California State Grants

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California conducting research or technological innovation on the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation. Funds projects on water use, land management, native species, and community engagement related to cultivation practices. No award amount or deadline is listed in the posting, so applicants should confirm current funding levels and timelines with CDFW before applying.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to this Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy program for regional wildfire prevention, forest health, and forest resilience projects that reduce risk to populated areas near wildlands. Funds are available for encumbrance through June 30, 2028 and liquidation through June 30, 2031, but no specific award amount or application deadline is listed here.

Department of Housing and Community Development · Amount varies

Businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply for this roughly $101 million California HCD Super NOFA funding multifamily rental housing and infrastructure programs, but awards are strictly limited to projects located in Los Angeles County affected by the January 2025 wildfires. Funding covers new construction, rehabilitation, and conversion of affordable, supportive, transit-oriented, or veteran-focused rental housing, plus infrastructure gap funding for qualifying infill projects; organizations outside LA County are not eligible.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits and public agencies operating charter schools in California, administered by the State Treasurer's Office (California School Finance Authority). Provides facility incentive grants; the Authority received a $30 million federal award for a new round starting the 2025-26 school year, but no per-applicant amount or deadline is given. Limited to charter school facility projects, a narrow use case.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits and public agencies operating charter schools, administered by the California State Treasurer's Office using a $10 million federal Credit Enhancement grant. Enhances financing arrangements to lower the cost of permanent charter school facilities. No specific per-applicant award amount or deadline is listed, and eligibility is narrowly limited to charter school facility financing.

State Water Resources Control Board · $1–$300K

Open only to local public agencies in California -- nonprofits, businesses, and individuals are not eligible. Funds planning studies (feasibility work, not construction) for recycled water treatment, storage, groundwater recharge, or indirect potable reuse projects, with awards from $1 to $300,000; operations and maintenance costs are not covered. All community types, including disadvantaged communities, may apply.

Tahoe Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for near-shore environmental improvement projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin, particularly managing aquatic invasive species or improving public access to sovereign land. The program allocates approximately $350,000 annually, so awards are likely modest relative to total demand. Geographic scope is limited to the Lake Tahoe Basin in California.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California can apply for this Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy funding tied to the Randall Preserve, aimed at reducing climate impacts on disadvantaged communities and expanding outdoor recreation. Funds are available through June 30, 2028; no award amount or deadline has been specified, so applicants should confirm current availability directly with the Conservancy.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

California businesses, nonprofits, individuals, public agencies, and tribal governments building or expanding a manufacturing facility involving recycled feedstock, advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, or advanced transportation technologies can apply to CAEATFA for a sales and use tax exclusion on qualifying equipment purchases. This is a tax exclusion rather than a direct cash grant, so applicants should confirm it fits their funding needs; no dollar cap or deadline is specified here.

Baldwin Hills & Urban Watersheds Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to this Baldwin Hills & Urban Watersheds Conservancy Consolidated Grant Program, which prioritizes projects delivering measurable climate resilience or recreational access benefits to disadvantaged communities and vulnerable populations in its region. No specific award amounts or deadlines are listed, so applicants should confirm current funding rounds directly with the Conservancy.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Wildlife Corridor and Fish Passage program. Funds construction of wildlife crossings, removal of fish passage barriers, and related planning projects, with priority given to sites on state-identified wildlife movement or fish passage priority lists. No specific award amount or deadline is provided.

CA Energy Commission · Amount varies

Businesses, individuals, public agencies, and tribal governments in California may apply for this CA Energy Commission program, which provides cost-share funding to match federal geothermal energy grants (energy, science, technology, and R&D projects). No award amounts or deadlines are listed here, and applicants should consult the program's application manual for full eligibility rules and required documentation.

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

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments operating public water systems in California can apply to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning support, covering costs like feasibility studies, engineering plans, and environmental review. Small disadvantaged community water systems can receive up to $500,000 in principal forgiveness/grant funding, while other systems may only qualify for loans with subsidized interest rates rather than outright grants; applications are accepted on a continuous basis with no fixed deadline.

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy · $10K–$2M

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, funding multi-benefit projects along the Lower Los Angeles River (within 1.5 miles of its lower 19 miles). Awards range from $10,000 to $2 million for projects supporting community economics, health, equity, public space, and water/environmental resilience. Applications go through a two-phase process: an initial Concept Proposal followed by an invited Full Application.

State Treasurer's Office · $1–$5B

This is a bond financing (loan) program, not a grant, for California nonprofit 501(c)(3) health facilities or public health facilities (like district hospitals) that have operated at least three years and can demonstrate fiscal soundness. Funds can cover construction, renovation, equipment, land acquisition, and refinancing, with no stated loan maximum but fees tied to the issue amount. Applicants must provide three years of audited financial statements; this is debt financing rather than a traditional award.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Habitat Enhancement and Restoration program. Funds restoration of native fisheries, wetlands, coastal/tidal habitat, and in-stream barrier removal projects statewide in California. No specific award amount or deadline is provided.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits and public agencies operating charter schools in California; this federally-seeded program enhances bank financing to lower the cost of permanent charter school facility construction rather than providing direct grant funds. No specific award amount or deadline is listed. Only relevant to charter school facility financing, not general operating or program grants.

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in the Coachella Valley and surrounding mountains can apply for this Proposition 4-funded grant supporting climate risk reduction, habitat and watershed restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and improved public access to parks and trails. The process starts with a Letter of Intent/Pre-Application Consultation Form, and projects benefiting disadvantaged or vulnerable communities receive priority; specific award amounts and deadlines are not listed here.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

This California Proposition 4 grant program, run by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, funds nature-based climate projects that protect biodiversity, restore landscape health, or advance the state's climate goals; nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply. Projects must address at least one specific statutory priority and reduce climate risks to communities or natural resources, or expand public access to nature; funding is limited to the conservancy's California service area. No specific award amount or deadline is listed in this posting.

Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank · Amount varies

Open only to public agencies in California, this IBank program provides infrastructure loans (not grants) ranging from $1 million to $65 million for projects like water/wastewater systems, roads, public transit, and other public infrastructure, with terms up to 30 years and no competitive scoring (first-come, first-served). Applications are accepted year-round. Not open to nonprofits, businesses, or individuals, and requires eventual loan repayment.