Arts Council Santa Cruz County

Monterey Peninsula Foundation

Monterey, CA

The Monterey Peninsula Foundation funds eligible nonprofits and schools in arts and culture, community and environment, education, health and human services, and youth, serving residents of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,300 to $703,000, with a median of $50,000. It accepts applications through an online portal; applicants must schedule a pre-application meeting.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Los Altos, CA

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation funds charitable organizations working on just societies, healthy families and communities, and a healthy natural world, including climate solutions, ocean conservation, and science. Its 2024 grants had a median of $150,000, and half of grant dollars went to California recipients. It accepts unsolicited requests, but less than 1% of its grants come from them.

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

Aptos, CA

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County funds nonprofits and public agencies across arts and culture, community development, education, the environment, health, and human services, with a strong focus on Santa Cruz County but grants also going beyond it. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $20,000, though amounts varied widely. For Community Grants, requests are invited where funding is available; organizations without an invitation are encouraged to contact the foundation.

The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

Menlo Park, CA

The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Mountain View, CA

Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.

The Betty Millard Foundation

Wilmington, DE

The Amphion Foundation Inc

New York, NY

The Amphion Foundation supports professional nonprofit performing, presenting, and music-service organizations advancing contemporary concert music, especially by American composers, and significant projects involving Elliott Carter’s music; it generally excludes jazz and Broadway-style musical theater. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,500 to $28,000, with a median of $3,000. The Amphion Grant Program is not accepting applications at this time; the Elliott Carter Special Grant Program lists a November 19, 2026 deadline.

The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc

New York, NY

The Aaron Copland Fund for Music supports organizations advancing public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American concert music and jazz, including ensembles, presenters, music-service organizations, and record companies. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $90,000, with a median of $5,000; funding went primarily to New York, with grants also made across the United States. It accepts preliminary applications for General Support and Project Support, but only invited applicants may submit to the main round; Legacy grants are by invitation only.

Marin Community Foundation

Novato, CA

Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Lee-Kahn Foundation

Scotts Valley, CA

IBM International Foundation

Armonk, NY

The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

California Community Foundation

Los Angeles, CA

The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.