California State Grants

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Rescue program. Funds restoration or enhancement of monarch breeding and overwintering habitat on private and public lands in California, plus technical assistance to grantees such as farmers and ranchers. No award amount or deadline is specified.

State Treasurer's Office · $1–$9.7M

This California program is restricted by statute to 13 named Children's Hospitals (eight private nonprofit and five University of California hospitals) for capital improvement projects, so it is not open to other nonprofits or the general public. Grant awards can be very large, up to $98 million per private nonprofit hospital and $39.2 million per UC hospital, with applications accepted monthly on an ongoing basis (except October/November). Not a fit for any organization outside this named list of hospitals.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California operating or serving drinking water systems, with priority given to small disadvantaged communities facing water access or safety gaps. Up to $130 million per year is available over ten years (through fiscal year 2029-30) for emergency needs, compliance assistance, and system consolidation; complementary loan programs offer partial-to-full principal forgiveness for qualifying disadvantaged communities. No fixed per-project award amount is listed.

Department of Housing and Community Development · Amount varies

This reopened HOME Investment Partnerships Program NOFA makes unclaimed 2024 HOME funding available on a first-come, first-served basis to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for affordable housing activities — including first-time homebuyer assistance, owner-occupied rehabilitation, and tenant-based rental assistance — targeted at low- and very-low-income households. Because funds are distributed until exhausted or until the next NOFA, timing matters; no specific award amount is listed in this posting, and it is a formula/allocation program rather than a typical competitive grant.

Department of Health Care Access and Information · Amount varies

Open to nonprofit and public small, rural, or Critical Access hospitals in California -- large or urban hospitals do not qualify. Funds technical assistance and grants to help qualifying hospitals meet state seismic safety retrofit requirements under the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act, funded via California's electronic cigarette excise tax. Applicants must have current seismic compliance and project delivery plans on file before funding is awarded; no specific award amount is listed.

State Treasurer's Office · Up to $1M

Restricted to charter schools in California that have already received a funding reservation through the Charter School Facilities Program or are awaiting long-term bond financing; this program provides short-term interim financing (notes), not a standalone grant, up to $1 million. Not open to schools outside this specific pipeline.

Department of Toxic Substances Control · $1–$100K

Open to public agencies in California; this DTSC program provides loans (not grants), up to $100,000, to conduct preliminary environmental assessments of underutilized urban properties for property owners, developers, community groups, and local governments. If redevelopment proves economically infeasible, up to 75% of the loan can be waived. Limited to public agency applicants and to preliminary assessment work in California.

State Treasurer's Office · $1.5M–$550M

A tax-exempt bond financing program (not a grant) for California businesses of any size involved in pollution control, waste disposal, recycling, composting, or resource recovery facilities; smaller businesses (500 employees or fewer) may also qualify under separate federal size standards. Financed amounts range from about $1.5 million to $550 million, with strict rules on how bond proceeds may be used (e.g., at least 95% must go to the defined project). Final eligibility depends on review by bond counsel and tax counsel.

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery · Amount varies

Open to businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies operating California-based recycling businesses that prevent, reduce, or recycle waste materials through value-added processing or manufacturing. This is a revolving loan program, not a grant, so funds must be repaid. No specific award amount or deadline is listed, and eligibility is limited to California recycling-sector operations located within designated zones.

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

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to this San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy program (Proposition 4) for multi-benefit projects like open space creation, habitat restoration, green space in disadvantaged communities, watershed protection, and wildfire resilience, with awards ranging from $50,000 to $2,000,000. The RMC especially encourages projects that leverage multiple funding sources and include robust community engagement, though no specific deadline is listed here.

Department of Water Resources · Amount varies

Businesses, individuals, nonprofits, other legal entities, public agencies, and tribal governments that own California dams rated below "Satisfactory" condition can apply for state grant funding to repair, retrofit, or rehabilitate dam infrastructure and restore lost water storage capacity. This is a forecasted program with no award amount or deadline specified yet; eligibility is broad but effectively limited to dam owners rather than the general public.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, local/state/federal government agencies through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Inland Wetland Conservation Program, but limited geographically to the Central Valley floor (roughly Red Bluff to Bakersfield). Funds land/water acquisition, conservation easements, and habitat restoration or enhancement for wetlands and wildlife-friendly agriculture. No specific award amount or deadline is listed.

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

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects benefiting the Lower Los Angeles River area in California, funded through the Conservancy's Non-Bond Priority Grant Program. Awards range from $50,000 to $2,000,000, and applications follow a two-phase Concept Proposal then Full Application process. Limited to projects within the Lower LA River program area.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for river and stream restoration projects specifically within the Klamath-Trinity Watershed in California. Funded under Proposition 68, with priorities including floodplain reconnection, riparian habitat restoration, and upper-watershed forest and meadow protection. Geographically limited to this specific watershed; no award amount or deadline is listed.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California for water quality, river, and watershed protection and restoration projects of statewide significance (outside the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta). Funded through Proposition 1 bond money as part of the state's broader water action plan. No specific award amount or deadline is listed in this posting.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to cities, towns, public agencies, tribal governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits for wastewater treatment, sewer, stormwater, and nonpoint-source pollution projects in California. Offered as low-interest financing (roughly half the state's general obligation bond rate) with terms up to 30 years and no maximum funding limit; small disadvantaged communities may qualify for partial or full principal forgiveness (effectively grant funding). This is primarily a loan program, though DAC applicants can receive substantial grant-equivalent forgiveness.