The Community Foundation for Monterey County’s (CFMC) strategic plan embraces a countywide vision of Healthy, Safe and Vibrant Communities. Impact grants address critical issues and opportunities that advance this vision.
CFMC seeks to support funding requests that address the area’s greatest needs resulting in demonstrable impact. Approximately $2.6 million will be awarded annually.
Below are related materials to our Grant Information Session, which reviews updates to our Impact (including Small) and Organizational Development grant programs. Read the respective grant guidelines, watch the overview video and/or review the presentation slides below.
Impact grants, requesting up to $50,000, are due March 20, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. or earlier.
| Grant Amount | Decision | |
| Impact Grants | $20,001 - $50,000 | End of June |
| Small Grants | $10,000 - $20,000 | End of April, August and December |
These grants typically fund programs larger in scope and scale. Successful applicants will demonstrate a track record of effectiveness and the capacity to articulate and measure impact. The CFMC expects to fund grants with an average grant size of $45,000. These applications are reviewed by grant committees that carefully review proposals and recommend a slate of grants to the CFMC board, which has final authority in all grant decisions.
| Grant Amount | $20,001 - $50,000 |
| By 11:59 p.m. Due Date or Earlier | March 20, 2026 |
| Scope & Characteristics | - Countywide or larger scope - Impact on complex issues - Organizations with strong track record of effectiveness |
| Application & Reporting | Annual report required |
| Review | Committee review |
| Decisions | End of June |
While still following the Impact guidelines, these smaller grants are intended for first-time Impact applicants, smaller organizations, or programs serving a specific population or geographic area. Small grants have a streamlined application and reporting process, and grants are reviewed and recommended by a group of senior foundation staff. Apply using the online Impact grant application.
| Grant Amount | $10,000 - $20,000 |
| By 11:59 p.m. Due Date or Earlier | Feb.27, June 30, and Oct. 30 |
| Scope & Characteristics | - Limited size & scope - Serve specific community - Smaller organizations - First-time Impact applicants |
| Application & Reporting | Annual report required |
| Review | Staff review |
| Decisions | By the end of April, August and December |
The CFMC receives far more requests than is possible to fund. Typically, the CFMC can only approve one third of requests and must decline many worthwhile proposals.
The CFMC seeks to fund proposals that:
Eligible Organizations:
Please contact us if your organization has not yet received its nonprofit status and plans to apply in conjunction with a fiscal sponsor.
*Organizations or collaborative projects that are not legally incorporated may partner with a tax-exempt, 501(c)3 organization which will serve as the fiscal sponsor for the proposed grant. The fiscal sponsor must agree to be accountable to the CFMC for the programmatic and financial outcomes of the grant and have a signed agreement with the sponsored group verifying the terms of the arrangement.
Grant funds cannot be used for the following types of activities:
The CFMC does not support organizations that discriminate in their employment practices, volunteer opportunities, or delivery of programs and services on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law.
Capital Support We support capital costs (buildings and facilities) when those capital improvements have the potential to advance greater social benefit. Capital support will be considered for predevelopment expenses and/or for construction costs after the agency has raised at least half of the goal.
Operating Support We may provide unrestricted operating grants to organizations that have a proven track record of community benefit in Monterey County. Organizations must have a base of operations in Monterey County and a positive and stable history.
Program The CFMC considers all expense needs associated with implementing services to produce meaningful results and in carrying out a nonprofit’s mission. Applications requesting program support estimate how grant funds would be used in a program budget. Funding is provided for ongoing and expanded programs that show the promise of efficacy and sustainability. Strong applications include Evaluation Plans with a few measurable goals which will demonstrate progress towards the program’s broader outcomes.
Impact grants typically cover a period of 12 months. Multi-year proposals are invited based on recent outcomes with CFMC grants.
An evaluation report is due 12 months after you have been awarded an Impact Grant. Complete the report in our Online Grants Manager. The evaluation report describes how the grant was used, the impact it had on your organization and community, and what you have learned.
More information on the grants awarded can be found below.
The goal of the Impact grants program is to address critical issues that advance CFMC’s mission and vision.
The grant committee, composed of board members, reviews the larger grant proposals (requesting over $20,000) and makes recommendations. These dedicated volunteers have opened up the grantmaking process to be truly community-driven and allow us to leverage the expertise of a larger group.
Staff’s role focuses on assisting grant seekers, staying in touch with nonprofit organizations and community issues, screening applications for completeness, and facilitating information between the grant committees and applicants.
Romero Jalomo (Chair), Deneen Guss, Elsa Jimenez (CFMC Board Chair), Monica Lal, Kathleen Lee, Adriana Melgoza, Rene Mendez, Larry Oda
Funding for the Impact Grants Program comes from a variety of field of interest and unrestricted funds managed by the CFMC. These funds are all endowed, meaning that the amount of funding available for application-based grants is dependent on market performance in a given year.
Field of interest funds are established by donors who are interested in supporting a given area, such as education, health, culture, the environment, and or seniors. Donors also may limit grantmaking from their fund to a geographic area and/or client population.
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