Browse grants

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments, this California Department of Fish and Wildlife program funds research and innovation projects that evaluate and mitigate the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation, covering water use, land management, native species, community engagement, and technological innovation. Award amounts and deadline are not specified. Projects must address impacts in California, and applicants such as researchers and universities working through eligible entity types are encouraged.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for regional wildfire projects, this Proposition 4 program funds work to improve local fire prevention capacity, forest health and resilience, and reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas. Funds are available for encumbrance or expenditure through June 30, 2028. Award amounts are not specified, and the program is administered by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, so projects are expected to relate to its California jurisdiction.

State Treasurer's Office · $1–$135M

Eligibility is restricted to 13 specific children's hospitals named in California's Proposition 4 (eight private nonprofit hospitals and five University of California hospitals); no other organizations qualify. The program funds capital improvement projects, with grant awards capped at $135 million per private nonprofit hospital and $54 million per UC hospital, less issuance and administrative costs. Applications are accepted on a rolling monthly basis through June 30, 2033.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Chemical Process Systems (CPS) program funds fundamental research on chemical and biochemical processes to make manufacturing, energy, and biotechnology more efficient and sustainable, spanning catalysis, reactor design, separations, and process optimization. Eligibility is unrestricted, so universities, research organizations, and other entity types may apply. No specific award amount or deadline is listed in the program description.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy's Proposition 4 Nature-Based program, which funds projects that protect biodiversity, restore landscape health, or advance California's climate goals. To qualify, projects must also reduce climate change risks to communities, fish and wildlife, or natural resources, or increase public access to nature, and must satisfy specific Proposition 4 statutory sections. Funding amounts and deadlines are not stated, and projects are tied to the Conservancy's California service area.

Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to this Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy program funding climate-adaptation and nature-based projects within the Coachella Valley and surrounding mountains, such as land acquisition, habitat and watershed restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and expanded park and trail access. The geographic limit to the Coachella Valley area is a key restriction, and projects benefiting disadvantaged or vulnerable communities receive priority. Applications start with a Letter of Intent (Pre-Application Consultation Form); matching funds are not required but are viewed favorably. Funding amounts and deadlines are not stated.

Department of Toxic Substances Control · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, tribal entities, and local governments that are not potentially liable under CERCLA, this program provides Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund grants to assess or clean up contaminated brownfield sites the applicant owns. Important: the listing states that in 2023 there was insufficient funding and the Department of Toxic Substances Control was not accepting applications, so confirm current availability before applying. Award amounts are not specified.

CA Energy Commission · Amount varies

The California Energy Commission provides cost-share funding to help applicants match awards they receive (or follow-on funding) from eligible federal clean energy funding opportunities such as DOE grants. It is broadly open to businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments, but you must first apply for or have an active eligible federal award — retroactive cost share for already-completed federal awards is not eligible. The list of qualifying federal opportunities is updated continuously; no award range or deadline is listed.

San Diego River Conservancy · Amount varies

The San Diego River Conservancy Direct Grant Program funds projects that advance the Conservancy's mission for the San Diego River watershed, including environment and water, parks and recreation, and benefits to disadvantaged communities. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments; individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. Projects must align with the Conservancy's enabling legislation and strategic plan and serve the San Diego River area; award amounts and deadlines are not specified here.

Air Resources Board · Up to $10M

California Air Resources Board's Electric Bicycle Incentives Project (EBIP) seeks a single grantee (administrator) to run a program providing e-bike purchase incentives to income-qualified, low-income consumers. Eligible applicants are nonprofits and public agencies only; individuals and businesses cannot apply to administer it, and the maximum award is up to $10,000,000. Note the application instructions reference a past deadline (May 11, 2022), so confirm the current status before applying.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to California's Wildlife Conservation Board for projects that restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat statewide, including wetlands, coastal and freshwater habitat, in-stream restoration, and removal of fish passage barriers. The program is authorized under Fish and Game Code section 1301. Award amounts are not specified, and projects must improve the quality of native habitat in California.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to California's Wildlife Conservation Board for projects that restore wildlife migration corridors or remove barriers to fish passage, such as wildlife over/undercrossings, fish ladders, culverts, and related planning and environmental review. Projects must improve fish or wildlife mobility and further the objectives of Proposition 68. Award amounts are not stated, and the program prioritizes specific project types and sites on California's official priority barrier lists.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Division of Chemistry is piloting no-deadline submission for its Chemistry of Life Processes, Chemical Structure and Dynamics, and Chemical Theory/Computational Methods programs. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic research organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, and research labs) and accredited U.S. institutions of higher education acting for their faculty; individuals and businesses do not qualify. No specific award amount is listed, and proposals may be submitted at any time.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Under California's Proposition 68, the Department of Fish and Wildlife funds rivers and streams projects that help communities adapt to climate change and restore habitat, such as floodplain reconnection and watershed restoration. Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments; individuals and businesses are not eligible. Specific award amounts and deadlines are not stated in the listing.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments through California's Department of Fish and Wildlife under Proposition 1 (the 2014 Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act). The Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program funds projects that improve water quality, restore species and habitat, and support a more resilient water system benefiting the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Individuals and businesses are not eligible, and projects must benefit the Delta; award amounts and deadlines are not stated here.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

California's Department of Fish and Wildlife offers these Proposition 68 grants to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects that improve climate adaptation, protect habitat and wildlife corridors, restore rivers and watersheds, and enhance drought resilience. At least 15 percent of funds are reserved for projects serving severely disadvantaged communities (median household income below 60 percent of the statewide average). Individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible, and projects are limited to California; no specific award range or deadline is stated.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments. California's Department of Fish and Wildlife funds projects under Proposition 68 that remove barriers to Southern Steelhead migration and restore habitat, with related infrastructure improvements as the highest priority. Projects must serve California; for-profit businesses and individuals are not eligible, and no award range or deadline is stated here.

Department of Health Care Access and Information · Amount varies

Nonprofit and public-agency hospitals that qualify as small, rural, or Critical Access facilities in California can apply to this state program for grant funding and technical assistance to meet seismic safety retrofit requirements. Applicants must demonstrate they meet the small/rural/Critical Access definition and are at risk of closure for financial reasons, and must have current seismic compliance and project delivery plans on file with HCAI before funding is awarded. Eligibility is narrow and California-specific; available funds are allocated across participants based on need.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife funds watershed cleanup, remediation, and enhancement projects, including road treatments, erosion/sediment control, and cleanup of damage from illicit cannabis operations, plus wildlife and habitat improvements. Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply; businesses and individuals are not listed as eligible. Funding amounts and deadlines are not specified here.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for wildlife and fish corridor connectivity planning and implementation projects in California, consistent with the State Wildlife Action Plan and state connectivity and fish passage efforts. Administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife under a Nature-Based Solutions program. No award amount or deadline is stated, and projects are focused on California connectivity work, so confirm project alignment and current funding availability before applying.