Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Peninsula Open Space Trust

Palo Alto, CA

POST funds land protection, restoration, open-space access, and related conservation and community work, primarily on the Peninsula and in the South Bay, including San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,500 to $5.27 million, with a median of about $13,800; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

The L G Anderson Family Foundation Inc

Hollister, CA

JJJ Charitable Foundation

Stamford, CT

The foundation supports schools, conservation, youth programs, and military-family organizations, among other charitable causes. In 2024, it made 37 grants ranging from $750 to $283,754, with a median of $15,000, to organizations in several states, including New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Michigan. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.

Community Foundation for San Benito County

Hollister, CA

The Community Foundation for San Benito County supports educational, youth, senior, and community services, primarily in San Benito County, though its grants also reach elsewhere. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,120 to $1,392,651, with a median of $25,000. Unsolicited, year-round requests are explicitly accepted for the Joseph W. Tripiano Charitable Fund, which supports eligible Northern California nonprofits serving horses.

The Trust for Public Land

San Francisco, CA

The Trust for Public Land funds land conservation and projects that expand parks, schoolyards, and access to natural spaces, with awards nationwide. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,534 to $21.4 million, with a median of $54,895; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Direct Relief

Santa Barbara, CA

Direct Relief supports healthcare providers serving people affected by poverty or emergencies, including community health centers, clinics, and grassroots organizations, with medicines, supplies, and funding for health access and equity. In 2025, its grants had a median award of about $65,000, and its work spans all 50 U.S. states and countries around the world; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Conrad N Hilton Foundation

Westlake Village, CA

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation funds nonprofits working to improve lives and alleviate poverty, with initiatives including early childhood development, homelessness, refugees, safe water, and support for foster and opportunity youth. Its work is global, and its 2024 grants had a median award of $76,000. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through its Good Neighbor Program for eligible local nonprofits and Title 1 schools.