Apply for Grants

At Community Foundation Sonoma County, we believe in the power of connecting people, ideas and resources to benefit the lives of those who live here. Every day, we create partnerships with donors, organizations and community leaders to invest in the promise of Sonoma County.

Our investment in well-being is carried out through four broad program areas: Education, Arts and Culture, Health and Human Services, Environment. Each area supports components of strengthening and sustaining the well-being of Sonoma County's people and places through a combination of competitive grants, multi-year initiatives and convenings.

Grant Eligibility

An organization should be an incorporated 501(c)(3) charitable organization serving residents of Sonoma County.

How to Get Started

To get started, review the Competitive Grants table below. Links from there will take you to more detailed information about the specific programs including goals, grant criteria, application material and instructions. Review this information carefully to determine if your program is a good fit. Once you've identified an active competitive grant, the next step is submitting a grant application electronically (except Neighborhood Grants).

 

Competitive Grants for 2013

Connecting to the Community's Creativity and Cultures

Grant Program

Summary of Program Priorities

Due Date

Arts Education

 

Grants of up to $15,000 for increasing equitable access to a high quality arts education for underserved youth in Sonoma County

Grant Award recipients will be announced May 25, 2013

 

Discovered Awards

An awards program supporting the exposure and advancement of Sonoma County's emerging artists

Accepting Recommendations until June 1, 2013

Expanding Engagement

Small Grants for the Arts: The goal of this program is to enable artists and arts organizations to explore innovative ways of expanding participation and engagement in the arts. This can be accomplished in countless ways, including participatory art practices, unique collaborations, removing the barriers of high ticket costs, and art making in public spaces. Small Grants for the Arts funding supports new artistic works such as projects, events, festivals and programs that effectively increase accessibility to an art form. Read more...

Audience Development Initiative: In February 2013, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to make the Economic Development Board responsible for creating a strategic plan for county-wide arts/cultural promotion. The plan will explore best practices among areas that have become artistic destinations and will investigate how local arts can be further developed and promoted. Community Foundation Sonoma County is committed to utilizing the data generated during that strategic planning process to inform our investment in the arts sector.

Applications for the Small Grants for the Arts program are being accepted from April 16, 2013 to May 20, 2013, 5:00pm

 

 

Connecting to the Community's Resources

Grant Program

Summary of Program Priorities

Due Date

Basic Human Needs

Grants of up to $5,000 for food and shelter for low income persons in crisis

Applications are accepted at any time

Neighborhood Grants

Grants from $500 to $2000 to neighborhood groups for projects that bring residents together to improve communities

Grant requests are accepted any time. Check for details in English or Spanish

Connecting Human Communities to Nature's Gifts

Grant Program

Summary of Grant Priorities

Due Date

Environmental Education

Grants of up to $15,000 for increasing access to high quality environmental education for all youth in Sonoma County

Applications are due March 11, 2013

Connecting the Next Generation to a Better Future

Grant Program

Summary of Grant Program Priorities

Due Date

Post- Secondary Scholarships

Scholarships are available through a new program, Scholarship Sonoma County, which is a partnership of the Community Foundation and 10,000 Degrees

2013 Scholarship application process is now closed

Community Foundation Affiliates

Area Served

Summary of Grant Program Priorities

Due Date

Healdsburg/Geyserville Area

Up to $10,000 for general support to cover core operating expenses or program costs

TBA June 2013

Sonoma Valley Fund

Todd Trust Grants: Information about the Todd Trust is available here

Grant requests are not being accepted at this time

 

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 Community Investment 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 occurs through an invitation from the Community Foundation.
  • 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, Education and for Neighborhood Grants and Healdsburg/Geyserville area grants, please contact Karin Demarest at 707.303.9621.

For all other grants, please contact Robert Judd at 707.303.9615.

 

Featured Program
Photo of Bayer Farm activity

With a history of connecting people to the land through public access and property stewardship, LandPaths recently opened a new kind of portal for alleviating our “nature deficit disorder.” When they took on Bayer Farm in the middle of Roseland, they asked, “Why aren’t we growing food on our parklands?” Their expanded vision combines the benefits of a rural farm and urban park. The six acres now provide needed green space, abundant food gardens, nature-based youth programs and an outdoor place for community celebrations. More…

Featured Initiative
Boy with apples

"We are thrilled with this strong statement of leadership from the Community Foundation in directing significant resources toward an issue as fundamental and urgent as hunger," said David Goodman, Executive Director of the Redwood Empire Food Bank."And, the pursuit of fresh produce that addresses not only hunger but the health and well-being of the recipients is truly exciting for everyone involved: donors, The REFB, agencies and food recipients." More