Community Grants & Investment Program

Community Grants & Investment Program is sponsored by Marin County Board of Supervisors. Offers grants to nonprofit organizations and community groups for projects that benefit the Marin County community.

Marin County Board of Supervisors Marin County Civic Center SUBJECT: Re commend ation for 2026 Community Grants and Investment Program Award Allocations . RECOMMENDATION: Review and a pprove recommended grant award funding allocation s in the amount of $1.

65 m to local non -profits and community organizations , inclusive of any changes recommended by the Board; and authorize the Office of the County Executive to enter into agreements with each awardee for the final award amount. SUMMARY: The Office of the County Executive presents our recommendations for 2026 Community Grant s and Investment Program (CGIP) award s totaling $1. 4 m to the Board for consideration and app roval .

The Board will also be able to allocate up to $250K in supplemental funds to applicants that support their priorities for the County . DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND : The County of Marin has historically provided project -based grants to Community Service providers as part of its Community Service Projects & Non -Profit Community Partners programming.

These allocations support ed non -profits that provide specific services not covered by County operations and support t he goals and priorities of the Board of Supervisors and the community . The total 2026 CGIP program budget available for awards is $1,650,000, which includes an additional $500,000 in one -time funding that was approved as part of the FY 2025 -26 Proposed Budget .

To be eligible for these funds, applicants must be a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) or tax - exempt Community Based Organization or nonprofit, or have a tax -exempt fiscal sponsor. Funds may be used to support one -time projects, programs, community events or initiatives. As with prior funding programs, awarded funds may not be used to support ongoing operations/programs, fundraising , or political /religious activities .

Applicants were allowed to submit one application per organization that included up to three activities and request up to $50,000. PG. 2 OF 5 Awarded grants will be provided through a formal Community Service Contract upon approval from the Board.

Allocated funds must be fully spent on the approved activit ies between January 1 st , 2026 through December 31 st , 20206, or else the funds must be returned to the County. A six -month extension beyond December 31 st , 2026 may be requested with reasonable justification . The County of Marin received 177 Applications with a total request of $6,322,310 for the 2026 Community Grants & Investment Program.

All applications were reviewed by County staff in Health & Human Services, Marin County Parks, Department of Probation, Off ice of Equity, Office of the County Executive, and Board Aides from District 1 and 5, and an Analyst from the Marin Community Foundation. Applications were rated on 1) project feasibility and use of County funds, 2) goals and outcomes, 3) community benefit , and 4) project partners and collaboration.

In addition to scoring the applications, reviewers also proposed a recommended funding amount for each applicant. Applications were also flagged for District Priorities by the Board Aides from all 5 districts. Based on the average review rating, we recommend funding 96 applicants totaling $1.

4m. In general, final recommendations represent on average 50% of what the selected organizations requested in their application. Program Detail Additional Information 177 local organizations applied for the 2026 Community Grant & Investment Program What were the total funds Applicants requested a total of $6,322,310 Applicants Recommended for 94 of the 177 organizations who applied were recommended for funding totaling $1.

4 m Who is eligible to apply? 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) or tax -exempt Community Based Organization or Nonprofit, or an organization with a tax -exempt fiscal sponsor; must provide services to all Marin County residents regardless of race, religion, ethnicity Preference given to locally based organizations. PG.

3 OF 5 Program Detail Additional Information programs/projects/ community events/initiatives can this Funding is intended for one -time programs, projects, community events or initiatives that provide measurable benefits to the Marin community and that do not clearly fit within the activities of a single County department. Funds are to cover expenses incurred between January 1 – December 31, 2026.

Funds may not be used for ongoing operations/programs, fundraising, or political/religious activities. Not required, but preference is for requests to reflect 50% or less of the proposed total project/program/events/initiative costs.

Projects, programs, events or initiatives submitted should also be funded by additional Preference for programs/projects/ community events/initiatives that support the Board of Supervisors and/or community priorities. Organizations may only submit one application Programs may request funds for up to three (3) programs, projects, community events or initiatives in the application as long as the total request does not exceed $50,000.

The total program budget available for awards is $1,650,000, which includes an additional $500,000 in one -time funding for FY 2025 -26. $1,400,000 in award funds will be recommended to the Board. Each Board Member will have $50,000 to provide any applicant additional funding up to a total award amount of $50,000 per applicant.

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4 OF 5 Program Detail Additional Information If awarded when and how will Awarded grants will be provided through a formal Community Service Contract upon Allocated funds must be spent on the approved program, project, event or initiative by the end of the calendar year (12/31/2026) A six -month extension beyond 12/31/26 may be requested with reasonable justification Unspent funds must be returned to the What type of reporting is Once the funds are fully expended, grantees must submit a Notice of Completion (NOC) Brief narrative report on project, program, community event or initiative status will be required for all awardees and posted on the County public -facing website.

POLICY FRAMEWORK: In June 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved the new Community Grants & Investment Program (CGIP), designed by staff in the Office of the County Executive based on Board feedback during the FY 2024 -26 Proposed Budget Hearings.

This new program combines our existing programs to create one program to provide services and investments to local organizations, community events and other initiatives that meaningfully provide benefit to the public but are outside the scope of typical County operations and which may align or contribute to the Board of Supervisors’ and community priorities, including but not limited to: 1.

Increasing affordable housing and addressing homelessness 2. Building a racially equitable community 3. Reducing carbon emissions and adapting to climate change and sea level 4.

Enhancing disaster and emergency preparedness 5. Investing in County infrastructure 6. Fostering community and economic vitality EQUITY IMPACT SUMMARY: The County recognizes that significant community needs often fall outside the scope of ongoing departmental operations.

This program offers a unique opportunity to make targeted investments that advance County priorities, including addressing inequities th at may not be adequately PG. 5 OF 5 supported through traditional funding streams due to limitations such as state or federal mandates, lack of specialized expertise, or limited capacity.

County staff reviewed the applications with an equity -focused lens to ensure that grant recommendations to the Board of Supervisors are fair, transparent, and unbiased, with a particular emphasis on reaching historically underserved or marginalized populat ions.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: All applicants and awardees of previous grants for the last five years were sent an email informing them of the new grant process and the submission dates. The County of Marin also sent a Press website for additional details and the link to the online application. The Community Grants & Investment Program application period was open between July 1 st , 2025 and September 2 nd , 2025.

Applicants utilized an online grant software system , Submittable to submit the applications. This system is also used by the Parks Department for their Measure A funds. PERFORMANCE MEASURES: Once the funds are fully expended, grantees must submit a formal and signed Notice of Completion (NOC) form.

The form will include a narrative of the project accomplishments, which will be published online at the County of Marin public website. FISCAL ANALYSIS : Approval of the 2026 Community Grants and Investment Program awards will not increase General Fund net county costs , as it was included in the approved FY 2025 -26 Proposed Budget.

Funding for the new Community Grants and Investment Program will total $1,650,000 and is expected to provide one -time funding for nearly 100 eligible community organizations.

ALTERNATIVES : The Board are welcome to recommend changes to any of the proposed grant allocations , or staff can return with revised recommendations if given the direction to reconsider funding criteria, eligibility, or other application Amy Gladstone Josh Swedberg Project Manager Budget Director Attachment 1: 2026 Community Grants & Investment Program