California State 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.

CA Energy Commission · Amount varies

Restricted to tribal governments; this California Energy Commission program funds direct air capture and carbon removal technology research, development, and pilot testing. Projects that would benefit petroleum or gas production through enhanced oil/gas recovery are explicitly excluded. No award amount or deadline is listed in the posting.

Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development · $600K–$3M

Local health departments and community-based nonprofit organizations in California can apply, with at least 50% of each year's funding reserved for qualified nonprofits. California's GO-Biz awards $600,000 to $3,000,000 to support job placement, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, reentry legal services, and related services for communities disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs. Funding is drawn from cannabis tax revenue and program priorities can shift each fiscal year, so this is a fairly narrow, population-specific opportunity rather than a general-purpose grant.

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.

State Treasurer's Office · $1–$135M

Like its predecessor program, this California funding is restricted by statute to the same 13 named Children's Hospitals (eight private nonprofit, five University of California) for capital improvement projects. Awards can be very large — up to $135 million per private nonprofit hospital and $54 million per UC hospital — with applications accepted monthly through June 2033. Not open to any hospital or nonprofit outside this named list.

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.

CA Energy Commission · Amount varies

Available to individuals and public agencies, this program provides state matching funds ('cost share') for specific federal clean-energy funding opportunities listed by the CA Energy Commission — it is not standalone project funding on its own. Applicants generally need to already be pursuing or have won one of the referenced federal opportunities. No fixed award amount or deadline is given here.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to this Wildlife Conservation Board program funding stream flow enhancement projects, including planning, scientific studies, implementation, and land/water rights acquisition, with priority for watersheds supporting salmonids and other at-risk species. Planning and Scientific Study projects must be submitted as stand-alone applications (not combined with other categories); no specific award amount or deadline is listed here.

Department of Toxic Substances Control · Amount varies

Restricted to public agencies in California; this program funds regulatory oversight and environmental cleanup activities related to reuse of former military bases, not general nonprofit or business projects. No award amount or deadline is specified in the posting.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to California local public agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public utilities, recognized Native American tribes, and mutual water companies for recycled water infrastructure projects (treatment, storage, groundwater recharge, potable reuse). Covers construction costs only — operation and maintenance are not eligible — and all community types, including disadvantaged communities, may apply. No specific award amount or deadline is listed; see the Water Recycling Funding Program guidelines for details.

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments to acquire mountainous or natural community conservation lands in California's Coachella Valley, or in limited cases fund capital improvements on existing conservation lands. Matching funds are preferred but not required. No specific award amount or deadline is listed, and eligibility is limited to land acquisition/improvement projects within the Coachella Valley region.

State Treasurer's Office · $1–$50M

California's CHFFA Tax-Exempt Equipment Financing Program offers below-market loans (not grants) of $500,000 or more to nonprofit 501(c)(3) or public health facilities to finance medical equipment purchases, with no stated maximum. Applicants must have operated for at least three years, show fiscal soundness with three years of audited financials, and pay an application fee plus ongoing administrative fees; this is a loan product, not free grant funding.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to a broad range of applicants in California, including businesses, individuals, nonprofits, other legal entities, public agencies, and tribal governments, but specifically for livestock producers seeking compensation for confirmed or probable wolf depredation losses. No set award amount or deadline is listed; compensation is determined case-by-case following a CDFW investigation of each incident. Not a general grant program — it only applies to documented wolf-livestock conflict losses in California.

State Treasurer's Office · $25K–$1.5M

A loan program (not a grant) for California nonprofit 501(c)(3) small or rural health facilities, or public health facilities, licensed by the state and operating at least three years. Loans range from $25,000 to $1.5 million (up to $1 million for refinancing) at 3-4% interest, for real property, equipment, or debt refinancing; small facilities must have annual gross revenue of $30 million or less, and borrowers must contribute at least 5% of project cost themselves.