Browse grants

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

Background: In July 2024, the Legislature approved Chapter 83 (SB 867, Allen), authorizing a $10 billion bond measure entitled the “Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024.” Largely designed to increase the state’s resilience to the impacts of climate change, the measure was placed on the statewide ballot as Proposition 4 and subsequently approved by voters in November. This bond measure builds on significant funding for climate-related programs—principally from the General Fund—the state made in recent years. Applications: Applications will be submitted in two phases: a Concept Proposal and a Full Application. Applicants will first submit a Concept Proposal that will be reviewed by RMC staff for consistency with RMC goals, any specific program priorities, and the strength of the proposed project. In addition, RMC staff will look at all Concept Proposals for location, need, project type, readiness, threats, cost, and cost share. RMC staff will offer applicants feedback regarding alignment with priorities, overall merit, and any ineligible costs. RMC staff will select Concept Proposals to move forward and will invite selected applicants to submit Full Applications. Applicants will be provided the Full Application upon RMC invitation. RMC staff are available to work with Applicants during the preparation of the Full Application, as needed. RMC may request Applicants to revise and resubmit Full Applications, as necessary. It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants contact RMC staff for a consultation prior to submitting a Concept Proposal.

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Awards are made for projects that reduce climate change risks, protect natural and cultural resources, restore habitat and watershed systems, and improve public access to outdoor recreation within the Coachella Valley and its surrounding mountains. Eligible projects may include conservation land acquisition, habitat restoration and enhancement, watershed and ecosystem restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and improvements that expand safe and equitable access to parks, trails, and natural areas. Funding is provided through the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Proposition 4). Applications begin with submission of a Letter of Intent using the Conservancy’s Pre-Application Consultation Form. Following administrative review, eligible applicants may be invited to submit a full application. Additional information about the application process and eligibility requirements is available in the Proposition 4 Grant Program Guidelines on the Conservancy’s website. Projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to disadvantaged communities (DACs), severely disadvantaged communities (SDACs), or vulnerable populations will receive priority consideration. Projects that demonstrate strong community engagement, leverage matching funds, support regional conservation objectives, and align with state initiatives such as California’s 30x30 conservation goal may also receive additional consideration during the evaluation process.

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

The RMC awards grants and interagency agreements with the aim toward creating open space, habitat restoration, expanding green space in disadvantaged communities, and protecting the watersheds of the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers, Dominguez Channel, and Catalina Island. The overall policy guidelines for the RMC are found in two primary references: the statute which created the RMC, Public Resources Code Section 32600, and Common Ground, from the Mountains to the Sea, the watershed and open space plan for the Los Angeles and San Gabriel River watersheds which was adopted by the RMC and further identifies the policies of the agency. These and other relevant plans can be found at http://rmc.ca.gov/resources/. RMC’s area of jurisdiction includes a variety of natural resource and recreation areas, including the coast, wetlands, and forests. RMC’s jurisdiction also includes heavily urbanized areas south of the San Gabriel Mountains to the California coast. Thus, RMC encourages collaboration across jurisdictions and organizational partners to produce multi-benefit projects that address multiple regional needs, such as increasing access to open space, green workforce development, water quality improvements, flood control, and wildfire resilience. The RMC further promotes project development that includes robust community engagement throughout the life of the project and has developed the Community Engagement Toolkit in an effort to support potential grantees in developing community based, multi-benefit climate resilient projects. The RMC further encourages projects that leverage multiple funding sources to strengthen project goals. In addition to increasing access to natural areas, the RMC works to ensure residents have access to open space within their own communities, as evidenced by the large number of grants the RMC has awarded since 1999 for the purpose of planning, constructing, and improving parks and trails within communities and, particularly, within underserved communities that currently lack equitable access to open space.

