Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion High Impact Grants

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion High Impact Grants is sponsored by City of San Luis Obispo. The City of San Luis Obispo offers these grants to support projects that help make the community more welcoming and accessible, especially through efforts addressing larger, long-term changes.

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m. and close on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 5:00 p. m.

PLEASE REFER TO THE TIMELINE (BELOW) TO STAY INFORMED ON NEXT STEPS! _For further information or questions, please contact 805-781-7073 orDEI@slocity.

org_ ### Upcoming Grant Information Sessions Nonprofits interested in applying are **required to review the recording of or attend in person or virtually an upcoming DEI High Impact Grant Information Session**, where City staff will provide an overview of the updated funding framework, key changes from previous cycles, eligibility requirements, and application period timelines.

Interested organizations only need to attend or review the recorded version of one of the two sessions provided below and attest to that in their application. The recording will be posted to this webpage. * _Time_: 9:00 am - 10:00 am **ONLINE SESSION**(_see recording below_) * _Time:_ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm **Sesión en Español por solicitud.

**Para solicitar una sesión informativa en Español envié un correo electrónico a dei@slocity. org.

### Grant Technical Assistance Office Hours * **Date**: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 * **Time**: 1:00pm - 4:00pm (30 minute technical assistance time slot) * **Location**: Virtual via Teams (a link confirmation will be sent to applicant once an appointment has been requested) * **Purpose**: For any organization wanting assistance with their grant application.

Projects may focus on supporting specific underserved or underrepresented communities; however, **all proposals must be open and available to all individuals without regard to the resident’s race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or ability/disability**.

The DEI High Impact Grant prioritizes innovation – encouraging creative, forward-thinking approaches that drive meaningful change and foster belonging across the City. Collaborative and partnership-based applications are highly encouraged, especially those that bring together community organizations and City residents to build sustainable and inclusive impacts**.

Funded projects should contribute positively to systemic or structural changes that strengthen inclusion and experiences of belonging across the City of San Luis Obispo. ** **1. Advancing Belonging:**Support projects that strengthen connection, build community resilience and cultural awareness, and promote the experience of belonging among community members across the City of San Luis Obispo.

* _Initiatives that bring diverse groups together by reducing isolation through shared storytelling, arts, dialogue, and/or celebration. _ * _Programs that create inclusive public spaces or community traditions that reflect and welcome the City’s diversity. _ * _Cultural and community-building events that promote cross-cultural understanding and celebrate diverse identities.

_ * _Efforts that increase representation in civic or public spaces, such as inclusive public art or storytelling projects that reflect the community. _ **2. Increasing Access:**Invest in efforts that actively remove barriers and expand opportunities for all community members to engage in civic and community life across the City of San Luis Obispo.

* _Projects that increase access to community programs, boards, or events within the City, including but not limited to language access, transportation, outreach, and digital inclusion. _ * _Inclusive communications and outreach strategies that improve accessibility across languages and for people with abilities/disabilities. _ * _Digital equity initiatives that expand access to technology, broadband, and digital literacy.

_ * _Efforts that help residents better understand how to get involved in local decision-making, leadership opportunities, or civic processes. _ **3. Advancing Structural and Institutional Equity:**Support organizations to build the long-term capacity for inclusion and belonging in the City of San Luis Obispo.

* _Trainings, workshops, or mentorship programs that grow inclusive leadership and organizational skills. _ * _Efforts that strengthen networks among community-based organizations, City departments, and residents. _ * _Equity evaluations and capacity-building within organizations to strengthen Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices, recruitment, and retention.

_ * _Community engagement trainings to ensure more inclusive public processes and decision-making. _ * _Data and evaluation projects that can reduce disparities based on race, gender, ability/disability, or other protected identity markers. _ * _Workforce development programs that create career pathways, especially those that are centered around getting underrepresented groups into high-paying or growing sectors.

_ **4. Improving Community Health and Wellbeing:**Fund programs that improve quality of life for City residents that address systemic barriers through access to wellness resources, education that builds awareness, and community support systems. * _Health equity projects, especially addressing social determinants of health (e.g., food and water access, transportation).

_ * _Mental health and trauma-informed programs. _ * _Improving life skills, financial literacy, learning and education. _ **_Note: The above funding priorities do not include housing or homelessness-related services, which are addressed through the City’s_****_Human Services Grant program_****_.

_** **1**Complete and submit a grant application (must include) 1. One-page access and belonging statement: 1. Applicant’s understanding and application of concepts/values related to access and belonging 2.

An explanation of how the proposal will advance access and belonging in the City of San Luis Obispo 2. One-page detailed budget for the proposal, which includes how the total amount requested will be allocated. An example can be found here.

