Community Grant Program

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Community Grant Policy

The City of Santa Clara offers grants up to $10,000 to qualifying 501(c)(3) non-profit community organizations, youth athletic groups or organizations, educational groups or organizations, or individuals, that demonstrate a financial need for grant funding for the purpose of supporting high impact events, activities, programs and community projects (Community Events/Activities) and youth competitions and performances (Youth Competitions/Performances) that directly benefit the City of Santa Clara and its residents, students, and schools. The City’s Council Policy 049 Community Grant Policy, which was most recently amended on December 3, 2024, sets forth the requirements and funding process for the Community Grant Program.

Community Grant Eligibility

Community Grant requests for Community Events/Activities must meet all the following eligibility requirements:

Community Event/Activity is a high impact event, activity, program, or community project
Must be held within the City of Santa Clara
Contributes positively to the recognition and image of the City of Santa Clara
Provides a community benefit to the residents of Santa Clara
Must be open to the general public, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic under state or federal law
Aligns with one of the following grant focus areas:

Santa Clara Identity/Culture/Representation/Equity
Santa Clara Youth
Community Service

Must be consistent with applicable federal and state laws regarding limitation on use of public funds. Public funds cannot be used for religious or political purposes.
If the event or activity is a fundraising event, the proceeds from the fundraising activity will support programs, services or events for residents of the City of Santa Clara.

Grant funds for Community Events/Activities may only be used on the following eligible expenses:

Permits, fees and services from the City and other public agencies
Venue rental fees and related insurance
Food and non-alcoholic beverage (Cannot exceed 15% of the total grant request)
Trash and recycling
Rental of stage, tents, and similar equipment
Marketing and promotion of the Community Event/Activity (excluding third-party services to design marketing materials)
Incidental, one-time expenses purchased specifically for the Community Event/Activity

Community Grant requests for Youth Competitions/Performances must meet all the following eligibility requirements:

Grant funds requested will only be used for specific state, national, or international titles, competitions, or performances
Individuals, teams, or groups should either be from Santa Clara schools or have at least 50% of the students from the teams or groups be residents in the City of Santa Clara
Funding the Youth Competition/Performance provides a benefit to Santa Clara residents, students or schools
Contributes positively to the recognition and image of the City of Santa Clara
Aligns with one of the following grant focus areas:
- Santa Clara Identity/Culture/Representation/Equity
- Santa Clara Youth
- Community Service
Must be consistent with applicable federal and state laws regarding limitation on use of public funds. Public funds cannot be used for religious or political purposes.

Grant funds for Youth Performances/Competitions may only be used on the following eligible expenses:

Grant funds requested cannot exceed 20% of the allowable expenses (registration, hotel, transportation, and food for participants and coaches/chaperones only) and comply with other requirements stated in the Community Grant Application
Grant funds for travel related costs cannot be spent on more than one coach/chaperone for every six students

Funding Process

Applicants should read the Community Grant Policy before completing a Community Grant Application to confirm eligibility and review requirements.

Applicants requesting a grant for a Community Event/Activity are required to submit their application at least 90 days and no more than six (6) months prior to the planned event/activity.

Applicants requesting a grant for a Youth Competition/Performance are required to submit their application within one week of advancing to such competition or performance.

Submit a Community Grant Application by email or mail:

Email to Berny Lazareno at blazareno@santaclaraca.gov
Mail to:

City of Santa Clara
Attn: City Manager’s Office
1500 Warburton Ave.
Santa Clara, CA 95050

The City Manager’s Office will review applications for compliance with the eligibility criteria and availability of funds and contact applicants to notify them of approval or denial of their request.

Within 30 days after the Community Event/Activity or Youth Competition/Performance, grant recipients are required to submit documentation of all allowable expenses incurred, attendance numbers, a community impact statement (up to 500 words) describing how the event impacted the Santa Clara community that will be posted on the City’s website, and fundraising actuals (if applicable).

49ers Grant Commitment

As part of the Santa Clara Stadium Authority (Stadium Authority) and Levi Strauss & Co.’s (Levi’s) ten (10) year Naming Rights Agreement extension which was approved by the Stadium Authority Board on January 30, 2024, the Forty Niners SC Stadium Company LLC (49ers) committed to providing $4 million ($200,000/annually over 20 years) for grants to the Santa Clara community.

On June 4, 2024, the City Council approved an Initial Grant Funding Agreement between the City and 49ers that formalized the 49ers’ commitment to contribute $200,000 annually for 20 years to non-profit organizations and community projects serving or directly impacting the City of Santa Clara community (referred to as the “49ers Grant Commitment”). The Initial Grant Funding Agreement directs $50,000 annually to the City’s Community Grant Program for the initial three years of the 49ers Grant Commitment.

Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Grant Recipients

KidzRule California, Inc. for the 2024 Santa Clara Children’s Business Fair (Community Event/Activity)
Gen Grow Empower Nurture for the 2024 Family Nav Diwali Festival and Garba (Community Event/Activity)
West Valley – Mission Foundation for the Mission College 5K Walk/Run Fundraiser (Community Event/Activity) – Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara for the 2024 Historic Home Tour (Community Event/Activity) – Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
Santa Clara Chorale, Inc. for the Christmas Truce Choral Concert (Community Event/Activity) – Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
Kimberly Vernon for the Miss America Competition (Youth Competition/Performance)
Santa Clara Firefighter Foundation for the 2025 The Firehouse Run (Community Event/Activity) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
- Community Impact Statement
Team Astrobruins 19819 for the First Tech Challenge World Championship (Youth Competition/Performance) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
- Community Impact Statement
Echo Church for the Community Egg Hunt (Community Event/Activity) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
American Cancer Society for the 2025 Relay for Life (Community Event/Activity) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
- Community Impact Statement
Friends of SC Elite Dance Team for the Dance the Magic Crystal Dance Classic (Youth Competition/Performance) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
- Community Impact Statement
American Legion Post 419 for the 2025 American Legion Car Show (Community Event/Activity) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
- Community Impact Statement
Special Olympics Northern California for the Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games (Community Event/Activity) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
- Community Impact Statement

Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Grant Recipients

Friends of Santa Clara Elite Dance Team for the Dance the World Broadway (Youth Competition/Performance) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
- Community Impact Statement
Santa Clara Police Activities League for the California State Games/California State USA Softball Championship (Youth Competition/Performance) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
KidzRule California, Inc. for the 2025 Santa Clara Childre's Business Fair (Community Event/Activity) - Community Grant funded by the 49ers Grant Commitment
Korean American Cultural Foundation for the 5th Annual Korean Cultural Festival (Community Event/Activity) - Community Grant funded in part by the 49ers Grant Commitment
The Santa Clara Players Corporation for the 2025 Crazy Quilt Club (Community Event/Activity)
Santa Clara Parade of Champions for the Santa Clara Parade of Champions Sports Fan Zone (Community Event Activity)

Remaining Community Grant Program Funds Available

Community Grant Funds Remaining
$0

Resources

For More Information

For more information about the Community Grant Program, email Berny Lazareno at blazareno@santaclaraca.gov or call the City Manager's Office at 408-615-2210.

Last Updated:

01-30-2026