SMUD Shine Program Award

SMUD Shine Program Award is sponsored by Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Supports nonprofits engaging justice-impacted young adults in clean energy workforce development and environmental justice initiatives in Sacramento County, California.

We can make our communities shine Have a project in mind to support and revitalize our communities? Learn about Shine awards. Shine awards are available to incorporated nonprofit organizations located in and serving communities within SMUD’s service area .

Read the FAQs to learn about eligibility, funding and application details. Amplifier: $10,001 - $50,000 Transformer: $50,001 - $100,000 If awarded, recipient nonprofits must match funds for their project as follows: Amplifier and Transformer: 100% match Collaborative projects and joint applications between nonprofits are encouraged.

Amplifier: $10,001 - $50,000 Transformer: $50,001 - $100,000 If awarded, recipient nonprofits must match funds for their project as follows: Collaborative projects and joint applications between nonprofits are encouraged.

Amplifier: $10,001 - $50,000 Transformer: $50,001 - $100,000 If awarded, recipient nonprofits must match funds for their project as follows: Collaborative projects and joint applications between nonprofits are encouraged. What an honor it was to celebrate our 2025-2026 Shine award community partners. We’re working together to bring our 2030 Clean Energy Vision to life.

“As a community-owned organization, SMUD constantly strives to improve the lives of all community members,” said SMUD CEO and General Manager Paul Lau. “This year’s Shine funding reflects our commitment to environmental leadership, community wellness and our ambitious 2030 Zero Carbon Plan. ” Congratulations to our Shine partners!

We look forward to seeing all the positive impacts from this year's Shine award projects. A Seat at the Table Community Initiative | Awarded: $10,250 Develops a certified sensory room for a community bookstore that uses LED, dimmable lighting and recycled acoustic panels. The sensory room is designed for visitors that need low-stimulation and sensory-friendly environments.

AcademySTAY | Awarded: $17,100 Provides dedicated e-mobility charging stations and storage for 40 former foster youth. Increases clean mobility options in Del Paso Heights. Act On Kindness | Awarded: $5,000 Empowers fifty low-income households in North Highlands to reduce their carbon footprint through hands-on education, workshops and distribution of energy-saving tools.

Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley, Inc. | Awarded: $49,800 Improves indoor air quality and safety while reducing HVAC energy use in a 99-bed senior care facility, utilizing new technology that provides energy-efficient disinfection and enhanced ventilation. Assist Academy | Awarded: $45,000 Provides hands-on, project-based STEM enrichment for 900 students at three Title I Schools: Raymond J.

Fite Elementary, Anna Kirchgater Elementary and Florin Elementary. CALSTART | Awarded: $37,500 Installs 2 solar-powered charging stations for e-mobility options for students at Hiram Johnson High School. Code 4 Hood Edu | Awarded: $35,640 Provides clean energy and zero carbon career exploration for 48 youths (16 – 24 years old) from Oak Park.

Program provides hands-on training and labs in clean energy technologies and e-waste reduction. Dr. Ephraim Williams Family Life Center | Awarded: $11,200 Develops and delivers a 4-week summer robotics program for 40 students from Oak Park. Program offers project-based learning in robotics, coding and real-world STEM applications.

E Train Talks, Inc. | Awarded: $1,000 Creates a youth climate education program, led by 15-year-old Ethan Minton. Through classroom visits and hands-on activities, Ethan will inspire 500 students to be environmental changemakers.

Friends of the Sacramento Public Library | Awarded: $51,400 Expands access to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) education for children under 5 and their families through 4,000 take-home kits, activity stations and community workshops at libraries, as well as Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) offices and Family Resource Center (FRC) locations. Japanese American Citizens League, Sacramento Chapter | Awarded: $14,448.

83 Provides electrical and safety upgrades for the Nisei War Memorial at 4th and P Street. Mending of Mothers, Inc. | Awarded : $9,737. 58 Expands their Healthy Habits program to serve 124 individuals in transitional housing.

