Short List Grants
Free funder guide · California · Last checked 27 September 2026

Which California environmental funders actually accept applications

Most private foundations in California have already told the IRS they won't read your proposal. This page explains how to spot them, and lists 14 secular funders of environmental and conservation work in California that do take applications, with what they fund, what they have given, and when they next open.

Most California foundations that take applications and fund the environment also gave to a church, a religious school or another faith-based group in their latest filing, so they are not on this list. I list secular funders only. The largest open money here comes from state conservancies and boards that take pre-applications all year.

From my own read of IRS filings, September 2026
In California, 3,396 of the 4,113 private foundations with $1 million or more in assets that I could check tick the box on their tax return saying they don't accept unsolicited requests. That is 83%.

That leaves 717 larger California foundations that say they will read an application. It is a higher share of closed doors than in Virginia (71%, 586 of 820), Maryland (76%, 559 of 739) and New York (82%, 3,533 of 4,309), counted the same way.

How I counted: every private non-operating foundation with a California address on the IRS Exempt Organizations Master File (September 2026 release) reporting assets of $1 million or more, checked against its most recent e-filed Form 990-PF (tax years 2022 to 2026, almost all 2024 or 2025). There are 4,127; 14 had no e-filed return I could find, so they are left out of the count. Operating foundations, which mostly run their own programs, are left out, as they were for Virginia, Maryland and New York. Counting them too gives 83% (3,768 of 4,557).

What the checkbox means

One small box on the tax return tells you whether to bother.

Every private foundation files Form 990-PF with the IRS each year. Part XIV, line 2 of that return has a checkbox. A foundation that ticks it is telling the IRS, in writing, that it chooses its grantees itself. A proposal sent to it is usually wasted work.

A foundation that leaves the box empty has to fill in lines 2a to 2d instead: who receives applications, what form they should take, any deadlines, and any limits on who or what it funds. For many small family foundations, those four lines are the only published guidelines they have.

The box does not tell you whether a foundation funds your kind of work. For that, read line 3a, the list of grants it actually paid. Check both before you write a letter of inquiry. Any foundation's return can be read free on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

14 funders

Open to applications, and funding environmental work in California.

Every funder below is secular, says it accepts applications (on its website or its tax return), and has paid grants to environmental or conservation groups in its most recent filing. Government programs are the exception: they file no tax return. Community foundations are listed by the program that fits environmental groups. Grant examples come from each funder's latest IRS filing unless the funder's own site is named.

Verified date on the funder's own site on 27 Sept 2026 Expected based on last cycle; next not yet posted Rolling applications any time Filing only no website; from the tax return, confirm first Check site next date not posted; open their page
Statewide and regional public grantmakers
  1. 01

    Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment: California Watershed Protection Fund

    Oakland · San Francisco Bay-Delta and Los Angeles-area watersheds this cycle

    Projects that improve surface water quality and protect watersheds: stewardship, restoration, monitoring, outreach and education. The fund is paid for by Clean Water Act settlements, so the eligible watersheds change from cycle to cycle. Applicants need a track record of community-based water quality work.

    Typical grant
    Up to $40,000; most $10,000 to $30,000 (its site). 2025 grants from this fund in its grantee database include Friends of Sausal Creek $40,000, Heal the Bay $39,750, Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust $22,500 and Watsonville Wetlands Watch $20,000.
    Next deadline
    Fall 2026 round: applications due October 15, 2026, 5 p.m. Verified; decisions in December 2026.
    How to apply
    Online application in the Rose Foundation grants portal.
    California Watershed Protection Fund
  2. 02

    San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority: Measure AA Grants

    San Francisco Bay shoreline, nine Bay Area counties

    Shoreline habitat restoration around the Bay, with flood management and public access that are part of a habitat project. Nonprofits are eligible. A separate Community Grants pathway, with a shorter application and staff support, is for community-based groups in economically disadvantaged communities.

    Typical grant
    Community Grants up to $300,000 (its site). Recent awards on its project list: Climate Resilient Communities $248,322 (Alviso and Belle Haven shoreline habitat), Richardson Bay Regional Agency $1,900,000.
    Next deadline
    2026-2027 grant round: full proposals due October 5, 2026, by midnight Verified. Community Grants are reviewed on a rolling basis.
    How to apply
    Grant application packet (Word application, PDF cover pages, Excel budget) from its grants page; a pre-application is recommended but not required. Community Grants: a short application form emailed to [email protected].
    Measure AA grant round
  3. 03

    California State Coastal Conservancy

    the coast, San Francisco Bay and coastal watersheds

    Projects that restore and protect the coast, the Bay and coastal watersheds, expand public access, protect working lands and build climate resilience. It funds most stages of a project, from feasibility, acquisition and planning to permitting, construction and monitoring, but not operations and maintenance. 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible.

    Typical grant
    No set minimum or maximum; most grants are expected to be $200,000 to $5,000,000. Explore the Coast grants are up to $100,000 and run in separate scheduled rounds (its site).
    Next deadline
    Pre-applications are accepted on a rolling basis all year, including for 2024 Climate Bond (Prop 4) funding Rolling.
    How to apply
    Word pre-application sent to the Conservancy; if the project is a priority it invites a full application. It recommends a technical assistance consultation with the regional manager first.
    Conservancy grants
  4. 04

    Wildlife Conservation Board

    Sacramento · statewide

    Habitat protection, restoration and wildlife-oriented public access through about fifteen programs, including riparian habitat, inland wetlands, oak woodlands, rangeland and grassland protection, and monarch butterfly and pollinator habitat. Most programs are open to nonprofits.

    Typical grant
    No set limit. It mostly pays capital costs (acquisition, restoration, construction), and projects with matching funds rank higher (its FAQ).
    Next deadline
    Pre-applications accepted at any time through the WCB Project Portal Rolling. The Board approves projects at meetings held at least four times a year.
    How to apply
    Pre-application in the WCB Project Portal. It recommends asking the regional office of the Department of Fish and Wildlife to review the project first.
    Grant opportunities
  5. 05

    Sierra Nevada Conservancy

    Sierra-Cascade region

    Grants to nonprofits, public agencies and tribes to protect Sierra-Cascade watersheds and communities: forest and watershed health, wildfire resilience, land conservation, recreation access and community resilience, plus capacity-building grants.

    Typical grant
    About $15,000,000 is available in the 2026 Wildfire and Forest Resilience cycle (its site); the page gives no per-grant range.
    Next deadline
    The 2026 Wildfire and Forest Resilience round took concept proposals until July 27, 2026 (full proposals by invitation, due November 2, 2026). Its land conservation, recreation and community resilience programs are not accepting proposals now, and no next date is posted Check site.
    How to apply
    Start with the SNC Area Representative for your county; if SNC will consider the project, it sends a concept proposal form.
    SNC grants
Community foundations
  1. 06

    Community Foundation for Monterey County

    Monterey · Monterey County

    Open grant programs for Monterey County nonprofits, with the environment among the Impact program's five areas. Small Grants are meant for first-time applicants, smaller organizations or programs serving a specific community.

    Typical grant
    Impact $20,001 to $50,000; Small Grants $10,000 to $20,000 (its site). Its 2024 filing puts the grant list in an attached schedule that is not in the e-filed data, so there are no examples here.
    Next deadline
    Small Grants: October 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Verified; the 2026 dates were February 27, June 30 and October 30. Impact: the 2026 deadline was March 20; the 2027 date is not posted yet Expected.
    How to apply
    Online grant portal.
    Grant opportunities
  2. 07

    Santa Barbara Foundation: Conservation, Environment and Public Trails Grant Program

    Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara County

    Environmental sustainability, land conservation, habitat restoration, public trails and ecosystem health across Santa Barbara County.

    Typical grant
    Up to $25,000 (its site). Environmental grants in its 2024 filing include Community Environmental Council $104,468, Channel Islands Restoration $88,976, The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County $69,633 and White Buffalo Land Trust $57,750 (the filing does not separate program grants from donor-advised gifts).
    Next deadline
    2026 round: July 9 to August 6, 2026; awards late November 2026. Next round about July 2027 Expected.
    How to apply
    Fillable PDF application (a Give Together program); download and save it before filling it in, and follow its application and submittal procedures.
    Grant opportunities
  3. 08

    Humboldt Area Foundation + Wild Rivers Community Foundation: Klamath River Fund

    Bayside · Klamath River Basin, California and Oregon

    Community-led climate resilience and restoration work across the Klamath Basin in the decade after the dam removals. Catalyst Grants cover gap funding, events and short projects; Community Impact grants fund larger requests.

    Typical grant
    Catalyst under $10,000; Community Impact $10,000 and up, currently averaging $50,000 (its site). Klamath grants in its filing for the year to June 2025 include Mid Klamath Watershed Council $152,300, Watershed Research and Training Center $97,400 and Friends of the Shasta River $88,000.
    Next deadline
    Catalyst Grants are open now with no closing date posted Rolling. Community Impact grants are reviewed twice a year, in spring and fall; no fall 2026 date is posted Check site.
    How to apply
    HAF+WRCF Grants Portal (free account required).
    Klamath River Fund grants
  4. 09

    Community Foundation of Mendocino County

    Ukiah · Mendocino County

    Two annual cycles that fund environmental work: Community Enrichment grants, where the environment is one of five funding areas, and the Field-of-Interest program, which includes an environment fund.

    Typical grant
    Field-of-Interest $1,000 to $8,000 (its site). Environmental grants in its filing for the year to June 2025 include Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens $49,129, Mendocino Coast Audubon Society $23,734, Noyo Center for Marine Science $14,950 and Upper Eel Watershed Forum $6,500 (the filing does not separate competitive grants from donor-advised gifts).
    Next deadline
    Community Enrichment: December 15, 2026 to January 25, 2027 Verified. Field-of-Interest: the 2026 round ran August 5 to September 2; next about August 2027 Expected.
    How to apply
    Online grant portal; guidelines and a recorded workshop are on each program page.
    Grant programs
Private foundations
  1. 10

    Arata Brothers Trust

    Carmichael · Sacramento area

    Youth education programs in the Sacramento area, including outdoor and environmental education.

    Typical grant
    Median $37,500 across its 8 grants in 2025. Environmental examples: Sierra Nevada Journeys $50,000 (Grizzly Creek Ranch), SPLASH Sacramento $20,000, Yolo Basin Foundation $10,000 (Discover the Flyway school program).
    Next deadline
    No deadline; the trustees decide at the end of each quarter Rolling.
    How to apply
    No form. Email a short cover note to [email protected] with the request (mission, project, amount, measurable results, why it will succeed) and the IRS exemption letter attached, subject line "Your Organization's Name GRANT APP".
    Grant application guidelines
  2. 11

    Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation

    Lone Pine · Eastern Sierra (Inyo and Mono counties), with some grants elsewhere

    Education, the environment and social progress, mostly in the Eastern Sierra around Lone Pine.

    Typical grant
    Median $10,000 across its 7 grants in 2025. Examples: Eastern Sierra Institute $20,000 (outdoor science for grades 3 to 8), Wildcare Eastern Sierra $10,000 (injured wildlife and education), Land Trust of Alabama $3,500 (youth outdoor education).
    Next deadline
    No fixed deadlines; awards are usually decided at its annual meeting in October Rolling.
    How to apply
    A cover sheet, a letter of inquiry of up to five pages and the listed documents (last three 990s, IRS letter, board list), by email to [email protected]. Submissions that do not follow its guidelines are discarded unread.
    Grant guidelines
  3. 12

    Mitchell Foundation for Nature, Art and Science

    Pasadena · Southern California and statewide

    No website; everything here comes from its 2024 tax filing. Small general-support grants, mostly to botanic gardens and conservation groups.

    Typical grant
    Median $5,000 across its 12 grants in 2024. Examples: California Botanic Garden $10,000, Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation $10,000, Lassen Park Foundation $5,000, Mono Lake Committee $5,000.
    Next deadline
    None stated Filing only.
    How to apply
    A letter to Karen Mitchell, 1355 N Mentor Ave 41491, Pasadena, CA 91104.
    Tax filings on ProPublica
  4. 13

    The Cygnet Foundation

    Pasadena · California

    No website; everything here comes from its 2025 tax filing. Ten general-support grants, nearly all to California conservation and sustainability groups.

    Typical grant
    Median $2,000 across its 10 grants in 2025, plus one large gift: Laguna Ocean Foundation $100,000. Others include Build It Green $13,000, Sustainable Conservation $10,000 and Crystal Cove Conservancy $2,000.
    Next deadline
    None stated Filing only.
    How to apply
    No form specified; the filing names Karen Steen, 1289 S Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106.
    Tax filings on ProPublica
  5. 14

    Barlow Family Foundation

    Lafayette · San Francisco Bay Area and beyond

    No website; everything here comes from its 2024 tax filing. Seven grants a year, the largest to California Trout, so it is a long shot for a new applicant.

    Typical grant
    Median $50,000 across its 7 grants in 2024. Environmental examples: California Trout $190,000, Conservation Society of California (Oakland Zoo) $5,000.
    Next deadline
    None, per the filing Filing only.
    How to apply
    Letter form, to Kelly Carrie Barlow, 44 Cricket Hill Road, Lafayette, CA. It does not make grants to individuals.
    Tax filings on ProPublica

What this list is not

It is not exhaustive and it is not a ranking. Deadlines and guidelines change, so open each funder's own page before you start. Grants are competitive, and past grant sizes describe what a funder gave, not what it will give you. I list secular funders only.

The full version

Want this done for your own organization?

A Funding Roadmap ($1,200, flat fee) gives you ten to fifteen funders matched to your mission, place and size, the grants each one paid to groups like yours, how to apply, and a 12-month grant calendar. Every deadline is labeled the same way as on this page.

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