Browse grants

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.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through the California Wildlife Conservation Board's Riparian Habitat Conservation Program. Funds restoration of riparian vegetation, floodplain reconnection, invasive species control, and stream/fencing projects statewide in California. No specific award amount or deadline is provided.

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.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments serving severely disadvantaged communities can apply for this Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy grant funded under Proposition 68 (2018), a $4 billion bond for drought, water, parks, climate, and coastal protection projects. No specific award amount or deadline is listed here; eligibility is narrowed to projects benefiting severely disadvantaged communities specifically.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California for river and stream restoration projects, including floodplain reconnection and riparian habitat work, funded through Proposition 68. No specific award amount or deadline is currently published. Geographic scope is limited to California rivers and streams.

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · $5M–$20M

Individuals, nonprofits, other legal entities, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply for this CAL FIRE program funding large-scale wildfire and landscape resilience projects, including hazardous fuels reduction, prescribed fire, reforestation, biomass utilization, and workforce training, with awards ranging from $5 million to $20 million. The program favors applicants who can demonstrate strong administrative and technical capacity to manage large, multi-partner projects, and concept proposals are due by 3 p.m. PDT on June 30, 2026, so smaller organizations without prior large-grant management experience may be at a disadvantage.

Department of Toxic Substances Control · Amount varies

California's Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program, run by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, helps nonprofits, tribal entities, and local governments assess or clean up brownfield sites they own, as long as they are not liable for the contamination under federal CERCLA law. As of the program record, DTSC states it is not currently accepting applications due to insufficient funds in the revolving loan fund, so applicants should confirm funding availability before applying.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California under the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy's Prop 68 River grant program. Funds drought, water, parks, climate, and coastal-protection projects tied to the 2018 Prop 68 bond act. No specific award amount or deadline is listed; eligibility is geographically tied to the Conservancy's jurisdiction.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery · $500K–$4M

Businesses and nonprofits located in California can apply for this CalRecycle program, which funds rail-transportation projects that move empty glass beverage containers to certified California glass processing facilities. Grants range from $500,000 to $4,000,000 and can cover equipment, materials, transportation costs, rail line construction, and related personnel. Eligibility is geographically restricted: both the applicant and the transportation activity must be based in California, making this unsuitable for out-of-state organizations.

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.