Program will provide them with life skills, clean energy education and career development while empowering women to prepare for stable housing, reduce future energy costs, improve home stability and access green job pathways. Midtown Association | Awarded: $15,000 Provides solar-powered ambient catenary lighting along the K Street corridor from 20th and K to 24th and K.

This type of lighting enhances pedestrian safety, reduces vehicle miles traveled and supports the district’s small businesses. Mother Natives | Awarded: $6,125. 11 Expands an outdoor classroom at a local nonprofit dedicated to cultivating environmental stewardship through native plants.

Expansion allows for evening workshops providing greater access for up to 2,000 community members. One Community Health | Awarded: $25,000 Provides an LED lighting upgrade for the Midtown campus serving 16,000 community members, primarily medically underserved populations from across the Sacramento region. Improvements will significantly reduce energy consumption and allow the organization to reinvest savings into community programming.

Pathways to Possibilities | Awarded: $6,305. 25 Provides hands-on STEM workshops for 64 participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing fully accessible, hands-on learning experiences tailored to each individual’s ability level. Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates | Awarded: $13,972.

50 Deploys 2 pedal-powered bike lane sweepers to increase safety and cleanliness of local bike lanes. Will engage with up to 10 neighborhood associations and local residents to keep bike lanes clean and safe. Sacramento Comedy Spot | Awarded: $5,049.

21 Upgrades an incandescent lighting system with LED lights, reducing energy use and lowering operational costs. Annual savings will be reinvested into diversity scholarships and educational programs. Sacramento Friends Meeting | Awarded: $8,806 Creates a Miyawaki mini-forest with native plants and trees at New Joseph Bonnheim Elementary School (a local Title 1 School).

Impacts 250 students who attend the school and improves the air quality in the surrounding neighborhood. Sacramento Police Foundation | Awarded: $40,268 Prepares 200 high school students for careers in public safety and STEM through hands-on learning, technical certifications and leadership development through the Criminal Justice Magnet Academy.

Expands access to STEM career pathways, particularly in engineering practices and safety professions. Sierra 2 Center | Awarded: $49,604. 78 Replaces high-heat stage lighting with energy efficient LED fixtures.

Improves safety and accessibility for the diverse performance groups who use the theater, which serves over 15,000 visitors. Starting Point for Refugee Children | Awarded: $5,000 Provides hands-on STEM activities for 70 children from refugee communities and educates family members in clean energy and sustainable practices.

Suvidha International Foundation | Awarded: $35,000 Engages 75 high school students in Rancho Cordova in hands-on learning focused on artificial intelligence and clean energy innovation. Students will build skills in machine learning, natural language processing and AI agent development through real-world projects addressing emissions reduction, smart grid optimization and sustainability. Voice of the Youth | Awarded: $16,387.

50 Empowers 35 youths (14 – 25 years old) in South Sacramento, Meadowview and Oak Park with hands-on STEM and clean energy career training in partnership with Green Tech Education. Zion Girls Leadership and Collegiate Preparatory Academy | Awarded: $10,000 Supports a youth-led leadership program for up to 40 girls who are impacted by parental incarceration.

Project builds knowledge and skills to improve indoor air quality and promote energy efficiency. 80 Watt District | Awarded: $25,000 Supports clean energy upgrades for businesses along Watt Avenue, which help to increase public safety and engagement through improved security lighting.

A Different Path | Awarded: $12,000 Offers hands-on STEM education workshops for youth in North and South Sacramento, combined with mentorship and career opportunities in clean energy and sustainability sectors. A Seat at The Table Community Initiative | Awarded: $8,400 Supplies STEM kits to young people in an environment designed to be inclusive and supportive. Arab Community Center for Integration Services | Awarded: $6,028.

30 Delivers clean energy education for 150 Arabic-speaking refugee families in the Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, North Highlands, Citrus Heights, South Natomas and Del Paso Heights neighborhoods. Assist Academy | Awarded: $16,200 Supports students in the afterschool program at Florin Elementary School with hands-on clean energy activities, while providing educators with training on clean energy concepts.

Students will also host community workshops to educate family and community members about clean energy practices. California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom | Awarded: $35,000 Educates and trains middle school teachers on climate-smart agriculture curriculum. Students will receive first-hand experience on renewable energy practices at the New Hope Dairy in Galt.

