City of Sacramento Community Action Grant

The City of Sacramento’s Department of Utilities administers the Community Action Grant through its Stormwater Quality Improvement Program. This grant initiative supports local community projects aimed at protecting, restoring, and enhancing the water quality of creeks, rivers, and watersheds within Sacramento. The program’s mission is rooted in preventing pollution from entering the city's storm drains and local water bodies, which are often affected by urban runoff carrying hazardous substances like motor oil, pesticides, and trash. Through this grant, the City seeks to engage and empower the community in its broader environmental stewardship efforts. Grants of up to $3,000 are available to eligible applicants, which include a variety of community organizations such as schools, student groups, service clubs, youth organizations, homeowners associations, neighborhood groups, Property Business Improvement Districts, non-profits, and informal community groups with innovative ideas. Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible. Funded projects must be located within Sacramento city limits or directly benefit city residents and must be completed by June 30, 2026. Acceptable uses of grant funds include the purchase of supplies and materials, equipment rentals, volunteer recruitment and event promotion, meals for volunteers, and the purchase of native vegetation for restoration efforts. Ineligible expenses include labor wages, planning or research costs, travel expenses (except bus rentals), curriculum development, administrative fees, and activities required for regulatory compliance. Application to the program is conducted in two phases. The initial application, due by May 16, 2025, requires a one-page project description and a funding request amount. Applicants selected in the first round are invited to submit a more comprehensive final application. Selection criteria for the initial application include clarity of project purpose and pollution message, community need, innovation, community involvement, direct pollution reduction, and educational outreach potential. Evaluation of applications considers how well the project communicates a message about stormwater pollution prevention, engages community members, and includes a clearly defined audience. Additionally, funded projects must acknowledge the City Stormwater Program in all materials, submit reports and documentation, and, in the case of school-based projects, provide student work samples. Restoration projects must exclusively use native vegetation. Questions regarding the program can be directed to Emma Burke at the Department of Utilities, via email at eburke@cityofsacramento.org or by phone at 916-808-7157. Completed initial applications should be emailed to the same address or mailed to the Department of Utilities at 1395 35th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822, attention Emma Burke.