Apply for a grant

Impact100 Greater Sacramento awards grants for transformational and sustainable projects in our community. In the past three years, Impact100 Greater Sacramento has awarded close to $1,000,000 to nonprofits in Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer and Yolo counties.

The 2026 application period opens on Monday, January 12 and closes on Saturday, March 21 at midnight. Due to the number of grant applications we receive, late applications are not accepted. We invite all eligible nonprofits in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, and El Dorado Counties to apply.

How does it work?:

All nonprofits are required to select two focus areas that best fit their proposal.Our five focus areas are:

• Arts & Culture – All forms of artistic expression, cultural programming, for all ages
• Education – Traditional and nontraditional programs, for all ages
• Environment – Conservation and other related programs, including animals in the wild
• Family – Programs and services in which families are served; including programs for domesticated animals
• Health & Wellness – Programs and services that focus on specific health topics/issues, as well as whole-person care and well-being

Once the application process closes, our five focus teams review the applications. The teams will reach out to you as they narrow down the applications. Site visits will be conducted for the finalists in each focus area.

After reviewing the assigned grant applications, each focus team selects 3-4 semi-finalists for site visits by members of the focus areas, which are conducted over the summer.

The finalists from each focus area will be announced in August.

On September 24, 2026, representatives from each finalist will speak to our chapter’s membership at our Annual Celebration and voting by our members will take place that evening. Grant award decisions will be announced at the conclusion of the event.

If you have any questions, email info@impact100greatersacramento.org.

• Defined as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Organizations serving the counties in the Greater Sacramento area
• In possession of at least three full years (36 months) of independently prepared, audited, or reviewed financial statements

Organizations must meet the following grant criteria

• Tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, independent of a financial sponsor (local affiliates may apply under the 501(c)(3) of the national organization).
• Located in and serve residents of the counties in the greater Impact100 Greater Sacramento area (Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado Counties).
• Nonprofits receiving $100,000 grants must wait three years from the date of their award before reapplying.
• In possession of at least three years of federal Form 990 tax reporting (filed copies), Form 199 – State of CA Exempt Organization Annual Information Return, and most recent Annual Registration Renewal Fee Report to the Attorney General of California.
• Many chapters require grantees to have operating budgets above $350,000 to ensure an organization can fiscally handle and sustainably manage a grant of $100,000. Our chapter has chosen to honor this by recommending that organizations have a minimum operating budget of $350,000, although all applications will be reviewed.
• Grants must be spent within 24 months of being awarded.
• You do not need to be a member of Impact100 Greater Sacramento to apply for a grant.
• Our grants are open to all non-profit organizations regardless of gender or leadership structure.

Priority will be given to organizations that

• Highlight unmet needs in the community.
• Will have a high impact on beneficiaries or communities.
• Have the infrastructure to manage the grant.
• Target under-served populations.
• Propose a project that is transformational and sustainable.

Grants will be awarded in the following broad focus group categories

Arts and Culture‍

Including cultural programs, participation in the arts and arts education.

‍Education‍

Educational opportunities for children and/or adults, especially those that address lingering educational disparities affecting our community.

‍Environment, Preservation and Recreation‍

Including conservation and preservation of natural resources; environmental justice; parks and recreation; agricultural sustainability; environmental education and climate action; also includes non-domesticated animals.

‍Family‍

Including strengthening and enhancing the lives of children and families, seniors; also includes domesticated animals.

‍Health and Wellness‍

Including improvement of people’s mental and/or physical well-being.

Grants will not be provided for

• Debt reduction, operating deficits, interim or bridge funding, loans or endowment funding.
• Individuals or private foundations.
• Funding direct religious or political activities, partisan campaigns, or programs that require religious affiliation, though faith-based organizations can apply for grants for secular, inclusive projects that benefit the broader community.  Our guidelines strictly prohibit funding activities that are inherently religious (like worship or proselytizing) or partisan/political, aligning with IRS rules for 501(c)(3) entities. 
• Fund drives, annual appeals, fundraising events, or general capital campaigns.
• Funding proposals that utilize less than the full grant award.

As we continue to grow and evolve, Impact100 Greater Sacramento reserves the right to change its eligibility criteria without notice at any time.