Impact Grants - Children & Youth / Health & Human Services

Impact Grants - Children & Youth / Health & Human Services

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Community Foundation for Monterey County
Amount: US $40,000 - US $50,000
Last Updated: January 28, 2026

Summary

The Community Foundation for Monterey County provides Community Impact Grants to support programs aimed at improving the lives of children, youth, and underserved populations. With an average grant award of $25,000, these grants focus on early childhood education, academic support, and health services. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and public agencies in Monterey County. The foundation values innovative, collaborative proposals that demonstrate measurable impact and sustainability.

Overview

The Community Foundation for Monterey County’s strategic plan embraces a countywide vision of Healthy, Safe and Vibrant Communities. Community Impact Grants address critical issues and opportunities in five program areas that advance this vision. Community Impact Grants These grants typically fund programs larger in scope and scale. Successful applicants will demonstrate a track record of effectiveness and the capacity to articulate and measure impact. The CFMC expects to fund larger Community Impact grants with the average grant award of $45,000. These applications are reviewed by volunteer grant committees composed of CFMC Board members and community volunteers who represent a range of perspective and expertise. Children & Youth We support programs that help children and youth reach their full potential. Funding Priorities: Early childhood education and family literacy projects that optimize the development of children (ages 0-5) so they enter school ready to learn (e.g., family reading programs and early childhood enrichment);Integrated academic supports to help youth (grades k-12) graduate from high school prepared for success (e.g., tutoring and homework support, in-school supplemental programs, academic mentors, college preparation); Programs that promote character-building, leadership and life skills development and that empower and support youth to make constructive use of time outside the school environment (e.g., afterschool enrichment programs, youth recreation, leadership skills development, service-learning projects); or Parent education and engagement efforts to promote healthy family environments, nurture positive youth development, and involve parents in their children’s education (e.g., parent/child communication programs, parenting classes, parental involvement with schools). Health & Human Services We invest in prevention and early intervention services that improve the physical and mental health of individuals and families, support programs that promote independent living and efforts that ensure that the basic living needs of Monterey County’s most vulnerable and underserved individuals and families are met. The Community Foundation uses the common public health definition of primary prevention as approaches that occur before illness or injury, and early intervention as responses after symptoms or risk of illness or injury occur. Funding Priorities Community health promotion and prevention programs that keep people healthy and delay or eliminate the necessity for treatment (e.g., programs that promote healthy lifestyles, nutrition, exercise, family planning, substance abuse education, family violence prevention); Case management and other programs that teach self-advocacy skills and/or provide guidance in navigating the health and human services system to secure needed resources for people who have limited access to services (e.g., access to public benefit programs, resources and referrals); Independent living resources for older adults, people living with disabilities or chronic illness, foster youth, and other special needs populations (e.g., senior meal and social programs that support aging in place, caregiver and support groups); or Expanded or improved basic needs services to meet growing trends or changing issues. Funding will focus on services that address the basic living needs (food and shelter) of Monterey County’s most vulnerable and underserved individuals and families (e.g., adding services or hours of service or implementing new business practices that contribute to positive client outcomes). Types of Support Program - The CFMC considers all expense needs associated with implementing services to produce meaningful results and in carrying out a nonprofit’s mission. Applications requesting program support estimate how grant funds would be used in a program budget. Funding is provided for ongoing and expanded programs that show the promise of efficacy and sustainability. Strong applications include Evaluation Plans with a few measurable goals which will demonstrate progress towards the program’s broader outcomes Operating Support - The CFMC provides unrestricted operating grants to organizations that have a proven grants record of community benefit in Monterey County. Organizations must be based in Monterey County and have a positive and stable history with CFMC. Approximately 30% of the Community Impact annual grantmaking is budgeted for operating grants. Organizational Development - Proposals are welcome for major organizational development efforts (non-recurring activities intended to develop the internal capacity and infrastructure of organizations). Organizations proposing a capacitybuilding grant should address how the project strengthens the organization and how it will enhance its mission and benefit the community served. Capital Support - The CFMC supports capital costs (buildings and facilities) when those capital improvements have the potential to advance greater social benefit. Capital support will be considered for predevelopment expenses and/or construction costs. Preference will be given to requests that have raised at least half of the total project costs.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Community Impact grants are open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and public agencies serving Monterey County residents.Efforts or collaborative projects that are not legally incorporated may partner with a tax-exempt, 501(c)3 organization which will serve as the fiscal sponsor for the proposed grant. The fiscal sponsor must agree to be accountable to the CFMC for the programmatic and financial outcomes of the grant and have a signed agreement with the sponsored group verifying the terms of the arrangement.All requested funding must directly benefit residents of Monterey County.All organizations applying for a grant must be current on reporting obligations for past CFMC grants.Only one Community Impact grant per organization will be awarded annually, unless the grant is for a multi-organization collaborative project.

Ineligibility

Grant funds cannot be used for the following types of activities:Activities that are non-secular or promote a religious doctrineAcademic researchFunding to K-12 schools and public agencies that would supplant tax-supported, mandated services or for the acquisition or renovation of equipment and facilitiesFundraising campaigns or fundraising eventsCreation of, or addition to, an endowment fundPayment of debt or legal settlementsPolitical or partisan purposesExpenses incurred prior to the grant award dateThe CFMC does not support organizations that discriminate in their employment practices, volunteer opportunities, or delivery of programs and services on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law.