Community Grants

Community Grants is sponsored by Keep Oakland Beautiful. The Keep Oakland Beautiful annual Community Grants program financially supports local work that aligns with its mission to keep Oakland clean, green, and beautiful, and brings people together in a public space.

Community Grants — Keep Oakland Beautiful Applications are now closed. Please check back in Spring 2027 for the next grant cycle. A mainstay Keep Oakland Beautiful tradition, the annual Community Grants program financially supports local work that aligns with our mission.

KOB awards project grants of up to $1,000 every year. Individuals or community groups can apply for a grant to help fund a project that helps keep Oakland clean, green, and beautiful, and brings people together in a public space. Successful past projects have included park and neighborhood cleanups, beautification projects, tree and greens planting, community gardens, pop-up libraries, graffiti removal, and public murals.

All project proposals must take place within Oakland city limits. Projects on City of Oakland property must be approved by the City and have Oakland Adopt-A-Spot approval. Projects on private property will be considered, with priority going to those that can be enjoyed by the community.

​For more information, please review the application as well as our FAQs below. Prior cycle grant awardees and projects can be explored in Our Impact blog. The City of Oakland’s Adopt-A-Spot program supports volunteers in upkeep of parks, creeks, shorelines, storm drains, streets, trails, and other public spaces.

There are three ways to complete an application: Email adoptaspot@oaklandca. gov Learn more about Adopt-A-Spot , Adopt-A-Drain , and other City of Oakland volunteer opportunities . Adopt-A-Spot approval does not ensure that you will receive a KOB grant.

The Adopt-A-Spot review process is intended to identify any hazards or other concerns that the proposed project may create and ensure long term maintenance. It is recommended that you apply to the program at least 3 weeks prior to your application submission to the KOB Community Grant Program.

Common project concerns include: Garden projects with edible produce due to possible contamination of edibles Planting projects that may create traffic sightline hazards Planting projects that interfere with underground infrastructure (pipes, wires, etc.) How many grants are awarded per year? Total awards vary year to year depending upon available funds and applications received. How are grant awardees decided?

The KOB Programs Committee reviews all applications and looks for projects that best meet our funding criteria: Demonstrate strong community involvement Enhance visible, shared spaces Build partnerships and collective stewardship Include a clear plan for long-term maintenance and sustainability What is the maximum award amount? The maximum award per project is $1,000 (in 2023 and prior grant cycles, the maximum award was $800).

Multi-year grants may be considered, but grantees must apply for each year separately. Where does KOB's grant money come from? KOB grant funds are supported by individual, corporate, and other partnership donations.

Is the grant subject to IRS taxes? No, grants to individuals or groups that use the funds for the stated charitable purpose are not taxable. Learn more through this article .

What are the reporting requirements for this grant? A final report form will be distributed to awardees, consisting of a project summary and picture upload. How do I apply for a grant?

KOB opens Community Grant applications in the Spring of each year. Follow our social accounts or join our mailing list to to receive announcements for application openings and deadlines. Are grants available to all of Oakland’s neighborhoods?

Do I have to be low income to get a grant? Do I have to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to get a grant? Can an individual apply for a grant?

Yes. Please note that all projects must have a public benefit component, e.g. visible to the public. Can a neighborhood, church, or other group apply for a grant?

Yes, organized groups are encouraged to apply. Do school projects qualify for grants? Yes, KOB accepts applications for school projects.

However, school grants are limited to 20% of our total funding for each grant period. Can I apply for a grant if I was already awarded one in a previous grant cycle? What kinds of projects are qualified?

Projects must be consistent with the mission of Keep Oakland Beautiful to create and sustain a beautiful, clean, green, litter-free Oakland. Should I have already raised any money prior to applying for a grant? While you are not required to have raised any money to qualify for a grant, evidence of prior action taken (organizational and/or financial) to accomplish the project will make your grant application more competitive.

Can I use the grant for my own property? Can I use the grant to beautify a vacant lot? Yes, with the property owner’s permission.

How can I find information on the property owner? Contact the Alameda County Assessor’s Office . For both public and privately owned lots that are not owned by the applicant, the application must include the property owner and their contact information (e.g. private citizen or public entity such as EBMUD or CalTrans).

What are other resources that can help with my project? We encourage you to utilize available resources and tools to support your projects. We have compiled a non-exhaustive list of free resources you may find useful either as a grant recipient or for general use.

City of Oakland Adopt-A-Spot: Tool Rental City of Oakland: Hazardous Waste Disposal City of Oakland: Contact OAK311 for Infrastructure or Maintenance Services Oakland Public Library: Tool Lending Library Oakland Public Library: Seed Library Oakland Waste Management: Bulky Junk Drop-off or Pickup Free Mulch: Oakland Tree Trimming , ChipDrop , or other local tree services