Field-of-Interest Grant Program - Economic Development

The Field-of-Interest Grant Program - Economic Development supports local nonprofits in Mendocino County with grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,500. This program prioritizes initiatives that enhance economic sustainability through technical assistance, financial literacy, and innovative projects. Established in 2016, it aims to foster a healthy and equitable local economy, encouraging collaborative efforts to secure sustainable funding for various community sectors.

NOTE:
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply at least five days in advance of the deadline.If you received a Field-of-Interest Fund Grant in the prior year, your organization is not eligible to apply for this round of funding, unless it is a school or community services district.
The Field-of-Interest Grant Program offers grant opportunities for local nonprofits with proposed projects or initiatives in the fields of arts and culture, children and youth, disaster relief, recovery, and resilience, economic development the environment, and healthy and inclusive communities.
Established in 2016, the Field-of-Interest Grant Program is a collection of funds established to make grants in specified areas of interest (e.g., the environment or human services), or specified geographical areas, or both. The grant program is offered annually with funding provided by individual Field-of-Interest funds.
Purpose
The goal of the program is to provide grants to Mendocino County nonprofit organizations around specified areas of interest (e.g., the environment or human services), or specified geographical areas, or both. Available funding and grant guidelines are provided annually. Not all funds run every year.
The Fund for Economic Development is comprised of private donors, the Community Endowment Fund and the John and Sandra Mayfield Family Economic Development Fund.
The Fund for Economic Development was established to provide grants that support a sustainable, healthy, and equitable local economy in Mendocino County.
Funding priorities include, but are not limited to:
Technical assistance, development, and/or capacity building for social entrepreneurship efforts.Collaborative or coalition efforts to secure sustainable funding for a sector or shared mission.Financial literacy, money or debt management workshops or seminars.
Infrastructure, education, and support resources (coaching and mentoring) for start-ups, social enterprises, and small businesses.Innovative projects to retain or attract qualified employees.
Micro-loans to launch or scale entrepreneurial small businesses.
Efforts to align economic development collaborations and implement best practices.
Grant range: $1,000-$5,500
Grant proposals for $5,000 or more may have two stages of review: an initial review and a site visit. Site visits may be made in-person, by phone, or virtually.