Baldwin Hills & Urban Watersheds Conservancy · Amount varies

The Consolidated Grant Program guidelines prioritizes project which directly and meaningfully benefit Disadvantaged Communities and Vulnerable Populations. BH UWC Community and Climate Resilience Framework is integral to effective and equitable grant making is the strategic funding of projects & programs that deliver tangible and/or measurable benefits to a population, in direct response to a demonstrated need or vulnerability. As a conservancy within of the California Natural Resources Agency tasked with addressing key regional climate hazards and disparities in community access to parks, green spaces, and other recreational facilities, the BH UWC has developed a grant making framework that enables strategic investment in high‐impact projects that deliver direct multiple benefits to vulnerable populations and communities, hereinafter referred to as the BH UWC Community and Climate Resilience Framework. Developed to fortify the Conservancy’s grant funding decision‐making process, the BH UWC Community and Climate Resilience Framework establishes a method for: Identifying multi‐benefit / high‐impact projects that address key regional climate‐related vulnerabilities, disproportionate exposure to climate hazards, and disparities in community access to recreational spaces; and Prioritizing funding for projects that serve or directly benefit vulnerable populations, frontline communities, or communities of color that have faced historical disinvestment. Comprised of four (4) key elements, this systematic funding framework ensures effective and equitable grant making through: Establishment of Strategic Agency Goals to Enhance Community and Climate Resilience Identifying Priority Projects for Agency Funding Utilization of Novel Tools to Evaluate a Proposed Project’s Benefits / Impact; and Allocation of Funding for Proposed Projects Based on Strategic Alignment, Potential Project Impacts & Benefits, and Implementation Urgency

Ocean Protection Council · $250K–$750K

The Tribal Cultural Resources Funding Solicitation is a dedicated grant opportunity under the Ocean Protection Council’s (OPC) Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program. This program provides direct, flexible funding to California Native American tribes to assess and plan for the impacts of sea level rise (SLR) on tribal cultural resources, ancestral lands, and lifeways. The goal is to promote tribal-led planning that advances climate resilience, equity, and cultural preservation. Eligible project types fall into two stages: Pre-planning activities, such as community visioning, education and outreach, data collection (including traditional knowledge), and vulnerability assessments Planning activities, including setting adaptation priorities and developing culturally appropriate strategies to preserve and protect tribal cultural resources from current and future coastal hazards This solicitation also prioritizes cross-cutting goals, including: Protecting tribal data confidentiality Promoting regional tribal collaboration and shared vulnerability assessments Supporting engagement with local and regional planning processes to ensure tribal voices are integrated into broader land use and SLR adaptation planning Encouraging use of existing data and coordination with local agencies to avoid duplicative efforts Proposals will be received on a rolling, quarterly basis to provide consistent and timely access to funding. Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis through four non-competitive review cycles, ensuring eligible projects are considered when ready. This flexible approach is intended to address the urgent needs of tribes impacted by SLR. Projects are anticipated to range from $250,000 to $750,000, though amounts outside this range may be considered with justification. The broader SB 1 Grant Program offers a complementary Technical Assistance (TA) Program to support eligible applicants addressing significant and imminent SLR impacts. Administered by OPC’s grantee Coastal Quest, the TA Program provides tailored assistance based on each applicant’s needs, including grant writing support, work plan development, budgeting, and other resources to strengthen applications and project proposals. This TA Program is also available to support applicants with the development of their Tribal Cultural Resource Planning Project applications. For more information or to request assistance, visit the SB 1 Grant Program webpage or email OPCSB1TA@coastal-quest.org. Keywords: sea level rise; SLR; climate change; adaptation; planning; coastal resilience; California Native American tribes; tribes; cultural resources; ancestral lands; tribal planning

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Access to nature is critical to human health and wellbeing, yet outdoor access and its many benefits are not equitably distributed or equally welcoming to all communities. WCB supports California’s Outdoors for All Initiative by funding Planning and Construction projects that support wildlife-oriented recreation and nature-focused education throughout the state. Planning grants are intended to support the development of projects that are likely to qualify for future implementation funding under this program. Implementation grants are intended for construction or enhancement of public access facilities. WCB is committed to providing support for the full range of outdoor activities that are compatible with our habitat protection mandate: Hunting and fishing Non-consumptive recreation including but not limited to birdwatching, hiking, cycling, and environmental education