SMUD's Shine Award Program Grant

SMUD's Shine Award Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Amount: Up to US $100,000
Last Updated: August 15, 2025

Summary

The SMUD's Shine Award Program aims to foster inclusive community partnerships by providing equitable support to enhance neighborhoods. It focuses on social well-being, healthy environments, and economic prosperity while prioritizing funding for projects that promote clean energy solutions, energy efficiency, and community education. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations within SMUD’s service territory. The program offers various awards to support impactful initiatives that can be quickly implemented or require longer-term investments.

Overview

Purpose of the Program The goal of the Shine award program (Shine program) is to build inclusive community collaborations and partnerships, provide equitable support to enhance neighborhoods and support our community-based nonprofit partners. With specific attention to physical, cultural, and social identities, we hope to strengthen the connections between quality of life for the people in our region and the sustainability of the places they share. Eligible project categories Social Well-being Community educationCommunity safetyInfrastructure improvementsCollective impact partnershipsUnder-served community development Healthy Environment Air quality improvementsCarbon emission reductionClimate readinessEnvironmental justiceHealth equityTree canopy Prosperous Economy Digital accessibilityEconomic developmentSmall business developmentLow-income programsWorkforce developmentTechnology skills training Mobility Electric vehicleAutonomous transportationPublic transit accessCharging stationWalkabilityShared mobility access Types of award funding available Through the Shine program, SMUD’s community partners can access three (3) different types of award funding opportunities: Spark Award - awards of $10,000 or lessAmplifier Award – awards – up to $50,000Transformer Award – awards –up to $100,000 Spark Award: Spark Award is for smaller, short-term projects ready in 3-6 months that can spark immediate positive change for the community. Amplifier Award: Amplifier funding will help launch projects that will be ready within 6 months and will have a measurable impact on the community. Projects of this type may include neighborhood lighting, STEM education, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, beautification, etc. They may also include service-based programs that encourage economic development, access and equity for underserved and underrepresented communities, such as workforce development, technology skills development, health and safety education. Transformer Award: Transformer funding is for projects that address systemic community issues and generally occur over a longer-term timeline. In most cases, these projects will involve significant transformations of the community's infrastructure or other aspects of its built environment. Funds will not be awarded for service-based programs; however, facilities and other physical infrastructure that support service-based programs may be eligible for funding. Transformer funds are for projects that will generally occur over longer timelines and will be ready to launch within 12 months.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. While the Shine program is designed to harness the ingenuity and leadership of forward-thinking individuals within our communities, all applicants must be incorporated nonprofit organizations within SMUD’s service territory.These include but are not necessarily limited to community-based non-profits, chambers of commerce, property-based improvement districts, neighborhood associations and homeowners associations.

Ineligibility

Based upon SMUD policy and regulatory requirements, there are a small number of organizations and activities for which the Shine program cannot provide funding.Examples of these are as follows:Political or individual lobbying activitiesReligious activities, in whole or in part, for the purpose of furthering religious doctrine (Faith-based organizations may be considered if they provide services to all clients regardless of denomination.)Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, or national originGeneral operating support or travel expensesSchool-affiliated field trips, fundraisers, sports teams, graduations or performing arts eventsOrganizations whose services are not provided in SMUD’s service territoryDonations of SMUD electric service for which a fee is normally charged