Emerging Needs Fund

Emerging Needs Fund is sponsored by City of Palo Alto, CA. This fund assists nonprofits serving Palo Alto residents with short-term and/or urgent funding to address emergency, critical, or emerging human service needs.

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For more information, please read the Emerging Needs Policy Information. Emerging Needs Fund Recipients Removal of hazards on the playground at the Learning Links school site. Replacement and addition of new storage lockers for client use.

Peninsula Healthcare Connection Upgrade to a cloud-based server for secure data management. Repainting for compliance and safety enhancements, purchase of a two-way radio for safety communication. Domestic violence hotel, transportation, and basic needs funds.

Distribute gift cards to support outreach interactions with immigrant families to offer updates on legal rights, safety resources, and available services. Distribute fresh fruits and vegetable, and other fresh foods, that are no longer available at Second Harvest food bank due to budgets cuts and that are not affordable for developmentally disabled residents at Page Mill Court.

Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired Develop and expand the Palo Alto Low Vision Clinic through the purchase of equipment and subsidy of staff salaries. Silicon Valley Bike Exchange New signage for the front of the building. Heart and Home Collaborative Operating costs to support the extension of the season, made possible by the addition of a fifth host site.

Food assistance for residents. Expand outreach, raise awareness in the community, and coordinate referrals for the Friendly Voices program. Replacement of necessary equipment for food preparation and services for low-income seniors.

General Policy Information The Emerging Needs Fund aims to assist nonprofit organizations serving Palo Alto residents with short-term and/or urgent funding to address emergency, critical or emerging human service needs. These grants are based on need and an agency may not receive funding more than once in a two- year period. Grants can be awarded up to $10,000.

Due to limited funding, partial grants may be awarded. Please note that all expenses that you are seeking should have been purchased within the last three months or is a future expense. All grants are subject to the availability of funds.

There are typically four quarterly application periods for non-emergency needs. As there is a limited amount of total annual funding, subsequent applications periods will only be held if funding is still available. If there is still funding available for Quarter 4, all applicants whose grants were not approved during Quarters 1-3, will be invited to update and re-submit their application for consideration as well as any new applicants.

The Emerging Needs Fund assists nonprofits serving Palo Alto residents with short-term and/or urgent human services related funding needs. Grant requests will be prioritized for funding in the order of need listed below, with at least 20% of total funding earmarked for Emergency Needs. Community Services Department Director has final discretion as to funding earmarks.

An unforeseen event that has or will significantly interrupt essential services such as a natural disaster, fire, storm damage, theft, equipment failure or similar such occurrence; and/or A request that is time sensitive in nature and could not have been predicted or reasonably planned for.

An urgent critical need that was not evident during the original funding period for the City’s Human Services Resources Allocation Process (HSRAP). (HSRAP grantees only) An urgent existing critical need for which normal funding is no longer available and for which a demonstrated human consequence will occur if funding is not obtained.

(All applicants) A need that has not come up before or the approach to addressing the need is new, even though it may not rise to the level of an emergency or critical need; and/or To develop or expand a program/service that will enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations.

Generally, Emerging Needs Grants are not awarded for: Sectarian or religious purposes Paying expenses that should have been anticipated Fundraising and marketing expenses Training expenses unless directly tied to emergency or critical need Operating deficit or retroactive support (no more than three months after incurring expenses).

An agency may initiate a request for Emergency Needs funding at any time by emailing the Manager of Human Services and providing a short, one paragraph explanation of the need. If the need potentially meets the criteria of the Emerging Needs Fund, the agency will be invited to submit an application. Do not submit an Emergency Needs application unless your agency has been invited to do so.

Critical Needs & Emerging Needs : Applications for Critical Needs and Emerging Needs may be submitted on: An application consists of a written response addressing the numbered items listed below and should be no more than three pages in length TOTAL. Please respond in question/answer format for each question. Up to four pages of supporting documentation may be attached to the application.

Submit the application to sophie. pigman@paloalto. gov .

Please include the following: Name and email address for agency contact. Amount of funding requested ($10,000 max). Brief history and mission of the organization.

Indicate whether you are requesting funding in order to address a critical or emerging need. How your application meets the fund's criteria. The cause of the unanticipated or non-budgeted costs for which there are no other resources.

Why these needs have risen to the level of an urgent response. How many Palo Alto clients are affected and how? What needs to be done to address the need?

Describe any services/programs you plan to offer. Why will these specific funds only be needed once? How will you address these needs in the future?

The past sources of the agency’s resources and other options to cover the funding need and any other funders sought or already committed to addressing this need. Include in-kind and voluntary contributions and collaborative assistance as well as financial support. A budget narrative specifically showing how City of Palo Alto funds will be used and a simple table of the itemized expense and income budget for addressing the request.

