Check Eligibility

Eligible Projects and Organizations
To be eligible for a grassroots grant, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Geographic Scope:  Project impact must be in Northern California (Includes the entire Sierra Nevada Mountains, Bay Area, Central Valley, Central Coast, and North Coast)

• Organization Size:  Annual income or expenses of $100,000 or less (for exceptions, see application)

• Issues Supported: Include, but are not limited to: Environmental health and justice, land management and urban sprawl, habitat and wilderness protection, sustainable forestry, water resources, agriculture, sustainability, and pollution.

• Strategies Supported: General support for organizations with an environmental mission, or project support for strategies such as community-based advocacy, technical assistance, litigation, restoration projects, organizing expenses, grassroots campaigns, and environmental education.

• Tax Status: Applicants may be a nonprofit, be fiscally sponsored by another nonprofit, or ask for fiscal sponsorship from the fund.

• Frequency of Applying: Organizations whose proposals are rejected may re-apply after one year. Organizations that are funded may re-apply after one year if their evaluation form has been submitted and accepted.

• Duration of Support: Most grant are for a one year period.  Since a goal of the Grassroots Fund is to support the development and creation of small, new nonprofit groups, after three consecutive years of funding, groups need to wait two years before reapplying.

Not Eligible for Support
Capital campaigns, annual fundraising appeals, government agencies, colleges or universities and individuals.

If you are uncertain if your organization is eligible, please call or e-mail us before applying.