Fund for Belonging: Income Generation Grant

Fund for Belonging: Income Generation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Community Foundation Sonoma County
Amount: US $30,000 - US $60,000
Last Updated: September 01, 2025

Summary

The Fund for Belonging: Income Generation aims to empower immigrant communities in Sonoma County by enhancing employment security and providing job training. With a focus on entrepreneurship and small business development, this initiative anticipates awarding five grants to support applicants from various geographic regions. By fostering collaboration and addressing the unique challenges faced by immigrants, the program seeks to create lasting change and strengthen community leadership beyond 2026.

Overview

Note: The grantmaking process for the Fund for Belonging begins with an open call for letters of interest (presented above as Letter of Inquiry (LOI)). Community Foundation Sonoma County Community Foundation Sonoma County helps people give back to the place they love. With over 40 years of experience and deep roots in the region, we partner with donors, nonprofits, and local leaders to strengthen giving, grow impact, and support the people and organizations driving change in Sonoma County. We work alongside donors and nonprofits alike —making philanthropy easy and meaningful through trusted guidance and personalized support, and helping organizations grow stronger through grants, capacity-building, and collaborative initiatives. We’ve granted more than $300 million to local organizations and now steward over $214 million in charitable assets across 450 charitable funds created by individuals, families, businesses, and community groups. Together with donors and partners, we’re addressing Sonoma County’s most pressing issues—from housing and healthcare to climate resilience, education, and equity. Fund for Belonging CFSC’s Fund for Belonging addresses the intersecting challenges facing immigrant communities through targeted grantmaking, strategic collaboration, and responsive civic leadership. The design of the 2025 grant program is a culmination of the input and wisdom of more than 80 local leaders across immigrant communities, nonprofits, government, and philanthropy. This program brings together aligned funds at CFSC to respond to the results of this community engagement process. Together, we are acting on the belief that lasting change comes through shared commitment—and that our community deserves nothing less. Contingent on additional resources, we aim for the Fund for Belonging to remain responsive and collaborative as we grow to encompass new areas of focus and invest in even deeper community leadership in 2026 and beyond. Funding Areas The 2025 grant program will accept letters of interest related to the following four funding areas: Legal & Policy Information; Trusted Messenger Network; Income Generation and Safe Spaces & Wellbeing. Fund for Belonging: Income Generation To support immigrant employment security, job training, and transition into high-growth sectors as well as entrepreneurship and small business development. Anticipated number of grants – 5 One or two applicants representing each geographic region of Sonoma County will be invited to apply.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The following evaluation criteria will be used to review letters of interest for all funding areas:501c3 Status – Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an organization fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with offices and services based in Sonoma County.Funding Area Alignment – Program demonstrates alignment with the objectives in one or more of the funding areas.Designing to the Margins – Program is designed by and for immigrants living on the margins in Sonoma County (see FAQs for more details). In our selection process, we will consider the diversity of immigrant communities in Sonoma County.Organizational Connection & Capacity – Organization provides evidence of current/past impact in immigrant communities and the likelihood of sustained commitment in this area.Partnerships – Organization engages in strong partnerships and includes plans for collaboration using grant program funds.Geographic Focus – Organization has a strong physical presence in one or more of Sonoma County’s regions (North, South, Central, East, or West), such as a dedicated building for service provision or consistent services with physically present staff (i.e. a regular mobile unit route or office hours).Trusted Messenger – Organization documents that it is a trusted messenger among immigrant communities and is willing to support the dissemination of information as needed.