Delta Community, Environment, and Climate Grant Program
🏛 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Oct 7, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for California-based organizations working on landscape resilience and wildfire prevention projects. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, government agencies, tribal nations, and partnerships with demonstrated capacity to manage large regional projects. Projects must align with specified activities like fuels reduction, prescribed fire, reforestation, or workforce training.
Funding priorities emphasize multi-benefit projects identified through transparent regional processes. Applicants should show administrative and technical capacity for complex, multi-partner work. Projects leveraging multiple funding sources and benefiting disadvantaged communities score higher.
Geographic scope is limited to California. Organizations must demonstrate sufficient operational capacity and strong regional stakeholder engagement, including tribal participation.
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Program description
The purpose of the Delta Community, Environment and Climate Grant Program is to fund multibenefit projects in the Delta and Suisun Marsh. The Conservancy is soliciting proposals for three different priorities: Community Enhancement, Nature-Based Solutions, and Ecosystem Restoration. • Community Enhancement planning and implementation projects will benefit Delta communities through public access, recreation and tourism, historic and cultural preservation, environmental education, and community engagement. Funded projects will provide outdoor access for all, sustain the Delta’s heritage, and/or enhance the unique values of the Delta today. Example projects include, but are not limited to, water or hiking trails, sidewalks, bike routes, community parks or picnic sites, public boating infrastructure, visitor centers, kiosks, signage, renovation of historic buildings for public use, development of cultural relevant historic districts, educational materials for the public about environmental or environmental justice issues, and land acquisition to support community enhancement projects. • Nature Based Solutions projects will address ongoing subsidence and greenhouse gas emissions occurring on highly organic soils in the Delta and Suisun Marsh, which threaten the region’s communities, agriculture, ecosystem, and the State and Federal water projects. Example projects include, but are not limited to, planning and implementation of managed and tidal wetland restoration, crop conversion to paludiculture (e.g., rice, walking wetlands, other wet crops), technical assistance to access the Voluntary Carbon Market or support practice implementation, scientific research, education and outreach on related topics, and land acquisition or easement. • Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Adaptation projects protect the Delta and Suisun Marsh’s natural resources, environment, and biodiversity. Funded projects will restore, research, plan, or educate about landscape health and/or reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon natural resources, fish, and wildlife. Example projects include, but are not limited to, planning, education, habitat restoration and enhancement, wetland protection, watershed resilience, land acquisitions, and conservation easements. All projects funded through the Delta Community, Environment and Climate Program should aim to include multiple benefits as described below in Section IV Evaluation Criteria. Projects may span two or more of the funding priorities listed above. With rare exceptions, the Conservancy will cap funding amounts based on project type: • Planning, research, communication, and capacity building grants can be awarded between $100,000 to $750,000. • Implementation and acquisition grants can be awarded between $100,000 to $2 million.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Concept proposal (Phase 1)
- Regional prioritization documentation
- Stakeholder engagement plan
- Budget and cost-share information
- Organizational capacity/qualifications narrative
- Environmental compliance status documentation
Program contact
- 📧 grants@deltaconservancy.ca.gov
- 📞 1-916-375-2084
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
California-based nonprofits, government agencies, tribes, and public entities with capacity to manage large regional projects. Private organizations and community corps may be eligible partners.
What is the deadline and application process?
Concept proposals are due June 30, 2026 at 3 p.m. PDT. This is a two-phase process; finalists advance to full applications.
What activities does this grant fund?
Fuels reduction, prescribed fire, reforestation, pest management, workforce training, planning, and maintenance of previous resilience projects.
What makes an application competitive?
Multi-benefit projects identified through regional prioritization, demonstrated management capacity, leveraged funding, and benefits to disadvantaged communities.
What is the funding range?
Individual awards range from $5 million to $20 million. Total program pool is $30 million.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start early on stakeholder engagement and regional coordination. Multi-partner projects and tribal involvement are strong priorities.
- Document your organization's capacity for managing large, complex projects with multiple partners and funding sources.
- Align your project with transparent regional prioritization processes already underway in your area.
- Show how your project leverages CAL FIRE funding with other state, federal, local, and private investments.
- Emphasize benefits to disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities in your project design.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications underestimate the capacity requirements for $5-20M regional projects and lack clear multi-partner governance structures. Weak regional stakeholder engagement or missing tribal involvement reduces competitiveness. Failing to demonstrate leveraged funding from other sources is a significant weakness.
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