Community Action Grants - Environment

The Community Action Grants - Environment program by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation aims to support organizations addressing environmental disparities in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. It prioritizes funding for groups focused on racial justice and community engagement, especially those with budgets under $3 million. The initiative encourages innovative solutions to climate challenges while fostering community involvement in shaping environmental policies. This grant opportunity underscores the importance of creating equitable, sustainable environments for underserved populations.

Alongside community partners and donors, we use tools such as grantmaking, advocacy, research and policy work to drive lasting, positive change and create a future where every community member can thrive.
SVCF Community Action Grants
Using an equity lens, the Community Action Grants Program identifies and supports organizations across issue areas that foster creativity and help build the community’s power to promote an equitable, economically secure and vibrant Silicon Valley.
SVCF awards grants under the Community Action Grants program through an open Request for Proposals (RFP). Through this RFP, nonprofits may apply to multiple strategies through one application. The application is designed to recognize the important intersectional and intersectoral work of nonprofits in the region and provides organizations one entry to be considered for grants across the multiple focus areas.
This application is open to organizations engaged in the following focus areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Environment
• Faith and Neighborhoods
• Health
• Local Journalism
• Movement- and Power-Building
• Community Action Grants - Environment

As the world’s climate crisis accelerates, residents in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties need to adapt to a future that is endangering their communities. But many residents – particularly underserved communities – do not have the resources to adapt to factors such as sea-level rise and frequent wildfires. Meanwhile, the changing climate and other environmental conditions influence health outcomes and intersect with many other social issues.
SVCF’s Environment: Community Action Grants Program aims to fund organizations that demonstrate an understanding of environmental policy processes and are defining pathways for underserved communities to participate. In this focus area, SVCF will support organizations that are building the power of communities most impacted by environmental disparities. These organizations should be creating roles for community in the design and implementation of solutions to change environmental policy and build a resilient and just environment for all.

Eligibility

Organizations applying should have a clear focus on racial justice and a plan to prioritize community-based solutions, centering the populations they serve in leadership, design and implementation of programs.
This RFP will only consider funding organizations with annual budgets under $3 million.
Budgets for FY 2025 or FY 2024-2025 are required in the application.
Organizations must serve San Mateo and/or Santa Clara counties.
Organizations headquartered outside the two-county region may apply but should demonstrate significant service to these areas or partner with a local organization that does.
Organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation, those that have a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)(3) designation, public agencies, collaborations of nonprofit and public agencies, or other entities that have a designated charitable purpose will be considered.
Organizations must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, creed, religion, religious affiliation, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.
Organizations with religious affiliations will be considered for funding only if the project for which they seek support addresses the needs of the wider community without regard to religious beliefs.
Funding is primarily for general operating support.

Ineligibility

The following organization types are not eligible to apply for this RFP:

• Fiscally sponsored projects that are established solely to support the work of one individual.

Foundations with the sole purpose to raise funds to support a public entity (such as education foundations).Funding will not be provided for:Capital improvements or budget shortfalls
Event sponsorship or fundraising events
Funding gaps due to organizational emergencies, such as office vandalism, the resignation of an executive director, or sudden loss of funding
If your organization received funding of $10,000 or more in the previous Round 1 grant round, it will not be considered for funding in the current round