Community Action Grants - Local Journalism

The Community Action Grants - Local Journalism program by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation aims to empower local nonprofits focused on racial justice and community engagement. By prioritizing funding for organizations addressing hyper-local issues, this initiative seeks to amplify the voices of underserved communities and enhance civic engagement through accurate storytelling. Eligible organizations must serve San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, ensuring impactful solutions that foster equity and community strength.

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 CultureEnvironment
• Faith and Neighborhoods
• Health
• Local Journalism
• Movement- and Power-Building
• Community Action Grants - Local Journalism

In recent years, there has been a push to reimagine how to tell the stories of underserved communities. The structures of mainstream media continue to exclude local community voices. In response, journalists and storytellers in underserved communities have empowered themselves to share their narratives and amplify the voices of those who have been historically left out.
SVCF supports organizations at the intersection of journalism and civic engagement.
SVCF’s Local Journalism Fund: Community Action Grants Program aims to address the gaps in news and information in underserved communities by supporting coverage of hyper-local issues. In this focus area, grants prioritize local nonprofits working on accurate and inspiring community stories designed to inform, engage and activate residents to strengthen our democracy.

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