Grants: 7 / My Results: 7

Amount Available to Award: 2 Grants of $5,000
Grant Term: 1 Year

Access for All Fund supports projects serving San Luis Obispo County’s disability community which:

Focus on advancing access to Health & Wellness

  • Examples: access to health care services and equipment; access to activities that promote good health/wellness such as physical and mental health, exercise, fitness facilities, yoga, outdoor/indoor recreation.

Expand capacity for Housing & Home Access 

  • Examples: more options for accessible, affordable housing; modifications/equipment for living independently and safely (e.g., smart homes tech).

Create and support Community Participation / Inclusion

  • Examples: accessible events (e.g., interpreters, video captioning, accessible websites); accessible physical and virtual spaces; inclusive programming; accessible transportation and wayfinding.

Promote Accessible Workspaces and grow Employment Opportunities

  • Examples: educational outreach to support inclusive work environments; needs assessments; employee training; improved access to services
Begin Accepting Applications Date:
6/03/2024
Deadline Date (PST Time Zone):
8/01/2024 5:00 PM
Amount Available to Award: 9 Grants of $5,000
Grant Term: 1 Year

The primary goal of the BUILD (building unity, infrastructure, leadership, and development) Grant Program is to provide funding for agencies with an annual operating budget of $500,000 and below The Foundation aims to strengthen nonprofit organizations with smaller operating budgets by supporting their efforts in building capacity and improving infrastructure. BUILD Grants are available for general operating purposes as well as planned projects in the following areas:
  • Capacity building
  • Staff or board training and development
  • Communications or donor development efforts
  • Capital equipment improvement (hardware, software, furniture, etc.)

Begin Accepting Applications Date:
6/03/2024
Deadline Date (PST Time Zone):
8/01/2024 5:00 PM
Amount Available to Award: $220,000 (Single Year up to $12,000 and Two Year up to $24,000)
Grant Term: 1 or 2 Years

The 2024 General Grants Program supports nonprofits serving San Luis Obispo County with general operating support (unrestricted grants).  Nonprofits may submit one or more applications to the following interest areas:

  • Arts supporting organizations which promote creation, engagement, and appreciation of diverse forms of art and/or understanding of local history.
  • Environment organizations which focus on education and sustainability that includes efforts focused on climate mitigation, sustainable agriculture and forestry, water and land conservation.
  • Health & Human Services improving the quality of life by providing for basic needs and social service programs, focusing on direct services.
  • Seniors and People with Disabilities funding is designated for organizations providing direct services for individuals with disabilities and/or seniors. 
Organizations may apply for a one- or two-year grant. The maximum grant amount is $12,000 for a one-year grant and $24,000 for a two-year grant. Last year, the average grant amount was $15,000. A total of $210,000 will be distributed from the General Grants Program.

To learn more about the Foundation’s priorities select View Details.

Begin Accepting Applications Date:
6/03/2024
Deadline Date (PST Time Zone):
8/01/2024 5:00 PM
Amount Available to Award: 3-4 Grants of $5,000
Grant Term: 1 Year

The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County established the Growing Together Fund in 2001, an initiative to address the needs of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) community by providing grants, raising community awareness throughout San Luis Obispo County, and through promoting philanthropy. 

During the 2022-2025 grantmaking cycle, Growing Together: An LGBTQ+ Fund will prioritize one-year grants to 501c3 organizations in San Luis Obispo County who have or are implementing
programs that:

1. Demonstrate strategies to reach out to, involve, and center queer and trans people of color (QTPOC)
        
2. Focus on advancing medical and mental health care for transgender and nonbinary people.
 
3. Create “queer spaces” in currently unserved areas of the county.

Please select View Details to learn more about this funding opportunity.
        
Begin Accepting Applications Date:
6/03/2024
Deadline Date (PST Time Zone):
8/01/2024 5:00 PM
John Renner had a passion for supporting LGBTQ+ artists. Whether it was securing supplies, attending conferences, or renting space, John cared about helping artists succeed. He also commissioned large metal sculpture pieces and oil/acrylic paintings John was an artist who worked in glass and neon. He had a natural talent in typography and calligraphy, and he understood imagery for communication. His passion was photography and he collected specific genres of photography for most of his adult life.
 
In celebration of his life his family established The John S. Renner Memorial Genius Award which will award one artist with a $2,000 grant to an LGBTQ+ individual who have demonstrated, or show the potential to demonstrate, excellence in visual, performing, or graphic arts. Examples include, but are not limited to, subjects such as photography, sculpture, graphic design, graphic arts, music, and dance, including acrobatic performance. All art and related forms will be considered. Successful applicants will demonstrate how this funding will help expand and improve their artistic abilities.
 
To learn more about John's life, please visit his memorial website: https://hrlevenson.wixsite.com/johnrenner


Begin Accepting Applications Date:
6/03/2024
Deadline Date (PST Time Zone):
8/01/2024 5:00 PM
Amount Available to Award: 8 Grants of $5,000
Grant Term: 1 Year

Through a testamentary gift, former Mayor of the City of San Luis Obispo, Ron Dunin, and his wife Helen established an endowment to help people who are attempting to help themselves.  As immigrants, the Dunin's were fortunate to receive help and support during critical times in their lives.  Their goal by creating the fund was to give back to the community and assist San Luis Obispo County residents in need.

Grants from the “Opportunity Fund” are intended to support individuals striving for self-sufficiency and who are in need of transitional assistance to overcome a short-term or one-time barrier. Of particular interest are individuals who are in transition, e.g. foster youth exiting the system, women leaving domestic violence shelters, families at risk of homelessness, individuals completing rehabilitation, re-entry into the workforce.  One-year grants will be provided to local human service providers who currently work with populations striving for self-sufficiency and have the capacity to assess and administer an assistance fund.

It is the intent of the Foundation to evaluate proposals and applicant organizations based on the following:

Funding Criteria:

  • Organizations with regular/ongoing contact with target populations as part of usual program work, ideally in a “case management” relationship
  • Demonstrated ability to administer and monitor a hardship assistance fund
  • Ability of organization to maximize amount of grant to be used in direct assistance (low indirect administration rate), and complement, not supplant, existing services
  • Organization is able to leverage existing infrastructure and capacity to administer the program
It is the intent of the Foundation that the Opportunity to Thrive fund be used as follows:

Funding Priorities:

  • One-time assistance that will make a big difference in removing a barrier or hurdle to self-sufficiency, targeted to individuals who have demonstrated their attempt to help themselves
  • One-time assistance provided for “a leg up,” rather than short-term impact or ongoing needs
  • Assistance for as many individuals/families as possible while providing sufficient support to overcome the barrier
  • Assistance which fills a gap in the support network and does not supplant other existing funding
Examples of transitional assistance include: security deposit for rental unit, uniform purchase or job appropriate apparel, transportation assistance, car repair, used car purchase, tuition, training fees or materials, equipment or tools, legal consultation, assistive device for recently disabled individuals, prescription medication, credit counseling, tattoo removal, preventing utility shutoff. 
Begin Accepting Applications Date:
6/03/2024
Deadline Date (PST Time Zone):
8/01/2024 5:00 PM
Amount Available to Award: 9 Grants of $10,000
Grant Term: 1 Year

The 2024 Senior Dance Grants Program will support 501c3 organizations who have programs which encourage social interaction and community building focused on seniors, through music and dancing. If awarded the funds can only be used to pay for musician(s) providing live entertainment. The maximum grant award in this concentration will be $10,000. 


Begin Accepting Applications Date:
6/03/2024
Deadline Date (PST Time Zone):
8/01/2024 5:00 PM
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