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If you have already registered with , please review your agency’s information, as we will use GuideStar as a primary research tool in determining agency eligibility. If you have not registered with GuideStar yet, please do so.

Agencies must be based within the geographic areas where the ³Õººµç³µ Family of Companies conducts business. Programs from out-of-area agencies, even if they serve a local community, are not eligible. Currently, agencies in the following counties are eligible to apply for ³Õººµç³µ Foundation grants:

• The number of people that will benefit from the project
• The number of local volunteers supporting the organization and the project
• The extent to which the applicant complements the services of other community organizations
• The extent to which the program addresses underlying causes, rather than just symptoms of specific problems
• The outcomes of monitoring and evaluating the organizations projects
• The commitment and composition of the organization’s Board of Directors or Board of Trustees
• The current budget and the prior year actuals to show the organization’s fiscal responsibility and management qualifications; and
• The ability of the organization to provide ongoing funding after the term of the grant

Preference is given to requests for specific projects over general operating support. Most grants are for one year only. Past grant recipients must submit a Grant Report before starting a new grant application.

Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Funding CyclesÌý

Cycle OneÌý

• Period Opens: January 5, 2026Ìý
• Application Deadline: February 6, 2026
• Decisions Announced: June 1, 2026Ìý

Cycle TwoÌý

• Period Opens: July 1, 2026
• Application Deadline: July 31, 2026
• Decisions Announced: December 1, 2026Ìý

All applications must beÌýsubmittedÌýusingÌý.ÌýTheÌýGOapply User GuideÌýwill take you through the process of creating an account, starting an application, andÌýsubmittingÌýan application. Mailed, late, or incomplete applications will not be considered.Ìý

If you are a past grant recipient and have not already done so, you must fill out aÌýGrant Report FormÌýand mail or email it to ³Õººµç³µ Foundation before starting a new grant application.Ìý

Please briefly state:Ìý

• How you measured the impact of your activities on participants and/or the broader community. Please cite specific indicators of change and theÌýtime periodÌýover which you measured them.
• Significant board and/or staff changes, if any (you may attach a separate page to the report form)
• Most recent publications, news articles or other relevant materials about your organization or the funded project.Ìý

Send printed materials only, please. Due to storage limitations, we are unable to accept video tapes, CDs orÌýDVDsÌýor other audio/visual media.Ìý

Please include your Grant Reference Number in your grant report.Ìý This number can beÌýlocatedÌýonÌýthe bottom of your grant award letter.Ìý

Send to:Ìý
Allegra Pickett, Grants ManagerÌý
³Õººµç³µ FoundationÌý
PO Box 15002Ìý
Sacramento, CA 95851Ìý

Or email:ÌýÌý
[email protected]Ìý

³Õººµç³µ Foundation will not consider grants to the following types of organizations or for the following purposes:Ìý

• Religious organizations for explicit religious activities, as distinguished from social or educational activitiesÌý
• Political organizations or political campaignsÌý
• Fraternal organizations, societies, or ordersÌý
• Courtesy advertising or tickets for benefitsÌý
• Telephone solicitationsÌý
• National fundraising effortsÌý

ÌýAn agency funded by the Foundation must agree toÌýsubmitÌýa timelyÌýGrant ReportÌýon the use of the grant, based on its proposal. The Foundation should be informed of any major changes in the program or staff.Ìý

It is the Foundation’s intent to make grants in the range of $3,000 to $7,500. The annualÌýgrantsÌýbudget is $450,000.Ìý

³Õººµç³µ Foundation recognizes that our employees support community organizations, and the Employee Matching Grant program helps give a little extra funding to those groups.

We will match employee gifts up to $250 to give extra support to agencies our employees feel strongly about. The matching program is available three times per company fiscal year and extends to agencies that are otherwise qualified to receive ³Õººµç³µ Foundation grants.ÌýPlease see all eligibility requirements.

• Complete the online application form usingÌý
• Upload a copy of your donation check or receipt

We will verify agency eligibility, prepare a matching donation check and send it directly to the organization with a letter indicating the source of the contribution.

³Õººµç³µâ€™s Employee Matching Grants program supports the causes our employees care about. Review the following eligibility requirements to see how organizations and contributions qualify.

• Nonprofit organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as exempt from federal income tax under IRS Section 501(c)(3) within ³Õººµç³µ. geographical areas of business and ³Õººµç³µ Foundation focus of interest are eligible.
• Public or nonprofit private school within ³Õººµç³µ. geographical areas of business.
• All employees of any ³Õººµç³µ Family of Companies may apply for up to three matching grants totaling $250 per company fiscal year for up to three nonprofit organizations.
• While each employee may apply for three matching grants per fiscal year, more than one employee may apply for grant funds for the same organization.
• Some employees organize teams to raise money for charities such as breast cancer and leukemia.
• With prior approval, contributions from ³Õººµç³µ employees up to $250 will be matched and do not count against the annual match.
• Donations up to $250 made to Big Day of Giving and disaster relief will be matched and do not count against the annual match.

Employee Matching Grant applications may be sent in at any time during the year and are processed one time per month. Only complete applications for qualified agencies will be processed. Employees will receive written confirmation of the matching donations, usually within a few weeks.

The Employee Matching Grants GOapply User Guide will take you through the process of creating an account, starting an application, and submitting an application.

Organizations and activities that do not qualify for employee matching grant funds include:

• Political groups
• Fraternal, social or service clubs
• Religious groups, except for nonsectarian social service activities such as senior centers or church sponsored housing projects

Because ³Õººµç³µ Foundation is a nonprofit agency, it is important that the donation be truly charitable and involve no monetary or other benefit for the donor or for ³Õººµç³µ. For instance, discounted admission tickets, tuition considerations or other donor benefits that might be offered to a ³Õººµç³µ employee or relation cannot be accepted as part of the matching donation.Ìý