Code 4 Hood | Awarded: $40,000 Provides a STEM education lab at Leataata Floyd Elementary School and clean energy exploration at McClatchy High School. Compassion Planet | Awarded: $40,000 Offers multiple workforce development training programs that integrate STEM principles for various trades, targeting transitional-age youth form Arden-Arcade and North Sacramento. Daughters of Zion Enterpryz | Awarded: $6,208.

23 Upgrades the walk-in freezer at the food distribution center in South Sacramento as part of a clean energy project, increasing capacity to serve more community members in need. Dr. Ephraim Williams Family Life Center | Awarded: $11,000 Provides a STEM summer program for middle and high school students in the Oak Park area, focusing on STEM topics and related career pathways.

Folsom Historic District Association | Awarded: $30,000 Supports an electric micro-transit shuttle service that will provide free rides in the Folsom Historic District on weekends when parking is impacted. HumanBulb | Awarded: $50,000 Assists high school students in gaining skills in renewable energy technologies through the EcoTech Innovators Program.

Student leaders will have the opportunity to serve as mentors to the participants of the program. Iranian American Culture & Educational Center | Awarded: $31,500 Increases awareness of the benefits and use of the induction cooking process for 1,200 community members by offering induction cooking classes in Farsi and Dari. Participants will receive induction cooktops for household use.

NextGen Climate America | Awarded: $63,000 Provides skills training and career exploration in clean energy and manufacturing for 120 justice-impacted young adults from the Meadowview, Valley-Hi, Arden-Arcade, Del Paso Heights, Oak Park, North Highlands, Fruitridge and Stockton Blvd neighborhoods.

Perspectives by Capsity | Awarded: $46,500 Provides STEM education and hands-on learning for high school students and young adults through the EmpowerED STEM project, highlighting the use of digital technology to foster innovation in urban sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Rebuilding Together Sacramento | Awarded: $10,000 Upgrades LED lighting at their offices and warehouse to generate cost savings, allowing the organization to reinvest in providing home improvement and energy-efficient equipment support for up to 400 households.

River District | Awarded: $7,371 Engages community members in implementing pollinator gardens and native plant installations in the River District to raise awareness of their role in increasing biodiversity, improving air quality, sequestering carbon and addressing climate change. Safety Center | Awarded: $9,994.

09 Upgrades an outdoor space with a new shade structure to increase capacity for providing safety education to under-resourced schools and community groups. San Juan Education Foundation | Awarded: $44,000 Provides STEM kits for San Juan Unified Title 1 elementary and middle school educators to enhance hands-on learning in their classrooms.

STRIVE Community Health Institute | Awarded: $10,000 Supports career exploration in STEM by providing hands-on exposure to construction, electrical and plumbing trades for young women from Antelope, North Highlands and Oak Park neighborhoods.

Sunrise Christian Food Ministry | Awarded: $30,000 Provides shade structures and weatherization upgrades to improve access to daily food distribution services for 30,000 community members in the Citrus Heights area. American River Parkway Foundation Project Summary: A STEM Education collaboration for Title I schools.

Classes of students will visit the River Bend Outdoor classroom with the American River Parkway Foundation and collaborative partners with STEM curriculum. The two collaborative partners include Sacramento Splash and Soil Born Farms, reaching 261 elementary school students and 546 middle school students.

Project Summary: The Zero Carbon Future Workforce project will use the Train The Trainer model with 25 youth leaders from under resourced areas to deliver workshops to 100 under represented youth and young adults about zero carbon careers and opportunities.

Associated General Contractors (AGC) Construction Education Foundation (CEF) Project Summary: This project will provide career exploration for 3000 under-represented youth ages 12-24 in STEM, construction and utilities fields in five high schools.

Career exploration partner is Agriculture, Construction, Engineering (ACE) Mentoring with currently active industry professionals engaging high school students weekly with hands on project builds. Representation of young professional women in these fields are represented in the industry professionals mentoring the high school students.