Please indicate the time period covered. Supporting documentation for all requested reimbursements (i.e. repair bill, new piece of equipment) must accompany the request. Review and Selection Process When reviewing Emerging Needs Grant applications we look for: A complete application.

All questions clearly and concisely answered and budget attached. Organizations that have the capacity to respond to the emergency, critical and/or emerging need and present a reasonable plan to address the need along with a sound financial plan. Organizations and programs that meet a documented need of Palo Alto residents.

Organizations whose requests are in closest alignment with purpose of the fund Applications are reviewed by City staff and representatives from the Human Relations Commission. Staff in the Office of Human Services will oversee the grant process but will not sit on the Selection Committee.

The selection process may include follow-up questions, clarification of material submitted, requests for additional information, and/or an interview process or as deemed appropriate by the Selection Committee. The final decision is made by the City Manager or his designee.

Grant Award and Reporting Requirements All applicants will generally be informed via email regarding the status of their funding request within three weeks of submission. All successful requests will be funded within approximately two weeks after receiving an “invoice” by the organization. Reporting requirements involve the submission of a simple report that describes the following: How the funds were spent.

How the Palo Alto clients of the affected program/service were impacted as a result of the grant. Progress on plans to address this need on an ongoing basis (if applicable). The report will be due one month after the funds have been expended or three months after the Emerging Needs grant is awarded, whichever is earlier.

Human Services Resource Allocation Process Human Services Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP) is a grant program open to organizations who deliver direct services to Palo Alto residents so that they have a safety net of services. Grant awards are allocated through the City’s General Fund.

Current funding priorities include senior services, early care and education, youth services, developmentally disabled services, homeless services, and low-income healthcare. Applications for funds are solicited and reviewed on a biennial basis.

Priority of Needs for Fiscal Year 2028-29 An online survey is available to help the City better understand community needs, barriers to accessing services, and opportunities to improve local services and support. Survey results will inform the City’s priorities for the 2026 HSRAP grant process, including the types of services and needs that may be prioritized for funding.

Open to anyone who lives in, works in, receives services in, or is connected to Palo Alto, the survey should take about 4-6 minutes to complete and will be open through August 12, 2026. You do not need to currently receive services to participate. Survey participants may skip any question that does not apply or that you do not want to answer and taking this survey will not affect eligibility for any services, benefits, or programs.

City staff will review the survey responses along with other community input and available data to help guide HSRAP funding priorities for the 2026 grant cycle. Additional opportunities for community input may also be available through City meetings, community conversations, or other engagement activities.

The period to submit a HSRAP proposal, for the Fiscal Year 2028-29 funding term (July 2027-June 2029), will open in fall/winter 2026. Visit the HSRAP page for more information about the grant and application process. Adult Services for people with developmental disabilities.

Employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. Adolescent Counseling Services Support and empowerment for LGBTQIA+ youth. Academic support and skill-building opportunities to low-income students and increase food and financial resiliency for families.

Counseling and Support Services for Youth (CASSY) Therapy for students to increase social-emotional wellbeing, self-regulation, and coping strategies. Children's Health Council Provide transportation to access in-person therapy, basic food needs, and clinician recommended therapy supplies for families with children ages 5-22 with Medi-Cal.

Work experience program that empowers and supports individuals experiencing homelessness and operation of the Downtown Food Closet (contract term ended on October 31, 2025, due to closure of organization). Heart and Home Collaborative Winter shelter for women experiencing homelessness. Comprehensive grief support, crisis intervention and education to individuals and families facing grief and loss.

RV Community Outreach program to build relationships and meet immediate needs of families living in RVs. Provides nutritious and affordable lunches to seniors while creating a socially stimulating atmosphere. Provides critical food services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen Meals on Wheels; fully-prepared meals delivered to vulnerable seniors. Parents and Advocates of Remarkable Children and Adults (PARCA) On-site support services for developmentally disabled adults living in a residential program. After-school tutoring and mentorship program for low-income middle school students.

Peninsula Healthcare Connection Provide basic needs through community-based services that target the immediate health needs of hard to reach individuals experiencing homelessness. Operation of the Downtown Food Closet (previously operated by the Downtown Streets Team). Ravenswood Family Health Network Provides health care access to vulnerable residents to ensure they receive patient-centered health care services.

Senior Adults Legal Assistance Provides a wide range of legal services, from advice/referrals to comprehensive legal representation, for adults aged 60 and older. Provide visually impaired seniors with the skills and support necessary to remain independent, safe, employed and mobile. Senior fitness programming and financial assistance for senior memberships.

Youth well-being and leadership program services through community service projects.