Proposals must fall within established guidelines; only one application will be accepted per organization. The grant period is for one year: December 1, 2025 – November 30, 2026. The applicant must be a 501(c)(3) in good standing, conducting charitable work in Santa Cruz County. The organization must have local leadership in the form of a board of directors or advisory committee, local financial support, and local program management and accountability.
Requests for up to $5,000 will be considered.
Eligibility Requirements
- The applicant must be a 501(c)(3) in good standing, conducting charitable work in Santa Cruz County. The use of a fiscal agent is permitted.
- The organization must have local leadership in the form of a board of directors or advisory committee, local financial support, and local program management and accountability. In the case of nationally sponsored organizations, no portion of the grant can be used to support the national, state, or regional entity.
- The proposed program must directly benefit people living in Santa Cruz County.
- Grants are generally not made to individuals, for profit organizations, government entities, capital fund drives, agency endowments, individual schools or for sectarian purposes.
- The grant period is one year in duration. An agency must be current in all reporting requirements to CFSA and its affiliates to be eligible.
- Awards made by the foundation’s various grant panels support organizations that do not discriminate in their employment practices, volunteer opportunities or delivery of programs and services on the basis of Race, Religion, Gender or Gender Identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), Gender Expression, Sexual orientation, Age, Ancestry, Citizenship, Ethnicity, Familial Status, Socioeconomic Status (economic circumstances), Color, Creed, Sex (including pregnancy), Phases of Parenthood, National Origin, Marital Status, Veteran Status (past, current or prospective service in the armed forces), Genetic Information, Physical Characteristics or Appearance, Mental or Physical Disability, Any other status prohibited by applicable law.