Carmichael Improvement District Project Summary: This project will provide energy efficiency upgrades with LED indoor and outdoor lighting with six local businesses as a strategy for inclusive economic development in the Carmichael Business District.

Center for Land-Based Learning Project Summary: This project will provide an environmental stewardship curriculum to 100 under-represented high school youth from Florin High, George Washington Carver, Sheldon, Grant Union and Mira Loma Highs Schools. Curriculum includes education of environmental stewardship of native habitat and hands on learning with planting of hedgerows, trees and restoration of pollinator habitat.

Project Summary: This project will increase native habitat restoration efforts and also plant 133 seedlings on Del Paso Boulevard and North Sacramento with education curriculum for income eligible residential customers to impact heat island index. Project Summary: This project will provide education workshops for 200 under-resourced community members and 20 businesses.

Additional outreach and resources to income eligible customers among the 3000 residents in the nearby communities to understand and develop clean energy and energy efficient practices. Project Summary: This project is for the Clean Blacksmithing Program. This program will training 50 individuals on electric induction forges as part of Blacksmithing Program.

Franklin Boulevard Business Association Project Summary: This project will provide energy efficient lighting upgrades for five small businesses in an under-resourced business corridor. This strategy is part of their outreach, engagement and inclusive economic development partnership for the Franklin Boulevard Small Businesses.

Freedom Through Education Project Summary: This project will provide employment skills development and support for work placement for 75 previously incarcerated adults transitioning back to community.

Fulton El Camino Recreation & Park Project Summary: This project will create an outdoor classroom to educate community members about energy efficiency and conservation, as well as increase the capacity for more community events that offer support and services for refugees and immigrant families needing assistance at Howe Park.

This project includes activation of solar-powered picnic tables with battery storage and building a shade structure with LED lighting to decrease heat island index impact. Project Summary: This project will provide LED lighting upgrades/STEM education and workforce skills building for 40 under-resourced youth with special needs.

The youth will document the building upgrades and develop a short documentary highlighting the energy efficiency upgrades as part of their skills development through their workforce development curriculum.

Project Summary: This project will upgrade to electric HVAC and induction stoves, water heater, induction stove and energy efficiency with upgraded LED lighting for community space located in Meadowview that provide services for under-resourced community members from South Sacramento and Meadowview areas.

Project Summary: This project will provide STEM education and project experiences through a sustainability focused curriculum introducing students to STEM activity kits about renewable power sources. This project will impact 250 under-resourced youth (13-18 years old) Project Summary: This Zero Carbon Workforce Development/STEM career exploration project is designed for 500 high school students and 500 adults/parents.

There will be additional outreach and community education provided for clean energy and energy efficient practices to implement. Iranian American Culture & Educational Center Project Summary: This project will promote clean energy practices with Farsi-Speaking communities. The group will outreach to 200 under-represented Farsi speaking homes and businesses with bilingual and culturally responsive strategies.

Kiwanis Club of Rancho Cordova Foundation Project Summary: This project will provide STEM themed books for children/youth in under-resourced communities. The project will increase access to STEM curriculum with 600 STEM related books for youth in Rancho Cordova. The project will conduct 4 STEM Career Pathway workshops for at least 25 children/youth per workshop (100 youth total).

Lion's Roar Dharma Center Project Summary: The Center is installing a shade structure to increase capacity to host community events and education classes outdoors, engaging over 300 community members that actively utilize the facility. Information, education and resources on clean energy and energy efficiency practices will be shared with community members onsite. National Academic Youth Council (d.

b. a. Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum) Project Summary: This project will provide outreach and education to 40 youth, ages 12-18, in South Sacramento under-resourced community.

The curriculum will enrich student knowledge of clean energy topics and STEM career fields. The partner will host a variety of community events to share Clean Energy and Zero Carbon career opportunities with 250 - 400 community members. Project Summary: This project will identify and support 10 homes and families in Fruitridge Manor for neighborhood revitalization project.

Connection to SMUD energy specialist and potential energy efficiency upgrades will be provided.