3. Organizational chart**(if applying in a partnership, an organizational chart will be required of all partner applicants)** 4. Completed W-9 document certifying501(c)(3)Federal Tax-Exempt Status**(if applying in a partnership, a W-9 will ONLY be required of the lead applicant)** _**Only PDF or Word documents will be accepted and avoid uploading documents that are password protected or encrypted.

**_ **2**Applications must be submitted through the online portal. Incomplete applications will not be considered. **3**Applicants must demonstrate core values of access, belonging, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in their purpose/mission statement and daily operations and have been providing access and belonging-related initiatives or programs within SLO County for at least two (2) years prior to application.

(The proposal can be for something new, but the recipient organization must have been operating locally for at least two [2] years.) **4**Grant recipients must comply with the HRC Bylaws which are to create an environment within the City in which all persons can enjoy equal rights and opportunities regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability. HRC Bylaws can be found on the City’s website.

**5**Grant recipients **must enter into a contract** with the City prior to receipt of DEI funds, the form of which can be found here: Download sample contract **If a grantee fails to execute the grant agreement within ten (10) business of days of notice of grant award, the City may rescind the award and redistribute the awarded funds. ** **6**Grant recipients**must complete periodic reports**and provide them on a timely basis.

Reports must be submitted using the online form found**HERE**. **7**Grant recipients must submit a final report at the end of the project/service or at 12 months from start, whichever comes first. Grant recipients are expected to return unused funds.

**8**Grant-funded programs must be available to all City residents, without regard to the resident’s race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Funding Applicants Criteria **1**Grants are made only to **501(c)(3)** organizations. Organizations without this status will need to partner with a 501(c)(3) as the lead applicant.

**2****_100%_** of the funded activities **_must occur_** in the City of San Luis Obispo. **3**Funded activities **_must primarily serve_** City residents. Applicants that provide services to neighboring communities, but also serve a significant number of City residents, will be considered.

**4**Organizations that received previous DEI High Impact Grant funding must be in good standing and have complied with all reporting requirements. Additional Funding Information **1**Applicants may submit a minimum request of $5,000 and a maximum request of $20,000. If applying in a partnership, the maximum request amount will be $40,000.

**2**A maximum of one (1) grant award is allowed per organization (or per partnership if a collaborative project). **3**If applying in a partnership, a lead organization must be identified in the application. The lead organization must be an eligible entity and must act as the fiscal agent.

All parties must enter into the contract and adhere to the requirements within the contract. **4**Projects, programs, concepts, and initiatives that leverage existing or other funding sources to supplement proposal are highly encouraged. **5**Favorable consideration may be provided to proposals that have matching grants secured.

**6**Favorable consideration may be provided to projects/programs that have low overhead and administrative costs. **1**Funds**CANNOT**be used for advancing, campaigning, advocating, promoting, or highlighting political entities, ballot measures/initiatives, or candidates. **2**Funds**CANNOT**be used for advancing, advocating, promoting, or highlighting religious causes, entities, individuals, or activities.

Funding**CANNOT**be used for the purpose of disseminating religious information in any form. **3**Funds**CANNOT**be used for profit or personal gain. **4**Funds**CANNOT**be used for the payment of City fees, permits, or fines.

**5**Funds**CANNOT**be used for personal expenses not directly related to the approved project. **6**Funds**CANNOT**be used for payments in the form of stipends, honoraria, or similar direct payments to individuals*. *_Salaries and personnel ARE allowable costs.

Payments to professional services operating as a business ARE allowable costs. _ **7**Pass through entities **WILL NOT** be eligible for funding. **_The Human Relations Commission (HRC) will exercise discretion when developing funding recommendations for the City Council.

_** The HRC will review, with support from the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, all applications (that are completed, timely submitted, and meet the funding criteria) and develop funding recommendations based on the answers and attestations provided in each application, with guidance and direction from City Council. Please be as specific and detailed in your applications as possible.

Recommendations will be presented to the City Council for approval. Final funding decisions are at the sole discretion of the City Council. Grants are awarded by available funding for current grant cycle.

**Previous grant awards do not guarantee continued funding. This is a competitive grant process. ** **The HRC encourages organizations to take innovative, creative approaches to increasing access and belonging in our community!

** ## **Current Timeline (subject to change)** July 13, 2026 at 9am – Morning In-Person Information Session (English; Spanish is by request) July 16, 2026 at 3pm – Afternoon Zoom Information Session (English; Spanish by request) July 20, 2026 – Application Opens July 29, 2026 between 1pm and 4pm – Technical Assistance Hours (can email to reserve a slot) August 24, 2026 – Application Closes at 5pm PST October 7, 2026 – HRC Public Hearing on Funding Recommendations November 2026 – City Council Final Funding Decisions December/January 2026-27 – Contracts Routed January 2027 – Funds Disbursed 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Design By Granicus - Connecting People and Government