a quantum-technology talent pipeline, and applied use-case demonstrations pairing researchers and students with industry partners. Listed eligible applicant types are 'Other Legal Entity' and 'Public Agency' — standard nonprofit and small-business categories aren't explicitly named, so organizations outside government or an established legal-entity structure should confirm fit with the funder before applying. Awards range from $50,000 to $500,000, with applications due 2026-10-20.

Department of Health Care Access and Information · Amount varies

California's Song-Brown program funds organizations training Registered Nurse students to practice in medically underserved communities, requiring recruitment, placement, and preceptorship strategies targeting areas of unmet need. Businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies running training programs may apply. The deadline is October 22, 2026.

Public Utilities Commission · $50K–$100K

Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based organizations with a demonstrated track record addressing the digital divide, partnered with a low-income urban or rural public school or district. The California Public Utilities Commission will award about three grants of $50,000 to $100,000 (roughly $200,000 total) for projects that address broadband access, affordability, device access, or digital-skills training. Applicants must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board, submit at least three letters of recommendation, and already have a partnership agreement with the beneficiary school or district. Applications are due by October 31, 2026.

Department of Transportation · $100K–$10M

Funds infrastructure projects that reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on public roads, administered by California's Division of Local Assistance under the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (23 U.S.C. §148). Open only to public agencies and tribal governments — not nonprofits, businesses, or individuals — for projects justified by crash data, crash rate, or crash-reduction potential. Awards range from $100,000 to $10,000,000 and are due 2026-11-03.

CA Department of Education · $50K–$203.5K

California's After School Education and Safety (ASES) program, created by Proposition 49, funds before- and after-school literacy, academic enrichment, and safety programs for K-9 students, with awards of $50,000-$203,500. Only public agencies partnering with schools are eligible, in this Round 2 of the 2025-26 RFA. The deadline is December 3, 2026.

Department of Parks and Recreation · $1K–$10K

This California grant is open only to public agencies (cities, counties, districts) that previously received Boating and Waterways funding for a project — it is not for nonprofits, businesses, or individuals. It pays for installing or replacing signs that are obsolete, damaged, missing, or needed for safety at those existing facilities, with awards ranging from about $1,000 to $10,000. Applications are due February 1, 2027.

Department of Parks and Recreation · Amount varies

Open only to public agencies in California (not nonprofits, businesses, or individuals), this program funds the creation or improvement of public non-motorized boat launching access, such as small hand-launched boat ramps, parking lots, and restrooms. No award amount is listed in this record, so applicants should confirm funding levels with the funder. Applications are due February 1, 2027.

Department of Parks and Recreation · Amount varies

This California grant is restricted to local government agencies and funds construction or improvement of boat launching facilities — ramps, restrooms, boarding floats, shore protection, and vehicle/trailer parking — plus related engineering, permitting, and inspection costs. It is not open to nonprofits, businesses, or individuals, and no award amount is specified in this record. Applications are due February 1, 2027.

Department of Parks and Recreation · Amount varies

This California program is limited to public agencies that operate DBW-funded boat launching facilities and covers repairs or ramp extensions needed after flood, wildfire, accident damage, or drought-related low water levels. It is not open to nonprofits, businesses, or individuals, and no award amount is specified in this record. Applications are due February 1, 2027.

Department of Housing and Community Development · Amount varies

This California housing program funds predevelopment, construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable rental and ownership housing, plus homelessness services like rapid rehousing and shelter operations. It's restricted to public agencies — cities, counties, and other government entities — so nonprofits, businesses, and individuals can't apply directly. No award amount is specified.

Department of Housing and Community Development · Amount varies

This California housing program funds predevelopment, construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable rental and ownership housing, plus homelessness services like rapid rehousing and shelter operations. It's restricted to public agencies — cities, counties, and other government entities — so nonprofits, businesses, and individuals can't apply directly. No award amount is specified.