Applications are open from January 12, 2026 – February 6, 2026.
Meeting Basic Human Needs
In Sonoma County, the persistent challenge of meeting basic needs causes hardship for local individuals and families. Many local families must make difficult choices between essentials like housing and food due to the constraints of receiving low wages in an area with a high cost of living. Trusted local service organizations and community groups are working day and night to support the urgent needs of community members. CFSC is in continual conversation with leaders building a stronger local safety net.
Urgent Needs:
In the fall of 2025, when SNAP payments were delayed for nearly 43,000 people in Sonoma County, many families suddenly faced the risk of running out of groceries. In response, CFSC quickly directed $200,000 to the Redwood Empire Food Bank to help them keep meals available for families across our community during a critical time. CFSC continues to work to provide emergency support to local organizations fighting hunger who are already stretched by rising demand and shrinking resources. Donations made to the Fund for Basic Human Needs will be pooled with others to provide direct support to organizations responding to food insecurity in Sonoma County now and over time.
Grant Program Overview
The Julia L. Grant Fund for Basic Human Needs grant program supports critical safety net services in Sonoma County. Grant applications may include requests for programs that provide food or shelter for people in acute need in Sonoma County.
- Funding Available: Approximately $800,000. At least 70% will be dedicated to programs providing direct food assistance.
- Grant Size: Up to $30,000, with no cap on administrative expenses. In a typical cycle, we receive more applications than we can fund and are able to support roughly half of applicants. In some cases, awards may be partial.
- Eligible Programs: Direct provision of food and emergency shelter.
- Not Eligible: Requests for direct financial assistance, such as rental or utility assistance, gift cards, etc., will not be considered.
Grant Program Criteria
The Julia L. Grant Fund for Basic Human Needs grant program is meant to address the most essential needs of families and individuals in Sonoma County. This year, applications for food and shelter will be considered.
Grant Program Criteria:
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- Requesting organization is a Sonoma County 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an organization fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Program provides services that address the food and shelter needs of community members.
- Program is designed to serve those living on the margins and minimizes barriers to accessing services.
- Please note: Referral programs are not eligible for this funding. Due to limited resources, requests for direct financial assistance, such as rental or utility assistance, gift cards, etc., will not be considered.
Application Timeline
- January 12: Grant application opens
- February 6: Applications due by 5:00 p.m.
- Week of March 2: Applicants informed of grant awards
- March 15, 2026 – March 14, 2027: Grant period
How To Apply
Community Foundation Sonoma County uses an online process for submitting grant applications. You can apply by clicking here, or navigating to the “Grantee Login” link at the top of our website.
If this is your first application using the online portal, you will be asked to set up an account. If you have an established account, you will be asked for your password to open a new application. Once you’ve opened an online account, you will be asked a series of questions that include your contact information and a series of narrative questions. Applicants with a Fiscal Sponsor will also be asked to upload the Fiscal Sponsorship Form and a Fiscal Sponsor Organizational Budget. To review FAQs for Online Submission, please click here.
2025 Grant Summary
50 grants were awarded in 2025. The median grant size was $30,000.
| Organization |
|---|
| Ambulatory Surgery Access Coalition dba Operation Access |
| Botanical Bus |
| Buckelew Programs |
| California Parenting Institute (CPI) |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa |
| Ceres Community Project |
| Cloverdale Senior Multipurpose Center |
| Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County |
| Community Support Network |
| Conservation Corps North Bay |
| COTS (Committee on the Shelterless) |
| Council on Aging Services for Seniors |
| Elisha's Pantry |
| Extended Child Care Coalition of Sonoma County Inc. |
| ExtraFood |
| Farm to Fight Hunger |
| Farm to Pantry |
| FISH of the Santa Rosa Area Inc. |
| Food For Thought |
| Forget Me Not Childrens Services |
| Friends in Sonoma Helping |
| Healdsburg Shared Ministries |
| HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County |
| Homeless Action Sonoma Inc |
| Jewish Community Free Clinic of Sonoma County |
| La Familia Sana |
| LandPaths |
| Latinos Unidos del Condado de Sonoma |
| North Bay Organizing Project |
| Nuestra Comunidad |
| Petaluma People Services Center |
| Reach for Home |
| Redemption House of the Bay Area |
| Redwood Empire Food Bank |
| River to Coast Children's Services |
| Sebastopol Area Senior Center |
| Sonoma Applied Village Services |
| Sonoma County Acts of Kindness |
| Sonoma County Black Forum |
| Sonoma Family Meal |
| Sonoma Overnight Support |
| St. Vincent De Paul Society of Sonoma County |
| The Living Room |
| TLC Child & Family Services |
| Una Vida |
| Unitarian Universalist Congregation Santa Rosa |
| West County Community Services |
| Windsor Presbyterian Church Food Pantry |
| Women's Recovery Services - A Unique Place |
| YWCA of Sonoma County |
For questions about the Julia L. Grant Fund for Basic Human Needs, please contact:
For questions regarding the online application, please contact:
