Current Grant Opportunities

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Link to Grant Application Portal: Click Here

2026 Grant Timeline

Applications Open March 6 – April 1

  • One Community Fund: Fueling a Vibrant Immigrant Future
  • Women’s Legacy Fund
  • Robert H. Janssen Youth and Youth Sports Fund
  • GSA/LGBTQ+ Student Club Grant

Applications Open June 1 – June 22  

  • General Community Grants Program (Arts & Culture, Environment, Health & Human Services, Seniors and People with Disabilities)
  • Senior Dance
  • BUILD (Building Unity, Infrastructure, Leadership, and Development)
  • Growing Together: An LGBTQ+ Fund 

Application Open September 1 – September 30

  • GSA/LGBTQ+ Student Club Grant

One Community Fund: Fueling a Vibrant Immigrant Future – Opens March 6

Timeline

  • Open: Friday, March 6, 2026 – 9am
  • Close: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – 5pm
  • Award Notification: early June 2026
  • Payments Processed: early June 2026

Contact

  • Who to contact: Chelsea Ruiz, One Community Program Manager, chelsea@cfsloco.org
  • Link for office hour scheduling- Bookings with me – – Outlook
    • Office hours: Fri, March 6 – Fri, March 20 and Mar. 30 – Apr. 1. 

Program Overview

Funding Opportunity and Award Range: Flexible, general operating funds to support immigrant-serving organizations working in San Luis Obispo County who are resiliently facing unprecedented need combined with increasingly scarce and diminished funding opportunities. Up to $100,000 will be awarded with minimum grant awards of $10,000.

Eligibility:

    • Immigrant-serving 501c3s or fiscally sponsored organizations working in SLO County 
    • Organizations must demonstrate alignment with our values and commitment to serving our targeted communities for support. 

Funding Decisions will be based on these Grantmaking Criteria:

    • Centering Voices and Perspectives of Communities Served: How your organization engages with the people your organization serves to solicit and incorporate feedback in your work (i.e., hiring staff with lived experience, board members and volunteers with lived experience, etc.) 
    • Community Access and Impact: How your organization identifies barriers to accessing available services and resources. If you have direct access to the community and are a trusted source that is eliminating barriers, tell us about how you do that. If you parter with other trusted organizations in order to reduce barriers, tell us who you partner with and how that reduces barriers. End, tell us what is the resulting community impact of these actions? (How does what you’ve described actually reduce barriers and increase access to services?)
    • Partnerships: How does your organization coordinate and collaborate with other nonprofits and important community partners?
    • Adaptability / Thriving in Adversity: Org’s current financial situation, challenges facing, and how your organization is adapting to remain sustainable over the long-term.  (Creative solutions for fixed or variable costs such as staffing, new partnerships, expansion of volunteers, additional fundraising efforts,  etc.) 
    • Using Substantiated Data: Describe the trustworthy data your org collects and uses to inform your work.  This can be information directly from community members and/or other quantitative data sources or a combination of the two.  Explain how that data is integrated into your organization’s work. 

Link to Grant Orientation Video – One Community Fund Grant Orientation Recording.mp4

Link to Grant Application: Click Here

Women’s Legacy Fund – Opens March 6

Women’s Legacy Fund’s mission is to be a catalyst for philanthropy that improves the lives of women and girls in San Luis Obispo County.

Timeline

  • Open: Friday, March 6, 2026 – 9am
  • Close: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – 5pm
  • Award Notification: early June 2026
  • Payments Processed: early June 2026

Contact

Program Overview

The Women’s Legacy Fund awards grants for nonprofit programs that advance the well-being of women and girls in San Luis Obispo County. In 2026, the funding pritories include:

  • Affordable Housing
    • Building or expanding capacity to tackle the challenges of housing affordability
    • Decreasing the number of women and girls experiencing homelessness
    • Narrowing the gender pay gap as it relates to the cost of living
  • Childcare
    • Increasing and stabilizing the childcare workforce
    • Advocating for local childcare policy
    • Expanding affordable options for quality childcare
  • Health Care
    • Improving access to healthcare
    • Reducing barriers to care for non-English speaking residents
    • Lowering the number of girls experiencing emotional distress and suicidal ideation
  • Economic Security
    • Increasing access to short-term crisis support and basic needs during financial hardship
    • Supporting workforce entry, reentry, advancement, and wage growth opportunities
    • Building long-term economic mobility through financial literacy and postsecondary education

Funding Opportunity and Award Range: During the 2026 grantmaking cycle, the Community Foundation anticipates awarding approximately 3-6 organizations up to $125,000. Grants may be up to $20,000 for one-year programs, and up to $40,000 for two-year programs. Two-year proposals are intended for efforts that require extended timelines such as planning and hiring in year one, followed by implementation in year two. All complete and eligible proposals will be reviewed, and applicants will be notified of funding decisions by June 15th.

Eligibility: 

    • Organization must have a current tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) and/or 509(a)(1) or a current memorandum of understanding outlining fiscal sponsorship partnership to apply.
    • Organization’s programs or services must primarily benefit San Luis Obispo County residents.
    • Organization must provide services to women and girls.

Funding Decisions will be based on these Grantmaking Criteria: The Community Foundation will fund applications based on the following criteria

    • Centering Voices and Perspectives of Communities Served: How does your organization collect feedback from women and girls, and how is that information incorporated into your programs, policies, or day-to-day work
    • Community Access and Impact: How does your organization identify the barriers faced by women and girls, and in what ways are you working to reduce those barriers to expand access to opportunities in San Luis Obispo County? Please share examples of impact.
    • Utilizing Substantiated Data: Please describe the relevant data, research, or community-informed sources that guide your work, including the What Do Women Need? report. Include examples of how this information is used to inform program design, decision making, or evaluation.
    • Alignment with Funding Priorities: How well does the proposed program align with the Women’s Legacy Fund focus areas: Affordable housing, Childcare, Healthcare (including mental health), and Economic security.

Link to Grant Orientation Video – Women’ Legacy Fund Grant Orientation .mp4

Link to Grant Application: Click Here

Robert H. Janssen Youth & Youth Sports Grant: Opens March 6

Timeline

  • Open: Friday, March 6, 2026 – 9am
  • Close: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – 5pm
  • Award Notification: early June 2026
  • Payments Processed: early June 2026

Contact

Program Overview

The Robert H. Janssen Youth & Youth Sports Fund supports programs that enrich the lives of youth (ages 6-18) in San Luis Obispo County through active participation in youth activities and sports.
Grants are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide youth activities or youth sports programs, with an emphasis on hands-on participation. Funded programs should expand access and create opportunities for youth from all segments of the county, regardless of income.
These grants will fund direct program costs, including program personnel, equipment, materials and supplies, facility fees, training, evaluation, and other expenses that directly support program delivery. Community-based programs are given priority over membership-based programs

Funding Opportunity and Award Range:  During the 2026 grantmaking cycle, the Community Foundation anticipates awarding up to 12 organizations a maximum grant award of $10,000. All complete and eligible proposals will be reviewed and all applying agencies will be notified of a funding decision by June 15th.

Eligibilty:

    • Organization must have a current tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) and/or 509(a)1 or a current memorandum of understanding outlining fiscal sponsorship partnership to apply.
    • Organization’s programs or services must primarily benefit San Luis Obispo County residents.
    • Organization must provide services to youth ages 6-18 years old

Funding Decisions will be based on these Grantmaking Criteria:

    • Program purpose
      • What need or gap does your program address for youth in the community? Why is this program important, what difference does it make for young people to have this program?
    • Youth & decision making
      • How do you understand the needs of the young people you serve? How does youth input or feedback shape your activities?
    • Use of experience and information
      • What experience, feedback, or information helps ensure that your program is run well and reflects current best practices?
    • Access & barrier reduction
      • How does the organization identify barriers to participation (such as physical, intellectual, cultural, or financial barriers) and what steps are taken to reduce or remove them?
    • Positive youth development
      • How does your program intentionally support positive youth development? Please reference the Search Institute’s 40 developmental Assets and identify two assets your program fosters: one internal asset and one external asset. For each asset:
        • Name the asset
        • Describe what program activities support the development of that asset.

Link to Grant Orientation Video –Janssen Grant Orientation.mp4

Link to Grant Application: Click Here

GSA/LGBTQ+ Student Club Grant

Timeline

  • Open: Friday, March 6, 2026 – 9am
  • Close: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – 5pm
  • Award Notification: early June 2026
  • Payments Processed: early June 2026

Contact

Program Overview

During the 2026 grantmaking cycle, funding will focus on student-led projects that strengthen belonging, student well-being and advocacy for LGBTQ+ students in San Luis Obispo County and Northern Santa Barbara County. Projects may fall within the following categories:

On-Campus Advocacy & Education 

  • Engaging fellow students through educational events, guest speakers, film screenings, or facilitated conversations that promote understanding and inclusion. 
  • Increasing awareness and visibility through outreach materials such as buttons, stickers, or t-shirts.
  • Creating activities that foster inclusive school climates. 

Off-Campus Community Connection 

  • Supporting youth speakers or student participation in community meetings or events.
  • Participating in Central Coast Pride or other community-based initiatives.
  • Organizing community service activities that elevate LGBTQ+ youth voice. 

Club Support & Student Well-Being  

  • Supporting leadership development or training for club members.
  • Supporting activities that promote student wellness, peer support, and stress reduction for LGBTQ+ students.
  • Providing supplies, materials, food, or transportation that enable club activities. 
    • Example activities may include: hosting peer support or discussion circles, organizing art or creative expression nights, providing snacks during club meetings, inviting a facilitator to lead a stress-management or mindfulness workshop, or gatherings that encourage connection and fun for LGBTQ+ students.  

Funding Opportunity and Award Range: This grant is funded through Growing Together: An LGBTQ+ Fund to support student clubs in San Luis Obispo County and Northern Santa Barbara County that advance LGBTQ+ student activities, advocacy, well-being, and belonging. Small grants of $500 to $1,000 to support school-based Gender & Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and other LGBTQ+ student clubs will be awarded. We anticipate awarding multiple grants. All complete and eligible proposals will be reviewed, and applicants will be notified of funding decisions by June 15, 2026. Funded activities must take place during the current or upcoming academic year (2026 to 2027). Applicants are required to submit a school staff or club advisor letter of support.

Eligibility

  • Applicant must be a public middle school, high school, or public college/university (as a governmental entity), or have a current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) and/or 509(a)(1), or operate under a fiscal sponsorship agreement.
  • Applicant must be a school-approved Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) or LGBTQ+ serving student club.
  • Club must be based at a school located in San Luis Obispo County or Northern Santa Barbara County, including Cal Poly, Cuesta College, or Allan Hancock College.
  • Funded projects must occur during the current or upcoming academic year.
  • Application must include both a student club contact and a school staff advisor.

Funding Decisions will be based on these Grantmaking Criteria:

  • Quality and Feasibility: Is the proposed activity clearly described and thoughtfully planned? Is the timeline realistic within the academic year? Is the budget reasonable and appropriate for the scope of the project?
  • Student Leadership and Voice: How are students meaningfully involved in shaping, planning, and implementing the proposed activity?
  • Inclusion and Belonging: How does the proposed activity promote belonging, safety, and visibility for LGBTQ+ students? In what ways does the activity reflect inclusive practices and consider the diversity of identities and experiences within the LGBTQ+ community?

Link to Grant Application: Click Here

Online Application Instructions

Instructions and links to access our new grant application program will be posted here.

Contact the Grants & Programs Department at grants@cfsloco.org if you have any questions about eligibility, program fit, or the grantmaking program.

For questions related to the Community Grant Program Applications, contact Michelle Fries, michelle@cfsloco.org.

For questions related to the Field of Interest Grant Program, contact Alysia Krupsky, alysia@cfsloco.org.

For technical questions about the application or the portal, contact Emily Narveson, emilyn@cfsloco.org.

Grants

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Cassandra Wagner Director of Grants & Programs 805-543-2323