Proposition 4 – Wildfire and Forest Resilience
🏛 San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Oct 4, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations advancing marine and coastal biodiversity conservation in California, particularly through the 30×30 initiative (30% conservation by 2030).
Eligible applicants include nonprofits, academic institutions, government agencies, and California Native American tribes. The three tracks have different foci: Track 1 supports action-oriented science; Track 2 funds environmental restoration and stewardship; Track 3 prioritizes tribally-led conservation efforts.
Projects must provide direct benefits to coastal or marine ecosystems in California waters. Funding supports up to two years of work, with individual awards ranging from $100,000 to $2,000,000.
Applicants should demonstrate strong community engagement, particularly with local communities and tribes in coastal regions.
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Program description
The RMC awards grants and interagency agreements with the aim toward creating open space, habitat restoration, expanding green space in disadvantaged communities, and protecting the watersheds of the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers, Dominguez Channel, and Catalina Island. The overall policy guidelines for the RMC are found in two primary references: the statute which created the RMC, Public Resources Code Section 32600, and Common Ground, from the Mountains to the Sea, the watershed and open space plan for the Los Angeles and San Gabriel River watersheds which was adopted by the RMC and further identifies the policies of the agency. These and other relevant plans can be found at http://rmc.ca.gov/resources/. RMC’s area of jurisdiction includes a variety of natural resource and recreation areas, including the coast, wetlands, and forests. RMC’s jurisdiction also includes heavily urbanized areas south of the San Gabriel Mountains to the California coast. Thus, RMC encourages collaboration across jurisdictions and organizational partners to produce multi-benefit projects that address multiple regional needs, such as increasing access to open space, green workforce development, water quality improvements, flood control, and wildfire resilience. The RMC further promotes project development that includes robust community engagement throughout the life of the project and has developed the Community Engagement Toolkit in an effort to support potential grantees in developing community based, multi-benefit climate resilient projects. The RMC further encourages projects that leverage multiple funding sources to strengthen project goals. In addition to increasing access to natural areas, the RMC works to ensure residents have access to open space within their own communities, as evidenced by the large number of grants the RMC has awarded since 1999 for the purpose of planning, constructing, and improving parks and trails within communities and, particularly, within underserved communities that currently lack equitable access to open space.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Conservation Organization
- Nonprofits
- Public Authority
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project proposal/narrative
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity statement or qualifications
- Letters of support from community partners or tribes
- Environmental and financial management plan
Program contact
- 📧 info@rmc.ca.gov
- 📞 1-626-815-1019
Funding track record
Past applications & awards under this program (California Grants Portal) — how competitive it is.
By fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Applications | Awarded | Award rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | 7 | 1 | 14% |
Source: California Grants Portal
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, government agencies, academic institutions, and California Native American tribes are eligible. You must have capacity to work on coastal or marine conservation in California.
What are the three tracks available?
Track 1 funds action-oriented science projects. Track 2 supports environmental restoration and stewardship. Track 3 prioritizes tribally-led stewardship initiatives.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. There is no required cost-sharing match for this grant.
How long can projects run?
Projects are funded for up to two years. Multi-year funding is available through this program.
What is the funding range?
Individual awards range from $100,000 to $2,000,000. A total of $10 million is available across all three tracks.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your project with 30×30 goals: enhanced biodiversity conservation, strengthened protections in existing areas, or identification of new conservation areas. Be explicit about which outcomes you address.
- Emphasize direct on-the-ground benefits to coastal or marine ecosystems. Restoration, stewardship, and biodiversity monitoring are strong activities.
- If eligible, prioritize community and tribal engagement. Track 3 specifically funds tribally-led work; all tracks value meaningful partnership with local communities.
- Clarify your project track and stay focused. Track 1 emphasizes science; Track 2 emphasizes restoration; Track 3 emphasizes tribal leadership. Don't blur boundaries.
- Detail your team's coastal/marine expertise and track record. Reviewers want confidence you can deliver measurable environmental outcomes in California waters.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack clear connection to 30×30 goals or fail to explain how the project advances specific conservation outcomes. Proposals underestimate the importance of community and tribal partnerships, especially for coastal projects that depend on local support. Weak or vague biodiversity metrics make it hard to assess project impact; specify what you'll measure and how.
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