ReImagine Mack Road Partnership Project Summary: This project will provide employment readiness/skill building and career path exploration related to the clean energy trades industry (includes electricians, EV technicians, construction) for 14 high school youth (ages 14-18) from South Sacramento neighborhoods: Florin, Valley-Hi and Meadowview.

This project will expand employment readiness to include clean energy fields, STEM, trades (electricians, automotive mechanics/repairs/techs), information technology (coding, computer tech/security). Sacramento Children's Museum Project Summary: This project will provide a Mobile Museum STEM Program for under-resourced schools, for approximately 500 early elementary-aged (K-3rd grade) students.

Facilitators will highlight alternative, renewable energy options and energy efficiency, and conservation education. Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services Project Summary: This project will provide upgraded LED lighting for the parking lot and driveways for services that support 12,000 people annually.

The improved and energy efficient lighting will increase the safety for staff and volunteers packing and loading delivery trucks to 130 partner agency food banks regionally. Project Summary: This project will provide skills training in construction building trades and STEM education.

The trades education includes hands-on projects using the lending library of power tools and community classes on how to use power tools to support community and residential construction projects in Oak Park. Project Summary: This project will add an electric tractor and electric utility cart on the farm.

By adding new electric farm equipment for clean energy usage, the farm continues to develop a clean and equitable urban food system which will provide the lettuce grown on the farm to the Sacramento City Unified School District’s Central Kitchen for student meals.

Project Summary: A STEM and clean energy education project that will inspire behavioral changes for 15 high school youth leaders to drive change through 12-week curriculum with culminating project presented in community listening session. Sunshine Food Pantry & Resource Center Project Summary: This project will replace and upgrade old equipment to an electric HVAC, heat pump, commercial refrigeration and infrastructure for double doors.

The Resource center will provide additional customer outreach and engagement for income eligible customers in under-resourced area of Galt. Serving 2000 people per month. Project Summary: The STEM Education Lab will provide an updated education Lab classroom for 50 Pre-K students and 40 Kindergarten to 8th grade students.

The afterschool program and curriculum will introduce hands-on, age-appropriate robotics, engineering kits, science and computer technology activities at the Oak Park site. Project Summary: The project will provide clean energy/STEM education outreach and engagement to income eligible community members, as well as job readiness workshops to 120 elementary, middle and high school youth at Fruitridge Community Collaborative.

Project Description: Aligns with inclusive economic development strategy to increase public safety and energy efficiency practices for local business corridor along Watt Ave. Provides a new garden shade structure for students and community members to decrease the “heat island” impact. Also provides education workshops with climate change and STEM curriculum.

Educates and trains youth leaders on computer technology programs and build skills to identify and repair computers as part of their Youth Leadership Cohort curriculum. Provides an all-electric trailer for mobile “art upcycling” workshops in under-resourced communities; participants learn how to upcycle materials for re-use as well as promoting entrepreneurship.

Center for Land Based Learning Focuses on climate change through habitat restoration projects by providing a youth workforce skill and job readiness development program. Provides energy efficiency upgrades to interior lighting for the Midtown Legacy Center. Downtown Sacramento Partnerships Supports Cesar Chavez Park revitalization efforts.

This includes increasing economic development in the business corridor by adding outdoor family friendly areas, an imagination playground, chairs, tables and lawn games. Increases availability of SMUD resources and information. Supports workforce development skills and stipends for diverse population of foster youth.

Will add computer equipment for warehouse retail training space. Folsom Economic Development Corporation Provides economic development and entrepreneur training, support and technical assistance for under-resourced community members interested in starting businesses. Provides energy efficiency through installation of all-electric laundry equipment and community room for Volunteers of America Veterans and families.

Provides workforce development skills for foster youth. Provides energy efficiency by upgrading interior lighting for residential school campus supporting students with disabilities. Supports the Alhambra Blvd Revitalization Project with landscaping and placemaking.

Development of micro mobility hub by adding accessible bike racks, increasing cross walk safety and economic development through business corridor. National Academic Youth Corps (Sojourner Truth African American Heritage Museum) Provides workforce development and job readiness skills and entrepreneur development opportunities to youth entrepreneurs in the South Sacramento area.

