Nonprofit organizations that help create a more welcoming, inclusive, equitable and safe San Luis Obispo can now apply for the City’s DEI High-Impact Grant.
Donor Name: City of San Luis Obispo
State: California
City: San Luis Obispo
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/02/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The DEI High Impact Grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations to enhance the sense of belonging for all people in the community of San Luis Obispo.
Funding Priorities
Funding should primarily focus on advancing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion through innovative practices that seek to narrow equity gaps and address intractable, systemic, and structural issues.
Illustrative examples of systemic/structural issues include:
- Availability of affordable housing development and access to housing.
- Access to culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health services.
- Impact of poverty and unemployment.
- Diversity in government and governing institutions.
- Racial and socio-economic disparities in the criminal justice system.
- Environmental justice and equitable access to sustainable resources.
- Equity in access and representation in decision-making processes and leadership roles.
- Civic engagement related to voter representation and election education.
- Diversity of employers and work programs.
Funding Information
- Single applicants’ minimum request of $5,000 and a maximum request of $20,000.
- For partner applications (two or more applicants) there is no minimum dollar amount request, but the maximum request is $40,000.
Funding Examples
DEI High Impact Grant funds can be used for innovative, new or existing projects, initiatives, and ongoing programs to reduce equity gaps and improve social justice initiatives for underserved and underrepresented communities in the City of San Luis Obispo.
Proposal may focus on specific underserved and underrepresented communities, but all projects, applications, and concepts must provide access to the entire City of San Luis Obispo community-at-large and contribute to a positive systemic/structural change. Examples of previously funded activities include: (examples are illustrative and not ranked)
- Enhancing language access for Spanish-speaking community members in public historical exhibits.
- Expanding access to education and knowledge on social services programs by developing public how-to videos in English, Spanish, and Mixteco.
- Creating cultural spaces for learning purposes to expand community building and belonging for all.
- Enhancing board leadership programs to include a diversity lens to create more inclusive governing bodies and government organizations.
- Providing and enhancing ally or advocacy training programs designed to build community momentum and social justice.
- Public community art projects designed to uplift and bring social awareness of social cause issues impacting equity, communication, and stories of underserved and underrepresented communities.
- City-wide trainings and panel discussion events on sensitive topics that create awareness, equity, belonging, and challenges exclusive narratives.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, government, or education entity, or faith-based organization.
- 100% of the funded activities must occur in the City of San Luis Obispo.
- 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.
- Requests must be for programs or services with the ability to show measurable impact and success. New creative approaches that are rooted in best practices or evidence-based, as well as proven approaches, are highly encouraged.
- Collaborations between one or more organizations or groups are welcomed and encouraged.
For more information, visit City of San Luis Obispo.
