Waterman Foundation Grant

Waterman Foundation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Kern Community Foundation
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: March 22, 2026

Summary

The Waterman Foundation Grant, established by the Bakersfield Downtown Rotary Club, offers up to $50,000 in funding for local nonprofits addressing community needs. Eligible projects must be sponsored by a Rotary Club member and meet specific criteria including nonprofit status. Grants are intended for capital projects, not operational expenses, and organizations may only submit one application per funding round. This initiative aims to enhance services in areas such as health, housing, and education.

Overview

NOTE: To apply for grants, you must first be registered with Kern Community Foundation - see Letter of Inquiry deadline above. Waterman Foundation Rotary Club of Bakersfield Capital Grant Program The Waterman Foundation (Foundation) was established by the Bakersfield Downtown Rotary Club in 1984 to provide scholarships to local students and grants for capital projects supporting local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees governs the activities of the Foundation and is comprised of members of the Downtown Bakersfield Rotary Club. The Waterman Foundation will award a total of $50,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations. The dollar amount to be distributed will be determined each funding year by the Waterman Foundation's Board of Trustees, including whether only a single large grant will be made to one agency, or a number of smaller grants made to more than one agency. Areas of Community Need Your proposal should demonstrate how your proposed project meets one or more of the following identified community needs: Health and human services for the uninsured and under-insuredTransportationChild care and developmentAvailability of health and related servicesJobs and trainingPrograms and services for seniorsMental health servicesPrograms and services for youthAffordable housingDrug and alcohol servicesDental careTeen pregnancy preventionRespiratory problemsCommunicable diseasesChildhood obesityEducationHomeless

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The application must be sponsored by a member of Bakersfield Downtown Rotary Club.Applicants are required to provide the Club member's name and contact information in the application.An agency must have:501(c)(3) nonprofit status, be registered with Kern Community Foundation and have a minimum Silver 2022 rating on GuideStar.org.Grants will be awarded only for capital projects.Capital projects, for purposes of this grant, are defined as improvements to buildings or land, purchases of equipment, or upgrades to facilities. Grant applications must meet at least one of the "Areas of Community Need."The Waterman Foundation only awards grants for one calendar year, and there will ordinarily be an interceding year before an agency may be funded two years consecutively.An agency may submit only one grant application per funding round.

Ineligibility

Grants not for such items as operating expenses.Applications from multiple programs within the same agency will not be considered.