Apply for Grants
Interested in our New Neighborhood Grants Program? Go directly to information in Spanish or English!
The Community Foundation funds work that aligns with our mission—to improve the quality of life for residents of Sonoma County. We also proactively convene and collaborate with other organizations and funders to create community solutions that benefit from diverse perspectives and healthy discourse.
Grant Eligibility
An organization should be an incorporated 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Competitive grants are intended to serve the residents of Sonoma County and your organization must serve Sonoma County residents in order to apply.
Ineligible Grant Uses
We generally do not fund competitive proposals involving special events, debt retirement, endowment building, political or religious programs or organizations that discriminate. Except for our Healdsburg Affiliate, we generally do not make competitive grants to primary or secondary schools (or those schools’ foundations) or to departments of local government.
Our Competitive Grant Programs
In 2012, Community Foundation Sonoma County will invest approximately $1,800,000 in discretionary grants to community-benefit organizations serving Sonoma County. Of that investment, approximately $480,000 will be awarded competitively.
How to Apply
The Community Foundation uses an electronic process for submitting grant applications. Applications to all Community Foundation grant programs(except Neighborhood Grants), including those to the Healdsburg Area and the Sonoma Valley Fund, must be submitted electronically. Mailing or delivering hard copy materials is no longer required and will only be accepted for Neighborhood Grants. Let us know if you have trouble using the electronic process.
To complete the electronic process, you must first:
- Set up an account by providing an email address and password (this allows you to save a partially completed application and return to it later);
- Provide your IRS Tax ID number; and
- Respond to a simple two question eligibility quiz.
To get started, click on the program name of one of the active grant programs listed below. That link will take you to more detailed information about the grant program and also link you to the application materials and instructions.
To save and finish your electronic application at a later time, you must:
- Click Save and Finish Later at the bottom of the application page you are working on
- To return to your application go to the Community Foundation's website (www.sonomacf.org) and click My Grants Account
- Sign in with your email address and password and click Continue
- In the My Grants Account page you will see applications that you are currently working on and applications that you have previously submitted. In the Open section, click on the application that you wish to complete
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Grant Program |
Summary of Program Priorities |
Due Date |
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Arts and Culture |
With the appointment of our new Program Officer for Arts and Education, the reassessment of our grant program in the arts is again progressing. Rather than make any changes this year, we will roll over our budget for arts grants into the new program that will be presented next year, combining 2011's budget with 2012's to provide a larger set of grants. We expect to annouce the new program in late spring of 2012 and will keep you updated on that timeline |
Check here for an update in late spring of 2012. Any grants deadline will be posted here at least 30 days in advance |
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Basic Human Needs |
Up to $5,000 for programs providing food, clothing or shelter for low-income people in crisis |
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Education |
Up to $15,000 in general support for education programs in the arts, environment and diversity awareness |
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Environment |
We are partnering with the North Bay Climate Adaptation Initiative (NBCAI) to support the work of its member organizations. Our goal is preserving Sonoma County's remarkable biodiversity through supporting NBCAI's work in addressing the policy, science and conservation challenges presented by climate change. |
In 2012, Community Foundation grants are supporting organizations participating in NBCAI working groups. |
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Healdsburg Area |
Up to $10,000 for general support to cover core operating expenses or program costs. |
Description of the 2012-2013 Grants Program will be posted in May 2012. |
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Health/Human Services |
Safety-net Services |
NEW! Neighborhood Grants |
Grants from $500 to $2000 to neighborhood groups for projects that bring residents together to improve their communities. |
Grant requests are accepted at any time. Check for details in English or Spanish |
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Sonoma Valley Fund |
Ellman Fund Grants of up to $10,000 for projects involving historic preservation, environment & environmental education |
Information for 2012 will be posted in March |
Our Grantmaking
Our grantmaking and program initiatives may occur in a variety of ways:
- Competitive Grants – A federally-designated, charitable organization whose mission/services align with Community Foundation priorities submits a funding application to one of our grant programs support (see above). The application is evaluated by our Grants Distribution Committee, whose recommendations are approved by our board.
- Initiative Grants – The Community Foundation provides leadership in more effectively resolving community issues through convening and partnering with organizations, field experts, community groups and civic leaders. Participation in initiatives usually occirs through an invitation from the Community Foundation. Information about some of our initiatives is available in our Work Together section.
- Donor-advised Grants - Donors advisors include individuals, families and groups that accomplish their philanthropy through the Community Foundation. As a service to donors, we provide information about Sonoma County organizations whose work aligns with donor interests
For grants in the fields of Arts or Education and for Neighborhood Grants, please contact Karin Demarest at 707.303.9621.
For all other grants, please contact Robert Judd at 707.303.9615.
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