Open — Winter 2026 California Wildlands Grassroots Fund; applications close October 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
CA-ROSE-WILDLANDS-GRASSROOTS-WINTER-2026
California — Rose Foundation Wildlands Grassroots Fund, Winter 2026 (Up to $10,000; October 28 Deadline)
The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment is accepting California Wildlands Grassroots Fund winter 2026 proposals through October 28, 2026 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Eligible small nonprofit and fiscally sponsored community conservation groups may seek up to $10,000 for California wildlands protection, organizing, restoration and stewardship.
FundingUp to $10,000 per individual applicant for a one-year grant; typical awards $4,000–$8,000. Organizations with annual income and expenses <=$30,000 are encouraged to request <=$5,000. No universal applicant match or reimbursement requirement is stated on the current official fund guidelines.
DeadlineWinter 2026 round: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Applications are submitted through the Rose Foundation's grant portal.
Last verified2026-10-26
Required next actionConfirm applicant has annual actual income AND expenses of no more than $200,000 and a qualifying nonprofit status or nonprofit fiscal sponsor. Document California wildlands conservation impact and eligible stewardship/advocacy activities. Prepare current and prior-year financial statements, YTD income/expenses, project budget, and sponsor EIN if applicable. Select the Winter 2026 California Wildlands Grassroots Fund application at the funder's online portal and submit by October 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Broad Eligibility
Nonprofit or nonprofit-fiscally-sponsored individual/group with annual ACTUAL expenses and income each <=$200,000; project impact in California wildlands, protected habitats or connected ecological corridors. Grassroots wildlands advocacy, stewardship, conservation, restoration, scientific research, organizational capacity and equipment may qualify. IRS-defined lobbying, beach cleanup and standalone video production ineligible. Environmental education requires a meaningful advocacy component.
Atlas Analysis
Official Rose Foundation California Wildlands Grassroots Fund controlling program guidance, eligibility and FAQ reviewed October 26, 2026. Distinct Winter 2026 cycle (Oct 28 at 5pm Pacific) from February, May, August 2026 deadlines. Individual applicant ceiling $10k, typical $4k–$8k, one-year grant, no program-pool substitution. Small applicant financial eligibility <=$200k actual annual income and expenses. No official universal match/reimbursement requirement published. Official portal EIN and current/prior-year financial statements. Legitimate nonprofit financial-assistance competition, not procurement; WordPress title and source candidate checks found no existing same-cycle record prior to creation.
Funding opportunity
The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment’s California Wildlands Grassroots Fund supports grassroots initiatives protecting and preserving wildlands and natural habitat in California. The Winter 2026 application deadline is October 28, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Applications are accepted through the foundation’s online grant portal.
Individual grant amounts
The individual applicant maximum is $10,000, and typical awards range from $4,000 to $8,000. Organizations with annual income and expenses of $30,000 or less are encouraged to request $5,000 or less. Funding covers a one-year grant period. The current public guidelines do not specify a universal applicant match or reimbursement requirement; applicants should confirm any project-specific terms with the funder.
Who can apply
Applicants may be nonprofit organizations or individuals and groups with a qualifying nonprofit fiscal sponsor. Each applicant must have annual actual income and expenses of $200,000 or less. Proposed activities must have an impact within California and focus on wildlands and open-space conservation. Proposals located in urban or suburban settings must demonstrate connection to larger protected areas or important wildlife corridors.
Eligible uses and priorities
Examples include grassroots organizing and outreach, regulatory advocacy, conservation litigation, natural habitat protection, restoration and stewardship, trail maintenance, scientific research, community conservation organizing, organizational capacity building, and necessary equipment. The foundation prioritizes community-led and volunteer-driven efforts, underserved and rural areas, and projects that engage diverse constituencies.
Important restrictions
The fund does not support lobbying activities as defined under IRS 501(c)(3) rules, beach cleanups, or film/video production by itself. Environmental education must incorporate substantial advocacy for wildlands protection. A previously funded applicant may reapply after one year once its required report has been submitted and accepted.
Application requirements
Register for or log into the official online grants portal, entering the applicant organization’s EIN or the fiscal sponsor’s EIN as appropriate. Select the current California Wildlands Grassroots Fund cycle. Prepare the current-year organizational budget; year-to-date income and expense information; a most-recent-fiscal-year income statement; and a project budget and project financial records if they differ from the organization’s statements. Optional attachments may include up to two letters of support and other relevant supporting materials. Submit before the official 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, October 28, 2026 cutoff.
Official controlling funder information: California Wildlands Grassroots Fund — Rose Foundation. Details independently checked October 26, 2026. Follow the funder’s latest instructions and amendments.
Source verificationReferenced source · rosefdn.orgAtlas last verified this record 2026-10-26. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