Northern California Valley Sheet Metal Foundation Provides new electric equipment for training new apprentices, and upgraded training for existing journey people on electric HVAC systems. Provides youth education focused on clean energy and sustainability practices in home and at school sites in South Sacramento. Provides under-resourced youth access to STEAM skill competencies and curriculum.

Includes monthly meetings with parents with tools to improve zero carbon outcomes in under-resources communities. Rosemont Community Foundation Supports neighborhood revitalization through economic, education and community revitalization with STEM programming and increasing inclusive economic development for businesses in under invested corridors.

Provides youth workforce development opportunities to learn and practice their skills in construction trades. Provides access to STEM education and career exploration for under-resourced community. Increases exposure to STEM career and college opportunities and job readiness in STEM.

Provides upgraded indoor LED lighting for Sunrise Marketplace. YMCA of Superior California Provides upgrade to LED lighting for outdoor play space to increase access and safety. Leadership development program that engages with youth in under-resourced communities.

Will develop four new environmental student groups at high schools and connect youth throughout the region. Crime prevention through environmental design assessment and recommendations for improved security lighting with energy-efficient lighting options and interior lighting upgrades with business partners on Watt Ave. in North Highlands.

Alianza (La Familia Counseling Center) Creating powerful Latina trailblazer murals and education components, that celebrate the actions and impact on social justice issues by local Latinx women trailblazers. Their stories will be shared with students through a moveable art piece that will be presented to K-12 schools starting in the South Sacramento region.

The Architects of Hope Fellowship Program provides youth development, leadership, mentoring, civic engagement for underserved youth with 3 projects-based deliverables in design, build and architecture. Capital College and Career Academy Provides infrastructure for workforce skills development and training in STEM, construction and trades careers for youth in the North Sacramento/Del Paso Heights area.

Carmichael Park Foundation Providing community center improvements, including the installation of a new electric HVAC and upgraded windows, for veterans resources and local childcare program. Central United Methodist Church An electric bread oven will be purchased and used to establish a learning kitchen, supplying fresh bread distribution in partnership with the South Sacramento Interfaith Food Closet in South Sacramento.

A workforce skills development and training program that provides equipment to develop operations and infrastructure that will increase capacity to train and empower the most vulnerable foster youth. Folsom Economic Development Corporation Creates online platforms for workshops and training to engage neighborhood and community organizations to enhance small business creations, growth and collaborations.

Franklin Neighborhood Development Corporation Franklin District Lighting Project with business and community partners. Freedom Through Education Supporting community development for formerly incarcerated adults in transitional living homes. Also providing restorative justice model of community engagement and neighborhood beautification for disabled and senior community neighbors.

Provides community art installations with free, inclusive education, connectivity and community involvement to revitalize the downtown corridor in Galt. Art installations will include STEM education, renewable energy options and promote zero carbon strategies. International Rescue Committee Improving infrastructure of Creekside Garden to increase accessibility for immigrant/refugee families to grow food for their families.

Junior Achievement of Sacramento JA Inspire is a virtual expo that provides an in-depth career development and exploration experience for students, including high-tech digital workbooks, pre-event preparation lessons, engaging videos, STEM education, webinars and communication with mentors.

Los Rios Community College Foundation Promotes education and equity in workforce development by providing support for students in STEM and energy career pathways at Los Rios Community College campuses. Includes funding and access to safety equipment for internships and basic equipment needs for post-education employment.

Natomas Garden and Arts Club Creates a half-acre of pollinator habitat along the Ninos Parkway to mitigate adverse environmental impacts, including ADA-compliant nature loops and pathways with interpretive signage in English and Spanish. Upgrade indoor lighting and weatherization for Filipino community gathering space in South Sacramento.

Connecting youth and parents to their community by increasing independent travel options through the use of public transportation, Smart Ride Micro Transit and electric bikes, with a focus in the South Sacramento area. R Street Sacramento Partnership Utilizes innovative technology to help ease our cleaning and safety issues on R and S Streets with a solar powered cordless trash and recycle compaction system.

