Frontline Grants
Spring 2025
We face a new defining moment full of uncertainty and peril, where urgent, emergent, and chronic problems increasingly blur together.
Remaining the same is not an option.
These grants are intended to help nonprofits meet the moment and to provide support in addressing current and future organizational challenges.
Sonoma Valley is still grappling with the effects of years of compounding local crises—fires, pandemic, and accelerating economic, climate, and technological changes. Now we face a new defining moment full of uncertainty and peril, where urgent, emergent, and chronic problems increasingly blur together. Remaining the same is not an option.
While local philanthropy can't influence national changes or replace funding cuts, we can come together to strengthen how the Valley responds--reimagining what is possible and working with partners across the region. These grants are designed to leverage the Valley's generosity and talent to support frontline organizations adapting bravely and serving those who are/will be hurt the most.
Government shifts are just beginning and will have long-term effects. These grants are intended to help nonprofits meet the moment and to provide support in addressing current and future organizational challenges.
Grant Program Objectives:
Increase nonprofit flexibility and resilience to face a rapidly changing funding and policy environment.
Provide rapid assistance to help nonprofits as they seek to address immediate social and economic challenges caused by current federal policies and actions that have targeted certain communities: immigrants, seniors, LGBTQ+, among others.
Support planning for issues that may require coordinated responses, either now or in the future.
Assist organizations and their networks to restructure their service delivery systems in response to government funding cuts and policy changes.
Respond to needs at the organizational and/or community level that are new and urgent or ongoing and worsening. In other words, organizations may seek funding to develop enhanced capacity to expand current services or provide new services.
Support a resilient community by promoting self-determination, reinforcing trusted community resources and mitigating fear.
Grants will be awarded up to $50,000 and it is anticipated approximately 4-6 grants will be awarded. These grants are not intended to replace lost government funding, which is at a scale far exceeding philanthropy. Instead, we hope to improve our community’s resilience in face of a rapidly changing environment. Deadline to apply via the Catalyst Fund portal is May 16th at 5pm. Additional key information is below.
Examples of grants that could fit the criteria:
Developing new program capacity or restructuring service delivery to specifically respond to new challenges caused by the government’s policy changes or funding reductions. This applies to both organizations and networks of organizations that serve Sonoma Valley.
Supporting new or improving existing trusted communication and outreach networks to reduce fear and dis/misinformation.
Changing program delivery methods, locations or systems to address client fears or new/increased needs, including implementation or expansion of resource navigation.
Planning, convening, coordination or collaboration among multiple organizations to bolster or improve services and/or increase community resilience in the face of increased demand or decreased government support.
Implementing leadership development for staff and/or board members to address the increasingly complex organizational challenges posed by policy changes or funding cuts.
Retraining key staff and volunteers to address new needs or provide new services, or deliver services in new ways.
Developing and implementing action plans to diversify and increase an organization’s funding stream in response to recent, unprecedented changes in funding.
Developing and implementing plans that increase an organization’s overall resiliency in the face of governmental policy changes.
Grants will not be made to fund typical, ongoing operations unrelated to recent changes, or to replace lost governmental funding. Faith based organizations are not eligible to apply.
Grant Review Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on:
Urgency of need (for the organization and/or its clients)
Alignment with Catalyst grant program objectives
Organizational capacity to implement the proposed use of funds
Potential for sustained impact or learning
Community-wide impact
A primary funding priority for this cycle is basic human services but this is not a requirement. All organizations and/or programming must benefit the residents of Sonoma Valley (defined as Schellville to Kenwood). County-wide or North Bay organizations may apply if the implementation is in collaboration with the local community or Sonoma Valley organizations. Applicants must be a 501c3 or have a 501c3 as a fiscal sponsor. Grants can be for up to one year.
Because we are already operating a major food security initiative, all food or hunger related applicants must reach out to the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund in advance of applying to ensure eligibility for this special grant program. If you are proposing a food-centric program, please email grants@sonomavalleycatalystfund.org to contact the Catalyst Fund grants team, so we can be sure to understand your organization’s evolving needs.