Updated Oct 28, 2026
Churches & Faith-Based Organizations: grants in California
Churches and faith-based nonprofits can't use federal funds for worship, but they can — and regularly do — win grants for community programs like food assistance, housing, reentry, youth mentoring, and job training.
- Open now
- 27
- Closing in 30 days
- 0
- California programs
- 14
- Largest award ceiling
- $5,000
- California foundations
- 4,147
California programs
State agencies, state councils, and federal programs that specifically name California.
| Deadline | Grant | Funder | Award ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 26 days | Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant for Program Year 2026-27 (PY 26-27)CaliforniaEmployment Development Department | Employment Development Department | Up to $1.3M |
| Nov 37 days | 2026 California Nutrition Incentive ProgramCaliforniaCA Department of Food and Agriculture | CA Department of Food and Agriculture | Up to $13M |
| Nov 913 days | Employment and Training Pathways Program (ETPP) Program Year 2026-27 (PY 26-27)CaliforniaEmployment Development Department | Employment Development Department | Up to $2.0M |
| Nov 3034 days | Rehabilitative Investment Grants for Healing and Transformation (RIGHT) Grant 4.0CaliforniaCA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | Not listed |
| Dec 1549 days | Trauma Recovery Center Grant Fiscal Year 27/28CaliforniaVictim Compensation Board | Victim Compensation Board | Not listed |
| Dec 1751 days | Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) – Round 5 – Proposition 4CaliforniaDepartment of Parks and Recreation | Department of Parks and Recreation | Up to $8.5M |
| Rollingno deadline | CHFFA Bond Financing ProgramCaliforniaState Treasurer's Office | State Treasurer's Office | Up to $5.0B |
| Rollingno deadline | CHFFA Commercial Paper ProgramCaliforniaState Treasurer's Office | State Treasurer's Office | Up to $5.0B |
| Rollingno deadline | Children's Hospital Program of 2018 -Children's HospitalsCaliforniaState Treasurer's Office | State Treasurer's Office | Up to $135M |
| Rollingno deadline | Tax-Exempt Equipment Financing Program – CHFFACaliforniaState Treasurer's Office | State Treasurer's Office | Up to $50M |
| Rollingno deadline | Children's Hospital Program of 2008 – Children's Hospitals (3rd funding round)CaliforniaState Treasurer's Office | State Treasurer's Office | Up to $9.7M |
| Rollingno deadline | Healthcare Expansion Loan Program II (HELP II)CaliforniaState Treasurer's Office | State Treasurer's Office | Up to $1.5M |
| Rollingno deadline | Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment GrantCaliforniaDepartment of Public Health | Department of Public Health | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Small and Rural Hospital Relief ProgramCaliforniaDepartment of Health Care Access and Information | Department of Health Care Access and Information | Not listed |
Federal and national grants open to California nonprofits
| Deadline | Grant | Funder | Award ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rollingno deadline | Walmart Foundation — Local Community GrantsCorporateWalmart Foundation | Walmart Foundation | $250 – $5,000 |
| Rollingno deadline | The Allstate Foundation — GrantsCorporateThe Allstate Foundation | The Allstate Foundation | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Nike — Community Impact GrantsCorporateNike | Nike | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Annie E. Casey Foundation — GrantsFoundationAnnie E. Casey Foundation | Annie E. Casey Foundation | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Casey Family Programs — FundingFoundationCasey Family Programs | Casey Family Programs | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Conrad N. Hilton Foundation — GrantsFoundationConrad N. Hilton Foundation | Conrad N. Hilton Foundation | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | The Duke Endowment — GrantsFoundationThe Duke Endowment | The Duke Endowment | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Ford Foundation — GrantsFoundationFord Foundation | Ford Foundation | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies — GrantsFoundationMargaret A. Cargill Philanthropies | Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Lilly Endowment — GrantsFoundationLilly Endowment Inc. | Lilly Endowment Inc. | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Open Society Foundations — GrantsFoundationOpen Society Foundations | Open Society Foundations | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Weingart Foundation — GrantsFoundationWeingart Foundation | Weingart Foundation | Not listed |
| Forecastdeadline TBA | Leading Edge Acceleration Projects for Health IT (LEAP)Federal · nonprofits, colleges, tribes · forecastOffice of the National Coordinator | Office of the National Coordinator | Not listed |
Sources: Grants.gov, the California Grants Portal, and curated state, foundation and corporate programs. First-time % is the share of a federal program's recent awards that went to organizations new to it (USAspending). Always confirm details in the official announcement.
Common questions
How many grants for churches & faith-based organizations are open in California right now?
As of Oct 28, 2026, we list 27 open grants for churches & faith-based organizations in California. We refresh this list from Grants.gov and other sources every 10 minutes.
What does the first-time % column mean?
For federal grants we look up the program behind the announcement on USAspending and compute the share of recent awards that went to organizations that had not won under that program before. A high number means newcomers win regularly; a low number means it mostly re-funds past grantees.
What is the largest churches & faith-based grant available?
The largest award ceiling among the open opportunities listed here is $5,000. Most grants make several awards, so typical award sizes are usually lower. Check each listing's award range and the program page's median.
Can churches get government grants?
Yes, for secular community programs. Federal rules let faith-based organizations compete on equal footing, but grant funds can't pay for worship, religious instruction, or proselytizing. Many churches run their food pantry, reentry, or youth program through the church or a separate 501(c)(3) and apply for that program.
Can you help us apply?
Yes. Our grant writers can check your eligibility for free, then write and submit the application for a fixed price.
Which foundations fund churches & faith-based organizations in California?
Our local-funders pages list private foundations by where their grants actually went, from IRS 990-PF filings, with whether each accepts applications. See /funders/california/.
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