RFA for Innovation Partnership Fund (IPF-001): Small Grants

RFA for Innovation Partnership Fund (IPF-001): Small Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: California Commission for Behavioral Health
Amount: Up to US $500,000
Last Updated: April 02, 2026

Summary

Overview

Note: This first round of IPF offers two distinct grant categories, each with specific eligibility requirements: Category 1 – Small Grants; and Category 2 – Large Grants Applicants may apply for one or both grant categories, but must submit a separate application for each project. The deadline for Written Questions is indicated above as that for Letter of Inquiry. California Commission for Behavioral Health Proposition 63, approved by California voters in 2004, created the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to drive transformational change across the state’s mental health system. The Commission oversees the implementation of the far-reaching initiative, which imposed a 1 percent income tax on wealthy residents to pay for mental health services and established a framework for continuous improvement of mental healthcare in the state. Partnering with public and private mental health agencies at all levels, the Commission works to ensure that people get the care they need in a timely, comprehensive, effective, and culturally competent manner. In everything, it vigorously promotes community collaboration. Innovation Partnership Fund (IPF) Request for Application (RFA) The Commission for Behavioral Health (CBH) is thrilled to announce the official release of the Innovation Partnership Fund (IPF) Request for Application (RFA), marking the first round of a significant multi-year investment. This initiative, established through the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), aims to award up to $20 million in grants this year to drive bold, equity-centered innovations within California’s public behavioral health system. This groundbreaking fund is designed to invest in solutions that will fundamentally improve how mental health and substance use disorder services are delivered, experienced, and sustained across the state, with a strong focus on supporting county behavioral health departments. This RFA was built upon extensive community and system partner feedback ensuring that the initiatives supported reflect the real-world needs of Californians. It was also developed in collaboration with the California Health & Human Services Agency, the California Department of Health Care Services, the California Department of Public Health, and the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. This first round of IPF offers two distinct grant categories, each with specific eligibility requirements: Category 1 – Small Grants; and Category 2 – Large Grants. Category 1 – Small Grants Grant awards of less than $500,000. A minimum of 8 grants will be awarded, with a total of $4 million available. These grants are exclusively open to community-based organizations, non-profit entities, and/or tribal organizations. Key Application Requirements To be considered for this fund, applicants’ proposed solutions must: Be innovative by advancing new or scaled culturally competent models, practical community-centered solutions, demonstrating a clear break from the status quo, or being ready for real-world implementation; Address the needs of BHSA Priority Populations, including underserved, low-income, and communities impacted by other behavioral health disparities; Apply to and support county behavioral health programs, either directly or indirectly; and Address key Cross-Cutting Elements, including Equity, Financial Sustainability, Lived Experience and Community Leadership, Alignment with Statewide Transformation Efforts, and Agility/Quality Improvement Integration.

Eligibility

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