Browse grants

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California; this state Cleanup and Abatement Account funds emergency responses to pollution or urgent drinking water needs when no responsible party is available to pay for cleanup. Funding priorities and availability depend on legislative appropriations, penalty/settlement funds, and loan repayments, so amounts vary and are not fixed. No specific award amount or deadline is listed.

San Diego River Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects that support the San Diego River Conservancy's mission under its enabling legislation and strategic plan. No specific award amount or deadline is currently published. Limited to projects within the Conservancy's San Diego River service area in California.

Coastal Conservancy · Amount varies

The California Coastal Conservancy's Explore the Coast Overnight Program funds nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments to plan, design, permit, or build lower-cost overnight coastal accommodations, prioritizing access for low- and middle-income Californians and underserved communities. No specific funding amount or deadline is listed, and the program is limited to California coastal projects.

Coastal Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects along the California coast, San Francisco Bay, and coastal watersheds. Funds feasibility studies, land acquisition, planning, design, permitting, and construction for beaches, parks, trails, habitat restoration, and climate resilience projects, but does not cover ongoing operations or maintenance. Most funding is awarded through a rolling pre-application process; geographically limited to coastal California, and no set award amount or deadline is listed.

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.

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.

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.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

California schools (via businesses, nonprofits, or public agencies applying on their behalf) not already affiliated with the National Archery in the Schools Program can apply for this CA Department of Fish and Wildlife equipment grant, which awards 12-20 new schools each year a starter archery kit (bows, targets, arrows, and maintenance equipment) rather than cash. Applications and a supporting Instructor letter are due July 30 each year, with awards announced by September 15; schools already running NASP are not eligible.

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

This California Proposition 68 program, administered by the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, funds projects that expand open space, improve water supply and quality, restore habitat and species, build trail networks, and improve flood protection through natural systems; nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply. Applications are submitted in two phases (a Concept Proposal followed by a Full Application), and funding is limited to the RMC's California service region; no specific award amount or deadline is listed in this posting.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Regional Conservation Investment Strategies program, though public agencies typically lead these voluntary regional conservation planning efforts. Priority goes to areas lacking an existing conservation plan and to proposals that include matching funds (cash or in-kind) and demonstrate readiness. No specific award amount or deadline is listed.

State Water Resources Control Board · $2M–$10M

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments operating public water systems in California, for construction of drinking water infrastructure like treatment facilities, storage, and distribution systems. Eligible community water systems may receive principal forgiveness (effectively grant funding) from $2 million up to 100% of project cost depending on the community served and local water rates; other financing carries 0% to roughly half the state bond rate. Applications are accepted continuously but undergo a detailed technical, legal, and financial review.

Ocean Protection Council · $250K–$750K

This Ocean Protection Council program funds only California Native American tribes and nonprofits for pre-planning and planning work to assess sea level rise impacts on tribal cultural resources, ancestral lands, and lifeways, with typical awards between $250,000 and $750,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling, quarterly, first-come first-served basis (non-competitive), making eligibility notably narrow and tribal-specific compared to general nonprofit grants.

Department of Water Resources · Amount varies

This forecasted California Department of Water Resources program will fund nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments to implement watershed-scale water conservation projects, such as irrigation efficiency upgrades, leak detection and repair, water-efficient landscaping conversions, and metering or monitoring improvements. Awards are expected to range from $3 million to $15 million. No application deadline has been set yet since the program is still in forecasted status, so applicants should watch for the official funding announcement. Not open to for-profit businesses.

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.

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.

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.