Rebuilding Together Sacramento Supporting home repairs in North Sacramento and Rancho Cordova areas for under resourced Senior homeowners. ReIMAGINE Mack Road Foundation Youth workforce development and readiness program that increases academic success, improves social emotional wellbeing and socioeconomics, and increases access to high quality, culturally relevant, youth-focused expanded learning opportunities.

Roberts Family Development Center Technology hub and security locker for laptops and electronic equipment for their teen center. Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates A bike mechanics internship program for youth and community members that helps decrease carbon emissions by enabling more people to choose a bike for everyday use.

Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation Increases energy efficiency by providing electric HVAC upgrade and indoor lighting of community center for youth, adults and senior services including youth mental wellness program, health and exercise access and education, creative arts and support for cultural entrepreneurial programs.

Sacramento Food Bank (Rio Linda Site) Pelican wireless system to support food bank site located and serving the Rio Linda community. Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation A free, fun, experiential learning program, with expansion into Promise Zone area schools, that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their own business using a lemonade stand.

Lessons include creating budgets, setting profit-making goals, serving customers, repaying investors and giving back to the community. Sacramento Valley Conservancy Funding the Lower American River Native Nursery and Demonstration Project in collaboration with the Center for Land Based Learning and Sierra Nevada Journey. Provides home repairs for under-resourced communities and immigrant/refugee workforce training.

Funding the expansion of the childcare center and developing work appropriate clothing resources in support of women re-entering workforce. Sisters Inspiring Sisters Promotes women businesses in North Highlands through an entrepreneurial technical assistance and support group.

Stockton Boulevard Partnership Engaging business owners and community, using crime prevention through environmental training, to support façade and parking lot lighting upgrades for safety for 5 blocks of Stockton Boulevard. Summer Nights of Impact: Community and youth development, workforce/job skills training and job placement.

Includes career fairs for youth and adults in underserved community around the Fruitridge Community Collaborative. Providing workforce development skills, access to digital literacy and emergency needs for the Afghan refugee community. Frequently asked questions Who is eligible to apply for Shine program funding?

All applicants must be incorporated nonprofit organizations within SMUD's service area. Typical examples of eligible nonprofit organizations: Community-based organizations Property-based improvement districts Neighborhood Associations An eligible nonprofit must be the lead agency listed on the application and will be responsible for meeting all terms of the funding agreement.

These may apply as co-applicants with an incorporated nonprofit organization. Requirements: Identify an eligible nonprofit as the fiscal agent for the project Awarded funds will be disbursed only to a project’s identified fiscal agent Examples of municipal organizations include: Can an organization submit more than one Shine program proposal? No. Each primary applicant may submit one application per annual funding cycle.

So, pick your best concept and submit the most compelling application. I’m a partner on an application, but not the primary applicant. Can I still submit my own application for a different project?

Yes. You may be a partner on multiple applications. You may only be the primary applicant on one application in a single annual funding cycle.

How much funding can be awarded for my project? We have 3 tiers for awards: Spark: Up to $10,000 plus a 25% match requirement Amplifier: $10,001 - $50,000 plus a 50% match requirement Transformer: $50,001 - $100,000 plus a 100% match requirement Is there a minimum amount to apply for? No. We appreciate receiving well thought out budgets which satisfy the match requirements.

We’re providing matching funds for several Shine program proposals. May we apply on behalf of more than one program? Cost-saving collaborations benefit everyone, and we welcome proposals from organizations who receive support by a fiscal sponsor.

You may be a fiscal sponsor on multiple applications in the same year, but may only be the applicant on one project during that term. If we are awarded program funding, can we apply again next year for sustainability funding? Yes.

You may apply for funding – with the required match secured – each year. However, we encourage applicants to design projects with long-term funding sustainability. Applications are scored based on a number of factors, including long-term sustainability.

Can we use the Shine award as matching funds for another grant application? Matching funds are required for all Shine program projects: Selected projects must have a high likelihood of success All matching funds must be guaranteed and not contingent upon any unmet conditions or obligations, such as a pending grant. We want to ensure that the project completion is not contingent on other, non-committed funding.

Please clarify the funding match. How much