Last verified October 25, 2026 · How we verify
Grants for nonprofits in California
As of October 2026, a California nonprofit can be matched against 10 California programs your nonprofit can apply for (7 of them set aside for nonprofits only), plus national and federal grants open to nonprofits, scored in your report.
Most of these grants never run an ad. The money is real, and much of it is open to California nonprofits alongside other organizations. The hard part was never qualifying. It was finding out the grant existed before the window closed. That is the part we fixed.
California nonprofit grants by the numbers
- Who funds them
- 8 funders: California Department of Food and Agriculture (3), California Arts Council (1), California Coastal Commission (1), California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (1), and 4 more.
- Award size
- Most awards $8K to $6.5M.
- Timing
- 2 open now. Soonest deadline: California Wildlands Grassroots Fund, Oct 28, 2026. 8 between cycles; California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program lists its next window as “~2027 (Cohort 4 RFA pending; public comment period closed Sept 11, 2026)”.
- What they fund
- Agriculture (3), Food & Restaurant (2), Arts & Creative (1), Healthcare (1), Retail (1); 5 open to any industry.
10 California grants your nonprofit can apply for, worth knowing by name
Every program here is available to nonprofits in California. Each lists nonprofits among its eligible applicants. The “Built for” column says whether a program is set aside for nonprofits only or open to nonprofits and other organizations. Each names its funder and links to the official page.
| Program | Amount | Status | Built for | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) CalFresh Grants California Department of Food and Agriculture Verified Oct 15, 2026 | $50,000 to $12,500,000 per award; $13.5 million available | Closes Nov 3, 2026 | Nonprofits and small businesses | Official page ↗ |
California Wildlands Grassroots Fund Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment Verified Oct 17, 2026 | Up to $10,000 | Closes in 2 daysCloses Oct 28, 2026 | Nonprofit organizations only | Official page ↗ |
Urban Greening Program California Natural Resources Agency Verified Oct 11, 2026 | $200,000 – $5,000,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around May 2027, based on past rounds | Nonprofit organizations only | Official page ↗ |
California Community Reinvestment Grants Program (CalCRG) California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development Verified Oct 19, 2026 | $600,000 to $3,000,000 per grant over 36 months; $48 million available in FY 2026-27 | Between cycles Usually opens around December 2026, based on past rounds | Nonprofit organizations only | Official page ↗ |
California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP) California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Verified Oct 19, 2026 | $250,000 – $500,000 | Reopens, date not announced yet | Nonprofit organizations only | Official page ↗ |
California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program California Department of Food and Agriculture Verified Oct 19, 2026 | Producers and food hubs: $20,000 to $200,000 (Track 3); school districts up to $1 million and technical-assistance groups up to $1.5 million; up to $38 million in total (draft Cohort 4 RFA) | Reopens, date not announced yet ~2027 (Cohort 4 RFA pending; public comment period closed Sept 11, 2026) | Nonprofits and any organization type | Official page ↗ |
WHALE TAIL Grants California Coastal Commission Verified Oct 12, 2026 | Up to $50,000 per grant; about $2 million per cycle | Reopens, date not announced yet ~early 2027 | Nonprofit organizations only | Official page ↗ |
General Operating Support California Arts Council Verified Oct 24, 2026 | Up to $30,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds | Nonprofit organizations only | Official page ↗ |
Connecting California Grants California Humanities Verified Oct 15, 2026 | $1,000 to $5,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around May 2027, based on past rounds | Nonprofit organizations only | Official page ↗ |
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) California Department of Food and Agriculture Verified Oct 25, 2026 | Varies | Between cycles Usually opens around Fall 2027, based on past rounds | Nonprofits and small businesses | Official page ↗ |
We track 2 more California programs your nonprofit can apply for that are not open, dated or verified closely enough to name here yet. The quiz still checks your organization against them.
Multi-state programs that include California
Each of these covers more than three states, so we list them here instead of counting them as California programs.
