CFMC Impact Grants 2025

The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) offers Impact Grants to support nonprofit organizations serving residents throughout Monterey County, California. CFMC’s vision focuses on creating healthy, safe, and vibrant communities, and the Impact Grants program prioritizes projects with measurable results that address critical local needs and opportunities. Impact Grants fund both countywide programs and those concentrated in North Monterey County, Salinas Valley, and South Monterey County.

The Impact Grants program offers two tiers of funding. Large Impact Grants range between $40,000 and $50,000 per year, with approximately $2,000,000 awarded annually. Large Impact Grant proposals must be submitted online by 5:00 p.m. on the third Friday in March, which falls on March 21, 2025. Smaller Impact Grants, which range from $5,000 to $20,000, are accepted year-round and reviewed at the end of February, June, and October. Most grants cover a 12-month period, though some multi-year grants are offered by invitation to organizations with a strong track record of past success.

Priority funding areas include programs that expand access to physical and mental health services, youth development, civic engagement, financial education, environmental education, multicultural arts, literacy, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) programs. CFMC also supports historic preservation and evidence-based animal welfare programs. Preference is given to organizations with a strong history of impact with CFMC and those demonstrating measurable outcomes and clear community engagement strategies.

Eligibility is restricted to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and select public agencies serving Monterey County residents. Organizations must be up-to-date on reporting requirements for past grants and may apply for only one Impact Grant per calendar year. Religious, political, and endowment-related activities are excluded, as are funding requests that would supplant tax-supported public services or pay off debt. Schools, public agencies, and faith-based organizations may apply, but these grants are rarely awarded without prior consultation with CFMC staff.

Applications are reviewed by CFMC staff for Small Impact Grants and by a board committee for Large Impact Grants. Final decisions for Large Impact Grants are announced in June. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact CFMC program staff to discuss their proposal before submission. CFMC staff contacts for this program are Esther Figueroa at estherf@cfmco.org (extension 107) and Janet Shing at janet@cfmco.org (extension 137).

CFMC encourages applicants to use local data and include their organization’s voice in the application process. While AI tools may be used to draft proposals, CFMC recommends careful proofreading and personalization before submission.