California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP) Supplemental Request for Applications (RFA) Program Year (PY) 2026-2027
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations in California that conduct outreach and education on workplace rights and protections. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, community-based organizations, labor groups, occupational health centers, and agricultural associations. Organizations must serve workers regardless of immigration status and demonstrate capacity to deliver outreach in California, with strong emphasis on rural and underserved regions. Funded activities include workshops, seminars, multilingual materials, and direct outreach on safety, wage theft, workers' compensation, and anti-retaliation protections across priority industries like agriculture, food processing, and hospitality.
This grant is for organizations in California that conduct outreach and education on workplace rights and protections. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, community-based organizations, labor groups, occupational health centers, and agricultural associations. Organizations must serve workers regardless of immigration status and demonstrate capacity to deliver outreach in California, with strong emphasis on rural and underserved regions. Funded activities include workshops, seminars, multilingual materials, and direct outreach on safety, wage theft, workers' compensation, and anti-retaliation protections across priority industries like agriculture, food processing, and hospitality.
Program description
Strategic Components of CWOP 5.0/6.0: Comprehensive Education on Workplace Protections: Expanding the scope included workplace protections to improve workplace safety and health conditions for workers, combat wage theft and protection from retaliation, and provide workers with information on their rights to benefits and medical care for work-related illnesses and injuries. Language: Continuing the commitment to diversity, outreach materials will be accessible in multiple languages, addressing the needs of California’s diverse workforce. Outreach: Utilizing interactive activities to engage workers and employers in meaningful discussions about safety practices, rights, and resources regardless of immigration status. This includes workshops, seminars, and direct outreach efforts. Collaboration: Strengthen ties with CBOs, labor, occupational health centers, and agricultural associations to enhance the reach and impact of the program. Rural Strategic Engagement: Targeted outreach and legal resources to support access to in-person services in under-resourced, rural areas for especially vulnerable workers. Priority Topics: workplace health and safety and hazards such as heat illness, paid sick leave, wage theft, Workers ’Compensation, anti-retaliation protections, worker-related complaints, claim filing processes and procedures, and support filing complaints for workplace non-compliance. High-risk industries: agriculture, car wash, food processing, including meatpacking, food service, including restaurants, grocery, and retail, janitorial and hospitality, warehouse/logistics, manufacturing, garment, residential care, and others as identified by DIR.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for organizations in California that conduct outreach and education on workplace rights and protections. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, community-based organizations, labor groups, occupational health centers, and agricultural associations. Organizations must serve workers regardless of immigration status and demonstrate capacity to deliver outreach in California, with strong emphasis on rural and underserved regions. Funded activities include workshops, seminars, multilingual materials, and direct outreach on safety, wage theft, workers' compensation, and anti-retaliation protections across priority industries like agriculture, food processing, and hospitality.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Completed application form (as specified in RFA)
- Project narrative describing outreach activities and target populations
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation (staff qualifications, prior experience)
- Letters of support from partner organizations
- Proof of California nonprofit or organization status
Program contact
- 📧 cwop@dir.ca.gov
- 📞 1-510-507-0217
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
California-based nonprofits, CBOs, labor organizations, occupational health centers, and agricultural associations can apply. You must demonstrate capacity to reach workers effectively, including vulnerable and rural populations.
What is the funding range and deadline?
Awards range from $200,000 to $500,000. The deadline is June 12, 2026. Total available funding is $9,600,000.
What activities does this grant support?
The grant supports workplace rights education through workshops, seminars, multilingual outreach, and direct engagement with workers and employers. Focus areas include workplace safety, wage theft, workers' compensation, and anti-retaliation protections.
Which industries and workers does this target?
Priority industries include agriculture, food processing, hospitality, janitorial services, warehouse/logistics, and manufacturing. Special focus on low-wage and immigrant workers, including those regardless of immigration status.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required. This is a direct grant award with no matching funds necessary.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your organization's existing relationships with CBOs, labor groups, and occupational health centers to show collaboration capacity.
- Highlight experience delivering services in rural or underserved areas of California where access to workplace rights information is limited.
- Include a clear multilingual outreach strategy showing materials and outreach plans in languages relevant to your target worker populations.
- Demonstrate direct experience with high-priority industries (agriculture, food processing, hospitality, janitorial, warehouse, manufacturing) through past projects or staff expertise.
- Show how you'll reach vulnerable workers including immigrants and undocumented workers while ensuring their safety and confidentiality.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack specific evidence of prior experience reaching target worker populations or serving priority industries. Proposals fail to demonstrate authentic partnerships with CBOs and labor organizations beyond listing them as partners. Outreach plans underestimate the importance of multilingual materials and cultural competency for California's diverse workforce.
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