- Closes in 5 daysHonda and Honda USA Foundation Programmatic FundingAmerican Honda Motor Co. and the Honda USA FoundationCovers 16 states (plus DC), including CANonprofit organizations only · $25,000 - $100,000 · Closes Oct 31, 2026 · Official page ↗
- Closes in 2 daysWestern SARE Local Education and Demonstration (LED) GrantsWestern SAREOpen in 13 states, including CANonprofits and small businesses · Up to $60,000 per project (1 to 3 years) · Closes Oct 28, 2026 · Official page ↗
- Nuestra Herencia Grant ProgramLatinos in Heritage ConservationCovers 48 states (plus DC), including CANonprofit organizations only · $5,000 to $100,000 per project · Opens Nov 4, 2026 · Official page ↗
Looking beyond California? See grants for nonprofits nationwide. New to this? Read the guide: How to Write a Nonprofit Grant Application: A 2026 Guide.
Nonprofit grants open right now in California
- California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) CalFresh Grants: $50,000 to $12,500,000 per award; $13.5 million available, closes Nov 3, 2026
- California Wildlands Grassroots Fund: Up to $10,000, closes Oct 28, 2026Closes in 2 days
California nonprofit grants, program by program
California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) CalFresh Grants (California Department of Food and Agriculture): $50,000 to $12,500,000 per award; $13.5 million available, closes Nov 3, 2026
Nonprofits and small businesses. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
California Wildlands Grassroots Fund (Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment): Up to $10,000, closes Oct 28, 2026
Closes in 2 daysNonprofit organizations only. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 17, 2026. Official page ↗
Urban Greening Program (California Natural Resources Agency): $200,000 – $5,000,000, usually opens around May 2027, based on past rounds
Nonprofit organizations only. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 11, 2026. Official page ↗
California Community Reinvestment Grants Program (CalCRG) (California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development): $600,000 to $3,000,000 per grant over 36 months; $48 million available in FY 2026-27, usually opens around December 2026, based on past rounds
Nonprofit organizations only. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP) (California Governor's Office of Emergency Services): $250,000 – $500,000
Nonprofit organizations only. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program (California Department of Food and Agriculture): Producers and food hubs: $20,000 to $200,000 (Track 3); school districts up to $1 million and technical-assistance groups up to $1.5 million; up to $38 million in total (draft Cohort 4 RFA), next window 2027
Nonprofits and any organization type. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
WHALE TAIL Grants (California Coastal Commission): Up to $50,000 per grant; about $2 million per cycle, next window early 2027
Nonprofit organizations only. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 12, 2026. Official page ↗
General Operating Support (California Arts Council): Up to $30,000, usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds
Nonprofit organizations only. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 24, 2026. Official page ↗
Connecting California Grants (California Humanities): $1,000 to $5,000, usually opens around May 2027, based on past rounds
Nonprofit organizations only. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) (California Department of Food and Agriculture): Varies, usually opens around Fall 2027, based on past rounds
Nonprofits and small businesses. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 25, 2026. Official page ↗
More small business grant lists
- Grants for fire departments and EMS
- Grants for churches and faith-based nonprofits
- Youth Sports grants for nonprofits
- Grants for women-owned businesses
- Grants for veteran-owned businesses
- Grants for minority-owned businesses
- Agriculture grants
- Technology grants
- Healthcare grants
- Virginia grants
- New Mexico grants
- Rhode Island grants
Straight answers
Do I pay these back? How current is this list?
No. Grants are not loans. Each row shows the date we last checked it against the funder's own page. How we verify.
Are these grants only for California nonprofits?
The programs above are available to nonprofits in California. Some are open only to nonprofits. Others are open to nonprofits and small businesses alike. The “Built for” column on each row tells you which is which, so you are never applying for something you are not eligible for.
Some of these say "between cycles." What do I do right now?
Get ready before the window opens. California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program lists its next window as “~2027 (Cohort 4 RFA pending; public comment period closed Sept 11, 2026)”; WHALE TAIL Grants as “~early 2027”. The organizations who win are the ones whose applications are ready the week a window opens, not the ones who find out it existed the week it closed.
Somewhere in California, a nonprofit qualifies for one of these right now and doesn't know it.
This page can't read your organization. The 3-minute quiz can. It matches your mission, state, and structure against every grant your nonprofit can apply for and shows you where you stand.