Parks California Career Pathways Grants Program: Planning & Development Grants

The Parks California Career Pathways Grants Program supports workforce development for underrepresented communities, aiming to foster career pathways to California State Parks jobs. This initiative encourages partnerships between state parks and local organizations to address access barriers and prepare participants for park careers. The program includes Planning and Development Grants, which help cultivate community partnerships and design impactful projects, ultimately enriching California's diverse workforce and enhancing outdoor access experiences.

NOTE:
Please note, applicants are required to discuss the proposed project with California State Park staff in each District where programming is proposed. You will need to provide the name and contact information of the State Parks employee with whom you discussed your proposal. See letter of inquiry deadline above. See page for Implementation Grants here.
Core Values
At Parks California, we are collaborative, inclusive, innovative, adaptive, and responsive.
Career Pathways Grant Program
Parks California’s Career Pathways Grant Program aims to expand career pathways to California State Parks jobs for underrepresented communities. This program supports workforce development partnerships between state parks and local organizations that meaningfully address key access barriers and prepare participants for park careers. The program aims to not only prepare the next generation workforce with necessary skills but also expand awareness about the diversity of careers in parks and public lands, connect participants to mentors and professional networks to support them in their career journey, and helps participants navigate state hiring processes.
This program is made possible through a public private partnership, supported by private fundraising by Parks California, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Waterway Connections Initiative. The Career Pathways Grant Program is aligned with the goals of California Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All program. Through this partnership, Parks California is expanding the Career Pathways grants program with increased opportunities for water-related outdoor access and experiences.
The goals for this grant program are to:
Broaden and expand career pathways to jobs in California State Parks and public landsAddress key access barriers faced by underrepresented communitiesAdd on-the-ground capacity to California State Park high priority projectsBuild and strengthen partnerships between communities, organizations, and California State Parks
Planning and Development Grants
This funding is intended for emerging programs that require research and staff time to cultivate partnerships with communities and coordinate with California State Parks to design a Career Pathways project. Final Project Plans developed through this grant opportunity will include goals and project objectives, define alignment with the Career Pathways program goals, and provide tangible outcomes and success metrics, partner roles and responsibilities, scope and budget, milestones, deliverables, and a timeline for implementation. Successful project plans may be eligible for Parks California Career Pathways implementation level funding in subsequent years to launch their proposed project or program. Planning and Development grants are not required to serve participants directly, though pilot training programs are welcomed.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants include:501(c)3 OrganizationsFederal- and State- Recognized Tribal Governments (Tribal Government Programs, such as Tribal Arts Programs, Heritage Departments, Economic Development Entities, etc.)Native 7871 OrganizationsFiscally sponsored Community OrganizationsGovernment Agencies (excludes CDPR)Education Institutions (Community Colleges, Universities)Eligible Proposals:We are seeking proposals that address the following:Provides job training skills, mentorship, work experience, and career development that meaningfully prepares program participants ages 16 and up for park careers focused on park operations and stewardship.Primarily works with and in California State Parks properties that connect participants to parks, inland waterways, and/or beachesAddresses key barriers faced by participants from communities who have been underrepresented in the California State Park workforce.Builds a new or continues existing partnership with California State Parks that offers participants paid work experience and connections with California State Parks staff.If applying for the Planning and Development grants, the proposal must demonstrate how the funding will be used to create a Project Plan that addresses the Eligibility Criteria and multiple preference criteria.Use of FundsFunding can be used for various purposes, including: supporting tuition and travel expenses to attend California State Park training classes, conducting site visits with California State Park staff to build familiarity with park projects, and shadowing existing park projects to help inform future partnerships projects.Funding can also support: conducting needs assessments, research and program planning, community outreach, collecting community input, providing training funds for staff or organizations, curriculum development, partnership development, etc. Planning and Development grants can also support staff time to develop agreement mechanisms to work directly with California State Parks on future projects.

Ineligibility

Ineligible CostsFundraising, grant writing, lobbying, costs outside grant performance period and costs outside the approved grant scope.